Hi all,
Had a lovely SC 5010 dropped on me needing a replacement for its M9000 XTR 3x11 (yes, really, 3x) and was planning to swap for the excellent 1x12 M8100 XT groupset at the rider's request, only to find that you can't get 10-51 XT cassettes anywhere in the UK. I'd kinda got used to this during Covid when manufacturing was impacted and demand through the roof, but what's Shimano's excuse this time?
"Oh, sorry, there's been a running on fishing tackle so we've been making rods instead of cassettes for the last 6 months."
Obviously, a nice side effect of Brexit is that it's much harder to buy from Europe now with many of the normal retailers no longer shipping to the UK, even though some, at least, do have the cassettes in stock, so it seems that supply is largely being limited by what Madison can get hold of. It seems insane that something that is a consumable item (albeit an expensive one) on their workhorse groupset is being offered with 6 months+ lead time.
Anyone got any suggestions on alternative sources or options? I'd rather not spec up to XTR (£300 for a consumable item is a bit steep!) or down to SLX if I don't have to. Likewise would rather stick with Shimano as the rider prefers this to SRAM (which I quite understand). Thinking about importing direct from the far-east now, as it'll probably be quicker than waiting for stock here!
I can see 30-31 weeks being quote for delivery on some of the German sites. That sounds like a problem that is not going to be resolved soon. I would buy an SLX cassette and the rest XT as soon as possible before they start running out of them too, as most consumers would go in that direction. The weight/performance difference is really not huge.
Yeah, Mantel saying stock by the end of the month (we'll see), but they won't ship any order *more than* £135 to the UK. Bike Discount won't ship any order *less than* £175 to the UK (no, I don't understand either), but they are saying more than 6 weeks lead time anyway.
I can ship to Europe anyway (I'm there often enough) so this isn't a big problem, but clearly Shimano are having supply problems...again.
the only difference between Deore/SLX/XT is the number of aluminium rings on 12 speed. Deore fully steel, SLX one ally, XT 2 ally. So more durability for a slight weight penalty.
Full groupset in stock also, but you might save by going for individual components in orders under £135 to avoid VAT
https://www.bird.bike/product/garbaruk-cassette-12-speed-shimano-microspline-10-52-black/
Lighter than XTR, all steel so will last!
Garbaruk has an alloy largest cog, not all steel.
UK shop, in-stock. That was the 2nd result I found in google shopping for '10-51 XT cassettes' - not sure where you were looking?
https://www.studiovelo.co.uk/components/gears-drivetrain/cs-m8100-xt-12-speed-cassette__684?
Neither R2 nor studio velo turned up in my searches (I've just tried again!) so no idea, but Google let me down this time. Thanks guys, much appreciated.
+ for Velo, they're good guys - based in Castle Douglas, no issues ordering from them at all.
Thanks guys - in the end, went for R2 as I've used them before and they had the short-length cranks that are not as commonly available in groupset bundles elsewhere. Will probably get stung for VAT on import, but even so, it's still a decent price for the whole groupset. Ordered this morning, shipped out from Germany at lunchtime and will probably turn up next week sometime.
That R2 price is a good deal for the XT cassette - i just bought a spare. Came through as £108 delivered and looks like it shipped this morning!
R2-bike are slowly becoming my new go-to these days.
If supply on SLX is better I would just go for that. Difference is minimal nowadays.
noeffsgiven
R2-bike are slowly becoming my new go-to these days.
very good to deal with should an issue come up too.