11-40T Cassette on my gravel bike, some common questions answered.

[@johnsampson2544]

I’m almost 62-yo and got back into cycling the summer of 2019, after a 30-yr hiatus. I bought a Checkpoint SL5 Gen 2 in 2023. I can make it up short 10% climbs, but the stock 46/30 crank and 11-34 cassette make anything steeper or longer a bit of a workout. I saw your video on the 11-40 upgrade a year ago and have been kicking the idea around. Fast-forward to this last weekend. I took the bike in for the end of the season service, which involves a full drivetrain cleaning. When I dropped it off, I was chatting with the tech about changing cassette size. Well, since he was going to have things apart anyway, I pulled the trigger and had him order the 11-40. I can’t wait to get the bike back and take it out to the hills and try it out.

[@PAPADPOV]

@@johnsampson2544 awesome! You will love it!

[@hoizkiacha]

Very helpful. I'm currently riding a 11-28 cassette with a medium length rear derailleur. An 11-30 cassette would help me enormously, an 11-32/34 would be a dream. Thanks mate.

[@franciscoluis3978]

Thanks a lot, 3 years later, I'm with your digital help, to change my 11-28 cassette with a 11-40, so that I cann climb small mountains 😅

[@PAPADPOV]

Awesome!!!

[@johnfilicicchia1651]

Thanks for this video and the installation video. While I’m in FLAT Delaware, I’m riding the Civil War Century in Gettysburg and the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo in Harrisonburg in September. I know I need a different setup to keep my cadence up and my knees safe (I’m 62). Just did a 1028 mile truck tour of VA to find a retirement house- what magnificent countryside. Thanks for the video!!!

[@PAPADPOV]

You are very welcome! Enjoy your rides!!

[@jasons407]

Thanks for this and the previous installation video. I have a 2020 SL5 checkpoint with the RD7000 GS derailleur and I changed my 11-34 spd 105 cassette for a Shimano SLX 11 spd 11-40 cassette no problem. I wasn't sure about the spacer but my original cassette had a 2 mm spacer behind it and I left it in place for the new one. The 11-40 cassette lined up perfectly with my derailleur, I only needed to adjust the b screw completely inwards to give me 5 mm spacing between the guide pulley and the 40t sprocket (while in the smallest chainring). I can shift to large-large and small-small no problem, though both combos rub the front derailleur. Now I can climb those steep inclines a little easier!

[@PAPADPOV]

That is awesome! Glad to be of service!

[@MediumHalf]

Hell yeah man, 55 years old you look much younger. Benefits of physical activity!

[@PAPADPOV]

@@MediumHalf thank you my friend!!

[@glenn_blowfly]

Subscribed, I watched the installation video you made, it's a great info, I was worrying I'll purchase too large cog for my stock derailleur. With the hanger extender, I can go up to 40T.. thanks a lot. More power !

[@Zenvor]

I fitted 11-40 on my brother's R8000 group set no issues. 57/34 , 11-40t, medium GS cage also.

[@PAPADPOV]

Sounds awesome!

[@melljowie]

thank you for sharing..this will be a big help to me on my set up

[@PAPADPOV]

Your welcome!

[@MTBXterra]

Great video Papa D! No doubt whatever setup your are running, you are definitely a beast on the climbs!

[@PAPADPOV]

Thanks Roberto!

[@coreygonzalez6890]

I like the video. I’m looking to put a 11-40 cassette on my 2x GRX400 drivetrain. Wanted to go 1x but like you I don’t want to blow my knees out.

[@PAPADPOV]

I totally understand that my friend!

[@MrYetibaby]

Great informative flick , Im gonna try the setup myself . But with GRX 1x11 derailur bolted on a 50/34 105 rings with 11/42 in the back to see how it goes , Cheers

[@PAPADPOV]

Thanks! Sounds interesting, let me know how it works!

[@IsaacRC]

Good to know!

