The MTB Problem Nobody Talks About But Everyone Has | Shimano XT Linkglide Review

All too often you will see a new bike that has a fancy derailleur, a mid-tier shifter, and a bog-standard cassette. We've come to associate shift quality being something achieved thanks to great rear-mechs, but often the most eye-catching part of the drivetrain isn't the most important. This is definitely the case with LinkGlide. Most the novel technology is packed into this 11-speed cassette.
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[@theshonen8899]

I love that Shimano is going the opposite direction of SRAM. Cheaper, durable, COMPATIBLE components.

[@woduk]

Yes and then you can just ride instead of faffing around charging batteries and whatever just so you can ride the bike

[@mikegeddie2263]

Sram is garbage

[@exothermal.sprocket]

One does not necessarily need to select the AXS version of their drivetrains.

[@mcmarshallcluhan6884]

SRAM still make the GX 11 speed groupset and it is about the same price as CUES. Also, shimano's deore lineup is already cheap w/ a fully steel cassette and uses a standard pull ratio which is interchangeable with SRAM. All the marketing sounds good and is hard to disagree with, but for most people the existing standard is going to be more flexible, more compatible with used or spare parts, and that is a critical element of durability

[@watertankhikes]

But, according to Shimano, CUES/LINKGLIDE is NOT compatible with existing Shimano MTN groupsets. They unnecessarily created another standard, when they could have kept the existing pull ratios.

[@Driftuner]

Been exclusively using LinkGlide 11 for the past year and never had the slightest issue with it. Even after about 4000km the chain barely shows any sign or wear. Highly recommend

[@watertankhikes]

Are you using the CN-LG500 chain?

[@Driftuner]

@@watertankhikes yes, its the only LG chain they make

[@keirfarnum6811]

You should still be rotating chains to avoid mating issues with cogs and chainrings. Make sure you measure the chain too; it might look okay but be stretched. P.S., especially if you use Hypergrind; that causes mating really rapidly. Back when I raced XC (90s) I didn’t use Hypergrind and just rode with standard cogs and learned to shift correctly.

[@tayneandrade7152]

this is the best bike related review i've seen in years, feels like og GCN

[@wtfiswiththosehandles]

Yeah, GCN is ridiculous these days. "Here is a great city bike, and it costs only 5k"

[@PRH123]

They never let you go more than 5 minutes without reminding you that they all ride “carbon super bikes”…

[@chameleon-dream-band-official]

I hope this is a sign the industry is starting to focus on the "normal" rider rather than trying to woo them with all the glitz of ultra-performance MTBs. Purchase prices and ownership costs have got ridiculous and, to me, it feels pretty clear they're alienating a lot of the community. Strong, light, cheap, pick two is probably the greatest engineering phrase ever, but I do believe people would sacrifice a bit of weight and performance if it meant things lasted.

[@The_1ntern3t]

Both are fine and I'm somewhere in the middle. I use the cheapest possible hubs, brakes, rims, whatever because they just do what they're supposed to do. Perfect! But I changed from a Shimano XT to a Sram axs transmission because the XT skipped too many gears under load and my shins couldn't take it anymore. I'm not going to say that the Sram transmission thing is perfect - it really isn't. For example, when going from hot to cold climates, microadjust is still necessary. I've also ran out of battery more than once, but you can just push/pull the cage to manually select a gear. Anyways - it's as expensive of an upgrade as it gets for a bike with basic components. But I enjoy every single shift, so it was well worth it *for me*.

[@andrewh7868]

What, you have something against a $600 cassette?

[@peterfreeman3317]

Reminds me of the high end audio industry. Advertising to the same maniacs and forgetting that most just want good sounding, affordable gear. Bikes should have a 5 year shelf life…what change for change sake? Shops would be able to bring in plenty of inventory without worrying it will “change” in 6-9 months. The top end stuff will always be a moving target for that crowd who wants the best of the best.

[@QoraxAudio]

Definitely. Sacrificing even 1kg doesn't matter. Most ppl can easily counter that by threefold by losing some weight. lol.

[@QoraxAudio]

@@peterfreeman3317Yep, same here. Been into HiFi audio for quite some years, but only into bikes like 10 years at most. Really striking similarities we've been seeing in the past few years.

[@flyingnorseman]

Been on Shimano 11 speed for 5 years and love it. Also have a sram 12 speed system on a bike. I never think about have 1 less gear and the shimano stuff has performed and held up way better than the sram.

[@pinned91]

11-46 xt 11speed is awesome, and not crazy expensive if something gets smashed into a rock

[@vrwgq3q]

@@pinned91 its what I was relegated to with a HG Driver, and I have no issues with a 11-46 on a 30 tooth cassette. I also think the older SRAM non-Eagle 11 speed GX was also one of the most reliable drivetrains I've ever used on 1x

[@jmerodgers]

I have Shimano and Sram on multiple bikes and find the Sram to be better on the whole. But i do like the promise of durability much more than saving a few grams. Pound for Pound its hard to beat SRAM Eagle GX for durability and problem free shifting. That said for some applications the Shimano Linkglide looks to be a better value.

