[Closed] Maintenance cost of 1x

GX cassette will survive the impending cold war.

I broke a mech yesterday, £57 🙁

GX cassette

Lolz, £150!

How long does that last?

I have xtr cassettes on four bikes. They last really well - I average 1,000 miles a month.
I don’t think there would be any difference to 3x in the same conditions.

I get 3500km of all year round type riding from an xt cassette. Two chains in that distance.

Probs my a chainring every two cassettes.

Lolz? I've never paid more than about 75 quid for one. Its steel, riveted and yet 30g lighter than XT.

My GX cassettes have been about £80. The last one was worn but still working fine after 18 months.

I only replaced it because I changed frames and needed a longer chain. It was still working fine and I was planning to ride the chain / cassette until they were properly shagged.

Cassettes should / possibly last longer - more gears, spread the wear load over more cogs.

Chains wear a bit quicker I’d say, chainlines are ****ing criminal at times.

Chainrings, especially narrow/wide appear to be made of cheese.

Sunrace cassette 11sp is £45-60.
Mechs seem expensive at £50+
Chains cost the same.
Front rings £20-30.

I will let you know how it goes, being a 1x11 newbie.
1x10, eldest_oab has run it for 2 years now, same durability as any other Deore kit.

I've never paid more than about 75 quid for one

Where do you get them from? Is there only one model of GX?

I don't break mechs so not worried about that. Chains seem affordable, so it's mostly cassettes I am concerned about.

Also considering if I can go 1x10 instead.

2500km on a cassette and chain, not bad if you ask me

Depending on mileage the £ difference will probably not be very significant, less significant than the upside compared to 1x10 IME.

1xwhat? 1? 8? 9? 10? 11? 12?

I find 11 speed chains probably not as durable as 8/9/10 speed ones (maybe partly due to chainline issues with 1x), think my last chain did just over 1500 Strava miles before it needed replacing.

1x chainrings seem to wear faster, as expected really, alloy chainring getting all the use & abuse.

Cassettes I have to say, seem to last just as well as any other (I've been using Shimano 105 + SLX cassettes).

I guess on the whole it works out marginally mire expensive to maintain, but prices are coming down all the time as newer expensive kit comes out.

I want to know how it compares to 3x9.. how many kms did you get from your 3x9 setups?

Which Sram are the light steel ones? I would go for steel if it wasn't heavy. That would be a lot more durable than what I use now.

It's very cheap with 1x10 - XT cassettes cost almost nothing and narrow-wide Works rings and KMC X10 chains last ages. Just have to stand up on the steep bits and spin quicker on the fast bits. 😉

Yeah, 1x10 worked well for me, cost wise it's pretty good.

Most cassettes are steel, sometimes you get the bigger sprockets in alloy.

Over 4000km on gx, new bike means it's on the spares pile now but will do another 1000.easy.

The XT cassette with extender ring is probably as cheap as you can do it. A TRex extender lasted me three cassettes! The rear mech will last the same as with any other setup, mine lasted 8000Km.

The chainring will wear most as you aren't spreading the wear and tear between two or three rings. The RaceFace one lasted between 2500 & 3000Km, the AB oval ones have been a little longer lasting, maybe 4000Km.

Which gx cassette? They are all £100 on CRC unless I am looking at the wrong thing?

.

What is meant by the ‘GX’ cassette is the XG-1150. This is full steel, full pin and marginally lighter than an 11-42 XT cassette ;forget the actual weight). As it’s fully steel (even 42) you can expect it to last better than any Shimano 11spd MTB cassette. The higher models are progressively lighter and much more expensive but less durable/more sensitive to chain maintenance.

It’s currently available for about £77 at Evans straight out of Google. CRC price has wandered a bit high since 1x12 GX launch, I assume that’s because these aren’t as plentiful in OEM land anymore. I got my last from Winstanley for £75, full retail box. IIRC, RRP is about £100 but it’s almost never sold for that.

~£20...

For another 8-speed cassette and chain. 😀

But last night, I took my On One 1x chainring off and went back to 2x, at least for a while I want more low and high gears for hill training over the winter.

1*10 using a Sunrace cassette. The cassette is wearing well and I've not noticed the drivetrain wear any quicker since leaving 2*9.

n0b0dy0ftheg0at - Member
~£20...

