Why Does SRAM Hate Us? (Ratio Tech Mod)

[@slantedorbit]

The Cave of Bad Ideas has been good for your delivery/presentation. Together with the much-appreciated compression edits, your posts deliver great content with efficiency and good humor. Thanks!

[@jannetourunen1778]

Everyone! Buy this guy a beer or all the 11s shifters! Is there anyone else that makes this kind of content that is so good and awesome? Mvh. Janne from Finland/sweden

[@racerx8410712]

Buy him whiskey!

[@andrelloyd4010]

Ive tried to buy Russ a coffee etc - by one off donation but his site doesn't allow it unless you officially pay an ongoing subscription choice. I hope he changes this and allows people to offer him single donations to assist his channel

[@RicardoRocha-lg1xo]

I ran into Ratio by accident on Instagram last September... I got in touch with them and patiently awaited til they released the kit and then bought it right away. I’m loving it. Btw I put on an NX level 12-speed cassette (11-50) which fits a standard shimano/sram freehub. 12 speed mullet without the need for an XD driver

[@chrismorgan4375]

Hey, that's a great looking stack of spacers!

[@WheelsonaBike]

😂😂😂

[@ericcornell3243]

Hell yeah! Looks like mine. I feel like a stack of spacers is a badge of DIY honor.

[@ericcornell3243]

The bombora, "Snip snap, snip snap, snip snap! You have no idea the physical toll!!" You really should put together an e-book or something like that collates and documents "The Budget Mullet". I would buy that.

[@zxdfty77]

Dear Russ, I'm thrilled to see your videos experimenting with hacks and "mullet" combinations. Thanks so much!! 👍 For years I've been "banging my head" as I continually upgrade my 2012 SURLY Disc LHT from 9...to 10...and now 11 speeds, whilst keeping my drops and bar-end shifters and stretching the limits w/3x & 11-42t for touring when wide range cassettes were very new. I often heard "That's impossible!", so had to learn about compatibility on my own. It's great to finally have some SMART help - and to be introduced to different techniques and gadgets that will really make my bike's drivetrain and gear suit me! Thanks for all your wonderfully creative work! 💕🚴💕

[@chris1275cc]

It is worth noting that although you can only replace the fin on a GX or higher you can take a "donor" fin from any 11 speed Sram road derailleur even Apex1 but you have to drill the head off of the riveted pin to remove it (and maybe drill out the hole to fit the GX pin?). I only mention it because depending on where you live, what you or your LBS might have in a parts bin or what you can find searching "spares or repairs" on ebay it could be a cheaper/quicker option for you.

[@chris1275cc]

​@@Siravingmon Oh yeah if you and you really want 12 speed, its almost a no brainer. If you just want to be able to use a MTB rear mech at 11 speed with your existing equipment though, you may already have everything you need apart from the GX rear mech of course. Then again looking at the price some used bike parts are changing hands at right now it might actually work out cheaper to sell your old rear mech and buy the £25 fin kit There is a battered apex long cage on eBay now and the bidding is up to £38!

[@Siravingmon]

@@chris1275cc Thanks but I'm confused now - I thought that even with a GX Eagle MTB rear mech I needed the adapter fin to use a bar end (road) shifter with it

[@chris1275cc]

@@Siravingmon Sorry for any confusion caused I`ll try to explain. The Adaptor fin is really just a copy of the standard fin that comes on Srams 11s road derailleurs, so it stands to reason that if you are considering this mod you are already running a compatible Sram group set (Apex, Rival....etc) and you must already have a derailleur with the fin you need, so if you don`t mind rendering the original derailleur unusable, you can just transplant the fin from it to the GX. If you are building from the ground up and buying everything separately then you would need to buy the fin, or buy a used derailleur to donate its fin (which my be cheaper if you can find a broken derailleur on eBay or something)

[@Siravingmon]

@@chris1275cc Thanks that's clear now. I'm building from scratch so I've just ordered the Ratio fin

[@cyclesteveo]

Agreed 1000% that it’s super lame of SRAM not to offer this as an OEM option. I did this hack last year on a build, and I’m planning the full 12s Ration install on my next build. I’m pretty tired of reading bike reviews that criticize supposed off road touring dropbar bikes of being geared too high from the factory when all SRAM would need to do to fix it would be to build some Eagle mechs with the road cable fin. It makes no sense. GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT!!!

