What gears / chainset for my MTB build?
Discussion
Hi,
I've bought a used bike, but it's missing a few parts which I need to get sorted.
It has no chain rings on the back, and nothing at the crank, no bottom bracket, no cranks, no chainset.
It does have front and rear derailiers, they're XT. I guess I need to match up the derailier to the chain rings. What's the most desired configuration nowadays? Is it now better to for two stings at the front and more at the back, rather than the 3 front and 8 rear for example?
Thanks for any advice. I'm a little out of touch!
Dan
I've bought a used bike, but it's missing a few parts which I need to get sorted.
It has no chain rings on the back, and nothing at the crank, no bottom bracket, no cranks, no chainset.
It does have front and rear derailiers, they're XT. I guess I need to match up the derailier to the chain rings. What's the most desired configuration nowadays? Is it now better to for two stings at the front and more at the back, rather than the 3 front and 8 rear for example?
Thanks for any advice. I'm a little out of touch!
Dan
Slightly too broad a request I think.
What sort of bike is it. 26, 27.5 or 29" wheels. What do you intend doing with it. What sort of bottom bracket does it have? 73mm wide threaded probably? Do you want to use the derailleurs on the bike? If so, can you find any part numbers on them RD-7###. How much do you want to spend.
Generally 2 x 10 will be easy, cheap and suitable for most purposes. Shimano Deore and SLX are good value. XT is great quality but more pricey for the newer 11 speed system. I'm not a fan of the lower Sram levels.
1 x 11 is a great system for shear simplicity, just keep banging the gears through but its pricey and needs special wheel freehubs if you want the Sram setup and some find the gaps between ratios a little annoying and you will probably loose out at one end of the range or the other.
What sort of bike is it. 26, 27.5 or 29" wheels. What do you intend doing with it. What sort of bottom bracket does it have? 73mm wide threaded probably? Do you want to use the derailleurs on the bike? If so, can you find any part numbers on them RD-7###. How much do you want to spend.
Generally 2 x 10 will be easy, cheap and suitable for most purposes. Shimano Deore and SLX are good value. XT is great quality but more pricey for the newer 11 speed system. I'm not a fan of the lower Sram levels.
1 x 11 is a great system for shear simplicity, just keep banging the gears through but its pricey and needs special wheel freehubs if you want the Sram setup and some find the gaps between ratios a little annoying and you will probably loose out at one end of the range or the other.
1x10 is last years norm, this year it's all 1x11, but I suspect lots of people will stick to 1x10 as once they've made the change they realise it offers all the gears they ever need. Good news for you is less parts to buy / setup.
Typical is 32 or 34 tooth front ring & 11-36 rear cassette.
Typical is 32 or 34 tooth front ring & 11-36 rear cassette.
Right, got the bike.
It has a Shimano XT RD M760 on the back. Not sure what the front is. It has nothing stamped on it, but it's bolted to the rear suspension pivot point, rather than clamped to the upright tube.
Looks like the rear is a 9 speed, so that's what I'll likely stick to. Depends what it costs to buy all the remaining parts, as I can buy a complete XT group set from Chain Reaction Cycles for £250.
Don't want to spend a lot, bike will be cross country, mainly gravel trails, crossing grassy or muddy fields, very little road use. Probably got £300-400 max to finish the bike, think I need:
Front chainset (bottom bracket, cranks, gears)
Rear cassette
Shifters
Headset bolt
Front brake calliper spacer
Might also look at upgrading the brakes
It has a Shimano XT RD M760 on the back. Not sure what the front is. It has nothing stamped on it, but it's bolted to the rear suspension pivot point, rather than clamped to the upright tube.
Looks like the rear is a 9 speed, so that's what I'll likely stick to. Depends what it costs to buy all the remaining parts, as I can buy a complete XT group set from Chain Reaction Cycles for £250.
Don't want to spend a lot, bike will be cross country, mainly gravel trails, crossing grassy or muddy fields, very little road use. Probably got £300-400 max to finish the bike, think I need:
Front chainset (bottom bracket, cranks, gears)
Rear cassette
Shifters
Headset bolt
Front brake calliper spacer
Might also look at upgrading the brakes
Okay, you could splash out £265 and start from scratch on an M780 group
Or, XT770 (still 9 speed) crankset £112, new cassette/chain/cables £56 and shifters would be £55. ~£220 - (not worth the agro)
Or, get the Deore crank £53, new HG80 cassette and chain £31 and deore shifters £29 = £113
Deore is good stuff, I doubt you'd notice the difference and if it all goes well a pair of matching Deore hydraulic brakes will cost you £70
Or, XT770 (still 9 speed) crankset £112, new cassette/chain/cables £56 and shifters would be £55. ~£220 - (not worth the agro)
Or, get the Deore crank £53, new HG80 cassette and chain £31 and deore shifters £29 = £113
Deore is good stuff, I doubt you'd notice the difference and if it all goes well a pair of matching Deore hydraulic brakes will cost you £70
I've got no bottom bracket either.
I'm thinking, it's a nice frame and I want it to be a good bike, so I'm considering the new XT M8000 11 speed set.
Go single ring front, 11 speed rear. Add the M8000 brakes. The 1x 11 M8000 complete groupset is £285 at Chain Reaction Cycles, plus the brakes.
So it's either that, or one of the systems suggested above.
I'm thinking, it's a nice frame and I want it to be a good bike, so I'm considering the new XT M8000 11 speed set.
Go single ring front, 11 speed rear. Add the M8000 brakes. The 1x 11 M8000 complete groupset is £285 at Chain Reaction Cycles, plus the brakes.
So it's either that, or one of the systems suggested above.