[@simonstyles8537]

It's the HG drive i have issues with

[@joevuch7981]

please keep this attitude on this channel! The bike media world is too focused on race level components but this sport is dominated by average riders. PB has a lot of power to convince manufacturers to see it the same way.

[@jurekgadzinowski2895]

Agreed. Most people look for something in between, not just the newest top tier stuff.

[@jduglum9755]

This would be an awesome group to use in any future iterations of the "Budget vs. Baller" series! I really hope y'all bring that back for another round.

[@robinrai4973]

I think the true MVP is Advent X, you can get the cassettes in steel or alu, and the steel ones were 10 bucks a pop at one point during sales! Lighter than XT/GX, HG freehub, servicable clutch, etc I had Deore and XT in the past and don't really feel like I'm missing anything with X and the entire groupset was like 80 bucks on sale

[@robbybeauchamp]

Completely agree. Even 9 speed Advent is a very solid workhorse. Especially in the adventure bike area where they've built in compatibility with their flat bar MTB shifters, and drop bar bar-end shifters and integrated brake/shift levers. I do wish they would release a bar-end for Advent X.

[@barneyklingenberg4078]

Shimano Cues has options all the way down to microshift advent 9 and X. All with 1 by and shadow derailleurs with great chain retention. Yes Microshift started the trend with affordable durable 1 by drivetrains with less gears. But i seriously doubt they can reap the rewards now. In the end the consumer will win. Major brands have revamped their entry level bikes with these new parts. And we are all better off.

[@hitary1]

second this.

[@sergiolandz6056]

i always use deore and never had any issues what so ever with them.

[@Jeremy-kg1zr]

Hmmm... I'm glad you've been happy with your bike with Advent X. That's the important part. As a rider and fairly busy shop head-mechanic, Advent does not typically perform on the same level as Shimano Deore or above(my preference) or SRAM GX or above. 11sp XT for me.

[@robertkoleczko3987]

I'm doing MTB since 1991. 2011 started Bike Park DH for hobby. Since 2014 I work as a Bike mechanic. Because of that stupid old school knowledge, I always drove Shimano. Since 1991. Never any problems, always happy! When started at my first regular bike work shop, I got a really bad opinion about Hydraulic Sram-Avid brakes. And when they released the first eagle Cassette for 400 bucks, I became the biggest fan. Of Shimano 😁😁‼️‼️‼️

[@dpie4859]

I started 1996 and live in Switzerland. I always had XT, except on a few occasions where something else was part of the components. Almost always had an issue if it wasn’t XT. Avid disc breaks horribly bad. The overheated and locked up completely. What a joke. XT for happy riding!

[@jurekgadzinowski2895]

I dont think it is bad that manufacturers make these expensive top shelf parts. But the prices are crazy, thats a fact, but the reason it is this way is because people will still buy it just to have the best or most expensive stuff.

[@rksnilsberg]

Inexpensive and durable 1x wide range drivetrains are needed everywhere, especially at the low end as that is where users often can not use two gear levers and maintenance will be lacking. Compatibility across systems would also be great and I could live with 10-speed too. I would personally prefer a narrower cassette with less extreme chain angles, less wear and (more) symmetric spokes on the rear wheel.

[@tablatom]

10 and 11 speed are my favourites. They both offer enough ratio's and hardly ever need adjusting. I do love the SRAM GX shifter. So easy on the thumb and a nice positive action.

[@ApfelSgt]

The XT with the 11 speed is perfect for Mtb‘s. The 10 speed really has a bit too little ratio for an mtb in my opinion if i am completely honest… 11-43 is a little bit to less. Especially if you have a lot of technical uphill parts. For the normal everyday Driver who drives 80% street it‘s enough. But for people who do lots of „Mountainbiking“, the Deore Xt 11 Speed is the way to go! I never missed the 10-51 or 10-52 Ratio with the 12 gear. But even that is a thing that you still notice! Not a big difference, that’s why i said the 11 speed with the 11-50 is enough ratio, but you will still feel it! BUT 11-43 is really a bit too little ratio… 😬

[@whssy]

Finally a bike KZbin video I can really get on board with. As cassettes get bigger and bigger and riders spend more and more time on the smaller cogs, I have had my eye on this solution next time I need to buy a cassette. CUES is the best thing Shimano have come up with in at least 2 decades.

[@kalousr96]

I'll keep supporting Shimano as they have been delivering quality for a reasonable price. No fancy trends, just good products. Kudos to them ✌️

[@jonamcc]

Agreed on most fronts, this seems like a great drivetrain for *most* people. I will say I’ve ridden on a 12 speed XT drivetrain using a GX cassette for 3 years now and it’s been great the entire time. No signs of impending replacement necessary.

