Upgrade kit or not

[Marielou.smith@gmail.com]

What gears are currently on your bike ?

3 x 9, x x 10, 2 x 10 ?

i.e. how many teeth on front rings and what cassette is on the back ?

 

A 1 x 12 probably wont give a bigger range of gears than a 3 x 10 setup, but might save you a bit of weight and a whole lot of admin with only one shifter.

I have 3x9

[Marielou.smith@gmail.com]

It's kinda a double edge sword to go from let's say a 2x10 over to a 1x12 or even a 1x11. With a 1x12 you get a 10/50T cassette at the back which does help with the climbing as you can just "spin" the steep stuff, but if you're not an extremely strong climber then this will end up making you slower, you'll spin more with a higher cadence than what you normally would on the 2x.

 

Unfortunately if you want to become a better climber you'll have to train more hill repeats / hill training to become stronger.

 

If you want to do the upgrade then also look at the 1x11 as they're cheaper than the 1x12 and you get a 11/50T at the back.

 

The 1x config is nice if you do a lot of trails and or single track where you need to shift often. If you mainly ride on district roads / dirt roads then you'll soon realize that on the 1x you run out of gears when going fast

.

 

Thank you I hear you

[Marielou.smith@gmail.com]

Rather put your money towards, some better secondhand wheels and a proper cycling workout program.

 

Edit: and better rolling Tyres depending on what you will be riding, I would recommend Maxis Crossmark, tubeless and they are good allrounders.

Awesome thanks

[Marielou.smith@gmail.com]

Yes its worth it to upgrade the parts on your bike to SRAM NX. Its not a break the bank upgrade and likely better than what you currently have on the bike.

 

However which model do you have Exactly?

2014 expert

[Marielou.smith@gmail.com]

And if you do fit the NX, take the five minutes odd to do the following: Remove the bolts holding the derailer/jockey wheels in, put a dab of locktite on the thread of the bolt, and screw it back in, making sure it is in nice and tight. Then there is no chance of the "exploding derailer wheel" as some claims.

 

edit: This is best practise on ANY derailer wheel.

Thank you so much

[DieselnDust]

2014 expert

 

If you have 3x 9 then your front chainring is likely 42/32/22 and cassette is a 11-32 or 11-34

 

going to a 1x12 set up will throw a whole lot of admin out of the window - I rode 3x8 and 3x9 for a very short time in the last century. In the 21st cnetury I've been 2x9,  2x10, 1x11, 1x12.

 

If you're not a racer then the NX will serve you well. Its a one stop shop to get your bike a little more up to date.

 

 

PS : i checked the Titan Racing catalogue and could not find an "expert". They have an Elite.

the 2015 model year as an Alloy 29er called "Expert". this bike is fitted with Shimano Altus components.

the fork is a Suntour SR SF14 XCR 100mm. Is it the unit with the lock out and air spring?

[Marielou.smith@gmail.com]

If you have 3x 9 then your front chainring is likely 42/32/22 and cassette is a 11-32 or 11-34

 

going to a 1x12 set up will throw a whole lot of admin out of the window - I rode 3x8 and 3x9 for a very short time in the last century. In the 21st cnetury I've been 2x9, 2x10, 1x11, 1x12.

 

If you're not a racer then the NX will serve you well. Its a one stop shop to get your bike a little more up to date.

 

 

PS : i checked the Titan Racing catalogue and could not find an "expert". They have an Elite.

the 2015 model year as an Alloy 29er called "Expert". this bike is fitted with Shimano Altus components.

the fork is a Suntour SR SF14 XCR 100mm. Is it the unit with the lock out and air spring?

I can try send you a photo. Has airshock lockout

[V12man]

I am looking for a better spread. I hear people say the upgrade will help me with the hills

You can calculate the change in the gearing quite easily - https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gear-calc.html will do it for you.

 

You probably won't really notice a 5% change in gearing so unless you are getting more this is potentially an expensive way to go nowhere.

 

That said - 1x12 is nice to ride, but the inter gear spacing is bigger than 3x9 as a general rule - and that you might notice initially - I certainly felt the difference when I moved to 1x12 - but it quickly accommodated and I won't go back on my xc bike - but I am certainly not going to bother changing from 1 x 11 on my other bikes.

Edited December 2, 2019 by V12man

[DieselnDust]

22/34 = 0.64 vs 32/50 = 0.64

 

42/11= 3.8181 vs 32/10 = 3.2

 

So you will only lose out on top end speed if you're capable of turning the 42-11 

 

the 1x12 will give you a more usable spread of gears

[Mojoman]

I was originally 3x9....found a used cassette...shifter and RD for a good price and bought a 32NW chainring...tried it out and thought ok...let me upgrade to a 11-46T suntour cassette..from a 11-36....now my cassette makes a noise and the sprockets on the spider seem loose so now I am going back to 11-36...to be honest I kind of wish I hadn't bothered going 1x10..!

[Mojoman]

I was originally 3x9....found a used cassette...shifter and RD for a good price and bought a 32NW chainring...tried it out and thought ok...let me upgrade to a 11-46T suntour cassette..from a 11-36....now my cassette makes a noise and the sprockets on the spider seem loose so now I am going back to 11-36...to be honest I kind of wish I hadn't bothered going 1x10..!

OK, so I borrowed a tiny torx screwdriver/tool that we use at work for changing cutting inserts and luckily it fits...tightened up the one lonely screw on the back of the Suntour cassette and that annoying creaky noise is now gone...thankfully....was about to go mad....!

[ChrisF]

I would go 1x11.

 

quick, easy, relatively cheap ... did such an upgrade last week, maybe 30 minute job.

 

 

Do go for the 11-50 cassette options.  The jumps in the last three gears are larger, not sure the weekend rider will truly feel the difference ....

 

 

 

[Marielou.smith@gmail.com]

You can calculate the change in the gearing quite easily - https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gear-calc.html will do it for you.

 

You probably won't really notice a 5% change in gearing so unless you are getting more this is potentially an expensive way to go nowhere.

 

That said - 1x12 is nice to ride, but the inter gear spacing is bigger than 3x9 as a general rule - and that you might notice initially - I certainly felt the difference when I moved to 1x12 - but it quickly accommodated and I won't go back on my xc bike - but I am certainly not going to bother changing from 1 x 11 on my other bikes.

Thanks a million

[Marielou.smith@gmail.com]

22/34 = 0.64 vs 32/50 = 0.64

 

42/11= 3.8181 vs 32/10 = 3.2

 

So you will only lose out on top end speed if you're capable of turning the 42-11

 

the 1x12 will give you a more usable spread of gears

Thank you

[Marielou.smith@gmail.com]

I was originally 3x9....found a used cassette...shifter and RD for a good price and bought a 32NW chainring...tried it out and thought ok...let me upgrade to a 11-46T suntour cassette..from a 11-36....now my cassette makes a noise and the sprockets on the spider seem loose so now I am going back to 11-36...to be honest I kind of wish I hadn't bothered going 1x10..!

Thank you so much