Shimano GRX 812 Derailleur with Goat Link and 11-46 tooth Cassette

Since making this video I found a better solution. Check out this video after watching this one: • Shimano GRX 11-46 Cass...
I was trying to find a sure fire way to make the GRX 812 Derailer work with an 11-46 tooth cassette. I couldn’t find any definitive results online. So I tried this and The Wolf Tooth Goat Link works great with an 11-46 tooth cassette.
www.search-sac...

[@Hermod_Hermit]

Total side note but yet related. Earler I have been running a mullet set up on 2x11 drivetrain (GRX 46/30) and it has worked just fine on the SLX 11-40 cassette. Good, even. I have used it for road work, gravel, and touring. But I really could not get over that roadlink I had to install. It just did not feel right having to add that extra piece of metal, despite it working just fine. And with a vacation that turned into yet another summer of not traveling, along with some extra cash from working, I got a little bit of spending money to throw away at a new project. So I just did. And after a couple of hours work out in the garage - just in from it in fact - I now run my 2x11 GRX 46/30 cranks on the same 11-40 cassette, but without the roadlink. And now I can cross chain on big/big, without other problems than that it rattles the chain. Here is the most expensive mullet set up devised ever: Take your existing 2x11 810 GRX rear derailleur and ditch it in the parts bin, after removing the outboard jockey wheel. Open up your brand new box with a GRX 812 rear derailleur. Remove the derailleur cage, and replace with a Garbaruk cage, per instructions that can be found on KZbin. Install the inboard jockeywheel from the 812, and for outboard wheel use the one from the 810. Add 2 links to existing chain. Remove roadlink from bike, if not already done. Install 812 derailleur on bike. Install old (or new) shifting wire. Trim B-screw. Trim derailleur travel. Install shifting cable. Adjust shifting as normal. Check for compatibility on both small/small and big/big, as not to run into trouble. It worked. My bike is a Niner RLT steel frame, 56 cm. I used to use 116 links, but now have 118 (Shimano HGX chain). And I no longer need the roadlink. Was it wort it? Most likely "no". Do I like it? Yes. Will go for a gravel test spin tonight. If anyone expresses interest, I'll see if I can upload a vid of the set up and do a few gear changes just like in this video on where I am commenting.

[@artcaballerojr]

Did it work?

[@adam1885282]

I’m running 1x 11-46 on the 812 without modification just fine, maybe a difference in our frames or something

[@jimlzachary]

This is awesome. Going to try it on my Nukeproof Digger. Need more range for Mount Diablo.

[@photovideo215]

Does 116 link chain works, or do you need a longer chain?

[@peterscott4183]

I think I was able to keep the chain the same size. It was a few years ago.

[@photovideo215]

Nice vid! I ordered a GRX812 derailleur, an 11-46 cassette, a 11-speed wolf tooth, and using a 40T chainring. Would I need a longer chain? Currently running GRX 810 with 11-34 cassette and using the same 40T chainring.

[@peterscott4183]

Probably be fine

[@andreashein7219]

The RD-RX812 is easy (and rather cheap) to modify with a RD-M8000-SGS cage. It shifts 2x11 flawless with 28/42 (or 30/46 GRX) front and 11/42 rear. I overstress its capacity with 24/42 front and 11/40 cassette, but it works more than good enough, even when really dirty. I checked it with 11/46 and 28/42 front, but 49 links chain capacity is asking for to much. The RD-RX812's geometry is like the RD-M8000.

[@zafrullahyazid6542]

I unintentionally bought the RD-RX812 thinking I could would use it as a 2×11 as I wanted to run 11-40 cassette (Idiot me, I didn't read the GRX compatibility chart correctly).Not sure if I want to buy a new RD-RX810 to run it 2x11 or modify is you have suggested. I feel like kicking myself!!!

[@andreashein7219]

@@zafrullahyazid6542 Works over 30.000km combined for me and a friend even under adverse conditions. The RX812 parallelogramm has the right slope to follow the shape of bigger MTB cassettes. It´s in fact a MTB rear derailleur for road shifter actuation. The Garbaruk website shows a video how to change the cage.

[@dipsky-xu3wl]

Can I use 11-46 for double chainring on my crankset?

[@andreashein7219]

@@dipsky-xu3wl Technically, it works. The chain has to be very long so that the large diagonal (large-large) can be shifted without destroying the rear derailleur or frame. This means that the upper guide pulley is positioned unfavourably and the overall capacity is exceeded too far. For me, this has led to imprecise shifting even with new and clean components.