[@JosephDowski]

Greed on the part of SRAM, when sales of eTAP/AXIS groupsets taper off, then they'll think about offering mechanical 1x12. :(

[@shawnwakeman6324]

Thank you so much for making this video. Sacrificing your crust for the betterment of mankind is a noble task.

[@te3895]

friction shifting for life baybeeeee for real though, most modern bike stuff doesn't do it for me, but i could watch Russ nerd out for hours. thanks Russ

[@andrelloyd4010]

A wonderful video Russ. This is a very important insight into addressing the long needed resolve of pull ratio compatibilities within group sets and the present possibilities available in achieving functional wide range mechanical shifting. There is a huge demand and growing market now for non grinding gear ratios and group sets that offer such - which sadly is still very limited within the top major manufacturing companies and for reasons I do understand. Thank you - Happy cycling and Best wishes Russ 🙏

[@Henrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyy]

0:54 the sign lighted up at the perfect time 💯

[@cameronlesley2428]

The party pace lighting timing absolutely spot on.

[@joeumbrell8774]

All this rerouting and parts surgery makes me appreciate my 9 speed Advent system just a little more!

[@cassysamel3914]

The only thing the industry hadn't lied about is tubeless tires.

[@chazwarpdrive5171]

Very cool. It's kind of like Paul components selling the Klamper brakes with replaceable arms for standard pull, long pull, and Campy so you can use them with any lever. It would be so great if SRAM and Shimano could come out wish something similar for their derailleurs if all it takes is a slightly different shaped piece to get the right cable pull.

[@bensieber6960]

Love your perspective and down-to-earth rational approach to everything Bikes! Once again a great video!

[@danlawonn]

Hey! Just wanted to say thanks for showing us the work you did with your Crust in the stand. I’m new to working on my bike and it’s so helpful to watch other people do it.

[@JakeLuke308]

This is a brilliant solution to the "big problem" SRAM & Shimano have handed us. Thanks Russ!

[@jamesmcpherson3924]

Your shifting performance will be more immune to friction interfering if you mount the jtech shifter closer to your shifter with your combo.

[@trevorpick4976]

Someone or some company needs to donate a dedicated Cave of Bad Ideas bike to Russ. The Crust is too beautiful to live on the stand

[@sylvanhemingway9459]

My man's seeming over winter and being locked in a cold shed. It's been a long winter. This spring will be one of the best to ride ever!

[@veriest1]

Excellent timing! I've been looking hard at these kids and upgrading my old SRAM Rival 10spd shifters to 11. Getting to use a MTN derailleur is just gravy. EDIT: The algorithm is working OT tonight. Just saw the date on this.

[@anotheryoutuber_]

friction shifters work on all...but i like that this product exists.

[@Jeridos]

I discovered your channel a yesterday with your video about why you were going from a mullet back to a 2x set up. I thought that was a good video. I really like your placement of the jtek cable pull adapter as it puts the barrel adjuster at the cockpit so you can make derailleur adjustments on while you're riding. That's one thing about my cross bikes that I've never liked. I really miss late 90s Shimano 9 speed interchangeability between road and mtb drivetrains.

[@bencollett86]

Such a great video. Just ordered the fin! Thanks Russ. Can't wait til the ride review!

[@kimkrimson]

The wound makes the hack more personal. Including Russ's blood in the drivetrain

[@ohiomoto]

Cave of Good Ideas!

[@GasmanA]

So glad to hear Archer.....it’s not cheap but I’ve been using it for years!

