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I've googled this for a while but can't find a straight answer so if anyone can help that would be great:
My 12 speed cassette and chain need replacing and I'm tempted to downgrade to 11 as it is so much cheaper and the ebike eats components so quickly. So if I replace the cassette and chain then:
Freehub: I need to change microspline to HG
Shifter: I assume needs changing but not sure?
Mech: Can the 12 speed be used?
Thanks!
p.s. expensive fragile 12 speed stuff on an ebike is idiotic! 10 speed with a medium cage mech would be ideal actually... smashed 2 long cage mechs already as the ebike throws up sticks when climbing
Sorry I forgot to mention this is Shimano!
I am not a bike mechanic but… suspect the mech will be fine, you’ll need a new shifter and freehub though to go with the new cassette.
expensive fragile 12 speed stuff on an ebike is idiotic! 10 speed with a medium cage mech would be ideal actually… smashed 2 long cage mechs already as the ebike throws up sticks when climbing
Without a doubt it's all down to the components 😉
This link could be very handy and help you out with your mix 'n match question
Sell the used 12sp mech and buy a new 11sp (or 10sp) one with the proceeds?
I briefly dallied with 12sp Shimano and I'm back on 11sp on all my bikes now.
The only drawback (if it is one) is having to use 28t chainrings to give me the climbing gear I need for my 29in wheels and 165mm cranks. This shouldn't be an issue with your eeb though?
I could be wrong, but I'm sure I read somewhere that a HG Cassette will still fit on a Microspline cassette...
I could probably check this evening for you if that would help?
I'm running an 11 speed XT shifter, 11 speed Sunrace cassette and 12 speed SLX rear mech (bought new in packaging off here in 2020 when 11 speed stuff was either out of stock or more expensive than the 12 speed mech was).
It all plays nicely together and shifts at least as well as the 11 speed SLX shifter and rear mech with 11 speed Sunrace cassette on my previous bike.
That's good info.
One advantage of the 12 speed mech is it'll allow the use of a wider-range cassette - up to 50t-ish.
But the downside is it's dangling lower so easier to **** off of rocks or roots.
What about 8/9 speed Microshift if you're swapping to HG?
I could be wrong, but I’m sure I read somewhere that a HG Cassette will still fit on a Microspline cassette…I could probably check this evening for you if that would help?
The HG cassette will fit [i]over[/i] the Micro Spline freehub; HG is ~35mm OD and MS is ~32mm OD.
Thanks for all of the responses! That link has some good info thanks Steve. Re HG cassette on the microspline this seems like it just can't work - the splines are different - but I'd be very happy to be proved wrong 🙂
Found this which seems to agree: https://accidentalrandonneur.wordpress.com/tag/hyperglide-freehub/
"There are two unfortunate consequences with Micro Spline: there is no backwards compatibility with cassettes made for Hyperglide freehubs"
i went 10sp microshift on my eeb. its been the best. i could never get the 12sp gears to work properly.
If you don’t mind sacrificing some range then by all means go back to 11 speed. If you can find a cassette that’s all steel with no alloy cogs that would be good.
I know the Sram 10-42 cassette is all steel - are the Shimano 11-46’s all steel or are those 2 biggest rings alloy?
I know my 11 speed Gx sat tucked up out of the way more than either my XT 12 speed (I’ve broken one cage in half when a stick got it) or my gx 12 speed do.
Not sure on your mech backwards compatibility but it’ll still be dangling down in the firing line regardless. I’d sell it and get an 11 speed one if that’s shorter / out the way. You’ll probably get ok money as all the shimano 12 speeds mechs seem to be full rrp in the shops now. I know this as I got stung for over £100 for a replacement XT mech in December 🤦♂️
You might be able to swap the freehub body on the hub?
Yes could do that - or just wait until it next gets broken then buy 11 🙂 I find the larger rings get very little use on my ebike so probably not an issue if they are alloy.
yes think I will have to swap the freehub body - looks like they are about £50 though for my DT swiss wheel 🙁 Guess I should look for someone who is 'upgrading' to 12 speed and wants to swap!
Shimano agreed with you and bought out linkglide 10 & 11 speed for eBikes. However just to p*** everyone off they made it old HG not microspine so we have to keep with 2 standards going forward.
If you do go back to 11 speed I can recommend this Microshift cassette.
All steel construction with no alloy spider to destroy on your Eeb.
Shifts as well as a Shimano is cheap and should last pretty well.
I'd also recommend not using a Sunrace cassette as this happened on mine.
Seems the torque on the Eeb was a bit too much for it
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I went 11 speed from 12 and used a SRAM XD 11 speed cassette with XT shifter and a Deore 12 speed mech. However, it didn't work (for me). All to do with the length of the mech cage and it being designed for 51 tooth cassette, but I was using 42, so there was way too much chain slack. I found a video on YouTube (
) that demoed why I was getting the problems I was having, so sold the mech and got an SLX 11 speed instead. Problem solved.
I went 11 speed from 12 and used a SRAM XD 11 speed cassette with XT shifter and a Deore 12 speed mech. However, it didn’t work (for me). All to do with the length of the mech cage and it being designed for 51 tooth cassette, but I was using 42, so there was way too much chain slack. I found a video on YouTube (
) that demoed why I was getting the problems I was having, so sold the mech and got an SLX 11 speed instead. Problem solved.
I guess I just got lucky with my setup. That was an informative video though, thanks for sharing.
If I kill this mech I'll probably replace it with an 11 speed SLX as I'm happy with the range and have no plans to go 12 speed any time soon.
There seems to be an 11 speed 11-51 cassette which would avoid this issue I assume. Though hard to find in the UK right now.
I think you're probably right. It was an issue for me as I was only using a 42 cassette.
The only way you'll get a HG cassette on a microspline hub is with a sledge hammer.
This cassette is a good option :-
I run a Deore 11 speed 11-51 cassette on my hardtail.
Needs a specific "longer" rear mech though - but I would be tempted to try your existing 12-speed.
I got my stuff from Bikester:
https://www.bikester.co.uk/shimano-deore-cs-m5100-cassette-11-speed-M872967.html?cgid=37132
https://www.bikester.co.uk/shimano-deore-rd-m5100-rear-derailleur-11-speed-M873042.html
I went from XT3x10 to 1x9 Box drivetrain when the Shimano needed replacing. Simplicity is an improvement and I’ve got almost the same wide range, and same grannies.