Cassette gear ratios

In general, cassettes start at 10, 11 or 12 teeth. Again, there are exceptions, with options available with 9-, 13- or 14-tooth smallest sprockets. You may sometimes see brands refer to their cassettes as having a certain range in the form of a percentage.

Does the number of teeth on a cassette matter?

Each sprocket has a different amount of teeth. A higher amount of teeth makes it easier to pedal than a low number and vice versa.

How many teeth does a 10 speed cassette have?

10-speed gives us an 11-tooth cog, while 11-speed gives us a full 11-25 range.

Can I change number of teeth on cassette?

As there is only 2 tooth difference on the top end and the same number of teeth on the bottom end, you should not need a new chain or adjustment. There is some room in the derailleur to adjust the length (between 11 teeth and 34 teeth). Your new range of 11-32 is within the 11-34 so there should be no problems.

What does an 11 32 cassette mean on a bike?

The notation you've noticed simply means that for one of these cassettes, the smallest sprocket has 11 teeth, the largest has 32 teeth. And the second cassette has smallest sprocket 12 teeth, largest sprocket 25 teeth. So these numbers are basically the "range" of gears covered by a cassette.

37 related questions found

What is a spider cassette?

Some of the high-end cassettes use a "spider", an intermediate metal casting, to hold 2 or more of the largest sprockets. This saves weight, but sprockets that come mounted on a spider cannot be interchanged except as a complete unit.

Is a 12/25 cassette good for climbing?

The vast majority of road bikes come with a 12-25 cassette, which is suitable for most cycling terrain when paired with a compact or standard chainset. If you ride a lot of hills or struggle with hill climbing, a cassette with a lower ratio largest sprocket (27 or more teeth) may be beneficial.

Can I put a different cassette on my bike?

Yes, almost any bike is compatible with bigger cassettes, bike drivetrain is groupset of components that works in perfect harmony, any miss reconfiguring can break the perfect functionality of the system, parts that need to be changed and reconfigured when putting bigger cassette which is long-chain, wide cage ...

Are bike cassettes worth upgrading?

The drivetrain components work in perfect harmony and a tiny small miss-configuration can break the proper functionality of the system. Upgrading to a better cassette can make your bike comfortable, fast and more pleasant to ride.

How many teeth does a rear cassette have?

The rear cassette is 11 speed 11-32. This means there are 11 cogs ranging from 11 teeth up to 32 teeth (the exact cogs are 11/12/13/14/16/18/20/22/25/28/32).

What cassette do pro cyclists use?

Pros often use a 55×11-tooth high gear for time trials. On flat or rolling stages they might have 53/39T chainrings with an 11-21T cassette. In moderate mountains they switch to a large cog of 23T or 25T. These days, they've joined the big-gear revolution like many recreational riders.

Which cassette ratio is best for climbing?

All other things being equal, the 34T sprocket on the 11-34T cassette is going to give you the easiest gear. If your bike is currently fitted with an 11-28T cassette, switching to an 11-34T cassette will make climbing less of a struggle.

Does a better cassette make a difference?

not really. because the weight is near the axle is not as pronounced as in a wheel rim. However lighter is lighter and these days a good place to shave grams and the expense of dollars. I will say XX1 cassettes are a work of art.

Can you use a SRAM cassette with Shimano?

SRAM's cassettes and chains are compatible with all of Shimano's groupsets, and vice versa. Likewise, Shimano and SRAM buyers have the freedom to mix different levels of chains and cassettes so long as they are designed for the same kind of transmission.

How many teeth does a bike sprocket have?

Depending on the type and age of your bike, it will probably have between 9 and 12 sprockets and will be referred to as 8-speed or 12-speed respectively. On a typical road bike, the smallest sprocket will typically have 11(11t) or 12 (12t) teeth and the largest 25 (25t) to 32 (32t) teeth.

Do I need a new chain if I change my cassette?

If you replace your cassette, it's a good chance you need a new chain unless it's been replaced recently. You need a bit longer chain for a larger cassette.

Can I put an 11-speed cassette on a 9 speed hub road bike?

An 11-speed cassette will fit on a 9-speed hub only when the hub is wide enough. Luckily, 8,9,10 and 11-speed mountain bike hubs have the same spacing, and one can therefore use an 11-speed cassette on all of them.

Can a 9 speed be converted to 11-speed?

Converting a 9-speed wheel to 11-speed

You will have to buy a new 11-speed wheel and replace the entire wheel. On the other hand, if your current wheel is an 11-speed wheel, you can convert it to 11-speed by removing the low spacer from the low side of the 9-speed sprocket and installing an 11-speed sprocket.

Can a 10 speed chain be used on a 9 speed cassette?

Condensed answer: In most cases, a 10-speed chain will operate just fine with a 9-speed cassette because it's slim enough to move up and down the rear cogs without rubbing or skipping.

Is 11/32 cassette Good for hills?

Most riders can get away with a compact chainset 50 / 34 and an 11 – 32 cassette for their steepest hills. Many touring bikes and tandems still use triple chainsets, but they often have heavier loads to haul.

Can you put a mountain bike cassette on a road bike?

A mountain bike cassette can work on a road bike only if it has the same cog pitch as its road equivalent. If the cog pitch is different, the shifting would be inaccurate.

What is a Shimano HG cassette?

HG, short for 'HyperGlide', is the most common and traditional freehub body design available. Created by Shimano, it is the standard used for cassettes that have at least an 11-tooth cog as the smallest cog on the cassette. HG Specific cassettes are available in 8,9,10, and 11speed options.