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Been on a borrowed bike for last few weeks, which was running a sram GX group.
Getting back on my 11 speed shimano bike this week, I’ve decided I need to upgrade.
It’s a whole can of worms. Firstly vie always been staunch shimano, but really enjoyed the sram shifting. Although I understand the new 12 speed shimano is much better than before?
I need a new freehub regardless, either a sram or microspline, so that’s not an issue, but It does seem a shame to ditch my perfectly good XT crankset - I cant find a decent 12sp ring with 96bcd, other than AB ones which are about £80! so im resigned to a full groupset.
Sticking with shimano means I can at least use my BB and hope shifter mount, and im comfortable maintaining them.
All things considered, including the bits and bobs I need, XT M8100 or Sram GX would both cost about the same, £400ish. Or SLX M7100 would cost me £300.
please persuade me.
SRAM NX and SX eagle cassettes will work with a shimano HG freehub, you just get an 11t smallest cog, rather than 10t of the XD/ microspline ones
IMO there is no competition between either SLX or XT vs GX. Shimano all the way.
No need to change the cranks - "11 speed" chain rings will work fine.
You need a 12 speed shifter, mech, cassette and possibly freehub
FWIW my XTR 12 speed is immense.
Just FYI chain reaction are doing the whole gx group including dub cranks for about £280. That’s cassette, shifter, cranks with 32t chainring, chain, mech. Guess you’d need a bb and an adapter for your right hand brake lever.
Recent reviews are suggesting the shimano slx or xt 12 speed groups are smoother and better out together though. Deore 12 speed just launched too which maybe even cheaper.
Just on the above point I don’t think the shimano 12 speed chain plays nicely with a lot of 11 speed chainrings.
There's many ways to do it. What's your main goal? Best shifting, or cheapest way to a wider range?
Merlin were doing the SLX gear set for £250. The XT set was on offer too but I can't remember how much it was.
I think I saw the new Deore on CRC for about £240 last week too.
I can't offer any upgrade advice, I'm still running SLX 11 speed and happy enough with it for the time being.
thanks for replies... the snob in me doesn't want NX or Deore, but the tightwad doesnt want XTR or X01.
i guess the ultimate goal is best bang for buck value, and availability.
i know some 11sp chainrings will work, but 96bcd are out of stock in decent flavours. ive read several threads that tell me the current XTM800 chainring not compatible. plus the individually adding the cassette/mech/shifter/chain + a new chainring is adding up to more than a full group anyway.
My absolute black chainring didn’t work with Shimano 12 speed but A superstar oval one did. They’re cheap at the moment too.
Rf narrow wide didn't work for me on Shimano slx chain..
think im gonna go full XT M8100. £330 from ze germans. includes cranks but no chain ring strangely, but i see burgtec have brought one out for the shimano 12 speed groups so prob get one of them...
I’ve just built a bike up for my son and initially bought a NX group-set.
I thought it was very poorly made so sold it on EBay and then bought SLX from a local shop. When I fitted the NX rear mech it was all wobbly and appeared loose even though it was tightened up fully. I have seen a few reports of GX SX and NX rear mechs snapping in two at the mounting point.
Both of my bikes have a mix of XTR and XT 11 speed but I have to say I would happily run SLX 12 speed, it really is well made, looks good and was a breeze to set up.
The Shimano cassettes are also 10-51 and cheaper than SRAM