[@bradsanders6954]

I put a chain on my normal mt bike at 1000 miles, it barely shows wear but a chain is 20.00....so I just do it. On my SPECTRAL ON E mt bike the chain also gets replaced at 1000 miles.....with barely any wear. Both Shimano 12 speed, both work great. Just cant hurry shifts especially on E bike, like any mt bike I shift before climbs not during. I do kinda miss the 2X days, my last 2X was a 2012 KONA XC bike, I set it up to have a super, super low gear and still have a decent top end in big chain ring, all with a 11/36 cassette. It did work awfully well. 22/36 chainrings.

[@Silkl4sh]

I'm running X01 cassette with XX1 chain. No signs of wear either. That's due to chain, cause GX cassette would last the same imho

[@denislitisha7136]

Wow. You guys aren’t riding it hard then. I work at a shop in Vancouver and have multiple customers that ride GX .they have to replace it at least once per year minimum.chain and cogs.

[@svenball5384]

great, its not all about the latest and greatest. Love my 11speed on my 2016 winter bike with sitting on a standard steel hub. Holds up so much longer then my shiny XX1

[@crankshoptv8141]

XT Linkglide is the most underrated drive-train out there, ESPECIALLY when it comes to ebike applications.

[@VietPho]

How is XD for mid drive motors?

[@crankshoptv8141]

@@VietPhoLinkglide isn't compatible with XD Drivers, only the older style Shimano HG (Ideally a steel driver body)

[@owensnicholas]

Super interesting take. I never would have considered comparing Linkglide to T-Type. I'm not sure I'd swap my XT 12 speed for it, but I do admit that I sometimes shift with little mechanical sympathy, and my cassette shows it.

[@QoraxAudio]

Same here, still managed to get over 8500km on it before replacing the 5 smallest sprockets and the chain. Still runs just fine.

[@briancherbak5047]

Bro love this. My go-to is Sram NX 11s shifter/derailleur because I want a clutch, range, and don't want a 12s chain that's thin as floss. But I run an all-steel 11s 11-50t Sunrace cassette on a HG body -- precisely for compatibility and durability.

[@bradsanders6954]

An 11 speed chain is only minutely different than a 12 speed chain, a 9 speed is where the chain gets beefier. In general chains break from repeated hard shifting across a wide chainline. 1X and 12 speed, or even 11 speed, is a pretty bad chainline in extremes, its why Shimano uses the steel/aluminum chainring.

[@nilshaas8434]

This is the reason I love microshift advent. It's just straight functional with no frills. It's cheap, and it's durable.

[@MartinezHQ]

Thought I was cool going to AXS, then went to T-type… Just to find neither out perform XTR. Happy to be back where I belong. Thank you all for making a Shimano video 🙏.

[@victorbrunet6478]

Finally a pink bike video talking about simplicity

[@TheMachoGabacho]

I think the way for Shimano to stick it to SRAM is to make a quality drivetrain at a realistic price. Not all of us want to spend $2K or more on a drivetrain, no matter how nice it is. I have two Trek XC bikes, one with XO1 and the other with Alivio 3x9. I enjoy both and don’t notice much of a difference in quality. The XO1 is a little smoother, but not enough to justify it costing 4X what Alivio cost. Plus I have a 48 tooth large ring upfront, so I can spin at road bike speeds going downhill.

[@sepg5084]

Component makers have been producing sub $2k drivetrains, the problem is people want $2k drivetrains but are not willing to pay for it 😉

[@TheMachoGabacho]

@@sepg5084 that’s true, but the prices are going up faster than the technology is advancing. You’re not getting as much for your money anymore, and now SRAM has manufacturers making frames that aren’t readily compatible with lower tier groupsets. Also, some manufacturers aren’t building frames that can accommodate cables, so they are exclusively designed for electronic shifting. My road bike has Sora, and I’ll probably stick with it until I can’t get parts anymore, because the newer bikes are just too expensive. I can afford it, but I can’t justify it.

[@sheddrip8671]

honestly the only problem with alivio is the shifter

[@nicolashuffman4312]

If you live in a relatively flat area, you can get light AND durable with Saint. The cassette-- which is a 10spd Ultegra road cassette-- is lighter than the top end XTR. Since it is 10spd, the gears are thicker, which allows them to be more durable than thinner 11 and 12spd options. I run a 11-32 since it is pretty flat in the middle of NC, but there is a monster cassette available if you actually need big range. You may not. When I was younger and we all had triple cranks, the marketing had me convinced that I needed my 22 tooth granny gear to turn my 30 tooth cassette at a rate that would get me up the steeper local climbs. I figured out over the years that if I carried more momentum into the climbs, I didn't need that granny gear at all. I ended up converting the triple to a 1x and using a Dremel to trim my cassette to a 11-28.

