Can I mix and match cogs from 2 different SRAM cassettes and still expect it to work?

Asked by: Matthew Wilson

Are cassette cogs interchangeable?

According to the late great Sheldon Brown, yes you can change an individual sprocket in a cassette, at least for Shimano. Some cassettes have small bolts or rivets holding the gears together, but this is for convenience.

Are all 12 speed cassettes compatible?

The 12-speed cassette is designed to be backwards compatible with the existing 11-speed road freehub, while the 12 speed-specific freehub (available on Dura Ace hubs currently) can’t be used with the 11-speed parts. Sram HG-style cassettes are largely the same spacing as Shimano, with the 10 speed exception.

Are bike cassettes interchangeable?

In some cases, it is possible to run a cassette from a different brand than the rest of your drivetrain. SRAM and Shimano cassettes, on either road or mountain bike, are interchangeable with each other as the spacing is the same between the sprockets.

Are all 10 speed cassettes compatible?

All Shimano and SRAM cassettes up to 10 speed are broadly compatible. They all use Shimano’s Hyperglide II freehub body spline pattern. Cassettes with the same number of sprockets have the same sprocket spacing, sprocket width and overall width.

Is an 11 34 cassette good for climbing?

All other things being equal, the 34T sprocket on the 11-34T cassette is going to give you the easiest gear. If your bike is currently fitted with an 11-28T cassette, switching to an 11-34T cassette will make climbing less of a struggle.

What is the best gear ratio for climbing hills?

You will need even lower gear ratios for steep hills that are 8% or more. The most preferred gear ratios on such tracks are 50/34, 40/34, 36/40, 34/36, 34/32, 34/30, and 32/20. However, remember that using gears with such a low ratio will cause you to pedal more, but it will require less effort.

Can I use a 12 speed derailleur on an 11 speed cassette?

So there you go folks, there is no difference in indexing spacing between 11 and 12 speed, the difference is all at the derailleur end. So you can’t use a 12 speed derailleur on an 11 speed setup or vice versa but you can you an xtr 12/11 speed shifter on an 11 speed drivetrain.

What does SRAM XD mean?

SRAM XD. XD is a style of freehub body that was created by SRAM for a larger range of gears, and allows for less than a 11-tooth cog on the cassette. XD is most commonly used for mountain bike applications, but can be applied for gravel, cyclocross, and road bikes as well. XD.

Can you use an 11 speed cassette with a 10 speed groupset?

A 10-speed Shimano or SRAM cassette can still be fitted to an 11-speed body, but a spacer will be required to make up for the difference in width. There is another, more subtle, incompatibility that affects different brands of hubs and wheels, but it will only have an impact on those riders using multiple wheelsets.

What is the difference between 11 28 and 11 34 cassette?

As shown, the maximum speed is the same with the 11 tooth cog and the 11-28 and 11-30 cassettes share the same gearing combinations until the largest three cogs. However, the 11-34 cassette has easier gearing in every combination except while in the 11 tooth cog.

How long should a cassette last?

Cassette lifespan can range between 4000 to 10000 miles, and this is affected by the cassette itself and maintenance frequency.

What cassette do pro cyclists use?

The most common cassette size used in the peloton is an 11-28t. That is positively humongous compared to the 11-21t cassette that was common a few decades ago when you’d be lucky if you got an 11-23t for the mountains. Since Shimano went to 11-speed though, the 11-28t cassette has become popular.

What is the best gear ratio for a mountain bike?

Here’s the short answer: The best mountain bike gear ratio for climbing is 46 to 49 on a chainring and 16 to 18 on a cassette. For more diverse rides, mountain bike gears of ratios 46/17 to 42/17 are what work for flatter terrain or occasional hills.

How do I know what SRAM cassette I have?

The model number for SRAM cassette sprockets is very simple: “Type – (hyphen) gearshift + grade”.

Can I use Shimano derailleur with SRAM cassette?

A Shimano shifter doesn’t play well with a Sram derailleur and vice versa. Basically what is happening here is that a shifter moves the cable a certain amount which causes the derailleur to shift a gear. The problem is that Sram and Shimano shifter/derailleurs are designed around different amounts of cable movement.

Can you remove cogs from a cassette?

Quote from video: Counterclockwise. For installation you won't need to hold the cogs in place simply turn the lock ring clockwise with force. It's a pretty simple process as long as you have the right tool for the job.

Can you add gears to a cassette?

Cassettes (and freewheels) come as a complete set; in most cases, it’s not possible to swap individual cogs; you have to replace the entire cassette.

How do you separate a bike cassette?

Quote from video: The tool so that you can turn them against each other remove. The lock ring. And then disassemble the freewheel either one gear at a time or remove the whole stack. – put it back on.

Do I need to change chain when changing cassette?

You should change your chain at the same time as the cassette and/or chainset. “A worn chain on a new cassette or chainrings will only accelerate the wear,” says Chris McKenney.

How do you remove a cassette without a tool?

Quote from video: Like a flathead screwdriver.