Why Do We have 12-Speed Drivetrains? | The Explainer

It seems that anytime a drivetrain manufacteurer adds yet another cog to the cassette, the mountain bike community as a whole gives a harmonious sigh. With such a collective distaste for change amongst consumers , why do companies bring new drivetrains to market? Join Mike Levy as he explains why we have 12-speed drivetrains.

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[Agedude]

Actually the fact that 10*42=420 or 10*50=500 is just a coincidence in this case, and it only works if the smallest cog has exactly 10 teeth. You don't calculate the range by multiplying, but by dividing. So 42/10= 4.20 which is 420%. We know this is true because if you instead had an 11-tooth cog it would be not be 11*42= 462% range, because that would mean more range than a smaller 10-tooth cog. It's actually 42/11 which would be a 381% range.

[nroose]

When I was a teen, I had a 12 speed - which meant 2 gears in the front and 6 in the back!

[jamesunderhill]

Next on the explainer Mike explains why the grim donut is never coming

[AliaNexisName]

I double-click through most of the gears on my 11/12 speed bikes; Next one is going to be 9-speed 11-50t to save weight and money for the same range.

[testvideo]

Switched a 3x8 to a 1 x 12 on my hardtail, dropped some weight, couldn't be happier with the change.

[dudeonbike]

The biggest bummer about 12 speed is we can no longer use the phrase,
"But ours goes to 11."

[mikelakowski]

Then you see box “9 is fine” dont blame em coming from a freerider

[petersubosits]

His math to find the range % is incorrect. It's 42/10 = 4.2 aka 420% or 50/10 is 500%. just multiplying it seems to work, But if you had a 11t gear, it would definitely not work to multiply.

[duanehundley]

We climb hills in the lowest 3 gears and then once we crest the hill we up-shift 5 gears as fast as we can. I don't see the need for 12 gears. 10-52 range with a 9-10 speed would be fine.

[jameswarner]

Can't see why a 10-50 9 speed would be a problem tbh

[michaelhorner]

Once the rear cassette reaches 26 inches in diameter. Those 26 ain't dead posters won't look so bad anymore :)

[robertpreato]

More cogs means smaller jumps between gears and on my road bike it makes fine tuning the gearing much easier. With 2X drive trains there are several overlaps in gear ratio so what seems like double the gears really is not. For simplicity and functionality 1 X 12 is great. The only real issue with 1 X, and I hardly every hear it mentioned, is that there is huge chain line problem. You would never think of riding a 2X in the Big ring, big cog but that is essentially what you are doing with a 1X if you use the largest cog. Granted, a single ring can be placed more centrally compared to where a 2X rings would be, but it is still a big stretch on chain line. This results in much faster wear of the entire drive train system.

[SeatTimeClips]

Because an 11pack of beer also sounds weird.

[Benny-tbci]

I came here to understand more and I'm still wondering what % range a regular 3x7 bike has.

[torgsgotboards]

I think that sram and shimano should start working on internal gear boxes like the pinion gear box. That seems like the future. As always, thanks for the great free content !

[dougjones]

i like my 2x10 a lot, it has 22t and 36t front and 11t-44t rear. I don't switch front chainrings during a ride, small is for heavy-duty hill challenges, big is for riding. i would be curious to know that range percentage

[ivanperica]

4:17
If im not mistaken its 50/10 makes a quotient of 5 and then multiply it by hundred to make 500%. Levy is on all kinds of drugs

[coolcycles]

The 2 x 10 Drivetrain on my Fatty has 625% range. For touring add a 42t ring for some speed and get 729% - Should I go 1x? Why do 'we' have 12-speed drivetrains?

[DanWebb]

I like bigger jumps between gears still running 9 speed 11-46 1x i tried an 11-40 cassette and found it a bit too close ratio shifing 2 or 3 gears at a time i may go up to 10 speed one day but 11 or 12 i question reliability and cost i do however use an 11 speed chain for the extra clearance as 9-12 speed chains are aparently all the same width internally only the outer plates getting thiner

[MattPayne]

I'm okay with my 12 speed performance. Have eagle on 2 of my bikes. 11x with e13 cassette on another(thats working well for me too). My next, project I am going to try microshifh advent x though.