RESPONSE 11-40T 10 SPEED CASSETTE

There are a whole load of us who are currently running a 1×10 drivetrain on our trail bikes, putting up with any compromises in terms of gear ratios in return for no chain–loss performance and overall simplicity, but at the same time most of us would admit that we’d love to have the kind of gear range that XX1 offers. The problem is we can’t afford it. Well here’s the solution you’ve been waiting for, a 10 speed 11–40t cassette. Yes it might not quite match the range of an XX1 cassette but it gets pretty bloody close (and it does match the new 11 speed XTR) and this is the maximum that’ll work fine with your current rear mech. That’s the beauty of this cassette, unlike XX1 you don’t have to replace everything else, you can keep the stuff you’re already running. This particular cassette is made from titanium, steel and aluminium, but a cheaper non–Ti version will also be available to make this an even more affordable upgrade.

Since we first tested this cassette a whole pile of ‘wide-range converters’ like Hope’s T-Rex have hit the market, and whilst we love the fact they they do offer an even cheaper route to a wide-range cassette, we still think this product stands out. Why? Mainly because no matter which cog we remove in order to fit a converter we still find the ‘jump’ a bit annoying, whereas this cassette has a nice even spread throughout the range, and secondly because if your cassette is worn and in need of replacing this probably works out cheaper than a new cassette and converter anyway.

Price: €220.00

RESPONSE PRODUCTS +33 676 786 069
WWW.RESPONSE-PRODUCTS.COM

All photos by Andy Lloyd – www.alpictures.co.uk