[@lobatomeee1]

Good video. What shifter are you using? thanks

[@peterscott4183]

Thanks! GRX810

[@TheMrHudsonGuy]

Can you use 11 46t with crankring 11x2 26 36t and chain kmc x11

[@spinningtrue]

Thank you! The info on Google is very contradictory about this, I'm happy to see a video from someone who's actually done it showing it working :)

[@sincmatthews6693]

I have GRX 600 rear Derailleur and want to convert from my 2x to 1x. tanning on getting a 11-46 cassette and using a goat link to get my Derailleur all the way to my low gear. Do you think this will work ? Or should I just get a new Derailleur ?Thanks !

[@peterscott4183]

Probably not. The derailleur cage will probably be too short. I actually just removed my goatlink and installed a Garbaruk Rear Derailleur Cage with their over sized wheels. I like this better than the goatlink. It may work with your derailleur. Ask Garbaruk

[@ahmadzuhairi]

@@peterscott4183 Good to know this. Will the garbaruk cage work with the current grx pulley? I know they also sell just the cage. Will probably go with this option than the goat link :)

[@peterscott4183]

@@ahmadzuhairi you can use The Shimano wheels if that’s what you mean. I like the big Garbaruk ones myself

[@davidhamilton7663]

May be late to the party but garbaruk cage doesn't fit right on the 600..learned the hard way!

[@Vam1500]

Do you think a roadlink would make an 11-42 work on a GRX 810 dual chain ring crank? The GRX derailleur works by itself on my bike with and 11-40 cassette. Looking to go to 11-42!

[@peterscott4183]

Probably. You may not need it.

[@wsbygt]

Hey thank you for the video. Just a few updates if possible: Has it been shifting flawlessy under harsh conditions? And I think you got the LightBicycle WR series rims too so how have they performed? Are they hookless? Cheers!

[@peterscott4183]

I wasn't completely satisfied with he Goatlink, so I moved to this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jl61cpyBf8iYmpI I like the rims, I did strike a rock and the warrantied the rim. They are not hookless, but I wish i had.

[@wsbygt]

@@peterscott4183 Yes I saw the follow up video after, thank you! So you like the rims and the support? Will you buy your next wheelset from LBicycle? I order the WR45 hookless model for my gravel build and I´m coming from DT Swiss Dicut 1100 and Zipp 303 Firecrest wheels... Everyone I asked look satisfied but there arent alot of recent reviews or media to go by...

[@peterscott4183]

@@wsbygt Yes. I like the wheels. No issues. I'd buy from them again. Support was great.

[@wsbygt]

@@peterscott4183 Thank you, ride safe!

[@arraizdc]

Was your bike originally set up as 1x? Did you simply add a new 11-46 cassette and the Goatlink 11?

[@peterscott4183]

Yes. It was originally built 1x. I tried the 11-46 w/o the goatlink and it wouldn't shift well.

[@chriskros8858]

@@peterscott4183 I mounted 11-51 shimano deore casette and new chain. GRX812 works withoit anything so I have 40t front and 11-51 rear.

[@peterscott4183]

@@chriskros8858 congrats

[@peterscott4183]

But that's a 12 speed cassette. So what are you and I missing?

[@sebas90250]

Did you have to add chain links to extend the chain? If so how much? Current set up 11-42 with a 38tooth crank.

[@peterscott4183]

I didn't need to, but i had a 40 tooth chainring. Try it and see!

[@peterscott4183]

no

[@alre1368]

I imagine it would easily take a 50 cassette. Right?

[@peterscott4183]

Probably not. In fact I've since removed the goatlink and replaced it with a Garbaruk GRX cage and wheels. Much better solution and that can handle a 50 t.

[@ranjseblos]

Would the dropout hanger be needed to be in a specific angle? Tried the goat link and it was almost parallel to the ground when installed which made it impossible to reach the 50 cog

[@peterscott4183]

Hanger's are not adjustable. Did you remove the knuckle from the derailleur before adding the goat link? Also, this is for a 46t not a 50t. i doubt it will work with a 50t. I think Garbaruk has solutions for a 50t.

[@ranjseblos]

@@peterscott4183 Thank you! This did the trick! Was wondering why it seemed to have one link too many haha

[@matthieudistaso7308]

@@ranjseblos So you are saying the 50 cog works with only the roadlink ?

[@ranjseblos]

@@matthieudistaso7308 Yes it worked for me but I eventually got the Garbaruk pulley and cage for the 812 RD.

[@edudutra]

What about a 9-46 cassete? Dou you think it will work?

[@peterscott4183]

I would think so. Probably a great solution

[@NLgravel79]

Do we have to put the thickness on the cassette?

[@peterscott4183]

I don't know what that means

[@NLgravel79]

@@peterscott4183 the spacer that comes whit the 11-34 cassett

[@peterscott4183]

@@NLgravel79 yes, IIRC you need the spacer

[@Tekwa42]

Did you remove something in the derailleur when you put the goatlink?

[@peterscott4183]

Yes. Remove the knuckle that bolts derailleur to the frame and replace with the goat link.

