Shimano Ultegra Short To Mid Cage Swap

Shimano RD-R8050-GS inner plate: amzn.to/2Zv5kQV
Shimano RD-R8050-GS outer plate & fixing bolt: amzn.to/38lMQq2
In this video, I demonstrate the process of switching a short (ss) cage to a mid-length (gs) cage on an 11 speed Shimano Ultegra Di2 8050 rear derailleur. This is a relatively easy swap if you're interested in having more gear range with a larger 11-32 or 11-34 cassette, without the cost of investing in a complete rear derailleur.

[@durianriders]

You can run 34 cassette with the SS in the latest 11spd aka RD7000/8000/9100. You can run 40 cassette with the GS in the lastest 11spd aka RD7000/8000/9100.

[@awi9826]

Thanks a lot! Just performed the swap on a R8050 RD and can confirm that this works.

[@JoeyMesa]

Great to hear!

[@joespencer6287]

Awesome, just found this after wanting to go to a 30t rear but only having a ss cage. Great video thanks mate... saved me a few quid there.

[@ozgurinsan]

8050 actually supports up to 30t

[@HardmanKnott]

I'm running a 30t cassette with a RD 6870 short cage; works great. Just had to turn the B screw in a bit to make enough tension in the 34X11 combo (which I would never use intentionally).

[@antonXPS]

Best video on the subject, my new bike came with SS Di2, happy I can just replace the cage instead of buying new rear mech

[@JoeyMesa]

Sweet! Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback!

[@phillipgamble849]

Brilliant video, as always with these things, the actual job is always more simple than they would have you believe. What a clear and straightforward explanation. Thanks. I just need to get the longer cage plates and save a whole lot of cash on just buying another deralieur. ❤😊

[@JoeyMesa]

Thanks!

[@MashiroRedo]

Thanks for the tip! Probably buy a new one since the difference is like 30. The long cages seem expensive

[@kenblair2538]

Thanks, I didn't realise, these kits were available. KB

[@JoeyMesa]

Yep. Shimano offers these as replacement parts. Thanks for your feedback!

[@88rajhans]

thanks for this informative video, just updated my di2 ss with GS, works like a charm, any workaround as to how to update the same in the ETUBE app?

[@stew0ralph]

Great video. You just saved me $300 versus buying a new medium cage rear Di2 derailleur. Thank you!

[@JoeyMesa]

You're welcome!!!

[@Crisswiatek]

Thank you ! 🙌

[@sc0608023]

Pardon my limited mechanical knowledge but I recall the last gen (mechanical version) 6800 RDs have slight but crucial differences in geometry between GS and SS model so I ASSUME this simple cage swap would not work for a 6800 RD. May be current R8000 has the same geometry across GS and SS models? Thanks.

[@dynatux]

Great video. I can't seem to find any more inner plates for R8050 gs, can I instead make use of the R8000 gs inner plates to the outer plate of the R8050?

[@TnFruit]

The parallelogram is larger on the GS, too

[@arielyoung2395]

so I am working with a brand new rd r8050, but the cage won't rotate after removing the stopper pin. Did you index the cage out for clearance?

[@mikedio]

Hi Joey ! Can i do the other way ? Convert from GS to SS ultegra R8000 ? I want to use it with 12-25 cassette and i don’t like how the GS is working with the this cassette . The skinny pin is the same ? Thanks

[@photovideo215]

I wa able to run an 11-39 cassete with a derraleur extender without the gs cage. I just recieved the gs cage and getying ready to upgrade it, but what is the second hole for the spring for? More tenssion, etc?

[@huzayfah]

Can these be done on the old Ultegra 10 speed 6600 groupset?

[@aswinachu8923]

Im going to buy R8000 11-28T cassette so which cage should I go with medium cage or short cage?

[@ABDSEMMAMI]

Thanks, my bike is a short ULTEGRA RD-R8000 , I want to upgrade to mid cage but i have found only: Chape de Dérailleur Arrière Externe Médium SHIMANO ULTEGRA RD-R8050-GS #Y3HR98060 Do you think it will be compatible with this : Chape de Dérailleur Arrière Interne Médium SHIMANO ULTEGRA RD-R8000-GS #Y3E916000 Thank you

[@julienrobert3938]

How do you change the configuration to 11-32 or 11-34 in the di2 software? Cause the choices you have are from the spec or your rear mec... ?

