SRAM rear cassette (10-speed)

[bikpdlr]

I've gotten spoiled by my 11-36 rear cassette on my Cannondale Flash and I've put well over 3,000 miles on it.

Looking over my options for replacement and noticed that SRAM only offers a 10-speed (11-36) rear cassette in X5 or X0... nothing in between.

The price difference is $50 vs. $250.

My primary concern is durability for the Divide and I'm also wondering if the marketing hype of "Mud-clearing open design similar to our X-dome cassette" is worthy of the extra coin.

I'm training for TD in 2013 and hoping that someone has had good/bad experiences with either of these cassettes that they'd be able to share.


Thanks,

Chris Tompkins
Danville, VA

[bikpdlr]

I called SRAM and they said their website needs to be updated.  The 11-36 rear cassette is also available in X7 and X9 as well...

Now that's a little better range of choices... price-wise.

[hikernks]

Wow, it must really be out of date, because I put an X7 10 speed on my Karate Monkey in December of 2011.

[MattL]

Shimano also has an 11-36 in XT. Just ordered one for a Ti Fargo build.

[mmeiser]

Am building up a new Trek Cronus carbon cross bike for UL road bikepacking and backroad touring. Will have an ultegra double crank, XT rear der, STI shifters. Sticking with 9-speed. Plus I'm in need of a new cassette on one of my two Fargo wheelsets.  All are 9-speed.  Am thinking of trying a SRAM instead of shimano.

if you don't mind me asking, how is the performance and durability of the SRAM in comparison to the shimano?

Interestingly I have never tried the sram cassettes, though I assume the two are 100% compatible.

It's funny because I run 12-34 and XT long arm derailleurs on pretty much all my favorite rides wether it be my Fargo or my road bikes.  I'm a meticulous chain maintence and checking guy, but still the riding I do (gravel grinding, high mileage, lots of rain and snow) is very hard on drivetrain parts.  The most I can get out of a cassette is about 2-years. I usually replace the stock 11-12 with a 12-13 after I wear the first set out and I know it's good and done when I put on a new chain and it's skipping in the 13-15t range.

Someone suggested that I just stop replacing chains (up to 9 a year) and just let both the chain and cassettes wear together until the chain breaks and then replace the whole kit... but then I'd have to replace chainrings as well so I've not gone there. Plus I maintain at least two wheelsets for all my favorite rigs so I can quick swap wheels/tire sets based on conditions. I have to be meticulous about chain wear or everything stops meshing well.

[Stevland]

I've had a sram x9 for quite awhile. Overall pretty happy with it but I'll be going to an XT. I bought a set of Stan's and the x9 can eat up the freehub body. XTs don't seem to have the same problem.

[mmeiser]

I've had a sram x9 for quite awhile. Overall pretty happy with it but I'll be going to an XT. I bought a set of Stan's and the x9 can eat up the freehub body. XTs don't seem to have the same problem.

Really?  I'd not heard this. Was just about to order a SRAM 9 speed cassette or two. I weigh over 250lbs and put a serious hurt on cassettes and chains. Is this something I should worry about?

I guess I've been running shimano cassettes exclusively for so long I can't remember the last time I road SRAM.  I think the last one I bought was probably an eight speed cassette for my old Trek 8000 sometime in the 90's.

[Trhoppe]

I use the PG1050 cassette and PC1051 chain myself. I think they are X7. I use them on all my bikes right now, even the XX race bike.

I haven't been able to figure out what the difference between the PG1050 and PG1070 cassette is other than the price. They weigh exactly the same down to the gram. Same performance as far as I can tell, so I get the PG1050 which is cheaper. The XG1080 and XG1099 are wonderful and light cassettes, but they feature aluminium 36 tooth rings, and with as much cross chaining as I do, I wore out that 36 tooth ring in like 500 miles. Not worth it to me.

The PC1051 chain has solid pins and is nickel coated inside and out. The PC1071 chain has hollow pins but it's only nickel coated on one side, so that's no good, and you have to move on up to the PC1091 to get hollow and inside/out nickel. I personally like the reliability of the solid pins and the weight difference there is negligible (15 grams) even for a weight weenie like myself.

-Tom