11 speed vs 10 speed..

[User16625]

11 speed gearing uses slightly narrower chains apparently. I would imagine theres more potential for cross chaining too. Will the narrower chain wear out any quicker than a 10 speed one?
Its one reason I would be put off 11 speed bikes. I also think triples make much more sense if you want a broad range of gears like me.

 

[Apollonius]

Having just had the Wiggle parcel of new chain arrive, I am pretty fed up with the speed at which 10 speed chains wear out at around £20 a time. I rarely use all of the ten gears and 11 would just be even more unnecessary cogs. Seven was plenty for my uses, and yet 11 seems to be almost compulsory on new bikes. And 11 speed stuff is even flimsier and more expensive.

Oh dear, sounding like an old man.

 

[Citius]

No reason why an 11 speed chain should be any more prone to wear than a 10, or 9, or 8...

 

[Racing roadkill]

I use about 3 of my 10 or 11 ( depending on the bike) available sprockets, I use the granny ring so infrequently, that the front mechs have been known to seize up. I take whatever the manufacturers choose to put on the bike. Would I choose 11 sprockets and 3 rings? Nope, they are totally pointless for me.

 

[Smokin Joe]

I never noticed any difference all the way up from seven (And before) to ten. Mine get junked after 1500 miles and that's never changed.

 

[bpsmith]

Having just had the Wiggle parcel of new chain arrive, I am pretty fed up with the speed at which 10 speed chains wear out at around £20 a time. I rarely use all of the ten gears and 11 would just be even more unnecessary cogs. Seven was plenty for my uses, and yet 11 seems to be almost compulsory on new bikes. And 11 speed stuff is even flimsier and more expensive.

Oh dear, sounding like an old man.

What is the factual basis for this alleged flimsier kit?

 

[Apollonius]

Every chance I am wrong, but my thinking is that the bits that wear out - as far as I can see the rollers and bearings in the links - are smaller the more sprockets to the cluster. With the same pressure and forces on them, I thought it would be likely that they would wear quicker as there is a smaller surface area to take the wear. I am not an engineer, so this could well be nonsense.

 

[bpsmith]

Every chance I am wrong, but my thinking is that the bits that wear out - as far as I can see the rollers and bearings in the links - are smaller the more sprockets to the cluster. With the same pressure and forces on them, I thought it would be likely that they would wear quicker as there is a smaller surface area to take the wear. I am not an engineer, so this could well be nonsense.

So not based on any fact or on usage of said 11 speed groupsets?

This open and honest review says it all, particularly the Summary after each mini review of components:

http://road.cc/content/review/133585-shimano-105-5800-11-speed-groupset

 

[Tojo]

So not based on any fact or on usage of said 11 speed groupsets?

This open and honest review says it all, particularly the Summary after each mini review of components:

http://road.cc/content/review/133585-shimano-105-5800-11-speed-groupset

also this review on the Ultegra 6800.
http://road.cc/content/review/114669-shimano-ultegra-6800-groupset

 

[bpsmith]

also this review on the Ultegra 6800.
http://road.cc/content/review/114669-shimano-ultegra-6800-groupset

Indeed. Another great review. I posted the 105 version, so as not for the reply to say that it should be good with Ultegra pricing.

Proof is certainly that the build and reliability is actually better than 10 speed rather than worse!

 

[Tojo]

Indeed. Another great review. I posted the 105 version, so as not for the reply to say that it should be good with Ultegra pricing.

Proof is certainly that the build and reliability is actually better than 10 speed rather than worse!

The only thing I've found with my 11sp Ultegra and I expect the same with 105, is that its a bit temperamental to set up when you build a a bike you haven't much leeway as you have with the smaller groupsets as in the front dérailleur has to be spot on in relation to the chainset and cable tension for both front and rear has to be quite tight from the start as it will not index correctly as you go up the cassette, minor adjustments can of course be taken up with adjusters but if they are slack from the start the first index on the cassette goes ok but then gets worse and ends being in between cogs as you go further up (I know down gearing really, you know what I mean ) . After all that though its smooth as silk and even change up or down as you're climbing without all that rattle and slip until it engages the next cog, when I'm on the flat and move one position on the back with the 11-25 cassette I think adjustment is needed as it changes that smooth you hardly notice with a close ratio cassette.
Well that's enough explaining at this time, just recovered from the Malt tasting session the other night.....

