How many gears do you really need & use?

[john peck]

I don't think I be anymore likely to walk home then you my 12 speed does wear quicker then a 6 or 7 of the same quality but it doesn't just break. I can see where a cheap quality one would break.

Maybe not, but still a fact, pinned cassettes do not last as long as freewheels. I have a suntour 888 5 spd
13/35 from the 60s the still works perfectly. Cassettes have rarely lasted more than a year for me.

 

[harryS]

I have a bunch of ebike conversions. So two DNP 11-28 freewheels, several Shimano 14-28 or 14-34 freewheels. I never use the climbing gear, but will use the rest of the rear gears. If the bike has a triple chain ring, I'll use the middle one as much as the big one.

Both of my first two DNP's failed (no pawls) at 3000 miles. One died months after the first, but it happened at 3000 miles. Uncanny.

While I am shifting up and down, my wife will stay in 7th or 6th gear with the same motor, tires, and gearing.

 

[rich c]

I ride 10 or 11 speeds and need them all. You don't limit the statements to type of bike, but definitely need the 10 speeds on my emtb. With 13,000 eBike miles I have neither had a freewheel or cassette on a freewheel fail.

 

[Nomad]

Maybe not, but still a fact, pinned cassette do not last as long as freewheels. I have a suntour 888 5 spd
13/35 from the 60s the still works perfectly. Cassettes have rarely lasted more than a year for me.

john that's not fair it was built in the 60s of coarse it still works that's older then me. A year seams to be the norm for lot of people. Again it is a fact the 6 or 7 last longer no argument there. They are supose to be working on longer lasting cassette but will probably charge disproportionately more money

 

[AHicks]

I'm pretty sure there's way too many variables to come up with a conclusive answer to the "how many gears" question. The amount of power you have available is a huge one. A Bafang Ultra mid, or a MAC12t geared hub for instance, are both giant torque monsters and can just torque their way though many situations using gearing a 250w (or even a 500w) mid would struggle with. Then there's the area you're riding in. Is it relatively flat, or something like the Swiss Alps? Clearly that's going to make a difference in your 'druthers. Are you a 20 something that's been working out since you were 10, or a fat old man on his first bike? Guessing that might have a bearing on how many gears you'd like in your arsenal as well.

As far as cartridge vs. cassette durability, if you haven't checked it out already you owe it to yourself to have a closer look. A cartridge is supported by a bearing at each end of the cluster. The cassette has a single bearing under the big end of the cluster, that's it. Stresses placed on the top (road) gears have no direct support at all. What support they get is provided by a bearing at the opposite end of the cluster getting the snot twisted out of it.

 

[john peck]

I have a bunch of ebike conversions. So two DNP 11-28 freewheels, several Shimano 14-28 or 14-34 freewheels. I never use the climbing gear, but will use the rest of the rear gears. If the bike has a triple chain ring, I'll use the middle one as much as the smallest one.

Both of my first two DNP's failed (no pawls) at 3000 miles. One died three months after the first, but it happened at 3000 miles. Uncanny.

While I am shifting up and down, my wife will stay in 7th or 6th gear with the same motor, tires, and gearing.

That old suntour outlived the puge it came on, & did 9k mi, on a univega I still sometimes ride. I didn´t
go electric until I got too old, fat, & busted up to have a choice. It was custom made for alpine riding.

 

[HIMI-RICK]

My experience is that a 6 or 7 spd freewheel will last twice as long as a 8,9,10 speed cassette,
requires less frequent adjustment, & are generally cheaper & readily available. I have yet to
break a freewheel, but cannot say the same for cassettes.

Mine should last forever then. I have a Himiway Cruiser and never shift because I never pedal. Just all throttle and electric for about 30 miles till charge is needed. I ride about 15 miles per day but charge it every nite so I have a full battery each day.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I know Europe been doing it longer but in the US they started putting more gears in automatic transmissions a while back wide gear range

If we are talking bikes, it was the Japanese Shimano that invented the 1-by drivetrains, promptly followed by the American SRAM.

Even a narrow mid-drive motor is somewhat wide. Putting 2-by or 3-by drivetrain would make bad Q-factor.

 

[PedalUma]

If we are talking bikes, it was the Japanese Shimano that invented the 1-by drivetrains, promptly followed by the American SRAM.

Even a narrow mid-drive motor is somewhat wide. Putting 2-by or 3-by drivetrain would make bad Q-factor.

That is why I like internal gears. Also no derailleur to get bumped.

 

[TForan]

1500 watts negates the need to do a lot of shifting.I totally stress my bike's drivetrain but I've been doing it for four years and so far, so good. Actually I'm a bit surprised I haven't stripped an internal gear or broke a chain.

 

[WattsUpDude]

i’d actually like a 2x drivetrain on a mid-motor road eBike. for better or worse, they’re all 1x! but if i wanted the bike to do all the work, at 500w, i’d get a motorcycle

your 48 up front and 14 in the back is a shorter gear than my 42 and 11; but your 28:28 is also much shorter than my shortest gear. a better climbing setup, of course at the cost of a whole additional set of derailleur and gears.

i’d clarify my response that i actually don’t mind fairly big gaps between gears, i just want a really big range, like 500%. less than 1:1 to almost 5:1 would be awesome.

I immediately looked for your location. I think you’re in the Bay Area, too? I like big range just like you do. I use all the gearing on my bike. Luckily I have a 50/34 chainring mated to an 11/32 cassette.

 

[PDoz]

If we are talking bikes, it was the Japanese Shimano that invented the 1-by drivetrains, promptly followed by the American SRAM.

