Ebike specific cassettes, anyone?

[Dmitri]

Just curious if anyone has been using ebike-specific cassettes such as the SRAM EX1 and what your experience has been.
Got interested in this after realizing that not all bikes can be upgraded to Rohloff. Got an 11-speed enduro ebike (2 years old), wouldn't mind a thicker chain and fewer gears (no need for 11, 8 is plenty).
However, one tiny snag... the price of the EX1 cassette is through the roof. What's up with that?

 

[LimboJim]

At first I thought SRAM's XG-899 cassette's high price was because it's relatively new and eMTB-specific, but then I noticed that SRAM's XG-999, 1099 & 1199 cassettes are also $300+. I guess they're the cream of SRAM's cassette crop!

My new favorite eMTB, a 2017 Haibike, came with the EX1 drivetrain, and I love it. It;s smooth and crisp, and I've grown accustomed to the larger-than-normal spread between gears. I agree that 8 speeds are plenty for eMTBs, but not without a "granny gear." For climbing 20% grades, the XG-899's 48T cog is essential, IMO.

I'm not sure if they ship to Russia, but as of me typing this, Universal Cycles has the XG-899 for $242.

 

[Dmitri]

@LimboJim thanks for the pointer. Buying one isn't an issue (everything is shippable from USA). But I do wonder whether it's economical considering once can get a SunRace 11-40 8-speed for just $30. I currently run an 11-42 drive train, so I doubt I'll notice the difference.

Oh and as to the reason for the price, I've been explained that the cassette is actually machined out of a single block of metal. This is their top-of-the-line production process that's used in GX and higher product lines. So I guess that could explain the price. And it turns out there aren't any weight savings compared to pancake-style designs, either. Maybe structural rigidity or some such...

 

[rocky289]

Got two Haibike SDURO Fullnine RC's here.
Both still have the stock Sram PG 1020 11-36.
One has 4500k other 8000k.
No visible sign of wear.
Still working well.