For another 8-speed cassette and chain

I'm not getting the 'cost' at all. I ride as much as the next man, i'm on 6000km this year indoors and outdoors and haven't replaced a single item on any of the bikes. At all ! Well, apart from a creaky dropper, but that's unrelated.

Gear wise i've got generic SRAM X7 running 1x10 and Shimano XT i think running 1x10.... both running Raceface Ride XC cranks with N/W and they just keep on going, no slipped/missed gears etc ever.... ever ever.

Depends on whether it's shiny newer 1x12/1x11 or 1x10 IMO.

10 speed ain't dead and with either an expander or a Sunrace cassette you can have about 90% of the range 1x11 offers...

Coming back to the OPs original question, comparing 1x10 to 3x9? Cassette is probably about the same, a N/W chainring is less than a set of 3, chains cost pretty much the same, but frequency of replacement is probably higher for all of those parts depending on use and maintenance...

a N/W chainring is less than a set of 3,

I bought two XTR chain sets in 2007 cos they were on offer when I was building bikes. I have bought two or three inner rings on each since then but the middle and outer are still fine. So chainring purchase seems not to be an issue.

Cassette is probably about the same

I seem to pay £30 for cassettes rather than £75

Been running 1x9 for a while and now 1x10 with 11-40 Sunrace cassette, latest non clutch SLX medium cage mech for simplicity, I spec saint shifter. Gives a really nice solid precise mechanical feeling gear change which I prefer to previous 'smoother' XT/XTR combos.

What I have noticed is the N/W from Superstar only lasted 500 miles each, so switched to Hope for now which seem to have dropped to the same price.

I seem to pay £30 for cassettes rather than £75

I seem to pay £30 for cassettes rather than £75

Well stick with what suits you then, instead of polluting this place with yet [i]another[/i] 1x v 3x dungfest.

My two bikes with 1x10 set ups are lasting much better than the 2x10 and 3x10 they replaced.

I'm amazed by the hope ring / sunrace cassette combo on my hardtail. It just shouldn't still be working but it is! It went on in May 2016 and is still going, despite doing a hard winter and getting ridden every week.

When I had 2x10 on that bike it was chain suck and dodgy front shifting that meant I needed to swap out drivechain parts. That isn't an issue any more so I guess it's much more tolerant to worn parts than the old set up.

I can only speak for SRAM 11 speed stuff.Mine has lasted very well,the cassettes in particular seem to go on and on and tolerate many timely chain changes.Thinking about it,in 4 years worth of riding(usually 3 rides a week) with it running on 2 bikes that came with it I've only had to buy one replacement cassette (GX usually £75/80ish but luckily paid only £25 for very slightly worn one).
I bought 5 SRAM steel NW chainrings for the winter bike when they were on sale for only £1.70 a pop too-so these will probably out last me and seem very good.
I guess main expense for me which I'd have on any 1x setup are chains at £16 each and ally NW chainrings for the summer bike that can't run the steel ones so for me it's been great value.

but luckily paid only £25 for very slightly worn one

This is always an option too btw, as there's always some idiot selling SRAM kit off his/hers new bike cos they iz all shimano, innit?. 😆

I've just put a Sunrace 11-46 casette on with new chain and 32t superstar front n/w ring.

I know some people report getting multiple chains to a casette and getting more miles out of it, but what's the accepted logic here? Casette about £50 - £60, decent chain what £15 - £25? A couple of chain swaps and you're into new casette money anway. Better off swapping chains at a set wear point, or just running the lot into the ground?

vincienup - Member
What is meant by the ‘GX’ cassette is the XG-1150. This is full steel, full pin and marginally lighter than an 11-42 XT cassette ;forget the actual weight). As it’s fully steel (even 42) you can expect it to last better than any Shimano 11spd MTB cassette. The higher models are progressively lighter and much more expensive but less durable/more sensitive to chain maintenance.

It’s currently available for about £77 at Evans straight out of Google. CRC price has wandered a bit high since 1x12 GX launch

CRC pricing is a bit "yield management" indeed ATM. I paid £67.50 after discount in August for an XG-1150 and now it's over £90 after discount. 35% increase, what's that about ?

