Cassette recommendation for hardtail MTB (off-road)

[maxwolfie]

I have just fitted a DM02 mid mount, 1 x 10 setup. 42t on the front, 11-36 cassette.

Pedalling up hills with a flat battery will be hell, so I’m thinking of dropping down to 34t on the front (smallest that Toseven offer), and going for a cassette with a massive big sprocket.

Any suggestions for something that will do the trick? I have read that 8 speed setups are stronger than 10 speed setups (presumably they can be wider, per gear, hence a beefier chain?)

 

[szkuba]

1. the chain is indeed wider on 8 speed cassetes, however you need to also look at the cassette build itself. There are cheap 8s 11-40T cassetes however those could be not very strong. I would suggest to search for something with common big spider for the biggest gears - 1st,2nd,3rd sometimes 4th all together on big stiff spider .
2. On the other hand quite still fresh shimano cues series is declaring shifting under load and reduced wear with LinkGlide tech without breaking chain that can be very benefitial on mid-drive. Shimano cues is having 9 to 11 speed and you need to have all component from that group as it is not compatible to anything else.

 

[maxwolfie]

1. the chain is indeed wider on 8 speed cassetes, however you need to also look at the cassette build itself. There are cheap 8s 11-40T cassetes however those could be not very strong. I would suggest to search for something with common big spider for the biggest gears - 1st,2nd,3rd sometimes 4th all together on big stiff spider .
2. On the other hand quite still fresh shimano cues series is declaring shifting under load and reduced wear with LinkGlide tech without breaking chain that can be very benefitial on mid-drive. Shimano cues is having 9 to 11 speed and you need to have all component from that group as it is not compatible to anything else.

Thank you!

 

[Chalo]

Do not fall for the scam that is Shimano CUES. The advantage of 8 speed or 9 speed is negated if you have to use 11 speed chain, or a component ecosystem that doesn't allow cross-combining different components.

Sunrace 11-40 8-speed cassettes are as good as anything, and so are Microshift 12-42 and 12-46 8-speed cassettes. Spider mounted large sprockets are not superior; they're just for preserving the integrity of inferior aluminum or titanium freehub bodies. If you don't have a dumb freehub made of the wrong material, you don't have to worry about it.

 

[szkuba]

Are there users reporting it is not working as it should? . From the functionality ability to shift under load looks benefitial even if the chain is 11speed. I do have personally Rohloff hub on my MTB hovewer i am missing shifting under load and i am planning to try it myself on the next build.

 

[Nomadstealth]

I’ve been using a Shimano Linkglide 11-43 10 speed cassette with a CYC X1 stealth for over a year now , shifting under power is good enough that I’ve removed the shift sensor that I was using . I’m using a Linkglide cassette and chain with a Shimano Deore XT 10 speed shifter and a Shimano Deore XT 11 speed derailleur , they work together without a problem , you’re not locked in to having to use an exclusively Linkglide drive train . Linkglide’s shifting is slow and smooth compared to Hyperglide so shift shock is massively reduced , it just takes a couple of rides to get used to the slower shift . It’s not a big difference , the blink of an eye , worst case , just enough time for your brain to think ‘did I miss that sh..’ click , it’s changed .