IMHO have a look on Merlin (that sell lots of groupsets) and buy the one that best suits your budget - Deore stuff is frankly fantastically well priced and robust, I'm pretty pissed off with my new XT brakes for not being as good as my old Deore ones, anyway it's all well made an reliable if a bit heavier - SLX is just as tough but weighs less, XT is lighter still and slicker to use but getting into the realms of over-priced for what it does really - if you've got money to splurge it's nice enough but it usually costs twice the price of Deore / SLX and is maybe 10% nicer. XTR and heaven forbid D12 XTR is just a way for Shim to get a few fools to pay for everyone's R&D for next years XT or the year afters SLX.
How fit/heavy are you? How steep are the hills nearby?
I'd try a 1x11 if you can before deciding to go in that direction or, if you can't find one to try, just figure out the equivalent lowest gear in anything else you can get your hands on with knobbly tyres and try riding that up the steepest hills you're likely to encounter.
1x is great for simplicity and lightness, but that fades somewhat if you can't get it up hills!
I would've also recommended the higher end SRAM stuff, but I've just had to take apart and completely re-grease my X9 rear mech after under 300 miles and 12 months, as it wasn't coming back from first gear.
I know these things need regular care & attention, but I wouldn't have expected such an overhaul so soon.
I'd try a 1x11 if you can before deciding to go in that direction or, if you can't find one to try, just figure out the equivalent lowest gear in anything else you can get your hands on with knobbly tyres and try riding that up the steepest hills you're likely to encounter.
1x is great for simplicity and lightness, but that fades somewhat if you can't get it up hills!
I would've also recommended the higher end SRAM stuff, but I've just had to take apart and completely re-grease my X9 rear mech after under 300 miles and 12 months, as it wasn't coming back from first gear.
I know these things need regular care & attention, but I wouldn't have expected such an overhaul so soon.
Check compatibility of 10/11 speed cassette with your current 9 speed wheel, you might need a new hub as some aren't a direct replacement.
Chain reaction were doing a full M8000 1x11 kit including cranks and BB for £299, but thats with a screw in BB, again you'd have to check it fits your frame.
I was going to do this to my 2015 Stumpjumper but it has a push fit BB so have decided to go 1x10 with a one up extender and 32 chainwheel. Swapping the x7 & x9 for XT as I prefer the way it feels.
IMO the extra for XT is worth it and if you go 1x10 there are some good deals, derallieurs are under £40, shifter £30, SLX may be £8 or £9 cheaper if it matters.
Chain reaction were doing a full M8000 1x11 kit including cranks and BB for £299, but thats with a screw in BB, again you'd have to check it fits your frame.
I was going to do this to my 2015 Stumpjumper but it has a push fit BB so have decided to go 1x10 with a one up extender and 32 chainwheel. Swapping the x7 & x9 for XT as I prefer the way it feels.
IMO the extra for XT is worth it and if you go 1x10 there are some good deals, derallieurs are under £40, shifter £30, SLX may be £8 or £9 cheaper if it matters.
Edited by With these feet on Monday 18th January 14:57
Sorry I missed your first reply.
Good choice there, I really like the new XT stuff, it's a bit pricy for someone like me who seems to destroy stuff on a weekly basis (oh and I'm tight). I like the way they managed to sell a complete, right up to date solution on existing standards, no fancy freehubs or the like.
My 6 month old SLX derailuer just shat it's clutch and the shifter, on this derailuer at least is very stiff, I might try an XT set-up if there are some in the sales.
Good choice there, I really like the new XT stuff, it's a bit pricy for someone like me who seems to destroy stuff on a weekly basis (oh and I'm tight). I like the way they managed to sell a complete, right up to date solution on existing standards, no fancy freehubs or the like.
My 6 month old SLX derailuer just shat it's clutch and the shifter, on this derailuer at least is very stiff, I might try an XT set-up if there are some in the sales.
This is my set up on my Stumpy, had to get a new chain as the old one was 4 links too short.
Shifting is smooth and IMO better that the x7/x9 it replaced. I've managed to climb all the hills I would drop to the granny in, though it was a bit harder.1st now is about where 2/3rd was. Like the cleaness of it and no left hand shifter!
Shifting is smooth and IMO better that the x7/x9 it replaced. I've managed to climb all the hills I would drop to the granny in, though it was a bit harder.1st now is about where 2/3rd was. Like the cleaness of it and no left hand shifter!
Started fitting it all last night, then realised I needed many special tools! All of which I don't have!
Looks like I need a bottom bracket tool for the Hollowtech system and the rear cassette tool, and a chain link tool - as mine has gone missing!
I did get the brakes on, shifter fitted, derallieur fitted, cassette on finger tight, chainring fitted to the crank, so it's nearly there. Might actually take it down the local bike shop, they only want £40 for a bike build with new components, and I've already done half of it, so hopefully it will only be an hour's labour or thereabouts.
Looks like I need a bottom bracket tool for the Hollowtech system and the rear cassette tool, and a chain link tool - as mine has gone missing!
I did get the brakes on, shifter fitted, derallieur fitted, cassette on finger tight, chainring fitted to the crank, so it's nearly there. Might actually take it down the local bike shop, they only want £40 for a bike build with new components, and I've already done half of it, so hopefully it will only be an hour's labour or thereabouts.
Kermit power said:
That all looks very nice, but those pedals?!?! There's your next upgrade staring you in the face!
Or shins, when your foot slips off...
Yep, they were some old pedals I had lying around. I am planning on changing them ASAP as I have some credit with the local bike shop. Thinking of going DMR V12. Or shins, when your foot slips off...
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