Still far better a solution than a £30 10-speed cassette though !!!!

Well stick with what suits you then, instead of polluting this place with yet another 1x v 3x dungfest.

Well I've no appetite for a dungfest, I hate those. I think I want to go 1x on that bike, just wondering what the down-sides are That comment was referring to cookeaa's comment that the cassettes were the same price.

Are the people talking about 4000km of riding on a cassette just running everything into the ground or changing chains?

3 chains for that on mine, it's going on the next thing I build too.

That comment was referring to cookeaa's comment that the cassettes were the same price.

Sorry, monday morning crabbitness kicking in!

I tend to go with the 3 chains to a cassette too, I know lots of folks poopoo chain checkers, but 0.75% wear on mine generally equates to 3 chains a cassette, works for me.

Are the people talking about 4000km of riding on a cassette just running everything into the ground or changing chains?

A bit of a mixture: I'll keep an eye on the chain and if it looks worn will replace it (but not the cassette), if I then get skipping gears I'll replace the cassette. Chainring gets replaced if it looks worn or I start getting chain suck.

I'll probably use two chains per cassette, three if I'm really, really lucky. The extender ring will last three cassettes as I don't use it that often, it's really a bail-out gear.

Are the people talking about 4000km of riding on a cassette just running everything into the ground or changing chains?

I've got a decent chunk of 4000km on my PArkwood, standard chain, cassette, etc... I don't use a chain checker, i don't use chainlube either actually. Just clean and GT85 after every ride.

2 years and 6 months (4,000km) on my X1 11sp

In that time I bought 3 £11 KMC chains. Nothing else.
It needs jockey wheels.

I thought it needed a new cassette.
I bought a spare from Tiawan XG-1195 on ebay for £79
But then I realised it was a bent mech hanger instead.

I've just replaced it all with GX Eagle. Hope it lasts as well!

From these reports then it does seem to suggest the sprockets would last longer.

If we put most of our pedalling effort into lower gears, with a 1x setup one would spend much more time in the bigger sprockets than you would with 3x, which could mean less wear as they are much larger.

Interesting stuff.

The issue is probably the 9 speed stuff, it will tail off in availability (or at least decent cassettes will) over time.

been running XO1 for 3 years 5 months. All year riding in the peak mostly.

Still on the original cassette, but have just fitted a second new 42T sprocket - seem to get about 18-20 months out of them.

Chains changed at 0.75%, reckon maybe 4 a year?

Ring changed when it starts dropping the chain. Just put the 4th one on (so about a year each)

The system likes clean cables far more than my old XO 2x9 setup, so I reckon new ones maybe twice a year.

Jockey wheels maybe once a year. The rear mech is beaten to crap but still shifts passably.

I used to just run my old 2x9 setups into the ground. I'd expect a year out of chain/cass./rings. Feels like 1x11 is slightly more expensive to run, but more of a constant minor dribble of cash rather than annual big lumps, it's 500g lighter and within spitting distance of the same range. On the whole I'm happy.

Jockey wheels maybe once a year.

Are the people talking about 4000km of riding on a cassette just running everything into the ground or changing chains?

Not me, my first decided to just stop working yesterday after 2000kms or so, still on the original chain, should have changed it a year ago, mistreated, rode hard and hung up wet covered in grime and crap.

I'm an idiot, more so because I could have ordered one last week for about £20 less, but I put it off until it started to launch me over the bars, by which time it was of course more expensive.

Proactive maintenance FTW.

Are the people talking about 4000km of riding on a cassette just running everything into the ground or changing chains?

I'm the same as Jon above,I always try to replace chain at 0.75% wear.
I've tried the run it into the ground method on my old 2x8 winter bike and it didn't really work well for me- I reckon I was getting around 500 winter miles per chain,but then only around an extra 300 miles on top when I just ran it all till dead-until chainsuck and skipping became evident,taking whole drivetrain with it in the process.
As with all things bikey-some peeps ride 10 miles a week others over 100 so individual value is in the eye of the beholder I guess 🙂

These figures are pretty impressive.

On 3*9, all year round, mostly wet, I usually get a year out of a cassette and a chain.
Rings average out about one a year, so no difference there really.

My issues with 1* have always been about range and value.
It's now getting to the stage where I'll seriously consider it.