[@permanenceinchange2326]

I love the kickstand! ;)

[@C.Medina]

Love it! Thank you Russ! I personally just ditch my grx rear derailleur and switch to sram seeing all the possibilities you can do on a budget.

[@LoranBriggs]

Any chance you would do a Shimano version of the budget mullet some things that I would like to see your opinions on: * [9|10]-46 cassette on a GRX derailleur * Garbunk cassette extender on the GRX derailleur with 50 tooth cassette

[@simforianus]

Grx rd rx400 is 10speed rear derailleur, and going to 46t maybe just need a rd extender or if you have enough budget, then go for the rd rx812, it can take 42t by default, going to 46 will be much easier perhaps just turn the b screw to max

[@alexlai2580]

Nice! I was wondering when you were going to review this!

[@MorganNewlon]

Russ - I believe the SRAM NX 12sp cassette uses standard 9-10sp hubs/ cassette body. It’s made to retrofit for 12sp. Not that you need another drivetrain option...

[@RobertWilliams-ox4hz]

I just used the ratio kit. I have a sram force shifter paired with a 12 speed eagle MTB drive train. Works perfectly. It's not super hard to modify the shifter. But if you're not mechanically inclined the fin is a much easier option.

[@ErnestVillalon]

I did this mod in August 2019 after researching it and finding someone that did it on Pink Bike forums. I had to piece it together with a donor SRAM Force RD that I took the fin and barrel adjuster off of.. I bought a thrashed Force RD on eBay to save some money. I would have really appreciated this kit then.

[@ErnestVillalon]

I forgot to mention, at the time I used Sram Apex 1 shifter, Sram GX Eagle RD, and Sun-Race 11-50.

[@billmaidment5623]

😮 Thanks Russ! Sram is too busy focusing on electronic drivetrains to offer this as an option. Maybe someday we’ll see more mechanical stuff from them.

[@jasonhearne1174]

Russ - be good to see a video where you add a front derailleur to the Bombora. Crust claim it's doable but don't seem to share the secret suggesting it's a prime video opportunity for The Cave of Bad Ideas.

[@dvoob]

I use the ratio kit to run 1x12 on the road and gravel. Two wheelsets, one with a 10-36, and one with a 10-44 cassette. Allows for one bike to act as two.

[@markholm7050]

You only need 11 gears? What a retrogrouch!

[@armandopdx]

7:18 hahahaha! i had to watch that 3 times! go russ!!!

[@allrounderbicycle7193]

Thanks for hacking through the hack jungle to discover this, Russ. This is gold.

[@KurtisPape]

Wow, 100k subscribers. I done 11 speed garbaruk cassette 50t w/ cage and I just couldn't get to run smoothly. It works, but not when I put power down. So I bit the bullet a week ago and got ratio with sram eagle 52t

[@joshhhab]

My Apex shifters worked fine with X7 front and rear derailleurs many years ago, 10 speed

[@AdventuresWithDaniel]

Pretty slick set up for sure!!

[@chriscollins260]

Thanks! That was very helpful. Subscribed!

[@sunesnigel]

Microshifter has road shifters that works with their rear derailleur. Think you can go 11-46 at least.

[@popejbryant]

I see that oval chainring. When are you going to talk about that? Our did I miss it already?

[@Siravingmon]

Thanks for this. Great clear video as always! I'm putting together my bike at the moment. Am I right in thinking I'll need this mod you describe for 11 s SRAM indexed bar end shifters to work with an Eagle GX rear derailleur and 11 tooth cassette? Otherwise I’ll have to use their (RH)non indexed bar end shifter.

[@FelipeSouza-tq9em]

great video! so, you are using GX 12s RD with no problems with a 11s cassette/chain?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

yeah, works well enough.

[@bicishoots]

Wow, rad! Thanks for bringing this to our attention and doing the work to see if it works. Unrelated question but what is that fat-looking bar tape? Is it double wrapped or just a really thick tape?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Wolftooth Supple Bar Tape

[@bicishoots]

@@PathLessPedaledTV of course! Thanks again.

