1x 12-speed for Silvio 2.1 has same gear ratio that 34/50 2x!

[Martin in Colorado]

Turns out there are new options for a viable 1x drivetrain coming down the pike (i.e. from China and Taiwan via AliExpress).
For my Cruzbike Silvio 2.1 I'm considering a 12-speed cassette that goes from 9-46t, combined with a 44t or 46 or 48t fron chain wheel.

Comparing the range with my current cassette 11-34t w/ 34/50t setup it looks almost identical: (using meter development with Sheldon Brown's gear calculator)

Existing compact 2x:
low 11t/—50t = 12 meters
high 34t/—34t = 2.2 meters
vs
1x setup
9t—46t-front = 12 meters
high: 46t/—46-front = 2.3 meters

Cost is around $300 for a light weight (under 400g) cassette ($180 cassette, $50 chain, $70 long cage derailleur). I had a 44t Rotor chain wheel in storage already.

Also, I bought the Xshifter electric shifting system on sale ($220 shipped) and it works well, so when this is all done I'll be able to click through without needing a front derailleur.

Thoughts?

 

[Rampa]

That will be almost suredly be an XD driver on the freehub. So make sure you get the right hubs or driver for your existing freehub.

 

[Martin in Colorado]

That's correct, it's the first thing I'll get. One other thing I'm wondering about is whether to go even bigger on the biggest cog. With my 700c wheels clearance should be okay.

 

[bladderhead]

I have XX1 11sp cog. It looks to me as if the 12sp one is too wide to go in the forks, otherwise I might get one. When I got the XD driver body I tried to push it onto the hub. Seemed as if it was too small to fit. As if the diameter was too small. I thought I had got the wrong thing. I took a big risk and started to screw it on with the tool. No problem. Still no problem after many miles. I took it off recently and the splines of the hub are still shiny like a mirror.

It will seem like there is no way those two components are going to fit together. Do not worry, just screw it. It will work.

 

[Rampa]

I actually picked up the Sensah cyclocross brifters and long cage derailleur. Only 11 speed, and I am using a 46 tooth large cog. Slowly getting them mounted on upside-down bull horns.

Will post pics when I finally get it done.

 

[Bentas]

Are you aware that Sunrace MZ90 is a 12 speed , 11x50 cassette that fits on to a 10 speed Shimano free hub? No need for XD bits.
I'm currently thinking of going that route , currently running 11x50 10 speed with 44t up front, with road link and XT derailier.
9 speed MTB

 

[Martin in Colorado]

Nice! My cassette is here already but the derailleur I picked is on backorder.