SRAM 11 speed upgrade options

[Stredda]

My 2015 Norco Sight came out with SRAM 11 speed running gear. It had a 10/42 cassette and a 32 tooth chain ring and XD driver. A while back I wanted a better climbing gear, when the first cassette was toast, I redid the drive train and used a E-thirteen cassette to give me a 46 tooth climbing gear but also had the bonus of a 9 tooth for the top end. I was still running the SRAM X1 11 speed derailleur but I was never happy with the shifting onto the two biggest sprockets, as the chain jumped off and jams up if the shift is rushed and under load. This cassette has been through three chains and two derailleurs and the bigger sprockets are now about worn out again.
I couldn't get hold of a Sunrace 11 speed cassette for the XD driver so ended up buying the E-thirteen half cassette which replaces the larger part of the cassette only, and a new chain ring and chain. It's bloody annoying that SRAM doesn't make a cassette with a 46 tooth. I suppose they want you to go Eagle 12 speed.
If I had my preference I'd go with a Shimano drive train but that means replacing everthing including shifter and hub driver.
Anyone else have any ideas for the future or should I just buy a new bike?

 

[moorey]

The hope driver and cassette looks well sexy...if your hub takes it.
Also hear mixed reports about the e13. Numerous failed cassettes, and I’ve played with my mates XT train that runs e13, and can never quite get it perfect. Like the other thread currently running, I think the amount of B screw needed to clear the 46, effects the shift quality on higher gears. Some seem to get it working fine.

 

[moorey]

Also, your sram 11sp shifter works sweet with shimmy 11sp derailleur.

 

[Isaakk]

I'm having good success with an 11sp Sram 10-42 XG1150 cassette (or Garbaruk 10-46 XD), 12sp SLX-7100 derailleur and 11sp XT-M8000 shifter if you didn't want to change out the whole shebang. Lighter than all the 12sp options too.

The shifting performance of a full Shimano 12sp drivetrain is hard to beat if you can afford to change out the freehub though.

Also, your sram 11sp shifter works sweet with shimmy 11sp derailleur.

I thought 11sp derailleur/shifters had to be matched & it's the cassette you can chop& change? Pull ratios are different..? Or am I imagining things

 

[moorey]

I'm having good success with an 11sp Sram 10-42 XG1150 cassette (or Garbaruk 10-46 XD), 12sp SLX-7100 derailleur and 11sp XT-M8000 shifter if you didn't want to change out the whole shebang. Lighter than all the 12sp options too.

The shifting performance of a full Shimano 12sp drivetrain is hard to beat if you can afford to change out the freehub though.

I thought 11sp derailleur/shifters had to be matched & it's the cassette you can chop& change? Pull ratios are different..? Or am I imagining things

11sp is totes cross compatible. Quinn is doing it, as is Felixs mate in the bike I built up for him.

 

[Stredda]

11sp is totes cross compatible. Quinn is doing it, as is Felixs mate in the bike I built up for him.

Well if the shifting issues continue maybe a Shimano mech may be worth a try. My old 10 speed XT on my 2012 Anthem never skips a beat. Cheaper mech too!

 

[droenn]

sidegrade to Box....

one of us one of us gooble gobble

 

[moorey]

Well if the shifting issues continue maybe a Shimano mech may be worth a try. My old 10 speed XT on my 2012 Anthem never skips a beat. Cheaper mech too!

I like the shift feel of higher end sram 11sp.. but much prefer the solid reliability and durability of the Shimano derailleur.

 

[The Duckmeister]

I'm having good success with an 11sp Sram 10-42 XG1150 cassette (or Garbaruk 10-46 XD), 12sp SLX-7100 derailleur and 11sp XT-M8000 shifter if you didn't want to change out the whole shebang. Lighter than all the 12sp options too.

The shifting performance of a full Shimano 12sp drivetrain is hard to beat if you can afford to change out the freehub though.

I thought 11sp derailleur/shifters had to be matched & it's the cassette you can chop& change? Pull ratios are different..? Or am I imagining things

10-sp. & below don't play, but by some accident they made 11-sp. pull ratios the same, so fully mixable.

 

[Stredda]

sidegrade to Box....

one of us one of us gooble gobble

I did consider Box but once again I'd have to do the shifter as well and still stuck with the E-Thirteen cassette if I didn't want to change the free hub. Plus I didn't know how the Box shifter would match in with my Guide brake clamp.
If I could justify the cost I would like to go XT 12 speed for the whole driveline.

Here's a bit of a breakdown at full RRP.

	Shimano 11 speed	Shimano 12 speed	Sram 12 Speed	Box 11 speed	Box 9 speed	E-Thirteen cassette	E-Thirteen 1/2 cassette
Cassette	$174.95	$224.95	$299.95	$141.31	$165.38	$379.95	$219.00
Derailleur	$147.95	$165.95	$368.95	$179.98	$164.95	$0.00	$0.00
Shifter	$94.95	$94.95	$219.95	$117.81	$74.49	$0.00	$0.00
Front Ring	$94.95	$69.95	$114.95	$69.95	$73.99	$69.95	$69.95
Chain	$58.95	$79.95	$49.95	$58.95	$29.95	$24.95	$24.95
Free Hub	$179.95	$179.95		$179.95	$119.95
Brake Adapter	$74.95	$74.95
	$826.65	$890.65	$1,053.75	$747.95	$628.71	$474.85	$313.90

 

[bear the bear]

I did consider Box but once again I'd have to do the shifter as well and still stuck with the E-Thirteen cassette if I didn't want to change the free hub. Plus I didn't know how the Box shifter would match in with my Guide brake clamp.
If I could justify the cost I would like to go XT 12 speed for the whole driveline.