[@hanstubben]

Still on my Sram first gen GX Eagle, since 2018 and some 15.000 km later, still does not miss a beat! Drive trains have come a long way since the early twenty tenths!

[@dingobeaver6919]

Me new bike 2yrs ago came with sram gx 12 speed, have not had to adjust anything at all including the deraileur cable, and no service been needed apart from cleaning, pretty pleased with my gx

[@gregknipe8772]

Thank you. No one I know races, no one I know cares about anything aside from durability and reliability.

[@pizzapie4me]

Hyperglide+ with the multiple downshifts under load is so damn good though. And you can get it in the Deore level. I've smashed mine up so bad that you can't even tell what derailleur it is and it's still running amazing. In my limited experience, Linkglide is not even close in terms of performance. I haven't had much experience with the XT level, but all the Cues stuff I've worked on have sucked big time.

[@davidgarza2267]

My 2020 habit came with 11sp SLX which I immediately switched for new takeoff XT I got for cheap. Its been flawless and I can't imagine needing anything else.

[@the_overflow]

I got last summer the 10 speed linkglide to an old Cannondale. So happy how it is working. Before I had to plan the shifting before the uphill, now it shifts nicely always.

[@back40canoe]

I love the sensibilities discusses here. I love simple bikes.

[@davidross8233]

This makes more sense than any product I’ve seen in a while.

[@ZenEndurance]

Props to the steel cassette. I use them on any bike I want to be reliable and low maintenance. Commuter, indoor trainer.... Less time in the shop = more time biking.

[@lovenottheworld5723]

The nine speed era was always the best. When everything worked with everything else. Almost.

[@likelight6495]

Shimano 9 speed on a mountainbike was absolutely and utterly useless

[@lovenottheworld5723]

@@likelight6495 Useless. You couldn't use it at all. I didn't realise it was as bad as that. Sorry.

[@dansburns]

I love Hyperglide+ and like it better than SRAM’s offerings, but for a budget build, I think this is a great option, especially when compared to something like Microshift’s Advent X.

[@frotto]

i see the application of a cassette like this great for ebikes where durability is more an issue than in regular mountain bikes.

[@bradsanders6954]

E bikes, most of them, already come with all steel cogs on cassette. Its Deore and fits on normal mt bikes also. I just got a deore cassette in 10/51 all steel for 39.99.....might be 69.99 at a local shop, I got it off ebay.

[@frotto]

@@bradsanders6954 yeah but i think for ebikes would be better to have a 10-speed transmission with a stronger chain. 12 speed Deore cassettes are still weak for ebikes. They don't last enough.

[@augmented2nd666]

Crazy, I have this drive-train on my Devinci hardtail, works great, although coming from a GT aggressor with a much cheaper shimano of some sort 3x7 gearset I tend to shift really lightly and only on flat or downhill never "under load" for fear of hurting my drive. Its good to know its one of the tougher drive trains out there, as I prefer my 29er to be more like an oversized geared BMX/Dirtjumper, tough as nails and on the heavier side. I also try to degrease and wash my cassette every ride or every other ride then relube and remove excess, it might be tough but its still my baby and deserves love. I have absolutely no problem with range either, the 11-51 paired with a 30 is a massive enough range for me, its harder than my BMX which runs a 9 with a 30 because wheel size maths of 20inch vs 29inch, and the climbing gear is more than light enough for pretty much any climbing.

[@NonLegitNation2]

Just "got rid" of my GT Aggressor Pro last week. It comes stock with a Microshift 26 derailluer. I had that bike fully upgraded, the only thing still stock was the frame. I bought a Poseidon Norton frame and transferred everything i could from GT to it last week. Akthough some stuff i had to buy like thru-axle wheels and I used this build as an excuse to buy a new air fork, lol.

[@kyleslater5245]

I’m actually very interested in this. Partly as well I have an emtb that I think will eat drivetrains for breakfast. And due to the design the “reduce pressure before shifting” thing doesn’t work so a better shift under load is more interesting.

[@phonebem]

I was thinking the same thing. In the short time I've been on an ebike, I've realized that I need to relearn the concept of shifting with mechanical sympathy; namely that it doesn't exist. If the cranks are turning, the drivetrain is typically under a load... Good to see the manufacturers acknowleding the reality and adressing it in a somewhat economical way.

[@rodjets8208]

I fitted a Linkglide chain to Deore ebike. 1,000km on it now and very little wear. My old Vado of 5yrs 8500 km would be needing a new chain by now.

[@denaude7058]

Finally, been waiting for you guys to talk about it.

[@atlbike1251]

Perfect drivetrain to put on the new Aluminum bikes with better forks, shocks and wheels on them. It seems the industry might finally be listening to us all around. Give us a good bike that lasts for less, we all don't need the top of the line Carbon/Kashima bikes that require a second mortgage to buy or the 1 step above entry level bike that needs upgrades from the moment you purchase it.

