[Closed] most reliable/durable gearing set up.

Shimano have an ebike specific 11 speed xt coming out. If you want durability I'd go for that

12 speed XT and XTR drivetrains are the best I’ve used by a long way.

Deore is a budget version, so wouldn’t rule out posher versions due to a bad experience with Deore.

Some will recommend Sram, but they’re even more mental than Rohloff users.
😉

Isn't it a binary choice? EVERYTHING is crap on the durability stakes compared to the Rohloff.

I'm still running 10 speed Shimano that's about 10 years old and still going strong.

Worth noting that 9 speed is reliable but you can't easily get a clutch mech or wide range cassette.

“ Shimano have an ebike specific 11 speed xt coming out.”

10 speed too. “Linkglide” instead of “Hyperglide”. Unfortunately everything I’ve found is suggesting the cassettes won’t be available until mid 2023 - would be happy to hear if it’s sooner because I’m so tired of wearing out normal 11 speed cassettes!

11 speed sram/shimano/race face hybrid.

Shimano mech and shifter- I prefer the slx shifter to xt but accept I’m in the minority. Bearing jockey wheels packed with waterproof grease last longer than bushed for my local mud, so xt mech.

Sram chain and cassette.
xg1150 cassette- all steel, pretty light, lasts for aaaaaages. A mate has finally changed his after 5 or 6 years on his only bike and several chains. It was *utterly* ruined from a mechanical sympathy POV but it was still running.

1130 chains last better than 1110 (which rust if you think about taking them out on a foggy day). I haven’t tried the posher ones but apparently the £/mile works out really well

Race Face Aeffect cranks with steel ring.

It’s not necessarily the cheapest but I think it does very well on £/mile/weight and has been pretty forgettable in use I.e. it just gets on with shifting gears.

Oh, and if you’re running the Fargo drop bar I’m using exactly the same set up on my cross bike but with roadie brifters, a bigger chainring and a wolftooth tanpan. Bit fiddlier to set up with the tanpan but fine once you find it. I’d get the GRX mech that does roadie shift to Mtb cassette if I was replacing now though.

I've recently fitted a Microshift 8spd wide range group set (12-46t cassette).
Very easy to set up, and based on the longevity of old 7-8 speed it stuff should be pretty robust.
Also chains are only £7-8 for it which is nice compared to the 12 speed stuff!

2 x 10 on MTB, far closer gear spacing for us 'roadie' types. Hate big jumps in gear ratios.

Old Shimano 8/9 speed.

I've just fitted an LX M570 mech I got off fleabay for a tenner to my gravel bike, once you scrub the neglect away and change the jockeys it just carrys on working like it's not pushing 25 years old.

Running an XT M760 (rapid rise) mech on my winter roadie/commuter, the ceramic jockeys on that just needed a clean up and were good to go that's got to be over 15. M580 on yet another bike just assembled is seeming pretty spot on and must be circa 17 years old...

You could go a bit more recent but it feels like things got less durable after about 2008 (IMO), first gen Shadow was where they started desiring stuff to wear out faster, certainly below XT.

Obviously you'll struggle to stretch such old mechs beyond a 40t sprocket, a 36 may well be the limit in some cases. So you have to decide if you want rangey 2/3x or a more limited flavour of 1x than we're used to today...

But yeah, old Shimano lasts forever...

If I could lay my hands on an affordable M971 mech and an Ultegra 6700 flatbar shifter just to try out I would but all the retro-hoarders keep pushing the prices for such old tat through the roof...

All our bikes bar one are 1x10 or 2x10.
My experience has been, totally reliable and long lasting too.
If you’re considering the ride quality, 2x will have a lower percentage of the weight on the rear wheel due to smaller cassette/shorter mech etc.
I have 1 bike with 1x11grx on it, works perfectly. Can’t say anything for longevity, it’s only done a couple of hundred miles in total. Has a wider range cassette compared to what I’m used to, but I can’t say I notice the difference at all when riding.

I'll answer your title question.

