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Drivetrain questions specific to DH

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Drivetrain questions specific to DH
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flag JW9-23
Posted: Jan 30, 2014 at 21:08 Quote
Question for any parts and drivetrain savy people out there.
Ok, I want to get a new drivetrain for my DH rig, so cassette, shifter, and a rear derailleur, Sram or Shimano; haven't decided yet. Here is where I'm having misunderstanding, I talked with a person at a bike shop, and I told them I am interested in either buying the (Sram XO DH rear derailleur - which is a 10 speed) or the Shimano Saint gear, also 10 speed. They explained to me that since it is a 10 speed derailleur that I have to have a 10 speed shifter and that I need to have a 10 speed - (10 rings) cassette or it won't work properly. They said same goes with the Shimano Saint derailleur and shifter, I would need a 10 ring cassette to go with it. Ok, I see how that would make sense.
But here is where I am so confused; when I go to Sram's website for example and look at their DH XO rear derailleur I can read that it says "Designed to work with any cassette up to 28-tooth large cog". Ok. Does that mean any 10 speed or any cassette no matter what speed? Also when I click on the option to the left hand side of the webpage saying "downhill" to find a cassette, I scroll down to check out the "SRAM PowerGlide 970 DH Cassette" and it says it's a 9 speed cassette!

I am soooo confused on what is going on with this. If I want to buy the Sram XO DH 10 speed rear derailleur, or the Shimano Saint whichever; do I need the cassette to be 10 speed as well as the shifter along with the derailleur like the guy at the bike shop mentioned? If so, than why does Sram make their DH rear derailleur a 10 speed, the XO shifter a 10 speed and then sell their DH cassette a 9 speed? That doesn't make sense if everything needs to be 10 speed.

Someone please help explain the facts. Thanks
flag biscuitthief
Posted: Jan 31, 2014 at 11:01 Quote
Ok, You need the cassette, rear mech, shifter and chain to all be 10 speed. The cassette doesn't need to be a "DH" version for it to work with the Sram, but you have to make sure the biggest cog is 28 teeth or below.
http://www.sram.com/sram/mountain/products/sram-pg-1050-cassette
This cassette will work as long as you have the choice to buy it in 11-23, 11-26 and 11-28 Smile

I run a Saint 10 speed mech and shifter with an ultegra road cassette. Its 10 speed and works Smile
flag JW9-23
Posted: Jan 31, 2014 at 11:46 Quote
Okay so if I bought the Shimano Saint mech and shifter which are 10 speed only, I have to buy a 10 speed cassette, but I can choose the whatever gear ratio I want? And same for the Sram as well?
flag biscuitthief
Posted: Feb 1, 2014 at 7:28 Quote
yes. 10 speed mech, shifter, chain and cassette. As long as the cassettes biggest cog is not over the manufacturers recommended size it will work
flag JW9-23
Posted: Feb 1, 2014 at 8:20 Quote
Cool, thanks a lot!
flag Ploutre
Posted: Feb 1, 2014 at 12:31 Quote
Just don't make the mistake I did by buying a very small ratio cassette ... I've got a 11-23, and it's ridiculously small, I always have to double tap the shifter to downshift to notice something ...

I'll definitely get an 11-28 for the next build haha
flag JW9-23
Posted: Feb 1, 2014 at 13:32 Quote
Ploutre wrote:
Just don't make the mistake I did by buying a very small ratio cassette ... I've got a 11-23, and it's ridiculously small, I always have to double tap the shifter to downshift to notice something ...

I'll definitely get an 11-28 for the next build haha

Yeah, I was wondering what would be the best? I, thinking either 11-28 or 11-32
flag JW9-23
Posted: Feb 1, 2014 at 13:35 Quote
JW9-23 wrote:
Ploutre wrote:
Just don't make the mistake I did by buying a very small ratio cassette ... I've got a 11-23, and it's ridiculously small, I always have to double tap the shifter to downshift to notice something ...

I'll definitely get an 11-28 for the next build haha

Yeah, I was wondering what would be the best? I, thinking either 11-28 or 11-32

I still can't decide between the Saint's stuff or Sram XO stuff. I looked around and Sram has some 11-28 but I didn't see any 11-28 with Shimano, the lowest I saw was 11-32 Deore XT or the XTR cassettes.
flag Ploutre
Posted: Feb 2, 2014 at 1:14 Quote
You can mix a Shimano derailleur with a SRAM cassette if you like. For Shimano, you'll have to pick road cassettes if you want to go bellow 11-32. I've got a 11-23 105 cassette, mated to a Saint m820 derailleur, it's fine, but damn it's too small ...
flag biscuitthief
Posted: Feb 2, 2014 at 11:13 Quote
http://bike.shimano.com.sg/publish/content/global_cycle/en/sg/index/products/road/ultegra_6700/product.-code-CS-6700.-type-..html

I've got one of the ultegra 6700 on mine. Looks like they do a 28 tooth version too
flag JW9-23
Posted: Feb 2, 2014 at 11:38 Quote
Oh, yeah, didn't think about that Smile I might go with a Sram cassette, right now my old cassette I have is a Sram 11-28, and I like it, I'm just wondering if a 32 ring would be a little much or not nesessary on a DH bike. But I do like the XTR and the Deore XT 11-32 cassettes.
flag p13snowboards36
Posted: Feb 18, 2016 at 10:00 Quote
So I have the shimano saint m810 9 speed derailleur and I am looking to change out the rest of my drivetrain. (Cassette, new cranks and chainring, bottom bracket). I was wondering what would be a good fit, considering I want only one ring in the front as opposed to the two I have now. There are too many options and don't want to get something that doesn't fit... Help please!
flag Joacmp11
Posted: Sep 12, 2016 at 7:41 Quote
Can I run the Saint rear derailleur with a Sunrace 11-40 cassette if changed to the free ride mode and using the larger B screw provided?
flag Aaronz25RS
Posted: Sep 12, 2016 at 8:43 Quote
I just put a saint derailleur on mine and it didn't like my SRAM cassette at all, guessing the same for sunrace..
flag mawvius
Posted: Jul 28, 2019 at 5:17 Quote
Joacmp11 wrote:
Can I run the Saint rear derailleur with a Sunrace 11-40 cassette if changed to the free ride mode and using the larger B screw provided?

Hey buddy,

Sorry to resurrect this but I've been at this for over 6 hours with no definitive answer.

Would love love to hear if you had any success with with this setup as I'm about to make some purchases in a few hours?

Huge thanks in advance and warmest regards from England.
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