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Hey guys.. so my new wheels for my gravel build (a 650b Mason Bokeh) arrived from Hunt with an XD freehub.
I've only ever used shimano hubs and cassettes, even though I run SRAM on my gravel stuff.
Question is, should I bother with the hassle of returning the rear to swap for shimano or should I roll with the XD freehub.? I need to buy a new cassette anyway.
The only downside to me is I cannot swap cassettes between my other wheels if I stick with XD.
Or are XD cassettes more expensive than shimano?
Your thoughts and advice is always appreciated.
Or are XD cassettes more expensive than shimano?
Shimano and SRAM do cheap and expensive casettes which don't line up well for comparison. (somebody will be along to compare deore to xx1 shortly)
For me the SRAM stuff is generally harder wearing as it's mostly steel with less weight than the shimano Alu version and I prefer the way the casette fits with no splines to trash.
Other opinions are available....
As Mike says, there is a lot to like about xd and sram cassettes.
I now rear xd as the default and shim as the "irritant" standard if I buy a second-hand bike or wheels.lol
Edit: Sram cassettes are also a work of art. Totally irrelevant but honesty, they are a thing of beauty!
The not trashing splines thing is an important point and whilst all my bikes are XT the next bike will be SRAM for that reason.
Cassettes to fit HG freehubs are generally heavier and cheaper.
Cassettes to fit xD are generally lighter but more expensive.
The xD gives you the option of a 10 tooth cog (or 9 in the case of the e13).
While the xD freehub is open source, SRAM hold a patent on how their cassette attaches so there are fewer alternatives.
The not trashing splines thing is an important point and whilst all my bikes are XT the next bike will be SRAM for that reason.
You can even keep your XT with a XD and SRAM cassette in 10-42. Great combo actually, which I have been running for 2 years.
conversely, I wouldn't trust SRAM engineers to open a tin of tuna that was already open.
Ok... A resounding XD win then..
Apart from bigrich at the end. That's bold comment, what are your reasons rich?
I think I'll just stick with it then, rather than return it. Sweeet.
Oh, do I need any spesh tools for XD.?
Oh, do I need any spesh tools for XD.?
Normal tool to fit and remove but some proper anti seize to use when fitting.
Whats the widest range XD 11 speed cassette please? Anything wider than 10-42? Thanks
It's 10-42 from sram but that is a wider range than 11-46
Andy - E13 do a 9-46t which is a wider range than 12 speed Eagle.
Thanks guys. Something to think about. The wear on these tiny sprockets does worry me though.
Issue:
It seems that trying to locate sensibly priced XD cassettes or in closer tooth ratios is tricky.
I currently run a 11-34 (i think) 11spd as I never use the massive 42+ cogs that most 1x cassettes have.. If I'm going that steep then I take the MTB.
Can anyone point me in the direction of a medium spec, closer range cassette. ? The biggest sprocket being 34-36 ?
Or is this the reason I need to go back to a Shimano freehub?. It seems that the XD cassettes are very limited on ratios.
You can't get an 11 speed XD cassette with less than 42 teeth...I've been looking as I've bought some wheels for my road bike that came with an XD driver ...which i'd take over Shimano any day, but struggling to find 11 speed cassette...and although i'd use that as an excuse to upgrade to 12 speed...even the SRAM Force etap is a hell of a lot so not an option right now. So if you want less than 42 tooth cassette then you're going to have to change your freehub...or go to a larger chainring.
"You can’t get an 11 speed XD cassette with less than 42 teeth…"
Bugg3r... OK, decision made then. Back to Shimano.
Thanks for the clarification Wobbliscott.
Or fit a bigger chain ring to give the lower gear that you want and enjoy the extra top end in the downs!
bigrich
Member
conversely, I wouldn’t trust SRAM engineers to open a tin of tuna that was already open.
Well I should hope they won't even attempt it, you can't open an open thing
You can open the other side, but that does run the risk of dropping the tuna.
Bugg3r… OK, decision made then. Back to Shimano.
If you got a good deal on the wheels then you can just swap out the free hub...thats what I'm doing. the wheels I bought were the last pair in stock and heavily discounted so the additional cost of the Shimano frehubb still means I'm quids in. Really easy to swap out too.
I went Shimano as the freewheel was cheaper and I could get similar stations on XT. The weight was similar too. I can interchange with my other bikes too.
I think XD was a good idea if you need that tiny cog. I’m not fast enough for a 11T.
I think XD was a good idea if you need that tiny cog. I’m not fast enough for a 11T.
Think you missed the point there, it gives you more range than chucking a bigger cogn on the back, it means you can have a lower overall spread of gears (number to number) and a bigger range, you then size the front to match.
Or in simple terms you can run a smaller chainring, get a lower gear and the same top end.
I see all the advantages of XD, but the limited cassette options are the nail for me.
I do not require a 42t+ on the back, and do not want to change anything at the front end.
So I will swap the freehub out for a shimano and continue where I left off.
Thanks for your help guys..