6zfshdb
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Northeast Pennsylvania
Several of the hills I encounter on my favorite trails are a bit too steep for my Platinum Interceptor to handle with the stock bike gear ratio. In it's defense, the bike was not designed as a mountain bike but I tend to use it as one. After some experimentation, I found a Shimano 11- 42 tooth wide ratio cassette which is a direct replacement for the OEM 11-36.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0744Q6859/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02__o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The cassette is easily replaceable using a standard chain whip and cassette wrench. The OEM bike chain is long enough for the larger 42 tooth sprocket. The derailleur will work with some adjustment but I was able to get smoother shifting by adding a longer goat link. One is provided with the Shimano cassette but it's not well made. I recommend a good quality goat link such as this Wolftooth product:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UP0ZB7C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02__o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
When riding on the level, most of the time I use the top four gears. There is little or no ratio difference in these gears between the 11 - 36 and 11 - 42 cassettes so there is no noticeable change in performance when riding level trails. There is however a big improvement in the bike's hill climbing ability. I'm now able to pedal up many hills which before required me to get off and walk the bike.
There is an 11 - 46 tooth cassette available which will also fit the Platinum Interceptor. This may work for some who want to further improve hill climbing performance. In my case, I wasn't willing to sacrifice the upper gear performance.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BZ91CT...xtender for Mountain Bikes&sb-ci-a=B07BZ91CTL
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0744Q6859/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02__o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The cassette is easily replaceable using a standard chain whip and cassette wrench. The OEM bike chain is long enough for the larger 42 tooth sprocket. The derailleur will work with some adjustment but I was able to get smoother shifting by adding a longer goat link. One is provided with the Shimano cassette but it's not well made. I recommend a good quality goat link such as this Wolftooth product:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UP0ZB7C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02__o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
When riding on the level, most of the time I use the top four gears. There is little or no ratio difference in these gears between the 11 - 36 and 11 - 42 cassettes so there is no noticeable change in performance when riding level trails. There is however a big improvement in the bike's hill climbing ability. I'm now able to pedal up many hills which before required me to get off and walk the bike.
There is an 11 - 46 tooth cassette available which will also fit the Platinum Interceptor. This may work for some who want to further improve hill climbing performance. In my case, I wasn't willing to sacrifice the upper gear performance.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BZ91CT...xtender for Mountain Bikes&sb-ci-a=B07BZ91CTL
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