Even a narrow mid-drive motor is somewhat wide. Putting 2-by or 3-by drivetrain would make bad Q-factor.

Stefan, the yamaha pwx that giant uses can run a 2x drivechain and retain its Q factor. My full e came out standard with 2x11 - I swapped to 1x11 but with a larger 1st gear , more than enough spread for anything I do.

Of the 7 bikes in my shed, only 1 has a 3x 8 , it has effectively the same spread as the others but is a pita to live with in technical terrain -eg getting caught between 1/8 and 2/3 halfway up a hill .

Trouble is, that bike is 12 years old and still running the original cassette / chain etc. Meanwhile, the 2 yo 1x12 is about to need another $300 ocassette - and it's not even an ebike! I LOVE riding a 12 sp , but hate maintaining it. As soon as my SL wears out the chain I'll be switching to either 10 or 11 sp ( probably 11 because that's what is on my shelf.

 

[john peck]

I like my bike cuz it´s got a motor.

 

[linklemming]

Stefan, the yamaha pwx that giant uses can run a 2x drivechain and retain its Q factor. My full e came out standard with 2x11 - I swapped to 1x11 but with a larger 1st gear , more than enough spread for anything I do.

Of the 7 bikes in my shed, only 1 has a 3x 8 , it has effectively the same spread as the others but is a pita to live with in technical terrain -eg getting caught between 1/8 and 2/3 halfway up a hill .

Trouble is, that bike is 12 years old and still running the original cassette / chain etc. Meanwhile, the 2 yo 1x12 is about to need another $300 ocassette - and it's not even an ebike! I LOVE riding a 12 sp , but hate maintaining it. As soon as my SL wears out the chain I'll be switching to either 10 or 11 sp ( probably 11 because that's what is on my shelf.

My Brose equipped Bull Evo 3 Hardtail came stock with a 2x11 setup. I eventually made it a 1x just so I could use the internal routed cable for the front derailler for a dropper post.

While I didnt change the spider, going from a 2x11 to a 1x11 had no effect on Q-factor as the spider is what defines the chain offset and the ability to run 1x or 2x. The crankarms which bolts on afterward is what defines the q-factor

 

[DaveMatthews]

My Fathom, and now my Stance E have 1x10.
I've used everything. Biggest grade so far is 15%.
Could I do it with less? Probably, but I'm happy with the setup.

 

[K PierreR]

I have a BBSHD 52 volt with a 42 tooth front chainring. I need all 11 gears on my e fat bike. I have an 11 X 46 tooth cassette.

 

[mschwett]

I immediately looked for your location. I think you’re in the Bay Area, too? I like big range just like you do. I use all the gearing on my bike. Luckily I have a 50/34 chainring mated to an 11/32 cassette.

nice. that’s a great range. probably not much spinning out downhill! i’m in SF proper, mostly ride in the city, marin, east bay hills.

i live on the corner of an 18 ish % grade lol.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I like my bike cuz it´s got a motor.

I like my car because it has an engine. The car doesn't contribute to my health, unfortunately.

Stefan, the yamaha pwx that giant uses can run a 2x drivechain and retain its Q factor. My full e came out standard with 2x11 - I swapped to 1x11 but with a larger 1st gear , more than enough spread for anything I do.

Of the 7 bikes in my shed, only 1 has a 3x 8 , it has effectively the same spread as the others but is a pita to live with in technical terrain -eg getting caught between 1/8 and 2/3 halfway up a hill .

Trouble is, that bike is 12 years old and still running the original cassette / chain etc. Meanwhile, the 2 yo 1x12 is about to need another $300 ocassette - and it's not even an ebike! I LOVE riding a 12 sp , but hate maintaining it. As soon as my SL wears out the chain I'll be switching to either 10 or 11 sp ( probably 11 because that's what is on my shelf.

All you said is true. I also hated maintaining the 12-speed drivetrain. Though, frequent chain replacement and only replacing worn cogs helped a lot.

I'm very happy with the 11-speed drivetrain of my Vado, especially with the 38t chainring that enabled me to ride mountain roads with ease: from extreme climbs to fast downhill rides (although I rather use brakes above 45 km/h than pedal, and my 68.4 km/h happened when I didn't look at the speedometer)

 

[john peck]

I like my car because it has an engine. The car doesn't contribute to my health, unfortunately.


All you said is true. I also hated maintaining the 12-speed drivetrain. Though, frequent chain replacement and only replacing worn cogs helped a lot.

I'm very happy with the 11-speed drivetrain of my Vado, especially with the 38t chainring that enabled me to ride mountain roads with ease: from extreme climbs to fast downhill rides (although I rather use brakes above 45 km/h than pedal, and my 68.4 km/h happened when I didn't look at the speedometer)

I just thought I´d condense what most here have to say about their bikes.

 

[Nomad]

Stefan, the yamaha pwx that giant uses can run a 2x drivechain and retain its Q factor. My full e came out standard with 2x11 - I swapped to 1x11 but with a larger 1st gear , more than enough spread for anything I do.

Of the 7 bikes in my shed, only 1 has a 3x 8 , it has effectively the same spread as the others but is a pita to live with in technical terrain -eg getting caught between 1/8 and 2/3 halfway up a hill .

Trouble is, that bike is 12 years old and still running the original cassette / chain etc. Meanwhile, the 2 yo 1x12 is about to need another $300 ocassette - and it's not even an ebike! I LOVE riding a 12 sp , but hate maintaining it. As soon as my SL wears out the chain I'll be switching to either 10 or 11 sp ( probably 11 because that's what is on my shelf.

What cassette are you running that cost $300? Yes I know there are ones that cost over that but there high end ones that don't.