It's a Rohloff setup....

Hey. You've already got one. Bonus.

The most reliable and faff free drivetrain I had was Sram GX 11 speed. Just did it’s thing and the all steel cassette just went on and on for ever.

I’d go gx 11 speed mech / shifter / cassette but run whatever crank you’re happy with now. Don’t go gxp or dub cranks.

Edit - they will need a bearing change on the jockey wheels or a switch to NX bushes jockey wheels though in time.

My Shimano 12 speed xt mech has been ok ish - it has needed the clutch pivot rebuilding once so far though and I have snapped one jockey wheel cage when a stick got at it. Hadn’t ever snapped a jockey cage before then.

My GX Eagle 12 speed mech has been fine so far - apart form one seized jockey wheel bearing - impressed the old one out and a new one in and all good to continue with that.

I’d avoid 12 speed if you want reliability / avoiding faff. I’ve found particularly the Shimano one is very fussy about b screw adjustment.

I'm finding SRAM AXS kit to be very good - obviously no cables to replace, no indexing tweaks as a cable stretches...the higher end chains seem to last ages (I use Squirt on them) and using a steel chainring, that lasts for ages as well. Steel cassette and that outlasts the alloy versions by a long way as well.

Isn't cheap, and as already been said - suspect anything after the Rohloff isn't going to be as durable or long-lasting.

I'd back up the suggestion of XT 11 speed but with SRAM xg1150 cassette and SRAM chain. My cassette lasted 6 years with 3 chains, and was still running fine (but would no longer take a new chain). Still sold cassette with matched chain for a few quid in the current market, and replaced like for like with new parts.

I’ll answer your title question.

<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;"> </span>

<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">It’s a Rohloff setup</span>

<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;"> </span>

<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Hey. You’ve already got one.</span> Bonus.

This 👆

I had XTar 11 speed on my last bike, 4 years and many 1000's of KM and it was absolutely perfect, not a missed beat including lots of racing from XC to 24hour solos.

I've got XTR 12 speed on my current bike, 2200km in so far, put a new chain on at 1850km (0.5% wear) and it's been equally as good, if not better. The chain is the only thing I've ever changed on both of those bikes.

I’m running 1x11 in all bikes, Shimano xt chain/shifter/mech with Sunrace 50t cassette.

Been faultlessly reliable so far. 2yrs of my (lowish) 2-3k per year miles no problem.

No snapped chains, or other issues at all.

Reading the OP, I assume he is after better weight distribution, but wants to retain the durability of the current setup.... Unfortunately there are compromises with both - retain durability with the rolhoff or a more even weight distribution with a less durable/ reliable mech.

There cirtainly isn't a 'just as' durable mech setup, so id be tempted to say go budget for cost rather than durability - especially if retaining the existing wheel with  a view to swap between the two in the future which will increase durability of both setups anyway.....

Would you consider giving single speed a go?

I’d avoid 12 speed if you want reliability / avoiding faff.

I just came here to say that my combo of GX and XO1 12speed has by far been the most reliable long lived and well functioning drivetrain I've had. I think I've adjusted the b screw a couple of times and changed the inner cable in terms of in life servicing. The chain lasted so long I changed it because of age (it was 3 years old) rather than wear.

Not speaking for OP but cost presumably is also a factor. The gap between cheap-midrange-top end gets increasingly wide and trying to maintain or replace a top end 12 speed drive train now seems nuts.

The obvious answer is a belt-drive Rohloff or a Pinion gearbox - the latter obviously requiring a specific frame.

The answer if you have derailleur gears like 99+% of cyclists, is the groupset one or two down from top-end where you hit that sweet spot of quality and performance vs cost/durability.

I'm not a fan of Rohloff cos I don't like the massive hunk of extra weight at the back axle plus the grinding noise in a couple of the gears would drive me mad although I accept they work very well on touring bikes where weight distribution is less of an issue once you're loaded up.

