Increasing 12 speed durability - 9 speed conversion??

[brendonj]

Ok - i am flying a kite here. I really want to increase the durability of my 11 and 12 speed drivetrain.

Like the range, but happy to sacrifice closeness of gear ratios - actually would prefer increased gaps for one of my bikes. thinking 8 or 9 speed.

I need to keep the derailleur for the gearing range, but need to solve the following:

1. Shifter that works with a SRAM or Shimano 12 speed derailleur but gears it back to 8 or 9.

2. Spacing through the derailleur cage - should be solvable manually

3. Narrow wide chain wheel for 8 or 9 speed chain. Do these exist or will i have to rely on a chain guide?

4. The big one - Cassette & Driver - can of worms here between drivers and how to assemble and gear changing smoothness. Do i need to go back from an XD or microspline driver to HG?
Obviously would be better if the OEM’s made this.

Any ideas, let me know.
If you think i am mad thats ok too.

 

[fjohn860]

Wouldn't it be easier and less headache to just buy the wide range 9 speed Box kit...

Box Two Prime 9 Speed X-Wide Groupset

The Prime 9 range of components from Box has made many people rethink what a 9-speed drivetrain is capable of. Box Two is their most durable drivetrain that offers excellent performance, durability, and a competitive weight at a wallet-friendly price point.Who's this item for: This is for riders...

www.mtbdirect.com.au

 

[Smiker]

Where's the durability concern? I've been on Shimano 12-speed since mid 2019 and found the durability way better than 10 and 11 speed gear. Maybe I'm riding differently than before.

Another option if you want to pursue this is find the SRAM Eagle eMTB gear. 8sp 10-50, single click shifter. The cassette was made of tool grade steel.

 

[brendonj]

Both good suggestions. My problem is wear on the small cogs in the cassette.
Why is it a problem - it’s complicated- but i do a lot of stand up pedalling at low cadence for a particular type of exercise. Otherwise, yes, 12 speed is pretty darn good.

 

[Flow-Rider]

I'd say X2 on the front is going to make a comeback, like I've said for years. Heaps of talk about it on MTBR.

 

[Oddjob]

Microshift Advent X is your friend. 11-48 steel Cassette that is cheeeaaappp. Compatible with Shimano 10 speed.

If you get a 10 speed Xt cassette the smaller cogs are actually available individually. But they top out at 11-36 so you would need 2x at the front.

Sent from my M2012K11AG using Tapatalk

 

[komdotkom]

38T chain ring?

 

[brendonj]

I'd say X2 on the front is going to make a comeback, like I've said for years. Heaps of talk about it on MTBR.

I won’t be keen. Messes up the suspension response to chain forces too much. But everything is a trade off i guess.

 

[brendonj]

38T chain ring?

Thats and interesting idea. It will help a bit. I am at 36 already on one bike. It will mess up the antisquat a bit on my other bike. I could design my next frame for 38. But other people won’t have that option.

 

[komdotkom]

More teeth in the middle of the cassette so it should improve your cassette life.

 

[Isaakk]

Microshift or Box. I've been there with trying to mix/match different speeds (though mainly 12sp derailleurs with 11sp cassette/shifter), and it's honestly worth just buying a groupset that's already designed to work with each other.

 

[Flow-Rider]

Meh!

Is 1x getting a little long in the tooth?

Prediction: 2x is going to be making a comeback. I started riding 1x (8spd) in 2006 before it was actually a thing that any of the manufacturer's even thought of. Then I tried my hand at an internally geared hub in 2014, before buying a bike with 1x12 in 2019. They all worked well enough, and...

www.mtbr.com

 

[Haakon]

I'd say X2 on the front is going to make a comeback, like I've said for years. Heaps of talk about it on MTBR.

2x was crap. Constantly shifting on the front to get the right gears - I went back to a triple on the 10speed XT system I once tried it on!

 

[jrewing]

I’ll push up hill before using a front derailleur. I push up hill if the speed is walking pace anyway. I’ve actually caught people on slow steep climbs when they’re in granny. Keeps my pedalling legs fresher I find personally

 

[Haakon]

Pushing up the really steep bits is good for your glutes anyway

 

[Mr Crudley]

Pushing up the really steep bits is good for your glutes anyway

The stubborn bastard in me will try to pedal in the lowest gears I have until I can't pedal anymore.

I don't mind if walkers, crawling babies or snails are faster. That isn't the point of stubborn bastardness

 

[Halo1]

I’ll push up hill before using a front derailleur. I push up hill if the speed is walking pace anyway. I’ve actually caught people on slow steep climbs when they’re in granny. Keeps my pedalling legs fresher I find personally

This is me on the slow climb. People think I am an expert in track stands but it is just me climbing and trying to not die.

 

[brendonj]

Meh!

Is 1x getting a little long in the tooth?

Prediction: 2x is going to be making a comeback. I started riding 1x (8spd) in 2006 before it was actually a thing that any of the manufacturer's even thought of. Then I tried my hand at an internally geared hub in 2014, before buying a bike with 1x12 in 2019. They all worked well enough, and...

www.mtbr.com

View attachment 395879

Maybe the Truvativ Hammerschmidt should be revisited.

 

[Flow-Rider]

Maybe the Truvativ Hammerschmidt should be revisited.

I'd say gearboxes and e-bikes will be the fad when they come down in price.

 

[bear the bear]

2x was crap. Constantly shifting on the front to get the right gears - I went back to a triple on the 10speed XT system I once tried it on!

2x Di2....