[@haoma8338]

I get the same problem, now I can only use M mode🤔

[@Radnally]

Id like to put a flat or mt bike type handlebar on my road bike. Ive never done this , but im older now and really prefer the ergonomics. Any suggestions? Thanks

[@JoeyMesa]

Any of the Shimano or Sram MTB or flatbar components would work great depending on the gear ranges you're looking for.

[@hirfanv8384]

Thanks 👍😍

[@JoeyMesa]

Welcome 😊

[@Peakabike]

Great video, thanks ! Just got a bike with an R8050 SS and was worried that I wouldn't be able to go above 11x30 for the mountains without breaking the bank on a new GS RD-R8050. Only issue is that the parts no longer seem to be available, at least on Amazon. Could a donor RD-R8000 be used maybe ?

[@Peakabike]

Ok parts ordered ! Had to get the inner cage in Taiwan from eBay though so it won't be here for a while, that's ok, no rush ! One slight downside to the method is that the e-tube Shimano will likely (99.9% sure) continue to recognize the RD as the SS version so you won't be able to select a 11-34 sprocket in the back for optimization of the synchroneous shift, not a huge deal I suppose ;-)

[@JoeyMesa]

Good luck!

[@Eurozdollarsyenis]

@@JoeyMesa So you can use a r8000 fixing bolt and outer/inner cage for r8050?

[@ozgurinsan]

8050 actually supoorts 30t out of the box

[@Peakabike]

@@ozgurinsan yeah but it was to go above 30! Actually I found that 32 works too with the short cage.

[@Radnally]

Thanks

[@JoeyMesa]

You're welcome!

[@kpangan01213]

is Shimano ok with this? I still have a warranty on my Ultegra Di2

[@user-dv3fk6di7c]

Does it works backwards? From gs to ss?

[@mealdama]

Would this work with the 9150?

[@sonnypascual3731]

How to buy this plate.

[@mickchaganis6607]

I don't fully understand how this works, I realise what the extra length does in regards to the tooth difference but how does it move the top jockey wheel further away from the biggest rear cog to allow for the fitment of say a 34 as apposed to a 28?

[@JoeyMesa]

The upper pulley is positioned further away from the pivot point where it connects to the derailleur body. The further the cage rotates in, the greater the distance on a mid or long cage derailleur.

[@mickchaganis6607]

@@JoeyMesa thanks

[@jvillasin]

will the same apply to Dura-ace 9070 Di2 RD? , thank you for this great how-to video

[@bobinbothell1476]

Hello Joel, did you ever figure this out. I have the same question, Thanks, Bob

[@jvillasin]

@@bobinbothell1476 no sir ,

[@fserrajana]

Thanks!!

[@JoeyMesa]

Welcome!

[@fserrajana]

@@JoeyMesa Any hacks for setting the 11-32 cassette on the etube app? Upgrade the cage, but the etube of course shows the ss cage rear derrailleur and the max cassette selection is 11-30.

[@neilpassingham7309]

BEWARE I tried this by swapping cages between a second hand GS and new SS R8000 mechanical rear derailleurs, straightforward but the derailleur bodies are also different, the SS is actually a shorter body too, so finished up just swapping the spring and jockey wheels between new and old derailleuers

[@JoeyMesa]

Yes, you only want to use parts that are replacement parts for your particular derailleur year model. There may be some cross compatibility here and there, but as long as you're using the correct parts that Shimano offers as replacement parts, you'll be fine.

[@neilpassingham7309]

@@JoeyMesa both were R8000 I'd originally built my bike with a SS as I was running a 11-28, but picked up a cheap GS version from Facebook marketplace which had a few scuffs, when I saw this video I thought I'd keep my existing derailleur body and swap cages, your instructions were spot on and the cages swapped perfectly however the long cage sat against the SS body when there was no chain installed but the Short cage on the GS body hung down too low. On close inspection the body of the GS mech is definitely longer by a few mm. I'm sure the SS rear mech with a GS cage would have worked ok with an 11-32 cassette but it obviously wasn't as Shimano intended and It seemed pointless me finishing up with an unusable hybrid of a GS mech with a short cage, so I just swapped the new jockey wheels and the springs onto the used GS mech and touched up the scuff with some auto paint.