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I wouldn't mind an 11sp triple, with a 12-25 (12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-21-23-25) and my current front set up of 26/38/50 I hardly use the 38x27 preferring to use the 26 and middle of the cassette, if I was using such a low gear, normally around here 38x24 is as low I usually need to go, the 38x12 is good up to 23-24mph on the flat which i am most unlikely to do, so that leaves the 50th for the times when i want to give the middle ring a rest as it gets most use or down hill, and that 12-25 cassette is to die for, I hate that 17-19 gap, which is way my next cassette will be the Ultegra 12-23. Stuff this idea of putting bigger and bigger cogs on the rear, my FD shifts so sweetly you hardly notice, I personally don't understand why they are dropping the triples, bloody thick ***** idiots.

 

[Tojo]

I wouldn't mind an 11sp triple, with a 12-25 (12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-21-23-25) and my current front set up of 26/38/50 I hardly use the 38x27 preferring to use the 26 and middle of the cassette, if I was using such a low gear, normally around here 38x24 is as low I usually need to go, the 38x12 is good up to 23-24mph on the flat which i am most unlikely to do, so that leaves the 50th for the times when i want to give the middle ring a rest as it gets most use or down hill, and that 12-25 cassette is to die for, I hate that 17-19 gap, which is way my next cassette will be the Ultegra 12-23. Stuff this idea of putting bigger and bigger cogs on the rear, my FD shifts so sweetly you hardly notice, I personally don't understand why they are dropping the triples, bloody thick ***** idiots.

I'm currently using the 11-25 and I personally haven't had a problem with the 17-19 gap with Ultegra.....smooth

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I'm currently using the 11-25 and I personally haven't had a problem with the 17-19 gap with Ultegra.....smooth

I just find it to big a gap, and would rather have 3 front ratios and a really close grouped cassette, when I took up cycling more seriously back in 2012 i couldn't see all the fuss, but having worked up from a Sora triple 7sp to a 105 10sp triple set up as i mention, I now know a bit more, i got the 12-27 as i wasn't sure the 26/38/50 front setup would work, I have since found I hardley use the 38x27, I do sometimes it all depends on the situation ect.... but I have recently been making a point of not using the 24 or 27 and changing down on the front more often, but I have been finding, I don't get as low as that, lets face it its only the same as the 26x19 and the 26x23 will give me another 7" after that, or a 34x30 with huge gaps.

Edit, I usually spin at between 90-95 and the closer I have the cassette the easier it is to maintain this. I can spin 100+ up hill if I have the right gearing, and again closer grouping = more control.

 

[Tojo]

I just find it to big a gap, and would rather have 3 front ratios and a really close grouped cassette, when I took up cycling more seriously back in 2012 i couldn't see all the fuss, but having worked up from a Sora triple 7sp to a 105 10sp triple set up as i mention, I now know a bit more, i got the 12-27 as i wasn't sure the 26/38/50 front setup would work, I have since found I hardley use the 38x27, I do sometimes it all depends on the situation ect.... but I have recently been making a point of not using the 24 or 27 and changing down on the front more often, but I have been finding, I don't get as low as that, lets face it its only the same as the 26x19 and the 26x23 will give me another 7" after that, or a 34x30 with huge gaps.

Edit, I usually spin at between 90-95 and the closer I have the cassette the easier it is to maintain this. I can spin 100+ up hill if I have the right gearing, and again closer grouping = more control.

No offence to the lower end groupsets, we've all been there I started with a single chainring and a5sp freewheel but if you move up to Ultegra I don't think you'll notice the 2 tooth move. also if you want to go to ultegra they don't do a triple chainset...Sorry, consult shimano....