I'd be willing to trade a gear or two at the top for longer component life for a similar overall cost.

I would mainly do it to save weight, but also partly just cos. Supposedly XC bike is a bit porky.

Not sound reasons, I know, but we're all fools occasionaly aren't we? Aren't we?

It's just about function and value for me, tbh.

Tend to buy good shifters and cranks, but prefer Deore rear mechs, cassettes, and rings as they seem to last as well if not better than anything lighter and more expensive.
Never had any issues with Shimano 3*9 apart from the bottom brackets.

If I do go 1* I'd prefer square taper, will have to have a think about that.

The other thing to consider is maintenance and lubrication...

I've just started experimenting with DIY "hot waxing" (ooh-err) for my chain, and so far I'm impressed with the smoothness, quietness and lack of sticky gunk on chain, sprockets and jockey wheels.
I'm assuming with less gritty crap adhering, mixing with oils and acting as a grinding a paste, the component wear rates will reduce, but is that necessarily the case?

If I do go 1* I'd prefer square taper, will have to have a think about that.

Running 1x9 on my CX bike with an old Square-taper LX crankset, there are lots of 104BCD N/W rings available so BB choice isn't really a constraint

I'm assuming with less gritty crap adhering, mixing with oils and acting as a grinding a paste, the component wear rates will reduce, but is that necessarily the case?

I'm assuming with less gritty crap adhering, mixing with oils and acting as a grinding a paste, the component wear rates will reduce, but is that necessarily the case?

Well it's the water that transports the mud inside the chain to wear away the rollers, so if you can get the water to bead off then I guess it would help.

Lots of people bang on about it but nobody seems to have done any comparison.

The Link from [url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/diy-chainwax-reciperesults ]this thread[/url] and others is always to [url= https://www.scribd.com/document/262044061/Velo-Friction-Facts-Chain-Lube-Efficiency-Tests ]this article[/url].

Which is focussed on working efficiency and watts saved, for now any ideas on longevity are mostly anecdotes and guess work TBH...

One thing that did occur to me; is there anything to be gained by waxing other parts of the drivetrain? i.e .the cassette sprockets and chainring? Obviously the wax would vanish from the teeth and any contact areas, but nothing much seems to stick to the waxed surfaces of the chain so would a wax coating on other parts improve their water and dirt shedding even further?

Worth a try. Also do jockey wheels and dunk your cranks?

Lightweight components exposed to the elements? Yes, surprise, surprise, they are going to wear out. Generally it's not a concern unless you are running SRAM Eagle 1x12 I suppose.

Looking back at my component "consumption", at 8000Km I'd used:

one Hope 40T TRex
Three XT 11-36T cassettes
One RaceFace 30T chainring
One Hope 32T chainring
One AB 32T oval chainring
Three or four chains - can't remember

One thing with the SRAM Eagle is that the gear spacing is fairly consistent, certainly when compared with the SunRace 11-50 there's no big jumps in the middle of the cassette. The only jumps bigger than 17% are the top and bottom ones whereas the Sunrace has a 20% gap between 15 & 18T. The only big jump on the Shimano 11-46 is at the bottom end where it goes from 37T - 46T!

Worth a try. Also do jockey wheels and dunk your cranks?

I'm only using an old pan at present, I can see a cheap fryer in my future though, I'm not sure it's big enough to accomodate cranks 😉

I'm also not sure waxing the jockey wheels is wise, those are spinning at a fair few RPM compared to everything else in the drivetrain so they probably require actual oil/grease lubrication...

I'm running XT 1x11

3000km on the clock...1st chainring, 3rd chain, just had to change a cassette (I left the chain marginally too long....my mistake, one cog skipped)

Pretty impressed with it thus far.

Got bored, decided to try 1x9 and could only find three suitable washers for shimming the middle ring. Arse.