Here's a bit of a breakdown at full RRP.

	Shimano 11 speed	Shimano 12 speed	Sram 12 Speed	Box 11 speed	Box 9 speed	E-Thirteen cassette	E-Thirteen 1/2 cassette
Cassette	$174.95	$224.95	$299.95	$141.31	$165.38	$379.95	$219.00
Derailleur	$147.95	$165.95	$368.95	$179.98	$164.95	$0.00	$0.00
Shifter	$94.95	$94.95	$219.95	$117.81	$74.49	$0.00	$0.00
Front Ring	$94.95	$69.95	$114.95	$69.95	$73.99	$69.95	$69.95
Chain	$58.95	$79.95	$49.95	$58.95	$29.95	$24.95	$24.95
Free Hub	$179.95	$179.95		$179.95	$119.95
Brake Adapter	$74.95	$74.95
	$826.65	$890.65	$1,053.75	$747.95	$628.71	$474.85	$313.90

Why not 12spd SLX? As good as XT but cheaper

 

[moorey]

I did consider Box but once again I'd have to do the shifter as well and still stuck with the E-Thirteen cassette if I didn't want to change the free hub. Plus I didn't know how the Box shifter would match in with my Guide brake clamp.
If I could justify the cost I would like to go XT 12 speed for the whole driveline.

Here's a bit of a breakdown at full RRP.

	Shimano 11 speed	Shimano 12 speed	Sram 12 Speed	Box 11 speed	Box 9 speed	E-Thirteen cassette	E-Thirteen 1/2 cassette
Cassette	$174.95	$224.95	$299.95	$141.31	$165.38	$379.95	$219.00
Derailleur	$147.95	$165.95	$368.95	$179.98	$164.95	$0.00	$0.00
Shifter	$94.95	$94.95	$219.95	$117.81	$74.49	$0.00	$0.00
Front Ring	$94.95	$69.95	$114.95	$69.95	$73.99	$69.95	$69.95
Chain	$58.95	$79.95	$49.95	$58.95	$29.95	$24.95	$24.95
Free Hub	$179.95	$179.95		$179.95	$119.95
Brake Adapter	$74.95	$74.95
	$826.65	$890.65	$1,053.75	$747.95	$628.71	$474.85	$313.90

Jebus, anyone paying those Shimano prices is crazy.

 

[RealizE]

What do the pulleys look like on your X1 derailleur? I had around 5500Ks on my X1 derailleur and cassette before it started skipping on the 42. I went to a Hope 48 tooth cassette (cassette+freehub was $208 from Wiggle), XX1 chain and 30T steel chaining and had similar problems with shifting.

Replacing the shagged pulleys with some yum cha red alloy ones sorted it out so it was 91.675% as good as the X1 cassette.

 

[Stredda]

What do the pulleys look like on your X1 derailleur? I had around 5500Ks on my X1 derailleur and cassette before it started skipping on the 42. I went to a Hope 48 tooth cassette (cassette+freehub was $208 from Wiggle), XX1 chain and 30T steel chaining and had similar problems with shifting.

Replacing the shagged pulleys with some yum cha red alloy ones sorted it out so it was 91.675% as good as the X1 cassette.

They aren't in to bad nic as the whole derailleur isn't that old.

 

[oliosky]

What is the rear axle size on the sight? 27.5 or 29 wheels?

A new rear wheel with a swappable XD and shimano driver can get you a few more options. Sounds ridiculous but actually could be more economical i.e new wheel with shimano driver and you can buy an 11 speed xt cassette and keep your current stuff

 

[Haakon]

Why not 12spd SLX? As good as XT but cheaper

I'm getting mighty close to ditching the whole GX Eagle and Guides for an SLX group... I loved the shift feel and performance of my XO1 11 speed on my last bike, but the eagle stuff is very average at best. Unreliable shifting, ghost shifting, just over it...

 

[bear the bear]

I'm getting mighty close to ditching the whole GX Eagle and Guides for an SLX group... I loved the shift feel and performance of my XO1 11 speed on my last bike, but the eagle stuff is very average at best. Unreliable shifting, ghost shifting, just over it...

The ability to upgrade depends on what rear wheel you have. However, the cost seems to be about $AU150 for a new driver regardless of the brand

 

[droenn]

I did consider Box but once again I'd have to do the shifter as well and still stuck with the E-Thirteen cassette if I didn't want to change the free hub. Plus I didn't know how the Box shifter would match in with my Guide brake clamp.

They sit next to each other fine, but on separate bar clamps. I've got Guides with the Box one shifter.

I use a sunrace cassette and kmc chain as well which saves a bit of money too.

 

[Haakon]

The ability to upgrade depends on what rear wheel you have. However, the cost seems to be about $AU150 for a new driver regardless of the brand

DT Swiss 360, about 80 bucks for a micro spline driver i think.

 

[bear the bear]

DT Swiss 360, about 80 bucks for a micro spline driver i think.

Sorry, that was including ratchets.
Dt Swiss appear to have some problems with 12spd conversions. Mine worked for 6 months then started binding.
Someone else on here mentioned similar problems with tolerances for 350/240 hubs.
I swapped to Hunt wheels and they just work with Shimano 12spd