[@bikebudha01]

I was able to run 3x on my mountain bike till last year. I had clung to buying 3x bikes for so long because I understand the benefit of having 'gear range'. The last bike I was able to put 3x was a Niner RKT. (It's, I believe, the last modern mountain bike that can accept 3x). It was glorious. My granny gear allowed me to spin up the steepest of steeps. My big ring allowed me to crush open downhillss, and the flats. I recently switched to a new bike. A Rocky Mountain Element. It's a better bike in every way, but one. It's lighter. It climbs way better. It decends way better. It has (2) water bottle mounts - in frame). But it only comes with a 1x. It's set up quite well to handle super steeps. I haven't been wanting for lower gears for my steep climbs. BUT, man, on the flats, and for open downhills - I spin out so quickly. I suppose the 'silver lining' is that xc/marathon mountaing biking has kind of died off, so I'm not missing the ability to push hard on the flats and open downhills in my day-to-day riding. I so wish modern bike companies would bring back, at least, a 2x option. Would really open up modern xc/downcountry bikes...

[@user-vb6pg7op8z]

Xc definitely didn't die out

[@bikebudha01]

@@user-vb6pg7op8z it kind of has...

[@impaledface7694]

Always preferred shimano since you can index finger upshift, but linkglide is just another reason to stick with them. Honestly the bikes that I would want a 10 or 9 tooth cog I would just have a 2x on since it would be for xc racing, or just run a bigger front cog since the bike is so light+efficient.

[@EnjoyTheRideMTB]

So to make it simple, Sram makes you pay thousands of dollars on a new "transmission" to get a smoother shift under load while Shimano provides you with just a cassette to achieve the same thing. I've always known that Shimano had a better mechanical technology but damn, this makes me love them even more. This is what engineers should be focusing on: improving existing technology instead of trying to bring new ones that also bring new problems with them. Kudos Shimano, you are the ones ahead of your time!

[@CarkeekW]

Good luck with counter strike dominance Hotel Quebec , another banger of an article. Ebikes have highlighted the ridiculous life span of older top end cassettes, what a great step forward to have steel 11s , perfect gap , perfect chain gauge compromise. Until we go belt drive 2.0 and never look back

[@abrahambergen4256]

This is fantastic. Fewer gears equals less harsh chain angles. I wonder if Shimano could find a way to adjust the side to side position of the front chain ring to help reduce the chain angle even more.

[@jhuc2869]

Often wondered if they could build a bit of side float into them.

[@Ugoeh2]

Thoughtful. Thanks for this.

[@ApfelSgt]

As a Deore XT Linkglide user i could comfortably say, that for (almost) ALL Mtb and especially Emtb driver, it will be the absolute best Choice! Most of us are „normal“ drivers, that means that first of all, we like to have components that just works, are relatively cheap and extremely durable and that’s exactly what you get here! 👌🏼 Another thing that is extremely nice is, that it shifts extremely soft! Often you don’t even feel the gear change! Which is extremely impressive and comfortable to drive with! I personally think you can really „feel“ that the linkglide is really solid and will last for a long time! Which is also a thing that just makes you happy and comfortable to drive with! Because you never have the feeling, that it can possibly break! And believe me, the deore Xt linkglide is really fast! Yes, there are expensive components out there who are faster, but it’s still pretty fast! I personally haven’t even thought one single time that it’s not fast enough! And i am pretty sure, that’s the case for 99% of mtb drivers! When i first heard that it’s not the fastest, i thought „ohh, hopefully it’s not that slow“. But when i tested it for the first time i really was impressed by the gear changing speed! I mean, you have to think about the price point and all the other positive aspects that the linkglide has! And especially for all the positive points it’s extremely fast! 👍🏼 I would say for „Pro drivers“ who are used to lightning fast gear changes it could be to heavy or a little bit to slow. But for all the other Hobby drivers i would say it’s the best choice and that with a BIG GAP! ☺️ Especially if you drive an Emtb it’s an absolute No brainer! I would even say it’s a must have! Because of your motor the wear and tear on the chain etc. is A LOT Higher! And exactly for durability, linkglide is perfect! 👌🏼 I will never buy other systems for my E-Bikes in the future! There is simply no comparison to the Deore Xt Linkglide!

[@MichaelSmith-fg8xh]

I bought linkglide 11sp because I was putting a lot of stress through drive train. It's been a pleasure for a year. For low cadence shifting it's noticably smoother.

[@workshopninjathe1st]

I just bought and XT 12 speed groupset (including disc brakes) for the price of a t-type cassette!

[@not-a-raccoon]

Just bought a mtb with 11 speed and I'm absolutely loving it so far. Shifts buttery smooth and is nice and quiet

[@michaelwillis4528]

Had a 1x10 with a pretty close spaced cassette on a 26” bike, had such a blast with it

[@chriswood9693]

This is a great step in the right direction. It would be cool if they would also make a cassette with something like a 14 or 16 tooth smallest cog to get the cog spacing tighter on the gears people actually use most up at the top of the cassette.