[@apistacio6794]

The jtek by the handlebars is amazing. That's where mine is going now. Love the videos . Keep up the great work!!!

[@Daniel-bv2wc]

Nice vid, just doing the adaptation myself, plus credit for the Seiko turtle or Willard? I can't see it properly..😉

[@sanfransimo]

Russ, which setup did you feel worked better; this one or the Rival derailleur + Garbaruk cage?

[@josephburrow3703]

"Get it out of your system!" for the win!

[@popejbryant]

Russ, question if you don't mind. I run a 2x8 with 50/34 and 12-46 cassette. TRP spyre calipers and either microshift or claris levers. My problem is, I can't find a good long cage derailleur. The microsift R8 I'm using is...not great. At this time I'm pretty happy with the gearing, but do you know of a better front and rear derailleur I could use without having to buy a whole new group set?

[@mattdrange4219]

Cool stuff! But Russ: why no love for the ol 'wide-step' double setup you once enjoyed?? 2X = no compromise on either the top or low end! Sugino makes a great one for the roadie types and you've reviewed SRAM's mtb doubles positively before (SRAM 10-speed road shifters talk perfectly with 1:1 rear derailers)

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Because it would take 2x as much time to uncable and recable and film everything. :) These short videos actually take hours to do in a freezing garage.

[@linasrakauskaseuexport8264]

Hi, superb video! Are there similar solution available for Shimano GRX 11 speed?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Wolftooth TanPan

[@linasrakauskaseuexport8264]

@@PathLessPedaledTV Thank you for your swift replay. I'm thinking upgrading from standart 11-34 shimano to 11-46T Garbaruk. Do I also have to upgrade to long cage?

[@ovp2go]

Can you tell me what Brake/Shifter combo you are using? I have a Rival setup and want to know if this would work? Thanks, Russ!

[@averst69]

I don't know if I am going to offend you :-\ But is there some info on doing some sort of thing to 105 race shifters , combining it with an SLX rear derrailer. Yes I mean Shimano.... :-| Great videos btw :-)

[@James-he2vg]

Great stuff Russ! 👌

[@jonassupercamp]

Please @ratiotechnology make a version which works with Shimano STIs!

[@notreally2406]

Party pace is rockin and rollin full gas

[@troyjusticecabrera7284]

If I use an Eagle GX 12 speed RD. What is the lowest tier SRAM RB brifters I can use with this modification? Will the Apex work? Thanks!

[@jakethurston5962]

The bombora has been personified. Now I feel bad for it lol. I’m more of a flat bar guy but it is cool to know this exists if I go drop bar.

[@dlevi67]

Press release from SRAM: "To increase durability and stability, the next generation of rear derailleurs will feature a fully-riveted configuration, using advanced riveting technology from the aeronautical industry."

[@royalmoline9197]

lmao

[@sodalitia]

Translation: "To increase company margin profits, the next generation of rear derailleurs will become unservicable and obsolete, by replacing screws with rivets using advanced BS marketing from Apple BS industry.

[@Amir-cu4qp]

I think that the cheaper derailleurs are riveted, and that's why you need to buy the more expensive one, because on them you can replace that part. But still, a dick move from sram, since I don't really see a reason why they couldn't make them compatible

[@ME-hm7zm]

Do you think you could dremel off and tap the fin on the lower-level derailleur so you can bolt on the part from Ratio?

[@ChrisinOSMS]

Thanks Russ!

[@stillstand82ies]

You can also modify the sram 11-Speed mechanical shifters to shift 12 and 13 speed-cassettes. There is a company in germany that does the modification for you.

[@zekemowat1560]

Surely you have figured out by now that the bike repair gods require a blood sacrifice in order for any mod to be successful.

[@jeffreydzialo]

Great video!