2 x 10 on MTB

+1

Sir needs a 60s Sturmey archer 3 spd. Indestructible those things.

crazylegs - you forgot the shit gearchange. I think its the thing about the rohloff that bugs me most. However for high mileage bikes I love 'em

I'd imagine hub gears trump all, followed by ascending up through higher speed traditional systems (8>9>10>11>12>13), but bigger larger cassette ranges with bigger sproket jumps causing more issues than a low range cassette.

It's been years since my 2008 Alfine 8-speed Saracen Pylon 8 frame cracked on the seat tube, back then the rear wheel weight felt a bit odd, but being able to change gear while stationary was great and the range was pretty decent.

2 x 10 on MTB

+1

Deeply unfashionable I know, but Shimano's trekking groupsets are still 3x10. You can run 48/36/26 or 44/32/22 with an 11-36 cassette (can probably be pushed a bit lower too). I've got 44/32/22 on my Swift. With a KMC chain it seems to go on for ever!

 followed by ascending up through higher speed traditional systems

Not my experience,  I think those old 8/9 speed set ups weren't anything like as well sorted as SRAM's 12 speed is now. I think the sweet pot for 3x or 2x  systems was probably Shimano 10 speed. No experience with Shimano 12sp, so can't comment

2 x 10 on MTB

-1 from me.

possibly very well suited for whatever subniche a Fargo falls into this year. Possibilty of long climbs with luggage, and also tarmac sections needs wuite a gear range.

but for mtb I will never give up having my left thumb for the seatpost. Also the "one button easier, one button faster" is a great advantage and feeling.

I would be willing to compromise gearing for that.

I dont personally find 1x10 to be a compromise for my riding or terrain.

friends who have sram 12 speed speak highly of the durability, as long as you have the higher end cassette and chain. cheap out on the rest for longevity of disposable parts.
nice shifter for the feel, or mid to high end mech for durability.

2 x 10 on MTB

The 2 x 10 on my CX is pretty bombproof. It really does just work and last. No desire to go to a 1 x 11 or 1 x 12.

Anyone recommended singlespeed yet?

How long would you expect a drive train to last when used off-road in the UK, say for a frequent rider of about 5 hours a week?

I've pretty much always seemed to have got about:
- 6 months out of a cháin
- 12 months out of a cassette
- 2 years out of a cháin ring
- 2 years out of gear cables
- 12 months out of a bottom bracket
- 12 months out of brake pads

Obviously that is averaged across a full years worth of weather. Not just a specific season.

microshift 10 speed - wide range cassette and mech with a clutch.

put this on my eeb as the 12sp (sram and shimano) was crap.

I`m still running 10speed shimano on a bike too and thats great but no wide range cassette.

I’d avoid 12 speed if you want reliability / avoiding faff.

I just came here to say that my combo of GX and XO1 12speed has by far been the most reliable long lived and well functioning drivetrain I’ve had. I think I’ve adjusted the b screw a couple of times and changed the inner cable in terms of in life servicing. The chain lasted so long I changed it because of age (it was 3 years old) rather than wear

Same with Shimano 12 spd stuff here. B-tension adjustment couldn't be easier - there's a guide on the back of the inner cage to align with the 51T sprocket. It takes 2 mins and never needs to be re-visited. Not even changed a cable on my XT set up which is a little over 2 and a half years old.

 

“ Shimano have an ebike specific 11 speed xt coming out.”

Not sure as it seems a bit mixed messaging as to if it's "ebike specific" or just "optimised"
I guess I mean is it engineered for eBikes or just marketed?
If the latter then I'm far more interested in a more durable drivechain...

Not sure as it seems a bit mixed messaging as to if it’s “ebike specific” or just “optimised”
I guess I mean is it engineered for eBikes or just marketed?
If the latter then I’m far more interested in a more durable drivechain…

I am going to guess at:

more durable cassette - full steel, probably heavy to keep costs down (no time intensive machining to drop grams on a heavy ebike)

shifter allows only one or possibly 2 cogs at a time (to prevent that quad-shift crunching with 5-600W going through the chain.)

no quick link in the chain (easy to add your own)

I'm not sure if it would be of much benefit on a normal bike. Nor on an ebike of someone who shifts gently becasue they are used to a normal bike.

