How to choose between 10 speed vs 12 speed drivetrain on mountain bike. Pros and Cons

Asked by: Chris Carter

Why is 12-speed better?

Since the 12-speed cassette has the same total width as the 11-speed, the space between cogs is narrower. This leads to “faster” shifting since the derailleur doesn’t need to move as far to switch gears. Obviously, this is all dependent on cadence, and a higher cadence will maximize the advantage.

Is 10-speed enough for MTB?

Yes, 10-speed bikes are good simply because they have a lot of range. If you’re climbing a mountain, they’re not the best. However, if you’re just climbing a hill, then you’ll be all set with a 10-speed bicycle.

What drivetrain is best for mountain bike?

Best mountain bike drivetrains and groupsets

Crank arm lengths. …
Shifters. …
Derailleurs AKA mechs. …
Cassette. …
What’s available? …
Shimano. …
Shimano Deore M6100. Recently given the 12-speed treatment, Deore continues to punch well above its weight. …
SRAM X01 and SRAM X01 Eagle. There’s very little to split XX1 and X01.

Are 12-speed bikes good?

And thanks to improved materials and tolerances, they’re also much more reliable overall, even if they can be a little finicky compared to those 8 and 9-speed systems. 12-speed drivetrains pretty much killed the front derailleur as well, especially after 11-speed showed that maybe we didn’t need them after all.

How many gears is best for mountain bike?

Typically, for trail riding, you’ll want between 30 and 36 teeth with anything above that being more gravity orientated.

What is a 10 speed bike good for?

If you’re a very fit and active cyclist, the 10-speed is the obvious choice. Ten-speed bicycles give you a better range of gears for tackling tough climbs, fast hill sections, and long stretches of open road.

Why do mountain bikes have less gears now?

So why do mountain bikes have less gears? Mountain bikes have less gears for quite a few reasons, however the primary reasons being less maintenance, lighter weight, and the need for only the quickest shifts when running into such a varied terrain.

Is Shimano XT better than deore?

Thanks to its levers, the Deore XT operates smoother and faster and since the price difference is minimal, you should go for the greater product. The XT bests Deore in terms of weight, 148 grams versus 162, in the case of the top swing 3×10 version, even though the prices are even closer, of 30 and 22 euros.

Why are 1x drivetrains better?

There are a number of advantages to 1x drivetrains. Simply put: Easier to understand and use – with only the right hand gear shifter used to shift up or down gears riders can focus on enjoying their ride rather than fretting about the complexity of their gears.

How do I choose mountain bike gears?

Avoid cross-chaining: Picking gears that put your chain on opposite extremes of the front cogs and rear cassette at the same time (cross-chaining) is hard on the drivetrain. Instead stick with rear cogs that are relatively close in alignment with the front cog you choose.

What gear ratio is best for climbing?

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. However, with that being said, the perfect ratio usually depends on the terrain you’re riding.

How can I bike uphill without getting tired?

There are some quick things you can do to prepare for hills: Upgrade your wheels for lighter ones that perform better going uphill, make sure your bike is suitable for climbing, with a wide range of gear options, reduce weight on your bike by avoiding additional bags and so on, wear sweat wicking clothing to keep you

What is the best gear for a mountain bike?

Is 1×11 better than 2×10?

Neither system is better than the other. In some situations, 1x is better, in others, 2x is better. As cassette range expands, effectively because the largest cog is getting bigger, the advantageous of 2x (or 3x) are decreasing.

What is the drivetrain on a mountain bike?

What is the drivetrain? The ‘drivetrain’ of the bike consists of all the bits that you use to push (or pull) the bike along. The key components are the pedals, cranks, chainrings, chain, cogs (cassette) and derailleur.

What is the difference between Shimano and SRAM?

The key difference between SRAM and Shimano groupsets is the shifting actuation – the distance between shifts relative to the lever index. Shimano’s 1:2 ratio means the cable and derailleur move further during each shift.

Are Fox or RockShox better?

Key points when comparing Fox and RockShox

– Both Fox and RockShox offer a range of suspension forks from lightweight XC race forks to long-travel downhill forks. – Results: RockShox dominates World Cup XC, while Fox is tops in World Cup DH racing.

What does SRAM stand for?

static random access memory

SRAM (static random access memory)