[@peterweikel7123]

So a while back I bought me a touring bike and it had one of these pully devices on it and I had no clue what it was, why it was needed, or how it works. It is mounted in a place that prevents me from being able to hook my bike trailer to the bike and I was wanting to do something with it. I now know what it is way it's there, how I can more it or ultimately remove it. Thank you

[@planesandbikes7353]

Ratio technology mod - I prefer the Archer Radio technology mod, lol. but seriously this looks cool too and I have a Gx rear mech I could use

[@rochoote]

Hi Russ I'm assuming you have a Garbaruk cassette on shimano freehub, which is supposed to be Shimano RD compatible only. I did the same setup as you with a sunrace 11s cassette and it's just not possible to index correctly 😢 I've been told by ratio tech that shimano and sram 11s mtb cassettes just don't have the same cogs spacing, so i'm wondering how you could get this to shift properly. I guess I need to go 12s to get a proprer wide range sram cassette, kind of a disappointment for me...

[@aidanchapman1852]

pretty cool little tool

[@danmitchell3758]

What shoe do u like for all day cycling touring northern tier Seattle to MI

[@davidgriffin8717]

The Bambora: IT'S ALIVE! IT'S ALIVE!

[@pratikpramanik7782]

Really sucks about the lack of attribution. Bike rumor is regularly plagiarizing smaller creators. Great video as always Russ, you’re becoming the next Sheldon Brown!

[@bobqzzi]

I love this channel

[@RuderalisFPV]

Are there any options for 10-52 11 speed cassettes? Thats a reason to go 12spd otherwise. So if you are going 12 speed you just need the shifter mod, not the derailleur mod?

[@Max-dj5qj]

I run goat link 11 with 11-50 cassette and full grx rx 812 shifters. Runs smooth, but is takes some time to adjust ad the start... Which cassette arw you are running there? No goat link or something used?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

I literally answer all those questions in the video.

[@erics9214]

Actually had a tech at Shimano admit that the incompatibility of Shimano road and mountain components starting a few years ago pretty much screwed over the touring/supple community of riders. This is a great hack and, as Russ points out, hard to understand why SRAM doesn't just offer it themselves. As for 11 vs. 12 speeds, if God/ess had intended there to be more or less than 10, they would not have been called "ten speeds" back in the glory days of bikes. If it was good enough for Eddy Merckx, who are we to question?

[@dlevi67]

The really really annoying thing is that they extended the incompatibility even to Di2, when there really is no reason - just remove the flipping firmware block. Why can I not have a front Ultegra or GRX derailleur with a rear XT/XTR?

[@davidperry7676]

Thanks for sharing

[@dunkcyclist190]

Been running a fin off of a broken Rival 1 mech on an old X1 11spd mech for a few weeks now, so far so good. Been using Rival1 shifters and 11-46 cassette, pretty huge ratio on a dropbar with normal shifters.

[@rogerheatwole4103]

Russ, are you using a Garbaruk oval chainring? Is there a video where you review it?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Absolute Black

[@findtherightbeat]

Amen to 5:35

[@NewEnglandDirtRoadie]

hey there, i'm trying to find your video where you paired a Shimano long cage road rear derailleur with a 40-tooth rear cassette. can you point me to that one? thanks

[@chops0075]

Johnny 5 no disassemble!

[@clawrence034]

I wonder if you can drill out the rivet on an NX and tap the hole to mount the Ratio Fin?

[@madzonic16]

Good thing Apex Eagle was released! Its new brifters is compatible with the GX derailleur and cassettes. We don’t need this anymore.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Good thing Ratio did all the hard work to prove there was a market and SRAM could capitalize on it.

[@davidf1288]

Hey Russ, are you using an E Thirteen 9-46 cassette for greater range over the SRAM?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

No. 9teeth weirds me out. Garbaruk 11-50

[@davidf1288]

@@PathLessPedaledTV Can you explain the disadvantage you see with the 9-46 cassette compared to the 11-50 setup? Also, will this work for a 40T chainring and is the rear derailleur also 11-speed or 12-speed or does it even matter? Thanks Russ!