One of my boys is running 1x9 (11-34 on a 30T NW) - works pretty well,at least I rarely see him off and walking. A 'one up' on 9 speed to a 40 would be great, could re use half my garage then.

mikewsmith - Member
n0b0dy0ftheg0at - Member
~£20...
For another 8-speed cassette and chain

and your point is?
Very happy with the cost/km of my setups

I'm happy that you're happy with how much you pay for your consumeables, I'm also happy that mine cost a lot less than 1x consumables for 1x9/10/11/12, like for instance these days a replacement XD cassette for the Boardman CX Team is ~£80 alone! 😯

I originally simply posted what my 1x consumables cost, I didn't reply specifically to you when I posted... Where as now I'm replying to your query. 😆

a replacement XD cassette for the Boardman CX Team is ~£80 alone!

Right, made another chainring spacer, 1x9ed it. I feel all modern, but also cheap since it's clearly old kit bodged 🙂

Seems to work ok - but I could do with maybe more spacers since the chainline isn't great in bottom gear and that's going to take some torque since it's 32x34... Also re-using the existing middle ring so we'll see if the chain stays on.

I'm using road bar-end thumbshifters with Paul's mounts and it looks like I might have the mythical 'hidden click' that people used to use to run 8sp cassettes on 7sp gear. So I am wondering about fitting a 10sp 11-36 with my existing M970 mech, getting a 10sp chain and a NW 30T ring for ghetto 1x10.

I have to say my X01 cassettes have lasted way longer than my old XT ones and much longer than I expected. Probalby nearly twice as long, the last X01 did 18 months

Chrismac, what chains are you running? Question simply because I’ve always run the PCX1 on 11sp but I’ve read recently the ‘hardchrome’ coat on the more expensive chain pays dividends for the more expensive cassettes. I’ve not had cassette issues personally, but I’ve stuck to the steel cassette and ducked up the weight because I was scared of high wear...

A couple of chain swaps and you're into new casette money anway. Better off swapping chains at a set wear point, or just running the lot into the ground?

This is a point that’s come up a few times recently. I’ve read people saying they have run a single chain and cassette for 1000’s of kms a few times. Obviously new chain on worn cassette is always a problem, but the idea of a pair aging together makes sense. Can anyone point me at a sensible review on the subject? Possibly one that controls against the old three chains and thinners thing, I’m of the opinion that that particular approach is of a time gone by when chains and lubes were of relatively lower quality, but it would be an interesting read and probably out of scope for one person to adequately research without a couple of years and fewer commitments than most.

Can I use an 11sp shifter with an old mech and a 10sp cassette?

Chainring gets replaced if it looks worn or I start getting chain suck.

You don't get chain suck with worn NW chain rings, if you have no chain guides they drop the chain when worn. It's the thick teeth that wear down.

Aluminium alloy chain rings seem like a dead end to me. Steel is a better choice for the tiniest of tiny weight difference.

You don't get chain suck with worn NW chain rings

Beg to differ. Had it on RaceFace and Hope NW chainrings. Not had it on the Absolute Black oval ring so far.

Also had chainsuck on the first 2 superstar rings. Now changed to hope so will see.

Beg to differ

Never had chain suck since going 1x on any of my 3 bikes.

Every worn chain ring has been down to the thick teeth not being as thick any more, which reduces a NW rings chain retention ability.

Are you running chain guides?

@chestercopperpot - no, no chain guides. I've three bikes 1x and one SS with another frame waiting to be built up (CRC order being added to ATM) which will also be 1x.

Hmmmm wonder how common chain suck is with worn 1x as it's pretty much ended that problem for me, albeit replaced by increased chain and single chain ring wear.

Got to say the benefits far outweigh the downsides.

If I do 1x9 without a clutch mech or a chainguide, am I going to lose my chain all time? On A FS?

I am aren't I?

Some people say no but I've tried a standard 10 speed SLX non-clutched mech and the chain dropped quite a bit on rough stuff and heavy landings. With a clutched and modified for expanded cassettes mech, it didn't drop at all until the chain ring wore out.

Seems to be more to do with the geometry of newer mechs which wrap the chain around the cassette better, in combination with the stronger spring for the cage. Older mechs pushed out beyond their limits don't work so good and just feel a bit limp and sloppy.

Just done some reading and it seems inconclusive.

I need to change the little ring at least, that's worn, they are £15. For £30 I can get a NW middle ring, and I think I'd be happy with the ratios with a 30T chainring. I might get a 12-36T cassette when it's due next time which would help some more.

The chainline isn't great in bottom gear, and it looks as if the Superstar rings have more of an offset..?