[@terr256]

Makes me happy to know Henry plays Counter Strike lol

[@jonathanoffler6037]

This is what makes Pink bike such a great place, you guy make real world sense .

[@fredboudreaux9663]

Awesome advice.

[@minnionator]

As soon as my cassette wears out I'm going back to 11spd and probably a 28-30t front ring.

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

As a homebuilder, I have a 3 times 11 gears, a full Shimano 33 gear XTR set on my Vision Kilo Frame, with originally absurdly expensive XTR Wheels (bought used on E-bay), tubeless if wanted (I don't) on top of that. It is probably the lightest possible bike to built with all that! I like to be able to select my area in front and with double caliber XTR9120 disc brakes, it is exceptionally fine braking! I was afraid that they would brake too much, but they feel extremely well functioning!! I can't even start on a flat road in the low gears, but going up an absurdly steep hill they are indeed fine, expecting to fall backwards! Finn. Denmark

[@fen2453]

I bought a huge quantity of xt 11sp on closeout. Love the stuff.

[@ManuelMartinez09]

Excellent review, many times we only focus on weight (specially for XC) but durability must be considered. You have to address also that ultra light hubs are fragile so in order to pair a most durable cassette maybe you have to own a sturdy hub.

[@gilbertb.6521]

...still got my 10speed XT 11-42..what I did to avoid me from spending my money to 11 speed or 12 speed? changing my front chain ring from 34 to 30t 😂

[@QoraxAudio]

Very confusing at the beginning; I mean I run an XT drivetrain, but it's the M8100 XT, which is 12 speed in 10 to 45T version. Had to replace the 5 smallest sprockets after ~8500km and it cost me 35 bucks. The main riveted part of the cassette is the expensive part and it's still doing well.

[@raisagil2897]

11 speed Cues is the best bang for the buck on the market, and probably the most bulletproof drivetain you can buy reagrdless of price.

[@pizzapie4me]

Have you used it?

[@RamsayMacFarlane]

Great see big boys reporting on something other than top-end tech! The expensive trend of drivetrains and lack of durability has also prompted another wave of gearbox interest too - a real, durable investment for the average user... especially considering the impending recession and forthcoming fluctuation in the market after this awful spell.

[@rohankilby4499]

Great vid mate I’m going down this road on my Fuel EXE great ebike drive train 👍

[@davidgeiger8620]

I see the same on marketing full suspension.The most of us don't!!! need it. Reliability like a good trail Hardtail cannot be topped

[@cosmicheretic8129]

I'm loving linkglide 10 speed on my ebike. I went through a couple sam and smano setups that kept breaking before this. I'm looking forward to seeing what Shimano comes out with to update hyperglide +.

[@virginiascurti5036]

CUES is a BRILLIANT move, it dumps the overly complex hierarchy and goes to 9, 10, and 11 speed 2 tier system that is interchangeable. It's going to be cheaper and with linkglide more durable.

[@pizzapie4me]

Would be brilliant if it were good.

[@virginiascurti5036]

point to some reviews critquing it as junk!@@pizzapie4me

[@rileybaker8294]

Any time a bike company acknowledges that 99% of their customers aren’t professional competitive riders they should be rewarded. We need tech for bike enjoyment.

[@alexthomas7935]

Best of luck in your counter strike career Henry😂

[@mattjax16]

Lmao love it

[@jordanmatahelumual4718]

Bikes and counterstrike ftw 😂

[@williammatthews9346]

Good stuff, as per usual. Just a bit of a clarification on number of shift ramps and the delay in the system executing shifts. The rate at which shift ramps are encountered by the chain is dependent on the rear wheel's rate of rotation, not cadence, as cassette rotation is tied to rear wheel rotation.

[@SteezeShop]

I wish I could like this video again. Needs to be seen more

[@christopherharmon9336]

I bought a used Fuji Bighorn hardtail, which has an 11-speed Deore drivetrain, with an 11-50 cassette. I've never thought, "Gee, I really need to throw this away, and get a 12-speed drivetrain." Link Glide is very interesting to me-a slight sacrifice in shifting speed for longer life?

[@grantnewby3756]

Not only is Link Glide stronger or more durable, you can also replace the 3 smallest cogs that get warn out first on an E Bike. They also cost about 1/3 the price of a SRAM cassette. E Bikes have so much torque that they need to have a stronger drive train. Weight isn't an issue for everyone especially when it comes at such a great cost.

[@cedricclamaran]

I use Deore's 11 speed 11-51. It works perfect and when I smash the derrailleur with a rock I just throw a new one for a few bucks, win-win.