[@phil_d]

Music to my ear. I've just purchased a Cannondale Slate with stock Ultegra rear derailluer. I picked up a GRX810 for $60, so will be slapping on a 11-40 cassette!!!

[@PAPADPOV]

Sounds Awesome!!

[@sandrodias6326]

👏👏👏, thank you.

[@flintenwilli2444]

Very helpful! Would a GRX-RX812 also work out? Better than a RX810? Thanks man!

[@PAPADPOV]

@@flintenwilli2444 not sure? I have never tried that?

[@ktee55]

At first that was working fine; but a few months later it's gone crazy. I changed the shifting cable and checked other points; but it's not fixed yet. I guess the derailleur itself must be broken! In your case, is it still working fine? I think I should change the derailleur to GRX one (RD-RX812).

[@PAPADPOV]

Yes it’s still working great!!

[@ktee55]

@@PAPADPOV It was not the derailleur problem, just caused by the short of grease on the cables. Now it's working great again!!

[@PAPADPOV]

@@ktee55 awesome!

[@alejandronavgar8798]

Thanks 💪💪🚲🚲🖐🖐

[@MynameisDias]

Very helpful! Thanks!

[@matthewlizares5238]

What is the exact model of the 11-40 cassette . Thanks

[@christopherchan8676]

Thanks for the update video. Quick question, will this set up + chain length work with a crankset 46/30?

[@PAPADPOV]

You will have to shorten your chain with that crank set up

[@237311]

Useful video. So on the chain that you have, did you get exactly 114 links when your chain was already installed? Thanks!

[@PAPADPOV]

I used a brand new Shimano 11 speed chain and I did not remove any links. I believe it was 114 or 115 links total. Thanks for the question.

[@kennethcaldera9534]

Nice, I have the same specs on my Crux with a short cage I want to change to a 40 like you. Question why didn't you go with a long rear derailer ?

[@PAPADPOV]

I wasn’t sure the long derailleur would work besides I didn’t have one……lol

[@lykamoreno3097]

Nice!!! Dont you need a over sized wheel for that set up? Or Just changing the RD set up into a bigger gear?

[@PAPADPOV]

I did not need to change the wheel…..I used the stock wheel, swapped cassettes and used a longer chain

[@arndtbc]

Could you have switched the 105 out for the GRX Drive train and use a MTB SLX cassette instead of what you did? think about doing something similar. I have the SL5 with the 105 as well. I live in Hampton Roads so its pretty flat here but I want to do some riding out in western VA this summer. Great videos, Thanks!

[@PAPADPOV]

If you are talking about using a GRX crank it will work out differently....my crank is a 50/36 and the closet GRX crank is 48/31......as long as you have the medium length 105 derailleur you will be fine either way.....just a matter of adjusting your chain length....I also think the SLX cassette will be fine

[@arndtbc]

@@PAPADPOV yeah I've still got the original 105 setup that came with the bike I think your way sounds probably sound better. I'll try your setup. thanks!

[@rickh4310]

Hey Papa D thanks for the video. I’m doing the same thing to my Canyon Endurace which has the exact same Shimano 105 setup as your Trek. Concerning the spacers, do they come with the new cassette and where is the spacer placed? Thanks!

[@PAPADPOV]

Awesome! The spacer if you need one will already be on your hub. When you remove your current cassette the spacer will be behind that.

[@rickh4310]

@@PAPADPOV Thanks! I should be receiving my new cassette tomorrow.

[@PradhyumnaPokhrel]

How good is 11x42 teeta cassette?

[@dfe2012]

Hi do we need to order a 1.85mm spacer and install under the M8000 11/40 cassette? Or the original 11/34 R7000 cassette came with this spacer? Tks

[@PAPADPOV]

I have a 2mm spacer behind my cassette…….which actually could be 1.85mm depending on how accurate your measuring tool is? Lol if your hub already had a spacer behind the cassette then that should be all you need.

