The Best ** 11-Speed Cassette

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savechief
Posts: 354
Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:36 am

by savechief

** I know that there is not a "best" 11-speed cassette, and that trying to find a consensus about anything on an Internet forum is an effort in futility.

Intentional or not, the many reports out there have confirmed that SRAM, Shimano and Campagnolo drivetrains and the other brand's cassettes are cross-compatible. That opens up new possibilities for an 11-speed Campy user like me, as well as Shimano/SRAM users. Before I had Chorus, Record or Super Record. Since Record and Super Record are very expensive, and cassettes like to wear out, it pretty much meant that I was buying a Chorus cassette. But now...

Ultegra is solid and cheap, if a bit heavy. Dura Ace 9000, well...it may have some issues (viewtopic.php?f=3&t=118879). There seem to be some really great reviews of the SRAM XG-1190, it's the lightest and it's not as expensive as Super Record. As for Campagnolo, I've never heard anything bad, but their price points are higher compared to Shimano and SRAM. Here's a quick comparison using 11-25/12-25 cassettes and the RRP listed at Chain Reaction Cycles (USD):

Ultegra 6800 243g $95
Dura Ace 9000 188g $270
Chorus 236g $153
Record 208g $358
Super Record 177g $433
PG-1130 260g $82
PG-1170 231g $127
XG-1190 151g $415

So, based on price, weight, durability, noise, shift quality or whatever other criteria you use for judging cassettes, which one do you prefer?
Time VXRS Ulteam (7.16 kg)
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=120268

by Weenie


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showdown
Posts: 230
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by showdown

I've been using the SRAM 1190 with Dura Ace Di2 for a year now without issue. The 1190 is a beautiful piece of kit- it's stupid light, easy to clean, easy to change and install and it performs perfectly. The new elastomer rings they installed on the cassette also help with noise reduction.

I was turned off by the reviews here on the Dura Ace cassette and just didn't want to risk it. Having ridden SRAM for years prior to getting Di2 I've experienced first hand the wonderful evolution of the SRAM cassettes from the first Open-Glide clunkers to the sexy 1190.

spdntrxi
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by spdntrxi

I have 3 1190 cassette and one DA.. The DA came with a wheel set I got second hand.. SRAM makes a nice product. I even used it when I ran campy sr11 on my old bike.
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F45
Posts: 1077
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by F45

I have some Ultegras and an 1190 on an Ultegra 6800 drivetrain. The 1190 is almost 2mm wider than the Shimano. You can get it to shift perfectly in the middle cogs, but the shifting on either end will be not as smooth. It's actually quite annoying and I don't use the 1190 much.

RippedUp
Posts: 253
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by RippedUp

spdntrxi wrote:I have 3 1190 cassette and one DA.. The DA came with a wheel set I got second hand.. SRAM makes a nice product. I even used it when I ran campy sr11 on my old bike.


How smooth is SR11 RD with an 1190 cassette? Tx

spdntrxi
Posts: 5782
Joined: Sat Jul 20, 2013 6:11 pm

by spdntrxi

Better than the campy SR11 that proceeded it. My real issue was I also had a little freehub drag with the campy freehub I was using on my powertap G3 wheel. I had already decided I was going di2.. So I was buying parts and so happened the shimano freehub for the powertap was an early purchase.. No drag at all.. Quick tiny adjustment to the limit screw and it was very nice.

I run di2 exclusive now.. 1190s on the main wheel sets and climbing wheel sets. 6800 cassette on the wahoo kickr..
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davidalone
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Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2012 4:27 pm

by davidalone

personally, I keep 2-3 cassettes at any one time for different terrain. I ride mostly flatlands, so 11-23 or 12-25 is plenty for me and are my most often used cassettes. for those I go ultegra because they are most bang for buck. I found that dura ace casettes wore out faster, for negligible weight gain.

I keep a 12-28 or 12-30 along with a 34 tooth chainring in reserve on those trips where I go climb some serious stuff. this cassette doesn't get used that often and hence it's usually sitting on the spare wheel/trainer wheel. for this I would go 105 cos it's even cheaper.

I haven't had experience with the SRAM cassettes, but in my neck of the woods shimano is almost always cheaper.

fogman
Posts: 1066
Joined: Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:36 pm

by fogman

I have Super Record mechanical, but use a Chorus cassette. Seems to wear better than the titanium Record or Super Record cassette and is more cost effective for a disposable component and a 53 gram weight penalty vs. SR.
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VTBike
Posts: 383
Joined: Mon May 16, 2011 8:14 pm

by VTBike

I've been using the sram XG for quite a while and love it. When I was back on 10spd, I had both a sram red (was it og?) and Dura Ace to swap between. I thought the D/A was slightly better shifting, but it was minor. With the current issues the D/A is having, it's an easy choice to go with Sram. The one downside for me is that I do run an 11-28 (plenty of climbs on every one of my rides). I don't love the 3t gaps between the top chainrings. I'd rather have the D/A 12-27 gearing... but simply not an option.

Another note, the Sram XG can regularly be had for $200-250 new, pretty much anywhere. Nobody pays $400 for that thing. you might have to search a bit harder.. So price is spot on with the D/A.

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Zoro
Posts: 352
Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2013 12:52 am

by Zoro

I like solid one piece 11 speed. We have 2 RECON Cassettes - a solid steel 215g and a solid alloy 125g. Both 14-27T (need the 14 for juniors). I do not believe they shift as well as the DA. The solid makes them easy to put on/take off and you can wash them easily.

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