Sram XX1 cassette & chain with an 11 speed XTR mech and shifter, su[[er reliable setup for me, started out on 26 inch wheeled bike, moved to 27.5 when I bought a new frame, and them moved to 29. All parts still in service on other bikes now. Brilliant kit.

Yeah, the Linkglide cassette is full steel - 784g

https://r2-bike.com/SHIMANO-Deore-XT-Linkglide-Cassette-11-speed-CS-LG600-11-50-teeth

Chain does have a quicklink

Shifter does allow a double downshift

https://r2-bike.com/SHIMANO-Deore-XT-Linkglide-Shifter-SL-M8130-11-speed-I-Spec-EV

My 2014 XTC has SLX 2x10. I recently had to replace chain, rings, cassette. Availability of these parts was pretty poor. Not one supplier had both rings, although cassettes were slightly more common. It looked like my options would have been even worse on a higher end groupset. So my advice, if you want 10-speed, would be to go for something that is still in production like Microshift, or maybe Box 11-speed.

The obvious answer is a belt-drive Rohloff

Wasn't there a guy on here wo was forever stripping his belt drive with trapped stones and the like? Although I seem to remember he was a bit of a destroyer of kit?

I know its heretical to say so but my NX 1x12 11-50 setup hasn't missed a beat. I bought a Giant Trance in November 2019 with it on, and I budgeted to change it for something proper when it started playing up. Well, it hasn't, and I ride it on a regular basis. All I've done is changed the chain about a year ago just as a precaution.

I ran XT M8000 11 speed for 6 years before swapping to SRAM GX 12 speed when I bought my new bike in December. Was totally bombproof and did many 1,000's of miles across two bikes.

The only issue was having to grease the clutch every 6 months or so, which was quite a fiddly job.

So far I'm having very few issues with the SRAM stuff and the chains seem to last longer. I think at some point I'll swap out the GX cassette for an X01 or Garbaruk one piece job though.

Bog standard 8 speed set up. Never needs tweaking, chains last forever, nothign seems to wear out and, when it does finaly wear, you can replace the entire drivetrain for about £50.

The biggest problem with it is that, as you never have to touch it, adjusters can seize up due to lack of use!

Or singlespeed....

My 2014 XTC has SLX 2×10. I recently had to replace chain, rings, cassette. Availability of these parts was pretty poor. Not one supplier had both rings, although cassettes were slightly more common. It looked like my options would have been even worse on a higher end groupset.

Make me a reasonable offer (at least equal to postage cost) if you want more chainrings. I'll chuck in the XT front and shifter mech as well

@ton - Spa Cycles will have something 8 or 9sp for you. Give them a call

Chain does have a quicklink
Shifter does allow a double downshift

only a double though. conventional XT allows 4.

Make me a reasonable offer (at least equal to postage cost) if you want more chainrings

Thanks for the offer but I think I'm sorted - found someone who had some Blackspire rings bought for a project but not used. Had to pay a bit more than postage though 😢

In the spirit of recommending what you have, my Surly Ice Cream Truck’s drivetrain is well over 7 years old and still going strong. Surely steel rings ( the outer is now more smooth than pointy but still works), KMC chain, 11 - 36 SLX 10 speed cassette. The jacket wheels had a moment a few days back when the bearing sleeve moved in the jockey wheel but was soon encouraged back into its proper position.

That bike has done thousands of kilometres of riding and not just on the beach either.

By way of contrast, the 12 speed XT set up I had on a test e bike was 100% worn in less than three months.

I have a new outer ring, cassette and chain ready for the Truck when I can be bothered getting round to changing it. So I guess 2 x with steel rings is what gets my vote!

Cheers

Sanny

1x10 Shimano with Radcage, Sunrace wide range cassette (you can go all steel) has been the most bulletproof and best value setup I've had to date. Win win!

