How To Upgrade To A 1X11 Or 1X12 Drivetrain! | The Ultimate Single Chainring Conversion Guide

Upgrading your bicycle's transmission from multiple chainrings to a 1x drivetrain system is a great way of simplifying your bike, reducing weight & adding some easy performance gains! In this video, Doddy runs you through some of the technical differences, the benefits of changing your setup and provides you with a step by step guide on changing over your components to a new 1x drivetrain system!

⏱️ Timestamps ⏱️
0:00 - Intro
0:58 - Why go 1x?
2:32 - The 1x essentials
4:22 - Ways to convert to 1x
7:15 - MTB chainline explained
10:31 - MTB cassette setup
13:26 - MTB shifter compatibility
14:03 - MTB 1x conversion cost
15:19 - Installing a 1x drivetrain system
16:15 - Fitting an 11-speed drivetrain
17:28 - Fitting a 12-speed drivetrain

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Have you already made the switch to a single chainring setup? If so, when did you last use a front derailleur?

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[gmbntech]

Have you already made the switch to a single chainring setup? If yes, when did you last use a front derailleur?

[The_Iainternet]

Doddy is the internet bike dad that every young MTB’er needs! 👍

[Brockthedog]

Experiment with your current set up by using only one front chainring for awhile in the areas you ride. I like the middle one on mine which is 38. I use that the most when I ride anyway. I like the sound of the simplicity of a 1x but I already have this by doing nothing and not spending any more money. Biking doesn’t have to be so costly. Thanks for the video.

[alexp]

Seeing all the new bikes with their fancy, simple, lightweight 1x setups had me dreaming of converting my 2016 Rockhopper Comp to a 1x setup. No more chain slap - so simple, elegant and lightweight! But then I started reading all the pro-2x comments, checking into the cost of the conversion, and looking over the rest of my bike (with it's worn out tires, entry level fork with a ding in the stanchion, and old-school geo)...I don't think I'm going to touch it unless something stops working right. Great video though!

[drmoynihan]

I love my 1x12 on my Commencal Meta. So much so, that each time I get on my 3x9 hardtail every-day-rider, I dream of switching over.
BUT - watching Doddy explain and demonstrate the mechanics is way beyond anything I will ever do!!!
Thank you Doddy for this excellent presentation.

[peterweikel]

fixing to upgrade to a 1x11 on an entry leven specialized. the first few videos i watched seem to have over simplified it. your video seems to be a lot more complete. thank you

[alfrednOObel]

All my bikes are 1x (1x12 Shimano ful sus, 1x12 SRAM hardtail, 1x9 Shimano gravel'ish and 1x1 commuter) and It's the best invention in the bike industry! Front mechs were just an annoyance. With 1x drivetrain I can focus more on what's important - choosing the right line, giving my best effort, and enjoying the ride instead of constantly thinking if it's the right moment to shift front or rear and paying attention not to drop my chain.

[PachezZ]

I'm in the process of converting my 1x8 fatbike to 1x11, already upgraded from tapered square bb/cranks to hollow ones. Used smaller chainring, lost a lot of topend but I am quite happy with the lowend. Going to upgrade the rear end next month :)

[mantelis]

For most common QR bikes you can choose Shimano FH-MT401 (135mm) for 12 speed system.

[branmanb]

Shimano sells the FH-MT401 and FH-MT500 which both have Microspline and are 135mm QR. The 401 has sealed cartridge bearings and an aluminum freehub body and the 500 has angular contact cup and cone bearings with an internal grease sleeve and a steel freehub body.

[matt_acton-varian]

The older bikes I have with a square taper BB, I take it out and thoroughly grease the threads every year, even if the bike gets a few hundred miles dry use only. Modern design is definitely fit and forget until they need replacing altogether.

[mruscfreddles]

sir. .thank you and shimano. i did this exact build on my early 2000 mtb. .. im loving riding it almost more than my modern suspension bike! cheers from usa!

[stevesnailfish]

Good tinkering video.
I've done it from 2x on a CX bike and a gravel bike and from a 3x on an old 2007 GT MTB on bikes I own and regularly ride. Easy job for a home mechanic with the right tools....Getting a bit more expensive now with prices for parts getting silly...
As for the square taper BB remover, I still have an old Park Tools one residing in my toolbox....It was used many times and borrowed here and there....I'll keep it as you never know....

[mattgies]

Am I wrong, or did you omit the cassette from your weight difference calculation? That's the one component that's always heavier with a 1X, because the sprockets get so much bigger to retain the same gear range.

[mdr]

Good vid you guys dropped there. Ik did a 1x12 conversion recently. But i picked the sunrace 12 speed cassette. It fits the orginal Shimano body. And shifts at least good as the Shimanocasette from one off my Buddies. So no need to change the rear wheel/hub/body there. But i guess if you're teaming up with Shimano for this vid, that couldn't be shared😉

[csmcghee]

I switched from a 5 speed gear hub to a 7 speed derailleur. I’m glad I’m only dealing with a single chainring. It’s easier to understand what’s going on since I can see all of the moving parts (though the hub may have made maintenance simpler but I haven’t figured out how to deal with anything yet). I was able to five videos showing most things and didn’t have a lot of trouble making sense of things. At this point I might be able to understand multiple chainrings but I still prefer what I’ve got (though trying to ride the 75lb bike over hills is a bit hard).

[goedelite]

I bought an inexpensive mountain bike from a large retailer. I paid less than $100. for it in early 2022. It has a a 26" wheel, alloy frame, front suspension, and was equipped with a 3 x 7 gearing. Living in flat Florida, I saw no need for the front derailleur, and when I found a problem with it I simply removed it. I did not find any problem with it as a "one-drive". The chain does not pop off the 3rd (largest gear) gear of the three. I removed the twist adjuster on the left side of the handlebar with no problem. No change was made to the pedal bracked gearing. Only some minor adjustment of the rear derailleur might have been required. I don't recall. The adjustment might have been simply to set the rear wheel's high gear (smalest gear) chain position to its innermost so that the chain would not slip off the right side. Seven gears are more than enough for Florida's mountains!
It is a shame that so-called "cruiser" bikes have no suspensions from the frame. Biking on the sidewalks is almost as rough as riding the rocks!

[peterjohnson]

The best video explaining how to set up a 1x system.

[clickireland]

20 years of experience well worth watching Thanks a mil, Very clear and structural and all us 1 x guys I'm sure appreciate it thank you

[StratosCoBManiac]

Finally, the perfect video I always searched and wanted to watch on YouTube! I've watched a lot but I was waiting for about a year to see a dedicated video uploaded on GMBN!
I'm about to change my 2x9 Scott Aspect 950 to 1x11.(unfortunately I can only start by the crankset alone.)