Pairing a Shimano XT M8000 11-46 cassette with a SRAM Apex 1 crank 42T

11 replies · 5,552 views

Cody
92 posts
#1Feb 28, 2019, 2:52 PM
I'm going to start a new gravel build and I'm thinking about pairing a Shimano XT M8000 11-46 cassette with a SRAM Apex 1 crank 42T. Does anyone have any experience with this combination? Will I run into any issues?

Thanks in advance!
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Mark_Landsaat
62 posts
#2Mar 1, 2019, 10:08 AM
Well, I can't say that I have actually done this, but I don't see why you would run into any issues. You can run pretty much any crank you want. The SRAM X-Sync chain ring should do a good job keeping the chain on the chain ring.
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Cody
92 posts
#3Mar 1, 2019, 10:29 AM
Thanks for the reply Mark.

How about the gear ratios? 11-46 rear and 42T front. Do you think there would be any issues with that combination? Would I better with something smaller or larger up front for general gravel riding?
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pete kumble
20 posts
#4Mar 2, 2019, 6:49 AM
I am running the Sram 1/11 with the 11/38. Works fine but for more than 12% grade I am wishing for one or two more bail out options. From what I know, Sram and Shimano cassettes and shifting are pretty much equal. I would advocate that you speak with a good shop mechanic first before investing.
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squak
51 posts
#5Mar 2, 2019, 10:00 AM
Cody wrote:
I'm going to start a new gravel build and I'm thinking about pairing a Shimano XT M8000 11-46 cassette with a SRAM Apex 1 crank 42T. Does anyone have any experience with this combination? Will I run into any issues?

Thanks in advance!

Will you also be using a SRAM 1x derailleur and shifter? If so, you'll have no problem with the 11-46 cassette. I've been running a SunRace 11-46 on my Rival 1x equipped bike by for about 3000 miles and it's been perfect. Normally I'm a big fan of Shimano cassettes, but in this case I prefer the SunRace because the jumps between cogs are more consistent (XT 11-46 goes from 37 to 46 and SunRace is 40 to 46). I've used 40T and 42T chainrings with the 11-46 cassette and settled on the 40T because my rides include a lot of steep climbs.
2
Mark_Landsaat
62 posts
#6Mar 2, 2019, 11:42 AM
@Cody, Gear ratios are a personal preference and also dependent on the terrain where you ride. Personally I run a 42 front with a SRAM 10-42 Cassette and this works for almost all my riding.

We have a few fondos here that have more than 10,000 feet of climbing. I haven't done those myself, but a friend of mine runs those with a 38 tooth upfront.

The benefit of a smaller cassette is that the jumps between gears are smaller, which I like. It's easy to swap chain rings if necessary, but my 42 tooth front with 10-42 rear covers 95% of my riding.

Also, Squak makes a good point with the SunRace cassettes. I have actually run these on my mountainbike because the cost is really good and I have had great luck with them. I don't notice a difference in shifting performance. It may be there, but I can't tell.
2
drwelby
531 posts
#7Mar 2, 2019, 10:55 PM
squak wrote:

Normally I'm a big fan of Shimano cassettes, but in this case I prefer the SunRace because the jumps between cogs are more consistent (XT 11-46 goes from 37 to 46 and SunRace is 40 to 46).

I'm the opposite, preferring the Shimano. Yes, the 37 to 46 is a big jump, but the tradeoff is that you get a tighter 15-17-19-21-24 in the cruising gears instead of a 15-18-21-24. I hated that 15-18 jump. But if you do a lot of steeper climbing maybe you'd like more options in the lower half of your cassette: 32-36-40-46 instead of just 32-37-46.

The 10-42 XX1 that Mark mentions above splits the difference between the two. It has pretty even jumps throughout the whole cassette, but of course you need an XD driver.
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Cody
92 posts
#8Mar 3, 2019, 9:13 PM
squak wrote:

Will you also be using a SRAM 1x derailleur and shifter? If so, you'll have no problem with the 11-46 cassette. I've been running a SunRace 11-46 on my Rival 1x equipped bike by for about 3000 miles and it's been perfect. Normally I'm a big fan of Shimano cassettes, but in this case I prefer the SunRace because the jumps between cogs are more consistent (XT 11-46 goes from 37 to 46 and SunRace is 40 to 46). I've used 40T and 42T chainrings with the 11-46 cassette and settled on the 40T because my rides include a lot of steep climbs.

Thanks for the response and your thoughts on the 42T (I may drop down to a 40T also). Yes, I'm planning to use a SRAM 1s derailleur and shifter.

Have you noticed any difference in the smoothness of shifting between the SRAM cassettes and the SunRace cassettes?
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Cody
92 posts
#9Mar 3, 2019, 9:18 PM
Mark_Landsaat wrote:@Cody, Gear ratios are a personal preference and also dependent on the terrain where you ride. Personally I run a 42 front with a SRAM 10-42 Cassette and this works for almost all my riding.

We have a few fondos here that have more than 10,000 feet of climbing. I haven't done those myself, but a friend of mine runs those with a 38 tooth upfront.

The benefit of a smaller cassette is that the jumps between gears are smaller, which I like. It's easy to swap chain rings if necessary, but my 42 tooth front with 10-42 rear covers 95% of my riding.

Also, Squak makes a good point with the SunRace cassettes. I have actually run these on my mountainbike because the cost is really good and I have had great luck with them. I don't notice a difference in shifting performance. It may be there, but I can't tell.

Thanks for the 2nd opinion on the SunRace cassettes. I may give those a try too.
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squak
51 posts
#10Mar 4, 2019, 8:09 PM
Cody wrote:

Have you noticed any difference in the smoothness of shifting between the SRAM cassettes and the SunRace cassettes?

I currently have 3 bikes (2 mountain and 1 gravel), each with a different brand cassette (Shimano XT, SRAM X1 and SunRace) and I've never given much thought to the differences in shifting performance. As far as I can tell, they all work really well--no noticeable difference in performance.
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TrailMasonCliff
40 posts
#11Mar 8, 2019, 10:56 AM
I have been using SRAM Apex1 with SunRace 11-46 cassette and 42T chain-ring for the last 1000 miles with no issues. I do notice a little less smoothness shifting into the largest cogs but otherwise I love this setup.
1
Cody
92 posts
#12Mar 8, 2019, 12:49 PM
TrailMasonCliff wrote:I have been using SRAM Apex1 with SunRace 11-46 cassette and 42T chain-ring for the last 1000 miles with no issues. I do notice a little less smoothness shifting into the largest cogs but otherwise I love this setup.

Thanks for the response. Just curious what kind of rear derailleur are you using? SRAM Rival 1/ Apex 1?
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