All my drivetrains take an absolute pasting and the mechs look battered after a few months riding.

I've found Shimano 11sp (XT and SLX) mech cages get bent out of shape far too easily for some reason!

Rohloff on the winter offroad commuter, I get over 2000 miles out of a £8 PC1N chain.

Summer commuter has 2x10 XTR with Sunrace cassette - very reliable but I'd love a 10 speed cassette with a 10t cog to give me a better gear spread.

1x1

xg1150 cassette- all steel, pretty light, lasts for aaaaaages

The most reliable and faff free drivetrain I had was Sram GX 11 speed. Just did it’s thing and the all steel cassette just went on and on for ever.

with SRAM xg1150 cassette and SRAM chain. My cassette lasted 6 years with 3 chains

Continuing on the theme of durable gearing set up... 11-46t SLX cassette vs 10-42 SRAM XG-1150 cassette - which is more durable?

I suspect I know the answer but seeking reassurance that it'd be worth the additional expense (in the longterm) of buying an XD driver for my hub and swapping my worn out 11-46 SLX and 30t chainring setup, to a 10-42 XG-1150 and 28t steel chainring. My cassette, chainring and chain need replaced soon anyway and comments on the durability of the XG-1150 have piqued my interest.

I've compared gear ratios: SRAM 11-42 (with a 28t chainring) looses out marginally at the low end (18.9 vs 19.5 gear inches) and would gain a 'faster' high gear (79.4 vs 81.5). Slight weight saving and (IMO) a nicer spread of gears towards the top of the cassette with smaller gaps.

Is the SRAM XG-1150 that much more durable to make the change worthwhile?

My mates were breaking chains every ride when 9 speed came out and I was still on 8 speed. I only just switched from 8 to to 10 speed last year and the narrower chain seems just as durable ( I think they finally started using a stronger steel for the side plates), the increased cable pull of Dynasys means the shifting feels just as precise as 8speed did.

If always preferred Shimano to SRAM especialy at lower price points I've found although SRAM is lighter, but only because they use plastic rather than Shimano who use steel. SRAM stuff wears out more quickly as a result.

2x10 (40:28 11:32)is nice on my gravel bike for the extra range at the top end, but 1x10 with a tiny chainring(30T 11:42T) is fine on my MTB, I just coast above 20mph. Its great to not having the front derailleur that stops working when the parallelogram is stiffed with mud and stones.

I build EVERYTHING 1x10 now, as after years of frequent meddling with 3x7 through to 2x10, 1x10 feels like the absolute sweet spot. Providing you use the right stuff, of course. Which is a PG1050 cassette, KMC chain, and XT M786 shifter and mech. Multiple shifts both ways is glorious, and the proper positive shift action just feels so well engineered. I hate sram shifters as I'm autistic and using my thumb for both up and downshifts is horrible. But their cassettes? Fab. I've got 6000km on one of them, and after a good clean it still looks new.

I am guessing that those suggesting 1 x 10 or 11 haven't much to compare it with. Undoubtedly it can last fairly well if maintained but we all know that, quality being the same, the smaller the number of sprockets the longer it will last. It's not the number but the implications. Best bet will be a 7 or 8 speed cassette with a short rear mech and a nice close double chainset. The short mech gives a better shift than a long one and it isn't dangling in the crud like a long one. A front mech is the most fool proof moving part on a bike if you set it up properly. If you can't then tough. Anything 1x gives a poor chain line as any bike chain runs and last best straight not bent. Ideally go for friction gear changing. Nothing to chose between down tube or bar end and thumb shifters are close behind.
Biggest snag is getting decent quality kit as that has dropped off in recnt years. A nice Dura Ace 8 speed mech in good nick will last for ever.
Best of all will be SS or fixed. The latter will even save on brake blocks.

I am still running 8 speed 600/Ultegra and Dura Ace - just works. Also LX/XT on my old MTB that I use for commuting on the canal.