Wannabe Posted February 22, 2023 Share As my current Mtb drivetrain is coming to the end of it's life, I'm looking at options for upgrade/improvement. I'm running an 11spd XT M8000 groupset, with an GS rear derailer. Currently 11-46 cassette with a 32t chainring up front. I find that at some long and flat sections I tend to run out of gears, thus I'm thinking of fitting a 34t chainring, but in order not to loose out when the nose points upwards, I want to fit an 11-50 cassette from Sunrace (my 11-46 is also a Sunrace, been brilliant up to now) Conundrum is, both the GS and SGS M8000 is rated to 46t max, and I don't want to go to the expense of buying a new derailer with the necessary range. A much cheaper option is to fit a "range extender" So my question is, is it worth it, does it work without causing shifting or other problems? What are other pro's and cons of it? Please advise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nico van Loggerenberg Posted February 22, 2023 Share Personally, if I can't ride up it with a 34 - 46 combo I probably am fine just walking, but perhaps there's riding out there gnarlier than I've encountered Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adr!@n Posted February 22, 2023 Share FWIW, I ran an 11s XT M8000 shifter and derailleur with a Sunrace 11-50 without any issues for about 3 years. You'll find lots of folks online that have done that and it seems to work fine. Edit: my brother tried one of the newer 11s Shimano derailleurs with the big range with the old shifter and it didn't work that great. It was ok, but never perfect. Edited February 22, 2023 by Adr!@n Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisF Posted February 22, 2023 Share We have a 1x11 running an 11-50 Sunrace cassette, with a long derailleur (thanks SS) That extra granny will allow you to go bigger in front, thus gaining some top end. That said, even with a 36 ring and 11 at the back you spin out mid 30's ..... Edited February 22, 2023 by ChrisF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steady Spin Posted February 22, 2023 Share *derailleur 😂 ChrisF 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoBigBen Posted February 22, 2023 Share Personally I've had mixed success with range extenders, when they work they are great though! I found that now and then it helps to get the derailleur to reach the dinner plate but then shifting in the lower half of the cassette is compromised ... could just be me. #NotABikeMechanic dasilvarsa 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droo Posted February 22, 2023 Share It'll never be perfect, but it'll work. And if it doesn't, Wolftooth Goatlink will sort you out for less than the price of a new RD. cadenceblur and Kom 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wannabe Posted February 22, 2023 Share 1 hour ago, droo said: It'll never be perfect, but it'll work. And if it doesn't, Wolftooth Goatlink will sort you out for less than the price of a new RD. Thanks Droo, and you have Goatlinks in stock? (I was actually referring to a Goatlink type gizmo in my convulated original post) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droo Posted February 22, 2023 Share 7 minutes ago, Wannabe said: Thanks Droo, and you have Goatlinks in stock? (I was actually referring to a Goatlink type gizmo in my convulated original post) I thought I did, but sadly not. Neither does the supplier. Wannabe 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gemmerbal Posted February 22, 2023 Share Rapide extender: i had it on my previous bike and once dialled in it worked flawlessly. Contact Wayne, he is a legend and his service is great! Edited February 22, 2023 by gemmerbal Wannabe, TheoG, Schnavel and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mongoose! Posted February 22, 2023 Share Guess a very important step is to make sure your hanger on your bike is 110% straight - especially when extending it with an extender... TheoG and Kom 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theunissa Posted February 22, 2023 Share http://www.gear-calculator.com/?GR=DERS&KB=24 Nice ratio calculator TheoG 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheoG Posted February 22, 2023 Share 12 minutes ago, Theunissa said: http://www.gear-calculator.com/?GR=DERS&KB=24 Nice ratio calculator Been using this calculator for a while, works great ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theunissa Posted February 22, 2023 Share 12 minutes ago, TheoG said: Been using this calculator for a while, works great ! Got it from Robert white head. It die work nice. You csn see you ratio vs speed vs cadence TheoG 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Me rida my bicycle Posted February 22, 2023 Share 50t cassette works if you don't use force/power in the 11t. The problem with the big cassette (11-50t) with Shimano is it only catches about 3 teeth on the small cog so it doesn't last long. You can buy them separately but quite expensive. Have not tried it with a goat link. Sram on the big cassette works better as their derailleur wraps around the small cog. I used sunrace cassette with sram 11spd and got over 8000kms out of it with 2 chains. dasilvarsa 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC_lurker Posted February 22, 2023 Share 6 hours ago, ChrisF said: 6 hours ago, ChrisF said: That said, even with a 36 ring and 11 at the back you spin out mid 30's ..... You need to work on increasing your cadence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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