[@barneyklingenberg4078]

True it's like 35 euro's. It is pretty fragile though. The cage is relatively soft metal. which is required if Shimano wants to stamp them lowering the costs. But that does mean they bend easy.

[@cosminandrei6456]

i'm curious how would this fare against a shimano deore m5100 11-51 hyperglide...honestly, i've been running one of these with a m5100 derailleur and 11 speed xt m8000 shifter on an old carbon hardtail and one year in 2000kms, 2 chains and a considerable amount of elevation on pretty rough tracks and trails and still can't see any wear on the casette...

[@barneyklingenberg4078]

Slower shifting but even more durable. I noticed a big difference on my E-Bike fleet. Which due to the massive torque of the motors wears out a lot faster. Honestly Shimano did something great.

[@mtblover]

Running an 11 speed groupset. XTR shifter, deore cluster and derailleur. No worry in the world. Works perfectly and feels premium.

[@323johnnybravo]

I had a 2020 Stumpjumper that came with an 11 speed Shimano cassette. Had no issues whatsoever with it. Sram GX on the other hand lots of skipping and clicking.

[@bicyclelife7088]

I still have a 2x10 XTR on a cross country bike and think it's perfect for the needed range. This 11 speed looks perfect for entry to medium level bikes. I can always tell a dirt roadie because they have to buy the best, and count their miles then swap parts for Ultimate performance..while they are 55 and 35lbs overweight.

[@ThunderGoatz]

ive been saying this for years, pretty much when 12 speed became really popular, that 11s was a far better and more robust system than 12s for MTB.

[@pierrebroccoli.9396]

Agreed, my older HT is a 3 x 10 XT setup and it is bomb proof although he inner ring up font never gets used, my all mountain is a 1 x 12 X01 and it is great shifting but it catches the forest floor bushes easily and is more in need of adjustment. Initially it was a GX drive train, previous gen, but I shredded the cassette in a year and the shifting was like porridge.

[@ExcelInstructor]

Henry? Henry!? THE Henry from GMBN tech? Thats great news! Im happy you are presenting again :) !

[@petercook7502]

My feeling is that as long as we still have a choice 12, 11, 10, single/double chain ring, mechanical/electronic to suit riding style and budget then all is fine with the world.

[@user-pq4tj6qx4f]

this 11 speed is amazing. the gears ratios are spaced perfectly. I put this on my endureo bike. We have two full sus e-bikes and this should be the STANDARD drive train for MTB e-bikes. the 12 speeds on our MTB e-bikes are not durable enough and cost is high for replacement chains etc. The 11 speed is cheap in comparison and work equally as well even on standard trail and enduro bikes. unless you are pedaling flat out on the road you don't miss the 10 tooth gear at all, and if you need more speed, size one chain ring larger if your bike accommodates it.

[@bradsanders6954]

12 speed E bike Deore chain by Shimano, is 20.00 on ebay. Every 1000 miles a new one goes on. Just sayin. I like the 10 tooth cog, wish it was a 9.

[@objectuser]

Such a good video.

[@PerformanceProjects]

Currently own both an XT 12 speed, XT 11 speed and XX1 AXS group. All three are really great IMHO and if somebody offered me a bike with either one on it I would be stoked. I was bummed out that none of my bikes had an UDH on it to buy and run T-Type (luckily working in the industry I have been able to try it on several bikes). I was always a big proponent of AXS and how well it works, but lets be honest, the cost to purchase and own the new group is just crazy. They will last a long time, if taken care of. I have an XX1 cassette with over 2000 miles on it and it still works like new and is on its second chain, but not everyone meticulously cares for their drive trains to get that distance out of them. I am not looking forward to telling the guy that bought the XX equipped bike that his chain and cassette replacement is going to cost him $650. Especially when it only has 2 seasons of riding on it and he never once cleaned or lubed it.

[@grrlewis1]

I’ve recently dabbled with higher end 12 speed chains, looking for better longevity. SRAM X01 so far has lasted x3 as many miles as a GX & still going, Shimano XTR lasted exactly as long as a Deore. 😮

[@WesMacaulay]

Interesting! I'm about to put a Dura-Ace 11spd chain to replace a worn-out 11-spd X01 chain so it'll be interesting to see how long it lasts. Funny that the XTR didn't last any longer than the Deore chain. Also interesting that the 11spd Linkglide systems *all come with the same chain*.

[@lastfm4477]

@@WesMacaulay Why is it funny an XTR chain didn't last as long as a Deore? XTR isn't for longevity - its for the lightest weight possible. That's the opposite direction from longevity. Shimano takes the XT/Ulegra chain and removes metal from it to make it lighter. So where is the longer last suppose to come from? And the XT/Ultegra chain is just the SLX/105 chain with another coating on it. And the SLX/105 is just another different coating from the Deore chain.

