Shimano 1X goes wider:
When Shimano introduced its answer to SRAM’s front derailleur crushing 1×11, with that 10-42T cassette SRAM uses, Shimano limited the range of their 1×11 cassette to 11-40T. That was not too ideal in that it did not have either the high end of the 10T cog SRAM uses or the low end of that 42T cog.
Now that has been addressed in a new cassette. From the press release:
The 1×11 drivetrain range has been extended to a super-wide 11-46T range providing optimal gear choices for all-mountain riders and enduro racers. The new CS-M8000 cassette is compatible with XTR M9000 and DEORE XT M8000 drivetrains and has a target weight of 450g.
No images yet, but this is a welcome change. With a 46T top cog, that allows for a larger 1x front chainring while still having a decently low gear and makes the lack of a 10T cog on the high end less of an issue. Very nice.
2X gets some changes too:
Now add to that the new crankset with a 24/34 chainring set-up and gearing options for 2x just made a bit more sense for 29ers or even 29+. A 34T big ring brings us back towards where we would have been with a 26″ wheel and the gearing of the day. Even a 36T big ring is pretty big for a 29er trail or XC bike and might put the rider into the position of using the small ring more than is optimum. A 34T ring also puts the driving point of the chain more in line with where some suspension designs are optimized for, that being closer to the 30T or 32T 1X set-up. In addition to that, a 24x40T low end is pretty generous (2×11 cassette being an 11-40T). There also is a new 40/30/22 triple crank option.
So now we are getting back to more choices in gearing; choices that make sense. With 10 speed gearing options being served by companies like Wolftooth, it looks like this new cassette and crank, along with the rumored wider range 11 speed cassette from SRAM, will give us ‘factory’ options in 1x and 2x 11 speed that are worth having.
Actually, Shimano has had an 11-42 11 speed cassette for a while now. The 11-46 option is great, and even better, it sounds like it works with existing Shimano 11 spd derailleurs and shifters.
@OhioPT…hey thanks for the correction. I should have been more specific as to the XTR debut when 1x and 2x 11 came out. I was not aware they had added an 11-42T XT level cassette. Still missing the 10T cog though that makes it bearable for having some kind of top end.
gg
What I wonder is if it will work with their XT / XTR derailleurs as is. Current cassette expander solutions often include a longer b-tension screw, and Wolf Tooth even offers a GoatLink to improve wear and long-term shifting performance on wide-range 1×10 drivetrains using the Shimano Shadow+ Rear derailleurs. The GoatLink re-positions 10 speed Shimano Shadow+ Rear derailleur.
“A 34T big ring brings us back towards where we would have been with a 26? wheel and the gearing of the day”. I’m not sure which day you’re referring to but if it was 3×9 then they typically had a 42t or 44t big ring. I have a 24/38t 2x crankset on my Anthem 29er and still don’t find it tall enough for some descending regular roads.
@Paulcd…I was not referring to the 42T or 44T big ring of a triple, something that would be silly for the large portion of 29er riders. You may be spinning out a 38T but that is moving pretty fast, much more than a typical trail rider would even care about. By then I am coasting at that speed, not sprinting. I did spin out my 39×11 on my Epic with a tailwind on a paved road return once, but I was going so fast by then I did not care.
IIRC I was thinking more along the lines of getting back to that effective ‘driving gear’ that the middle ring gave us.
When we went to 29″ wheels AND went to 2X, we got that double whammy of having a bigger effective gear due to the big wheels and getting a big difference in chainwheel tooth count with 2X, such as you have…24/38…a 14 tooth difference. I know when I had my Camber with a 22/36, I hated the big drop from the 36 to the 22. That sucked, but it is what it is if you wanted that lower gear with only a 36T cassette option at the time. And I found that the 36T was quite tall, enough so that I would be running way up the cassette if I was on slower, hilly trails or I would be forced down into the 22T ring and then I would be spinning a less efficient chainring more often AND likely be way down on the cassette.
A 34T should get us back to where we can stay in the ‘big ring’ longer and the new 40T cassette lets us stay with a larger small ring too, keeping the tooth count closer on the crank, ie 24/34. That is a good thing IMO.
But yes, you do shave off top end with the 34T. I can’t recall more than a couple of times where I found the 36×11 too low, but I can see where that might happen more with the 34×11. We shall see. Frankly, if I give up some top end in exchange for smaller chainring differences, a great low gear, and better use of the ‘big ring’, I am happy with that. YMMV.
gg