1x12 Shimano tech query

[extra300s]

Hi guys. Looking to buy the 2021 Epic Comp spez. Prob is this bike comes fitted with SLX drive train 1x12. Now I can only go up to a 34T upfront. This is a massive waste as it has 51T cog at back. Will never get to use this. Use to ride a 34T upfront on Sram 1x11 with 10x42 cassette. Any advise what to do now? Can I let them fit a 36T Xt chainring or would it require to upgrade the crankset to XT also?

[ChunkyMonkey]

You can ask for an upgrade, but the shop might charge for the extra blade...

no need to get a whole new XT crankset..

if you are used to riding a 34 with 42t at the back, then 36 up front will be fine with 51t at the back..

 

[Reme Le Hane]

I would ride the bike first and see as I had the same idea with my new bike going from a 10x42 with a 34 oval, very glad I did not.

 

Different bike rides differently, putting a 36 up front, which consisting I came from an oval is half of what I had, would have been a terrible idea for some of the more nasty climbs.

 

As used to it as I was, I can guarantee you I would have gone back and bought a 34 if I’d had them swap it.

[Knersboy]

If I understand correctly the OPs issue is that you cannot get SLX chainrings in 36t, max is 34t.

 

You can use a XT chainring on a SLX crank, but the color is slightly different, not sure if this will bother you.

 

The difference between the SLX and XT chainrings (besides aesthetics) is the middle bit between the alloy carrier and the steel teeth. On XT it is carbon reinforced plastic, on SLX it is glass fiber reinforced plastic. The XT one is stronger and stiffer. That is probably why they don’t make a 36t SLX chainring, worried that it will be too flexy.

[BaGearA]

IF the SLX chainring doensn't come in bigger than 34t then look at wolftooth , or any other after market co will surely have 36t chainrings available soon if not already 

 

 

 

IF the FRAME can't handle a chainring bigger than 34t due to clearance issues I would just get another bike 

 

 

 

good luck 

[extra300s]

Thanks guys. Yes spot on Knersboy. Seriously disgusted that Spez would then go and put SlX on a R80k bike. If it was still 1x11 no problem. But 1x12 they surely had to consider that there are people capable of using the 36T upfront. This allows for greater range of the cassette in my case.

Edited October 18, 2020 by extra300s

[extra300s]

The bike can handle it. I had a 36T on my previous Epic after switching to 1x12 but this was with GX. If I buy a new bike I expect it to atleast come with the gear ratio of my choice. They basically just swop it out and keep the smaller chainring in stock again.

Edited October 18, 2020 by extra300s

[DieselnDust]

Hi guys. Looking to buy the 2021 Epic Comp spez. Prob is this bike comes fitted with SLX drive train 1x12. Now I can only go up to a 34T upfront. This is a massive waste as it has 51T cog at back. Will never get to use this. Use to ride a 34T upfront on Sram 1x11 with 10x42 cassette. Any advise what to do now? Can I let them fit a 36T Xt chainring or would it require to upgrade the crankset to XT also?

 

 

why can you only go up to a 34T chanring on the front? Those bikes can handle up to a 38T chainring

[DieselnDust]

If I understand correctly the OPs issue is that you cannot get SLX chainrings in 36t, max is 34t.

 

You can use a XT chainring on a SLX crank, but the color is slightly different, not sure if this will bother you.

 

The difference between the SLX and XT chainrings (besides aesthetics) is the middle bit between the alloy carrier and the steel teeth. On XT it is carbon reinforced plastic, on SLX it is glass fiber reinforced plastic. The XT one is stronger and stiffer. That is probably why they don’t make a 36t SLX chainring, worried that it will be too flexy.

 

 

The market for SLX is entry level, trail or enduro which won't be looking for anything bigger than 34T anyway

[ChrisF]

Thanks guys. Yes spot on Knersboy. Seriously disgusted that Spez would then go and put SlX on a R80k bike. If it was still 1x11 no problem. But 1x12 they surely had to consider that there are people capable of using the 36T upfront. This allows for greater range of the cassette in my case.

Spez also seriously downgraded the spec level of the Turbo Levo from 2019 to 2020 ... while upping the price, even before covid.

 

 

But in fairness, various other brands also downspeced their bikes from 2019 to 2020.

[extra300s]

Pathetic