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AASQ #75: Are SRAM chains compatible with Shimano drivetrains? Drivetrain compatibility Qs answered!

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We know, there’s no such thing as a stupid question. But there are some questions you might not want to ask your local shop or riding buddies. AASQ is our weekly series where we get to the bottom of your questions – serious or otherwise. This one is about drivetrain compatibility. Hit the link at the bottom of the post to submit your own question!

There is an ever increasing number of drivetrains on offer from a growing list of brands entering the market, daring to challenge giants Shimano and SRAM. TRP recently released the TR12 12s derailleur, Microshift now have a super affordable 10-speed drivetrain that’s lighter than Shimano’s XT, Box Components have complete 7-, 9- and 11-speed groups and ROTOR now offer a 13-speed mountain bike drivetrain with hydraulic shifting!

Likely, this will raise a number of questions on cross-brand compatibility, especially if you’re wanting to upgrade just some components on your drivetrain, rather than the whole lot. We would like to encourage readers to send in questions on this topic of drivetrain compatibility – we will get the brands to answer them for you! Now onto this week’s AASQ topic…

Have you ever wondered whether SRAM chains are compatible with Shimano’s cassettes, derailleurs and chainrings, and vice-versa? Or whether your 11-speed chain will work on a 12-speed cassette? We have! We posed your questions on drivetrain compatibility to the good guys at SRAM, Shimano and ROTOR.

Is a SRAM chain compatible with Shimano drivetrains (12s MTB)?

SHIMANO: Shimano 12-speed Hyperglide+ shifting relies on specific elements of the chain’s design like the extended inner link plate. Without the right chain, you won’t get Hyperglide+ shifting, which we could define as being able to engage with and drive the next smaller cog before the chain has finished leaving the larger cog.

This video illustrates the concept:

 

Since we’re talking about the whole drivetrain, we should also address the chain/crank interface.

The extended inner link plate comes into play at the chainring interface as well. Extending the inner chain link beyond the roller means that those plates are in contact with every tooth on the chainring.

is sram compatible with shimano hyperglide+
Check out Tyler’s tech overview of the Shimano XT M8100 – SLX M7100 groups here.

Instead of alternating between two different chain link widths and tooth shapes, we get consistent engagement from the same chain plate holding the sides of the minus shaped teeth and corners of the plus shaped teeth. This more consistent engagement keeps the chain tracking straight, improving retention and driving efficiency.

As you would expect, these features are lost if the matching chain isn’t used. In terms of real world compatibility, while we don’t test for compatibility with other products, we’d like to share what we’ve heard from professional mechanics at bike shops.

drop stop st chainring compatible with shimano 12 speed chains only
Wolf Tooth Components’ newly-renamed Drop Stop ST chainring is specifically compatible with Shimano’s 12-speed chains

Some third party 12-speed chains won’t mesh with our 12-speed chainrings at all. Others seem to sit on the teeth OK but the ring wears very quickly. One particular situation where we recommend extra caution is when replacing a worn out Shimano 12-speed chain.

Since the chainring has worn down a little after a few hundred miles of riding, it may seem like other chains fit a little better than they would if everything were new. The chain is much tougher than the chainring though, so any mismatch in the shape will quickly wear down the ring and that will degrade chain retention.

This could damage the ring to the point where even going back to the original Shimano chain won’t work properly.

SRAM: EAGLE chains are not perfectly compatible with Shimano drivetrains. It might physically fit and fundamentally make your bike go forwards, but it will also lead to long term performance and security issues such as chain breakages and chain sucking etc.

It’s worth noting the 12 speed chains are also not the same across road and mountain bike systems. SRAM designs all of the components of a drivetrain to perform together as one system.

new sram eagle gx group mountain bike components tech and details
The 2021 SRAM Eagle GX 12-speed mountain bike group set

Ideally a rider would ensure a drivetrain is complete and all the parts come from the one manufacturer, therefore ensuring the best possible performance and longevity of the system.

Is an 11-speed crank-set compatible with a 12 speed-chain (Powerbox Alloy on a SRAM Force AXS)?

LOOK 765 Gravel RS Dirty Kanza limited edition gravel bike
The SRAM Force eTap AXS drivetrain

SRAM: Architecturally, the obvious difference is that the internal diameter of a 12-speed EAGLE chain is narrower than an 11-speed chain. There are also several other subtle technologies that make the chain what it is. Because of these a 12-speed chain would not fit correctly on a crankset with an 11-speed chainring.

What is the cog spacing on the ROTOR 12-speed cassettes, such as the 11-39? Are they compatible with a SRAM 12-speed drivetrain using an eagle derailleur and Red AXS shifters?

rotor offer four 12 speed cassettes compatible with SRAM shimano 12s drivetrains
ROTOR’s 12s cassettes are compatible with other 12-speed drivetrains on the market – available in 11-36, 11-39, 11-46 and 11-52 T options

ROTOR: Our cassettes use standard 12-speed spacing and are cross compatible with other 12 speed drivetrains on the market. It does fit on a standard HG freehub body (11s) so it’s a quick way to upgrade to 12-speed without having to replace wheels or existing freehub bodies.

