Shimano XT wheels, change Microspline to HG freehub?
Discussion
I've been thinking about a lighter wheelset for my trail hardtail (Merida Big Trail 500 with a few upgrades) for a while - the factory wheels seem strong but are pretty heavy lumps - Merida branded Jalco rims on basic Shimano MT400 hubs.
A mate has as unwanted Shimano XT (M-8120) wheelset sitting around which I could buy off him for a much cheaper upgrade than buying new.
I've done some weight comparison, the XT front wheel is around 240g (20%) lighter than the Merida OEM front - a big difference in rotating mass! Haven't compared the rear but I assume similar difference.
The only real issue is the XT rear wheel is Microspline freehub and the bike has Deore M5100 11-speed (11-51t) drivetrain which is HG freehub.
Leading to my question, do any of you clever folk know if the microspline freehub body can be swapped out for HG on an XT M8120 hub?
If not, what other solutions are there - can you get a similar range 11-speed cassette in microspline?
I guess I could upgrade to a 12-speed drivetrain, but I'm pretty happy with the wide range 1x11 and it seems a bit daft to buy a whole new drivetrain for the sake of fitting some second hand wheels!
A mate has as unwanted Shimano XT (M-8120) wheelset sitting around which I could buy off him for a much cheaper upgrade than buying new.
I've done some weight comparison, the XT front wheel is around 240g (20%) lighter than the Merida OEM front - a big difference in rotating mass! Haven't compared the rear but I assume similar difference.
The only real issue is the XT rear wheel is Microspline freehub and the bike has Deore M5100 11-speed (11-51t) drivetrain which is HG freehub.
Leading to my question, do any of you clever folk know if the microspline freehub body can be swapped out for HG on an XT M8120 hub?
If not, what other solutions are there - can you get a similar range 11-speed cassette in microspline?
I guess I could upgrade to a 12-speed drivetrain, but I'm pretty happy with the wide range 1x11 and it seems a bit daft to buy a whole new drivetrain for the sake of fitting some second hand wheels!
Not with Shimano Hubs unfortunately. DT Swiss, Novatech & a few others allow body swaps but as it stands the options are go 12 speed across the groupset which is an expensive solution or relace the wheel with another hub which is also expensive. I looked into this for one of my bikes & it sucks that I couldn't do it.
Edited by President Merkin on Tuesday 11th October 08:21
Can’t get 11 speed microspline cassettes unfortunately.
Given you’re running 1x, it would be a mech, shifter and cassette to go to 12 speed, but if you’re going to do that, then you may as well have just bought a new 11 speed back wheel. I think I’d be sticking with 11 and getting a different wheel, as due to the incompatibility the wheel from your mate isn’t the bargain it appears to be.
Given you’re running 1x, it would be a mech, shifter and cassette to go to 12 speed, but if you’re going to do that, then you may as well have just bought a new 11 speed back wheel. I think I’d be sticking with 11 and getting a different wheel, as due to the incompatibility the wheel from your mate isn’t the bargain it appears to be.
leyorkie said:
Is Microspline the description of how the ratchet pawls work inside the free hub
AfAIK the cassettes are interchangeable eg you do not buy a microspline cassette
Just check that it’s speed compatible
Sorry mate. This is all wrong. You can buy:AfAIK the cassettes are interchangeable eg you do not buy a microspline cassette
Just check that it’s speed compatible
HG freehubs for up to 10 speed SRAM and Shimano
HG freehub for 11/12 speed Shimano with a small cog of no less than 11 teeth or SRAM 11 speed with no less than 11 teeth
XD freehub for SRAM only with a small cog of 10 teeth
Microspline for Shimano 12 speed
So.....you have to buy the correct cassette for the freehub you have. It's nothing to do with pawls or ratchets
As above, it will not work with your 11 speed set up.
I've just had to bite the bullet and upgrade the rear wheel on my hardtail as I have mangled the pawls in the freehub, but because it is a cheap OEM wheelset I can't get spares, so am going to a Hope hub and DT Swiss rim. It is expensive, but I will be able to get spares, including a freehub body, if I change to 12 speed.
I've just had to bite the bullet and upgrade the rear wheel on my hardtail as I have mangled the pawls in the freehub, but because it is a cheap OEM wheelset I can't get spares, so am going to a Hope hub and DT Swiss rim. It is expensive, but I will be able to get spares, including a freehub body, if I change to 12 speed.
Scoobyshue said:
Sorry mate. This is all wrong. You can buy:
HG freehubs for up to 10 speed SRAM and Shimano
HG freehub for 11/12 speed Shimano with a small cog of no less than 11 teeth or SRAM 11 speed with no less than 11 teeth
XD freehub for SRAM only with a small cog of 10 teeth
Microspline for Shimano 12 speed
So.....you have to buy the correct cassette for the freehub you have. It's nothing to do with pawls or ratchets
Everyday is a school day HG freehubs for up to 10 speed SRAM and Shimano
HG freehub for 11/12 speed Shimano with a small cog of no less than 11 teeth or SRAM 11 speed with no less than 11 teeth
XD freehub for SRAM only with a small cog of 10 teeth
Microspline for Shimano 12 speed
So.....you have to buy the correct cassette for the freehub you have. It's nothing to do with pawls or ratchets
It’s hard work keeping up.
Why is it called microspline? Where does the spline come in?
leyorkie said:
Everyday is a school day
It’s hard work keeping up.
Why is it called microspline? Where does the spline come in?
The freehub body has splines that the cassesette slides onto - microspline has smaller finer splines than the older style HG (hyperglide).It’s hard work keeping up.
Why is it called microspline? Where does the spline come in?
https://off.road.cc/content/feature/which-freehub-...
Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 13th October 00:27
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