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

@@davidf1288 need to change the freehub to run 9 tooth. Also extreme bends in the chain wear it out faster. Also I personally don’t need a gear that high so not much to gain for me.

[@cjones7854]

I just swapped out my GX derailleur off of my MTB (got tired of 12 speed and XD driver causing problems). I swapped the cable fins with my rival derailleur and now have the GX on my gravel/bikepacking rig! Dang it SRAM, why didn't you tell us at least? Why don't they sell the cable fins?

[@peterwills735]

Hey Russ, could you share the video you mentioned where someone does a 12-speed conversion with this kit?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaiUfaycoKyNlZo

[@MrKarty01]

Went from 2x to 1x then went back to 2x for a bit and put on 3x using 105 for a laugh. Won't be bothering to change it again.All the gearing ill ever need at the cadence i want.

[@peglor]

1x is mostly about targeting customers unwilling to take the 10 minutes needed to learn how to use a 3x drivetrain, with the welcome side-effect of making bike companies higher profits because they're selling fewer parts that wear more quickly and charging a premium for them because they're fashionable. The current 2x12 Shimano XT drivetrain has a range of 623% though (Or 610% if you get the 38-28 XTR chainset at 3 times the price of the 36-26 that is the only option for XT and all groups below this). This is significantly more than the 533% my 3x10 and 3x9 bikes get, and especially noticeable on really steep climbs because 2x12 with a 36 big ring has a lower top gear than I get on 3x10, so I have more than a gear extra below the 3x10 range at the bottom of the gear range.

[@MrKarty01]

@@peglor Yes I have no doubts about the validity of your statement. My gearing is a bit overkill with a 42,32,22 front and a 11-36 cassette. Top and bottom end is not as restrictive as the 2x. I run this on a drop bar 29er with tubeless schwalbe G-one 29x2.35 tyres(60mm) tyres. It does stuff gravel bikes can't and I dont need to drop to 27.5 wheels to get larger tyres (also very fashionable). Gearing enables me to climb some of the 25% climbs nearby as I'm no longer quite as fit as I was when younger . Although the wheels and tyres are heavier than my road bike braking, grip ride quality (omg) and traction is far better than the road bike . Since its build last June it's been the bike I've clocked up some ks on. I'm now spoilt by its ease.

[@BPTtech]

Just got a GRX bike 🥰

[@Meowriano]

Does this only work with eagle? Or a standard gx 1x derailleur

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

To my knowledge gx eagle and above. Could work if your fin is removable.

[@matheussiq8]

Love your videos and alway learn a lot with it but your audio levels are way lower than normal. Could you please try to keep it between -6 and -3 db? Maybe use a hard limiter at -3db and try to get those audio levels as close as possible? That way it wouldn't clip if you go too load. Sorry for the tech part, professional video editor here that would love to not have to crank my audio volume higher everytime I come to like your videos :)

[@jannetourunen1778]

Russ, could you make a video about the best bikepacking burrito? Best sauces and all that. Or just tell us whats in that famous "morningburrito" you have on some of the vids. People outside U S n A needs to know!

[@djl1228]

Russ, this looks like a very simple and effective solution. My question is are you using a GX 12 speed der or a GX 11 speed der? The GX 11 speed der only support max 42T cassette while 12 speed der supports 50T cassette. I'm assuming you are using the 12 speed der but how does that work with 11 speed SRAM road shifters? Do you just have one empty shift since cassette only has 11 rings?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Using a “12” spd derailleur but it doesn’t know how many speeds it has. The shifter determines that. 12 and 11 spd have the same amount of cable pull. With an 11spd Shifter it shifts 11 times with no ghost shifts.

[@mikehansen6656]

Any idea if this will work with a 2x GX derailleur? Ratio said it was not designed to but wondering if anyone has tried it.