[@bikingchupei2447]

i tried to look up the chainstay length of your bike which seems to be 425, i have a 2022 giant tcr advanced 2 disc, which has the same 105 50/34 and 11/34 setup but with a 405 chainstay length, would i need to use a shorter chain than yours? this is my first road bike, used to ride a flatbar gravel bike which had a 46/30 crank and a 11-36 cassette, kinda miss the 0.83 gear ratio during climbs.

[@PAPADPOV]

Not sure what length chain you have on your bike stock but if you change over to the bigger cassette your chain will have to be longer.

[@bikingchupei2447]

@@PAPADPOV it's 110 now, i think i definitely need to buy a new one.

[@htonmusic]

if you come across a 46/30 grx chain ring, go for it. I have that and 11-40 and dont get the big-big grind and 30 chainring + 40 casette is hilarious good fun climbing up!

[@PAPADPOV]

Will do! That sounds awesome!!

[@rsrnsrwds]

Thanks for the video! I have a GRX 600 groupset, but I want to put a larger cassette on it. Is that a Shimano Deore xt M8000 cassette?

[@PAPADPOV]

Your welcome and thanks for the response! Yes it is an XT cassette

[@rsrnsrwds]

@@PAPADPOV THANKS! Asked my LBS about installing one for me and they refused, saying that it was beyond specs and warranty for the Shimano GRX 810 derailleur. Of course I knew that, so I'll just get the tools and do it myself! Otherwise I might get a new deraileur and size up the cassette even more. Have you considered switching to a 46-30 crankset to get more low end range?

[@PAPADPOV]

@@rsrnsrwds your welcome! I actually have gotten a new bike and a new setup. I will be hopefully having a video out on that in the next few weeks!

[@rsrnsrwds]

@@PAPADPOV Just did the mullet upgrade with the 11-40t cassette with my 46/30 crankset. That bike is really geared low now! Configured it first using the stock GRX 810 derailleur with the B-screw cranked almost all the way in. Worked fine, but the end of the screw was not totally flush with the notch on the bracket axle unit. I tried it again with a Goatlink 10 speed and the B-screw was hardly in and was flush with the notch. Very happy with that setup. 35 mile test ride on gravel tomorrow. Thanks so much for your information - and inspiration!

[@PAPADPOV]

@@rsrnsrwds that’s sounds awesome! Keep me posted on how it does for you and enjoy! Woop woop!

[@nasuncion36]

Hi. I tried installing 11/50 tooth cassette to my 2x setup and it is rubbing the cassette to my derauleurs. Im using shimano 105 medium cage. My previous setup is 11/37 by 2x. I saw this video of yours and its very interesting. Will this work?

[@PAPADPOV]

You installed an 11/50 cassette or an 11/40 cassette?

[@nasuncion36]

I used 11/40

[@vishalkarna3763]

Great Video. Short and to the point video. Thanks for uploading this informative video. Question : Did you change your rear wheen hub body or hub to fit MTB 8000 cassette ? Also was there any spacer added behind MTB 8000 when installing it ?

[@PAPADPOV]

I did not change the hub body and I used a 2mm spacer.

[@BostilCensurado]

With a 50-34 in the front you could just have changed the smaller chainring to a 32, shimano says their derailleurs only work with 16 teeth difference but its actually 18, its the same with their non shadow rear derailleurs saying their max cog is 36 but its actually 42

[@yoyocuy]

thank you sir!

[@yoyocuy]

@Papa D can I expect the same results with SLX cassette?

[@PAPADPOV]

I would say. Yes!

[@JoselitoMayores]

'got 11-40 cassette with 44/24, 9 speed

[@hilltopper600]

a triple chain ring on the front does the same thing-easier to adjust

[@PAPADPOV]

Actually no but to each his own my friend! 👍

[@dstroud666]

You got a lot more gear duplication / crossover with a triple chainset