[@Tekwa42]

@@peterscott4183 did you change the chain

[@peterscott4183]

@@Tekwa42 the length? no.

[@Tekwa42]

@@peterscott4183 thank you very much, it shifted like butter 🧈, I added few links to my chain, my previous is kinda short. Happy grinding.

[@peterscott4183]

@@Tekwa42 glad to help :)

[@muhammadoktariadi6658]

Is this ur best gear ratio so far?

[@peterscott4183]

yes

[@94tagle]

Hi! do you know if this works for 2x setups?

[@peterscott4183]

It should, but the gearing may be redundant

[@NDURcycling]

do you need a longer chain or does it work with the same chain

[@peterscott4183]

I did not need a longer chain

[@NDURcycling]

@@peterscott4183 thx for the fast reply

[@josereyRecinto]

Can I know the model of your LB carbon rims? thanks

[@peterscott4183]

WR35, I believe.

[@surferis]

Hey, which goatlink you used? Goatlink or Goatlink11 ?

[@peterscott4183]

Goat Link 11

[@ramellisred3128]

Will it work without the goatlink

[@outbackwack368]

@@ramellisred3128 No, the B-adjustment screw would not have enough travel and would be riding on the edge of the derailleur and causing premature wear. Plus, the derailleur would be fully extended, which could also fail.

[@Tekwa42]

Hi did you try without the goat link? What is your chainring? Thanks

[@surferis]

I did try without goat link and it works. Barely enough of b screw length but it works. My chainring is 40

[@Tekwa42]

@@surferis what brand of chainring are you using? I have a 2x grx, what can you recommend?

[@surferis]

@@Tekwa42 I'm using standard FC-RX600-11 cranks with shimano 40 chainring. Can't say anything about 2x setup

[@peterscott4183]

@@Tekwa42 standard GRX chainring. 40t

[@Tekwa42]

@@peterscott4183 what chain are you using, mine is like rubbing a little bit at the 40 cog, what is your advice?

[@mtwhrj]

Is that 40t or 42t crank?

[@peterscott4183]

40t.I found a better solution. Check out this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/jl61cpyBf8iYmpI

[@merlinmapanoo1178]

What is the brand of goatlink.

[@peterscott4183]

its made by Wolf Tooth

[@theodoredobrowolski8525]

@@peterscott4183 drop bar or flat bar for it

[@peterscott4183]

@@theodoredobrowolski8525 my bike is a dropbar

[@LANZ211]

How many chain links u use

[@peterscott4183]

I don't recall, I didn't need to lengthen my chain. I think shimano chains are 116 links

[@davidhamilton7663]

While my unpopular opinion is grx is junk compared to the endless combos Sram and even microshift. Great video watchers may find it helpful that the garbaruk cage won't fit grx 600. I currently run the exact setup as you on my Norco search with the wolf tooth link and grx600 it's not quite as precise but it does the job! Thanks for sharing!

[@Leo-gt1bx]

I can't help feeling that bike is slow.

[@lxi_zn]

Hi Peter, Im looking to do the same upgrade with my GRX 600 from 40/11-42 to 38/11-46. I have the GRX812 and the wolftooth 38t Chainring already, I am waiting on the XT 11-46 Cassette. Which wolftooth goatlink should i get? there are two in their website. in my build, would I need a new chain? I saw in the responses below that you didnt need to change the chain, but I am going from 40t to 38t. Thanks in advance

[@peterscott4183]

Your chain should be fine. Put it on and check. It’s the 11sp goat link

[@lxi_zn]

@@peterscott4183 im gonna need some professional help, so the build won't happen till Monday next week. I will keep you posted

[@outbackwack368]

Shouldn't you need to lengthen the chain to accommodate the longer travel?

[@peterscott4183]

I thought that was the case, but mine was fine

[@chriskros8858]

I simply installed 51 t 11speed deore cassette and new chain. It works.

[@Nevseremos1]

I cannot believe 12 speed 10-51 deore cassette work with rx812. Please share more details

[@chriskros8858]

@@Nevseremos1 sorry for typing mistake - 11 speed of coarse

[@Nevseremos1]

@@chriskros8858 i did the same RX812 with 11-51 casette. 118 links chain. Ir works. Not sure about reliablity thought as i just installed it.

[@chriskros8858]

I use it for ca 15 months with breaks in the winter no problems - I can say it works better than 11-42 on SRAM NX1 I have installed in E-MTB

[@Nevseremos1]

@@chriskros8858 Yes, i am surprised. It is like a hidden gem. Sure shimano officialy never confirmed that, but it just works. I was thinking to replace for the new 1x12 speed GRX. But now when i have similar result with 11speed, 11-51. It is solved! And i needed this for bikepacking ant true gravel with climbs. Happy!