I have a Rotor Oval 54T chainring with Shimano ultra-drivetrain. I am switching to the SRAM 1 x 12 speed drivetrain. Is my current chainring compatible with 12 speed and if not, do you make one?

ROTOR: Our current range of 1x direct mount & 110 x 4 spider mount rings are compatible with the range of SRAM Eagle & Flat-top chains.

Can Di2 GRX 2x rings be mounted on FC-RX810-1 and GRX 1x rings be mounted on FC-RX810-2? If not, why not? Or, does the entire crankset have to be purchased to swap between 1x and 2x?

I’m ignoring, for the moment, the need to swap the RD, the cassette, and adding/removing the FD. I ask in part because the bike I’m anticipating buying comes with Di2 1x and I prefer a Di2 2x for my local roads. I understand the chain lines are different for GRX 1x vs 2x but is this compensated for by the rings themselves?

Wolf Tooth Components GRX gravel Shimano chainrings
Shimano GRX crank bolted to a Drop Stop chainring from Wolf Tooth Components

SHIMANO: Yes, with Shimano GRX cranks, you can switch between 1 x 11-speed and 2 x 11-speed setups by simply switching the chainrings. Both FC-RX810-1 and FC-RX810-2 use the same chainring bolt pattern so you can swap the rings and then follow up by changing the rear derailleur and adding/removing the GRX front derailleur.

Regarding the Shimano GRX line: I currently have full 105 r7000 with a compact crank and a 11-34 cassette. Can I use an SLX m7000 11-42 cassette or do I need the Rx 810 derailleur as well, and will this be compatible with the compact crank?

105 is Shimano's entry-level affordable drivetrain for road cycling
105 R7000 is Shimano’s entry-level affordable 2 x 11s drivetrain for road cycling

SHIMANO: Using an 11-42 tooth cassette is only possible when running a 1 x 11-speed drivetrain setup. Since the Shimano 105 drivetrain is a 2 x 11-speed group, it is not compatible with an 11-42-tooth cassette, even if you use the GRX RD-RX812 rear derailleur.

Got a question of your own? Click here to use the AASQ form to submit questions on any cycling-related topic of your choice, and we’ll get the experts to answer them for you!

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Mat
Mat
4 years ago

And what about Shimano chain on eagle drivetrain?

Tyler Pubben
Tyler Pubben
4 years ago

For the record Shimano 8-11 speed is perfectly compatible with SRAM and other 3rd party chains. And many many people have found that Shimano 11 speed drivetrains actually shift better with Eagle chains.

David R.
David R.
4 years ago

We mixed up the Shimano GRX 31-48 front rings and the 11-42 rear cog, with the 1x GRX derailleur, on my wife’s bike with no problems. Nice wide range, good shifting, hasn’t dropped the chain yet.

David
David
4 years ago
Reply to  David R.

Yes, I did much the same for my wife’s Rocky Mountain Solo. Pulled the SRAM Apex brifters and derailleur off, replaced them with Shimano 105 hydraulics and a GRX rear derailleur with a XTR 11-42 cassette, but didn’t install the front derailleur. Left the SRAM 42T chainring in place. Works great!

nico
nico
4 years ago

How about shimano derailleurs on SRAM cassettes? Also, answers without marketing bias would be appreciated

blahblah1233445
4 years ago
Reply to  nico

Since last year I use XTR 12s shifter+derraileur with X01 Eagle cassette and chain (+ Race Face NW chainring) and it works great (tuned at the middle of the cassette, rather then on one of it’s ends). You can also mix Sram 12s derailleurs with Shimano shifters and vice versa – cable pull is the same.

I love Sram XD cassettes – not only they look great, but also are super easy to clean and don’t ruin the freehub body. As for shifting gear, I’m more on the Shimano’s side, with the double release stuff, tuned clutch etc…

TheKaiser
4 years ago

If we’re talking 12s here, wouldn’t Shimano also be fine on freehub durability, given the switch to Microspline? Or have you been seeing some shortcoming that doesn’t equal XD?

Rodrigo Diaz
Rodrigo Diaz
4 years ago
Reply to  nico

Minimal experience with 12 speed, but lots with 11 and 10. No problems at all combining Shimano derailleurs with SRAM cassettes or viceversa. I have lots of cassettes of different brands (Suntour and Edco as well) and really the shifting differences are minimal. Also use a variety of chains – mostly KMC 11s but also some Ultegra and a few Force-level chains. It’s pretty much all good – even going a bit off-spec on limits such as using a 36 tooth cassette on a 2x system. I’ve managed to make pretty much all that work.

