Cheap vs Expensive Cassettes - Thoughts Please

[steve30]

My Specialized Turbo e-bike will soon be in need of new parts (again) and I'm just wondering what people's views are on cheaper vs more expensive parts.

It originally had a SunRace 11-speed cassette and a KMC chain, which lasted me about 18 months (probably about 5000 miles). I swapped those for an ebay special 11-speed cassette and an inexpensive KMC-manufactured chain from Decathlon. These have also lasted OK.

I stocked up on a few of the Decathlon chains as they were quite a good price. But I'm just wondering about their cassettes. They have some 11-sp cassettes for about £25 as well as Shimano ones for £45. If anyone has used these, are they decent?

On one hand I don't mind spending more for better quality longer lasting parts since its an ebike which gets a lot of use, but it also gets typical winter dirt which sits there for weeks [months] before I get round to cleaning it properly which I'm sure doesn't help with the longevity.

Oh, and I need a new [better] front chainring and a new crank because the chain keeps falling off the chainring , and the crank is wobbly and feels like it will fall off at some point . </rant>

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Is your ebike mid motor or rear hub motor?

I think rear hub motors like my GT Bolt put less wear through the whole drivetrain compared to a mid drive.

 

[silva]

"Shimano" and "crank is wobbly" in a same text.
Run Baby Run!

Until a past, one would have said go expensive, in the end you win on work and bucks.
But it's since some years not that clear anymore.
Even a same brand and same model still doesn't suffice to judge, manufacturing date also matters.
A "fake" can perform better than a "real", if profit margin difference allows it.

So such questions became hard to answer.
Leaving the buy one, asap test it, and if thumbsup, asap buy a stock.
Which is what I do, not limited to bicycles.

Stocking up purely based on price has a risk equal in both directions.
Test Baby Test!

 

[fossyant]

He's back !

 

[Sharky]

crank is wobbly

In what way?
What sort of BB?
Chainring bolts tight?
Single or double chain rings?

 

[Ajax Bay]

gets typical winter dirt which sits there for weeks [months]

Why does your bike sit dirty for months? Is this a conscious decision?
I recommend branded cassettes - SRAM or Shimano - rather than "e-bay specials". Consider what the lowest gear you need is and if you can manage with a longer one, cassettes without a dinner plate will be a lot cheaper.
Is it SRAM PG-1130, 11-42 tooth, 11-speed?
Thank your lucky stars you haven't got a 12sp.
To assist our helpful friend, please share the make of chainset currently installed. Is it Praxis? Assume 32t chainring.

 

[Jameshow]

Why does your bike sit dirty for months? Is this a conscious decision?
I recommend branded cassettes - SRAM or Shimano - rather than "e-bay specials". Consider what the lowest gear you need is and if you can manage with a longer one, cassettes without a dinner plate will be a lot cheaper.
Is it SRAM PG-1130, 11-42 tooth, 11-speed?
Thank your lucky stars you haven't got a 12sp.
To assist our helpful friend, please share the make of chainset currently installed. Is it Praxis? Assume 32t chainring.

Cause we're human!!🤣😭

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

IME, more expensive components do seem to last quite a bit longer. I had a Dura Ace 11 speed cassette and crankset, the cranks were still in great nick after 5 years and circa 50,000km. The cassette lasted 3 and a bit years with 000's of km on it. I have 105 12 speed on another bike. For the same mileage, cassette lasts about 8-10 months and chainrings around 18 months. The price difference is huge, but the longevity of DA is far greater.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

He's back !

 

[Ajax Bay]

an ebike which gets a lot of use, but it also gets typical winter dirt which sits there for weeks [months] before I get round to cleaning it properly

Why does your bike sit dirty for months? Is this a conscious decision?

Cause we're human!!🤣😭

If you ride and e-MTB through the winter and it gets "a lot of use" and accumulates "typical winter dirt", it has to be a conscious decision to NOT clean it properly, even occasionally. Don't think you can blame this on the human condition.
A dirty chain/sprockets will increase the rate of wear.
Maybe "properly" is doing some heavy lifting.

 

[Tom B]

My commuter bike gets dirty through winter and stays dirty. I don't clean it properly and resign myself to changing the chain and cassette in spring.

Simply because it's used 6days a week and when the weather is grottiest, coldest, the roads are wet grubby and salty I don't fancy cleaning it daily outside in sub zero temps in the dark. Besides the kids usually want their tea. It gets a mickle weeklyish and a squirt of lube dailyish.

It's a bike not an ornament.


Anyway back on topic. I find Shimano cassettes are best form durability and sweetness of use, but I bought a bunch of microshift cassettes cheap so use them without much complaint. I always use KMC chains.