The LIGHTEST cassette on AliExpress!

This cassette from RIRO is INCREDIBLY lightweight, and beats even the top offerings from SRAM RED and Shimano Dura-Ace. But what’s the compromise?

This road bike cassette from RIRO is a hybrid of machined aluminium, and monoblock steel. I bought it from AliExpress, and it only weighs 146g!

For context the same cassette in Shimano Dura-ACE (CS-R9100) weighs 193g, and from SRAM Red (XG-1190) weighs 161g.

Using aluminium teeth on the RIRO cassette can impact durability, but they are only used on the 2 largest sprockets. So unless you live somewhere incredibly hilly, durability shouldn’t be impacted too badly.

Regardless this cassette is EASILY the lightest one I have ever seen, so in this episode I’ll show you how it is constructed, why the aluminium teeth may not be such a bad choice, and finally provide a shifting demo.

RIRO Cassette (affilliate link):

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro & monoblock cassettes
00:45 – RIRO carbon crankset
01:39 – Cassette weight and comparison
02:29 – Cassette cost
02:52 – Construction
05:06 – Shifting demo
06:03 – Bonus clip

Intro roll:

Instagram:

Email:

Please note:
I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.

In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!

[emploice.muswashghans]

Been running the Riro cassette for 5 months now, over 5000km distance and 50000m elevation. Teeth wear looks good, no issues as of yet. Can recommend.

[Hambini]

I would drill it. A lot of the material is there and physically does nothing. They've just left it because it costs time and hence money to remove it. The metal is 4-5mm thick and I'd be surprised if drilling two 5mm holes made a massive difference - just don't go to the corners. Also preheat the metal in the oven to 60C before you do it, it will reduce the risk of a crack from drilling that you can't see. I appreciate a lot of commentators will be risk averse but this is a YouTube channel and people are tuning in to either see you hurt yourself, make an expensive mistake or end up in Accident and Emergency! Best of Luck

[nebbykoo]

In the 70s and 80s, my dad was a major 'recycler". He often went to the local garbage dump and brought things home to tinker with.
He brought a car wheel home one time, but the holes for the lugs weren't right for the car He wanted to put it on (my car).
So he redrilled it. Do you know what happened?
It formed cracks between the newly drilled holes and collapsed while I was driving. No one was hurt, but my father, who had a PhD and a masters too in another discipline, learned a valuable lesson.
Luke, don't be like my dad!

[yjk]

Luke, we like you. Please don't drill your stem, especially near the clamping area. That's where all your weight rests on the steerer tube. I do see that stem looks pretty chunky on the inside, but I wouldn't risk my teeth hiding that much of cable.

[leonardobonizzato]

I got the same cassette, and so far no issues in 4000km, working well even with a di2 Shimano. As for the drilling, I'd be wary of drilling so close to the handlebar clamp, since it's going to be a loaded zone. Rather I'd 3d print a cover which attachs underneath and covers off the cables

[mikesymons]

Very concerned that you didn't confirm your name is still Luke....🥖🥖

[downwindleg.]

I wouldn't risk my safety for minor appearances. There'd be no appreciable gain moving the hoses. Take a pass drilling the stem. My two cents. Great content, keep it coming.

[DaveCM]

FSA makes a stem that will do what you want. The FSA SMR. There are two of them. One has a cover than goes under the stem that the cables go through. They can be found easily on sale for about $85 USD.

[nugginusslover]

Just saw those on ali yesterday and thought "hopefully Luke will make a video about them" and here we are😄

[ivarbrouwer]

Used a cheap one block 11-36 11speed cassette from AlieXpress during the Transpyrenees bikepacking race: worked well enough for a +1000 km race but not nearly as well as a hyperglide Shimano cassette.

[Angieboy]

Love your videos. Watched almost all of them and you inspired me to build my own road bike. You are way underrated and I hope Ali Express is paying you for all your recommendations. Funny AH too. Keep up the great work brother

[philipegoulet]

That stem seems so masively overkill in terms of thickness, I would personally feel comfortable with drilling small holes to pass the brake lines. Hambini said it's ok too so go for it!

[gruanger]

I am 100kg, I have a feeling I will never need a lightweight bike, haha

[MBB]

The OG. Oxonian Gangster! A true inspiration when it comes to customizing these bikes. I love this channel.🥖🥖🥖🥖🥖

[wtfiswiththosehandles]

Those sheared teeth - probably a result of shifting under load. If you're really unlucky, you can bend a steel cog as well (not individual tooth, just a section of the sprocket)

[PeterSmithCA]

I dont know on drilling the stem. Would be worried about micro fractures from the drilling, plus the holes might be abrasive on the cables? 🥖🥖🥖

[VINSANITY]

I just remembered the Neutron Cassette that China Cycling reviewed at the Shanghai Bike Show. Riro had the same material construction as a neutron.

[florian]

With such cassette, you always trade the low weight for the fact that it is harder to adjust and significantly louder.

This is because it is a single block or semi. Chain noises are directly transmitted through the freewheel of the wheel to the axle and frame.

Even SRAM had to realize this and added rubber spacers between the sprockets on the Force cassette.

Maybe you can add such at this too?

[theigadwolf]

The fact you bothered to ask if drilling the stem/bar was a good idea should tell you that it isn't.

[KurtisPape]

In the larger gears there is more chain engagement, which reduces the wear in each tooth, that's why it's pretty common to run aluminium chainrings on road bikes and they last for ever.