Adam Kerin
4 years ago

A strange error by sram here. “Architecturally, the obvious difference is that the internal diameter of a 12-speed EAGLE chain is narrower than an 11-speed chain”. No it isn’t, it is an 11/128 standard internal width chain, same as 11spd (and 10spd, and 9spd – 8 through to 5spd move to a 3/32 internal width standard) – it is only the external width that changes from 9 to 12spd chains (aside from axs road which is a thinner standard). So you can run a sram 12spd or campy 12spd chain on 11spd rings not problems, and vice versa. I have done so a lot. If fact just yesteday i was racing on campy 12spd chain on my shimano 11spd cx bike for a test, was perfect, and i have run campy the exact same campy 12spd on my sram axs eagle mtb. Perfect. If it was thinner, it would be very obvious and not run. I also just measured and eagle inner link width, my calipers have it 2.2mm – (11/128 is 2.18mm) – allow for 0.02mm variance in caliper – its clearly from all angles, an 11/128 chain, and will fit on 11spd chain rings perfectly fine.

I have also been testing wolf tooth xtr 12 compatible rings so that i can run the much faster xtr 12 chain on my eagle drive train for racing, and the worlds longest lasting chains in srams eagle x01 / xx1 for training. Again, only 2000km in, but perfect to date, no wear of chain ring (mind you i use mspeedwax which keeps parts wear extremely minimal). I havent tested on shimano rings – perhaps they wear much faster than wolf tooth’s? I am not sure how the absence of longer innner plate link would cause accelerate wear to the chain ring when again, chain pitch and internal chain widths are identical, the main issue as shimano state the longer inner link makes their chains jump off rings not designed for those inner links, however have seen no issues with my wolf tooth xtr 12 rings running eagle or campy record chains.

Still – odd sram are not aware of their own eagle chain internal width…..?!

TheKaiser
4 years ago
Reply to  Adam Kerin

That raised an eyebrow for me too, as I’d thought it was common knowledge that plates/outer widths have gotten thinner, but internal widths have stayed the same since at least 9s. You have done far more first hand measurements than I (BTW, thank you for your service!) so your first hand confirmation only reinforced my puzzlement at sram’s reply!

Fredo
Fredo
4 years ago

Ugh, these articles about proprietary bike part size & compatibility flip my light switch “off”

Vinicio
Vinicio
4 years ago

Hello! With reference to the new 12V HG + system from Shimano: When the components (cassette and chain mainly) are worn out will they lose the benefits that the new system offers? Hugs!

Aaron
Aaron
4 years ago

Time for some new pedal threading standards. Seems tat is the only thing left with 10-20 choices.

Mathias
Mathias
4 years ago

It should be noted that when You use 3-rd party narrow-wide front chainring with Shimano chain then Shimano genuine quick link WON’T WORK PROPERLY. You must use SRAM PowerLock Eagle on Shimano chain, otherwise chain will “stick” to narrow wide front chainring resulting in transmission problems.

Myck
Myck
3 years ago

The potential compatibility between XRD driver based 12-speed cassettes and an 11-speed Shimano (Ultegra) drivetrain is something the I am exploring. I am interested in running the XD-R freehub with a 12-speed cassette on a Kickr Smart Trainer so it could be used with an AXS Force eTap d12s drivetrain. But I also would like to use the XD-R mounted AXS 12-speed cassette with an 11-speed Ultegra drivetrain (135 mm quick release axle) and chain. I know I would lose one gear, but is the spacing of the cogs such that it would work with the Ultegra too? I also realize I would have to swap out endcaps to switch between the 142×12 mm thru axle to the Ultegra 135 mm quick-release, but other than that is there anything else I would need to do?

MH
MH
3 years ago

Thank you man. Grtz from Belgium

Steven Jessome
Steven Jessome
3 years ago

I’m running a sram xx1 eagle oil slick cassette with matching chain. But with a shimano xt 12 speed derailleur and shifter. It works great haven’t had a problem over the last 8 months.

Thor Stone
Thor Stone
3 years ago

That combination should work but for one thing. The derailleur may not be able to compensate for that large difference in teeth. So for many of the double front, wide range (1x) cassette, you will not be able to use the largest sprockets while in the big ring. I.e. the chain will not be long enough. Or the chain will be too long and not be under tension if you use the small/small combination. If you do not cross-chain and are very disciplined in shifting, then that may not be a problem for you (and in fact has been a common thing on touring bikes for a while now).

Can you use all the gears in that setup? I.e. big/big to small/small?

Dan Deroo
Dan Deroo
3 years ago

Shimano 12 speed Long cage derailleurs are designed to work with 10-51 cassettes, so there are no issues with using them with SRAM 10-50 or 10-52 cassettes. I mix Shimano 12 speed derailleurs with SRAM cassettes on my gravel bike without any problems at all.

Martin Nally
Martin Nally
3 years ago

It would be surprising if sram made such a mistake. They said that the _diameter_ is smaller, not the _width_. Since only circles have diameter, I assume this refers to the diameter of the rollers and the circular part of the plates when viewed from the side. In other words, it would refer to the height of the chain, not its width. I’m just guessing.

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