Wheel compatibility

[SteveO69]

I am about to replace a 9 speed Ultegra group set with an 11 speed 105 one.

I have a set of Bontrager Race Lite wheels with a 9 speed cassette.

Please could anyone confirm if an 11 speed cassette will work on these wheels?

Thanks in advance.

Steve

 

[DCLane]

Unless the freehub has 11 speed on it then you would need a new rear wheel. The likelihood is that it won't - the RaceLite wheelset we have is 10 speed maximum.

It is possible to fit an Edco 11 speed cassette onto an older 9/10 speed wheel, but they're not cheap.

 

[SteveO69]

Ah, thank you.

Would I correct in be in saying a 10 speed wheel set is 11 speed compatible?

 

[DCLane]

No, not unless the freehub states 11 speed on it.

A 10 speed one will cover 7-10 speed with spacers. An 11 speed will add 11 speed on top.

 

[raleighnut]

Can you not swap the Freehub for an 11 speed one ?

 

[SteveO69]

No, not unless the freehub states 11 speed on it.

A 10 speed one will cover 7-10 speed with spacers. An 11 speed will add 11 speed on top.

Thank you for confirming.

New wheel it is…

 

[si_c]

Just as an aside, a Shimano 105 11 speed cassette in 11-34 will fit on a 10 speed hub and needs a spacer for an 11 speed road hub as it uses MTB spacing. When I upgraded my Trek Domane from Tiagra I was able to re-use the existing wheelset only because of this.

Only that cassette will work though, no others.

 

[SteveO69]

Just as an aside, a Shimano 105 11 speed cassette in 11-34 will fit on a 10 speed hub and needs a spacer for an 11 speed road hub as it uses MTB spacing. When I upgraded my Trek Domane from Tiagra I was able to re-use the existing wheelset only because of this.

Only that cassette will work though, no others.

Thank you.

I may look into this…. Would you need a long cage rear mech?

Was revising my plans and thinking just to replace the 9 speed shifters, (Sora) and clean up the existing group set, new jockey wheels, etc.

Its a commuting bike, so basic is good.

 

[rivers]

You can also have an 11 speed cassette machined to fit a 10 speed hub. It cost me a couple of quid to have a local bike mechanic do it for me a few years ago to fit an 11 speed cassette on a wheel I was using for the turbo.

 

[Jameshow]

Thank you.

I may look into this…. Would you need a long cage rear mech?

Was revising my plans and thinking just to replace the 9 speed shifters, (Sora) and clean up the existing group set, new jockey wheels, etc.

Its a commuting bike, so basic is good.

Possibly what's the rear mech at the moment?

 

[si_c]

Thank you.

I may look into this…. Would you need a long cage rear mech?

Was revising my plans and thinking just to replace the 9 speed shifters, (Sora) and clean up the existing group set, new jockey wheels, etc.

Its a commuting bike, so basic is good.

Yeah you'd need a long cage mech. Sora is really serviceable and overall a great groupset for commuting, it still hits a really good price point for replacement chains and cassettes.

If you're replacing like for like, the R3000 groupset is a great choice if you have an older set of shifters, they look as good as 105, if you can find them that is.

 

[SteveO69]

Possibly what's the rear mech at the moment?

Ultegra Short cage 9 speed 6500

 

[Punkawallah]

Thank you for confirming.

New wheel it is…

Make sure there is space between the drop-outs for the new wheel/cassette :-)

 

[wafter]

Given it's a commuter it's perhaps worth considering relative costs of 9 v. 11sp parts - for example an HG400 9sp 11-34 cassette can be had for about £20, while the equivalent HG700 11sp item is typically about £60.

I run both and tbh the lack of two sprockets on the 9sp has never bothered me; however it is on a utility bike so if you're a more speed-focussed cadence connoisseur it might concern you more.

 

[Ajax Bay]

I'm with @wafter here. The OP says "can I fit an 11sp cassette on a 8-10sp freehub" (answer as above is 'no' unless you choose an MTB cassette) . . . . New 11sp STI will need an 11sp RD.
For what? Slightly closer gear ratios. This 'upgrade' (cassette, wheel(set?), RD, STI(s), bartape, cables, chain, ?chainset) would likely cost more than a 'commuting bike'.

Its a commuting bike, so basic is good.

As above! Be honest with yourself about the 'Why?'