[@barteldvanderroest3248]

I would be wary that the parallelogram is different on the GS derailleurs vs the SS derailleurs (r8000 in this case). Have you learned anything on this lately? Your video is spot on; the cage can be swapped. But how does it work on the bike? Any difficulty reaching all the gears and having enough tension / slack on the chain? I am curious since I am thinking about buying a new derailleur or just the inner and outer GS cage too .

[@ALiPrinceRS]

Can you share the link to buy this mild cage for shimano105? Planning to upgrade aswell

[@JoeyMesa]

Yes, I added 2 links at the beginning of the video description as the parts are sold as 2 individual pieces. The parts are the outer plate with fixing bolt: amzn.to/38lMQq2 and the inner plate: amzn.to/2Zv5kQV

[@Jeff-bd4gg]

Would a person with a dura Ace be able to do this modification to allow dura Ace run a 34t cog?

[@JoeyMesa]

Yes. It's a different part, but the process is the same.

[@PintuJati]

Can this plate be installed on Shimano Altus? I want to extend it in my altus

[@JoeyMesa]

No it's not compatible. It would probably be more cost effective to replace the entire rear derailleur with an Accera or Alivio model that's compatible with your shifter/# of cogs.

[@jonhmonsalve]

Hey! I wonder if this trick works on SRAM Derailleurs [?] I have a SRAM Red Short cage derailleur, but I want a 34 cassete, thanks.

[@pierrex3226]

Afaik, not really. It might kind of work but it's not meant to work. I have the same issue. The bodies of the dérailleurs seem to differ, it's not just a cage length difference

[@santiago404]

Greetings, do you think the process for the older version, 6870 is the same? Thank you.

[@JoeyMesa]

I haven't tried it, so I'm not sure, but I would think so.

[@martijn647]

Hi, did you end up trying this? I am looking into doing the same thing wit my 6870.

[@santiago404]

@@martijn647 no I haven’t , sorry.

[@joebala1288]

Thanks for the Video! have a di2 rd6870 ss derailleur with a 11-28T and want to switch to a 11-32T cassette. I thought the need for a GS derailleur was to have more clearance between the largest cog on the cassette and the upper guide pulley. It looks like the upper (Guide) pulley is in the same position with the SS and GS cages - so not sure how this helps.

[@JoeyMesa]

The main reason for the GS cage is to accommodate the bigger difference in cog sizes and to take up the extra slack of a chain that has to be longer for an 11-32 versus a 11-28. You should be able to gain the clearance of the upper guide pulley and a 32t cog by tightening the B-tension screw. The R8050 derailleur in the video uses the shadow type B knuckle that has more adjustability and can go up to a 34 tooth cog. Thanks for the question!

[@martijn647]

Hi, did you end up doing this? Looking into it for my own 6870 SS.

[@impulsobytheshades]

do you know if ultegra 8000series can switch cage with dura-ace 9100?

[@JoeyMesa]

Probably, but I haven't physically tried so I'm not 100% sure. I did make a video about a week ago installing a 9000 DA cage on a 6800 series Ultegra derailleur that works just fine. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHashpJ6a5yljsk

[@JogBird]

are the cages normally for salw to consumers??

[@JoeyMesa]

Yes, they are available from Shimano at your local bike shop or online. Just google derailleur cage plate with your derailleur model.

[@ivanmiuller]

My ultegra 6700 has 30t on it. What does this mean?

[@JoeyMesa]

Max largest cassette cog the derailleur can handle.

[@milanlupac]

BEWARE: THIS DOES NOT WORK even for the 8050, the stopping bolt will not stop the cage. Even in the video you can see that it sits on the derailleur body..

[@JoeyMesa]

It works and functions fine. The only time the cage touches the body is when there is no chain connected. In real world conditions, it doesn't even come close unless you managed to cut your chain way too long.

[@PvtDownss]

@@JoeyMesa did you ever experience any problems with this combination? I just bought a GS for my RD8050 SS and experience exactly what is written above. When there is no chain installed, the cage touches the derailleur body and the stopping bolt doesn't. So if you chain breaks, your cage might snap against the derailleur body and might crash it, right?