Do XT cassettes last longer?
10-08-21, 04:59 PM
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Do XT cassettes last longer?
I run nine speed triple on a road bike. I'm keen to future proof my set up, so have bought spare derailleurs, shifters. What I haven't stocked up on is spare cassettes (or chains). There are still some XT M770 cassettes available. They are about double the price of available Sora (HG50?) cassettes. Will they last twice as long? Or are there any other reasons to pay the extra? My rear shifts are perfect at the moment, on a Sora cassette with M772 RD.
Thanks.
Thanks.
10-08-21, 05:10 PM
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I run nine speed triple on a road bike. I'm keen to future proof my set up, so have bought spare derailleurs, shifters. What I haven't stocked up on is spare cassettes (or chains). There are still some XT M770 cassettes available. They are about double the price of available Sora (HG50?) cassettes. Will they last twice as long? Or are there any other reasons to pay the extra? My rear shifts are perfect at the moment, on a Sora cassette with M772 RD.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Last edited by Crankycrank; 10-11-21 at 12:37 PM.
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10-08-21, 06:10 PM
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A quick Google search turned up dozens of listings for 9-speed cassettes from Shimano, SRAM and a couple of lesser known brands in a variety of quality levels from HG50 up to Ultegra. Even Amazon lists them so I wouldn't worry about future supply problems. For that matter, even 7 and 8-speed cassettes are still fairly easy to find.
As to 9-speed chains, if you have problems finding them, 10-speed chains will work just fine on a 9-speed cassette. I've used 10-speed chains on an 8-speed cassette and it worked perfectly.
As to 9-speed chains, if you have problems finding them, 10-speed chains will work just fine on a 9-speed cassette. I've used 10-speed chains on an 8-speed cassette and it worked perfectly.
10-08-21, 06:55 PM
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A quick Google search turned up dozens of listings for 9-speed cassettes from Shimano, SRAM and a couple of lesser known brands in a variety of quality levels from HG50 up to Ultegra. Even Amazon lists them so I wouldn't worry about future supply problems. For that matter, even 7 and 8-speed cassettes are still fairly easy to find.
As to 9-speed chains, if you have problems finding them, 10-speed chains will work just fine on a 9-speed cassette. I've used 10-speed chains on an 8-speed cassette and it worked perfectly.
As to 9-speed chains, if you have problems finding them, 10-speed chains will work just fine on a 9-speed cassette. I've used 10-speed chains on an 8-speed cassette and it worked perfectly.
10-08-21, 07:12 PM
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That depends entirely on how you use and maintain it, but there's nothing inherently more durable about XT. They do claim that the pins behind the biggest cog can help prevent spoke damage in the event of an overshift.
10-08-21, 07:28 PM
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10-08-21, 07:41 PM
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Some basic understandings are due here. The steels used for cogs are chosen for their manufacturing ease and cost before any wear rate. For any significantly longer wear the steel in a specific cassette will need to be hardened and I don't know of any claim of this from any brand. What I do hear a lot is about the coatings on the steel. Oxide/bluing type finishes on the low cost and various harder coatings on the better stuff. These coatings are still softer then the grit that a chain gets coated with in time. And that's the heart of the issue. The abrasives that are grit and grime will wear any coating or base steel given enough neglect or miles. Think about using sand paper on the various cogs and name one that won't be scratched by that. The better cog coatings will aid the chain's smoothness a tiny bit, reduce engagement friction slightly until the coating is worn through. BTW these coatings are only scant ten thousandths to a a few thousandths thick and tend to be brittle so they can break down and flake off off with stress.
I consider cogs, like chains, rings, pads, and bar tape to be consumables (and rims too but others spend so much for their wheels that they can't get past the investment aspects). Sometimes I get lower cost stuff for myself and sometimes I splurge and get the fancy and lighter weight expensive stuff. But My eyes are open to what I am expecting. Andy
I consider cogs, like chains, rings, pads, and bar tape to be consumables (and rims too but others spend so much for their wheels that they can't get past the investment aspects). Sometimes I get lower cost stuff for myself and sometimes I splurge and get the fancy and lighter weight expensive stuff. But My eyes are open to what I am expecting. Andy
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10-08-21, 07:46 PM
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Some basic understandings are due here. The steels used for cogs are chosen for their manufacturing ease and cost before any wear rate. For any significantly longer wear the steel in a specific cassette will need to be hardened and I don't know of any claim of this from any brand. What I do hear a lot is about the coatings on the steel. Oxide/bluing type finishes on the low cost and various harder coatings on the better stuff. These coatings are still softer then the grit that a chain gets coated with in time. And that's the heart of the issue. The abrasives that are grit and grime will wear any coating or base steel given enough neglect or miles. Think about using sand paper on the various cogs and name one that won't be scratched by that. The better cog coatings will aid the chain's smoothness a tiny bit, reduce engagement friction slightly and until the coating is worn through BTW these coatings are only scant ten thousandths to a a few thousandths thick and tens to be brittle so they can break down and flake off off with stress.
I consider cogs, like chains, rings, pads, and bar tape to be consumables (and rims too but others spend so much for their wheels that they can't get past the investment aspects). Sometimes I get lower cost stuff for myself and sometimes I splurge and get the fancy and lighter weight expensive stuff. But My eyes are open to what I am expecting. Andy
I consider cogs, like chains, rings, pads, and bar tape to be consumables (and rims too but others spend so much for their wheels that they can't get past the investment aspects). Sometimes I get lower cost stuff for myself and sometimes I splurge and get the fancy and lighter weight expensive stuff. But My eyes are open to what I am expecting. Andy
10-08-21, 08:11 PM
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10-08-21, 09:21 PM
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Doubtful.
When I went 1X conversion on my hybrid bike, I decided to replace my 8 speed 11-32 Altus CS-HG31 cassette to get the slightly different 11-30 gearing, and paid a few more dollars for an Alivio CS-HG51 which has a shinier finish than an Acera CS-HG41.
When I went 1X conversion on my hybrid bike, I decided to replace my 8 speed 11-32 Altus CS-HG31 cassette to get the slightly different 11-30 gearing, and paid a few more dollars for an Alivio CS-HG51 which has a shinier finish than an Acera CS-HG41.
Last edited by SoSmellyAir; 10-08-21 at 09:25 PM.
10-08-21, 10:05 PM
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10-08-21, 10:06 PM
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10-08-21, 10:07 PM
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I run nine speed triple on a road bike. I'm keen to future proof my set up, so have bought spare derailleurs, shifters. What I haven't stocked up on is spare cassettes (or chains). There are still some XT M770 cassettes available. They are about double the price of available Sora (HG50?) cassettes. Will they last twice as long? Or are there any other reasons to pay the extra? My rear shifts are perfect at the moment, on a Sora cassette with M772 RD.
Thanks.
Thanks.
10-08-21, 10:08 PM
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I don't know if this is true for 9 speed, but for some of the 11 and 12 speed cassettes, the largest cogs are aluminum, so they are likely to be shorter lived.
10-08-21, 10:50 PM
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The coatings Andy mentioned aren’t really there for wear, for the most part. They are rust prevention, and gunk doesn’t stick as hard to glossy surfaces. So in that sense, yes, they help. They’re also prettier.
The best way to future proof your bike is… not to worry about that, it’s doomed. Premium 9 speed is a snapshot of 15-20 years ago.
The best way to future proof your bike is… not to worry about that, it’s doomed. Premium 9 speed is a snapshot of 15-20 years ago.
Last edited by Darth Lefty; 10-08-21 at 10:54 PM.
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