[@WesMacaulay]

⁠@@lastfm4477because as you go up the SRAM chain series the wear life increases dramatically. It’s not irrational to assume Shimano top-end chains should last longer as well. These Linkglide chains are a different animal though as they have one chain for all groupos. If someone can confirm that the CN-LG500 chains work on any 11 spd freewheel, than even SRAM riders could use this chain and get a long wear life from it at a lower price point than say, an X01 chain.

[@WesMacaulay]

@@lastfm4477 because as you go up the SRAM groupos the chains last longer - so it's not unexpected that Shimano chains should do the same. An XO1 chain last perhaps 3x as long as a GX chain. XTR chains last longer than XT chains - see the test here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3-wi6R3fqiEjbc. The XT lasted longer than SLX/Deore.

[@ThiagoMarquardt]

Road bike with 9s cassete since 2010. Happy, easy and cheap to maintain

[@simondodds9155]

Definitely my next drivetrain when my Sam 12 wears out

[@dummiemann]

When my sx wears out, ill try the cues 9 or 10... on my 26er. I dont need much gear on my bike. And I dont have problem with my recent drivetrain. Its still running smooth for 2 years now and Im only ride on weekends.

[@FantomPhish]

I’ve been running 11spd XT since its release, my current derailleur has been on my last 6 bikes, last of 4 of which were e-bikes. I just run a Deore 11-51t cassette.. don’t think I’d change unless forced to due to redundancy

[@cosminandrei6456]

have you done anything to the derailleur's cage ? i didn't try mine on the 51 ...seems stretched almost to its max capacity on a 46 already. i bought a m5100 derailleur for the 11-51 casette....

[@FantomPhish]

@@cosminandrei6456 nope just ran it stock, currently on a Rocky Mountain Altitude PowerPlay.

[@GHinWI]

Now that I’m used to XD driver, I can’t imagine wanting to go back to an HG with the cogs wearing into the splines and becoming difficult to remove. I also like the 10t cog occasionally. That cassette is an absolute boat anchor…maybe for a touring bike, but for my regular MTBs, I’d stick with XO1.

[@CJinsoo]

when i used steel cassettes in the past, on aluminum hub thingy, the steel cassette puts deep gouges in the aluminum hub thingy and it makes it very difficult to remove the cassette. is this addressed with this product?

[@beardedtrucker]

I have a xt 11-42 11 speed cassette and it’s more than enough range. And run 10 speed on my other bike and love it.

[@luca_dierks]

A highly machined steel cassette would be a great addition to the lineup.

[@chhadmi]

Hi so do you only need to replace the cassette to upgrade and maybe chain if you already have an xt shadow derailleur can you use existing derailleur?

[@LiveAeons]

Got all the parts to build up a Linkglide XT drivetrain on my ebike for the 2024 season, except the chain. Still wondering what chain to buy. Anyway, really excited to have this, rather than SX, NX, GX.

[@watertankhikes]

Get the CN-LG500 chain. It's cheap, and it works well.

[@frankthetankricard]

The outdoor shots sound like Henry put the mic under his jacket.

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

I usually go for a mixed steel/alloy cassette because it's not that expensive for the weight savings.

[@georgebailey6307]

That's a dope Flannel!

[@hansghunter]

Henry's 300% jokes are mad😂😂😂

[@rouxenophobe]

Did I hear correctly at the end that you can't jump multiple gears in one shift?! If so that would seem a huge drawback, but perhaps I got it wrong?

[@bryceridesbikes]

My no expense spared custom frame hardtail I built up passed up on 12 speed in favor of a 11spd shimano drivetrain on an e thirteen cassette. No regrets

[@dvs620]

I bought a Box 3 Prime 9 for a little over $100 on sale. It works great, way better than the one I had before. Reduced chain slap greatly, don't drop my chain and now climb things I couldn't before. Before that went on sale, I was looking at the Advent drivetrains. They're customizable with gears and derailleur length too and for much cheaper than SRAM and Shimano.

[@mikestivers8302]

i've heard complaints the Box comps are hard to adjust and dial in. that wasnt my experience; have a BOX 2 prime group on my Yeti, set up was a breeze. no problems w/ it after 500 miles.

[@dvs620]

@@mikestivers8302 The only issue I had was my chain was too long and my derailleur hanger was bent. It was my first time installing a drivetrain. Nothing a few links removed and an adjustable wrench couldn't fix. It's been awesome for me. I'm not riding the gnarliest stuff, but I had dropped a few chains and now, no issue. And I have one of cheaper versions.

[@mikestivers8302]

i'd be down for a BOX 1 setup, that's as you know their highest quality/lowest weight rig. just impossible to find via retail!! i run GX and X01 on my bikes, but often find that it's got 3 or 4 gears i never use. @@dvs620

[@philipcaldwell3187]

Good review! Smart move by Schimano to simplify and go back to durable. My only complaint was two years ago I have scrounge the Linkglide components from all over the globe, I hope that problem has been solved by now.