The Ideal Tour Divide Drivetrain? Ultra-Wide Range Shimano GRX 2X11

This can be done on the cheap with Sora 9 speed with more even jumps! The reverse mullet. Samox Hollowtech style crankset comes with 28-44 chainrings. Change inner ring to 24 tooth XT ring. Microshift 11-32 9 speed cassette. With a Sora band type front derailleur mount, capacity is 20 tooth wrap difference. Sora RD capacity 34x11 so within limits. Granny gear is 20 inches. Top gear is 108 inches. A bit limited at th high end, but a loaded bike on gravel and worse, seldom would you need more gear. Mine is on a Topstone aluminum version road touring bike. Mine is set up 26-44 front 12-14-15-16-18-21-24-28-34 no roadlink or other mods needed. I VALUE the 66-74-79 ratios for flat areas for close cadence.This is a custom cassette! Someday I'll file the narrow spline on the 15 sprocket to align with the ramps and profiling of the adjacent cogs. It still shifts smoothly, so maybe not. Long chainstays on the Topstone make cross chaining work OK. It doesn't make noise when backpedaled.

I did this on my Gravel bike, 2X GRX 810 with the 11/40 XT cassette. I didnt even have to put a longer chain on. It works great on the steepest hills Ive found. I even tried the 11/40 cassette on my Di2 roadbike, it works! Just needs a longer chain.

Doing the same. But the goatlink does not sit as flush as what is seen in the video. I am using GRX DI2 11-spd rear mech and have adjusted the B screw almost all the way in, and it still does not sit flush. Any ideas? Also can anyone who has changed chains on the GRX 2x setup (48x31) to accommodate the 11-40 cassette provide how many links to use - I have a new 126-link chain. I can measure myself but I want a place to start... thank you in advance....

Good job. Always good to see what others trying.

You can simply use a GRX812, which is for 1x11 with 11-42 cassettes. The cage can be changed to an M8000 SPS cage (from XT) to equalize the chain lenght of a 2x11 drivetrain. The parts are available as spare parts.
Shifts like Butter and can easily be adjusted.
So, you dont need something from Wolftooth, even if the components are good.

Is this the longer Rpadlink version, the Roadlink DM? They wrote on their website "Not compatible with 2x drivechains". Would the shorter standard Roadlink be the right one for a GRX 810 GS 2x?

But if I assume I will never use big-big ratio 40-46), do I still have to push b screw so much to have a proper regulation of my RD810?

Has anyone tried to get the GRX RD-RX812 (42T max) derailleur and fit an 11-46 cassette on the 2x drivetrain?

Hi thanks for nice video, I have question how much longer chain do you need when you use goat link?

I have GRX810. Tried the Roadlink DM but not impressed by the noise and shifting performance. Runs much better with stock link.

The B-screw is in all the way however, doesn't look sturdy over the long term. Will try the Goatlink OG to see if it works better. I think the Roadlink DM is just too long.

Hi - I have grx 815, front 48/31 and rear 11-34 11 speed and would like to swap to 11-40 11 speed. What shimano cassette model do you recommend? And would you recommend using goat link 10 speed?

On my bike I run a 28 - 48 front rings and a 10 speed 11-42 in back. Micro shift long cage rear derailleur and shifter.
I hate the range limitations of a one by!

Is microshift advent x considered as mullet?

I have mounted a 11-46 XT cassette to my 1x GRX. I used the long cage and the Goat Link from Wolftooth. Works perfekt.

benn running 11-42 triple front 22 34 42 xt old 9speed for the last 4years

Thank you for sharing! This is very helpful. I have got GRX810 and wondered if I can put on 11-42 cassette!

I have 11-42 with the 105 back derailleur B screw is screwed in almost all the way but it works I would say almost perfect.

Noone doing this seems to showcthe limit crossing small to small snd limits in RD to take up chain. Good big to big but other way has some very real limits, usually 2-3 cogs.

Cool video, I recently set up a mullet 1x12 drivetrain on my surly straggler. 38t chainring with 9-48t leonardi general lee cassette. 533% range with about 20.7 gear inches (650b wheels).

Thanks, I just got a 1X11 GRX (40T) set-up from a shop and they put an 11X34 cassette on and said, "that's it". I'm almost 70 and that isn't going to work. Need to find a mtn bike shop, not a roadie shop.

If I ever do the trail divide I'd go Rohloff with belt drive. 526%

1x

Good video, very informative. Why did you use the goatlink 10 as opposed to the 11, with the 810 derailleur?

Any experience with 2x oval chainrings while running a goat link or road link on a 40T cassette?

Which way round does the 1.8mm spacer go on the free hub? does it only go one one way? Mine fell on the floor when I removed my cassette and am not sure if it is supposed to bottom out and the hub end or not.Thanks

don’t you need to extend chain every time you change cassette for bigger?

1x sucks

Hi, I'm wondering how the syncro shift works considering there's no option for an 11-40?

Amazing work , thanks for sharing and figuring it out for us , will go with the 10speed goat link and 11-40 thanks to your hard work 🙏

I'm really torn on 1x Vs 2x. I need to replace my drive train on my carbon specialized. My best option seems like 11-46 with 46t would it look stupid and would it function better than my 9spd 11-32 48/32?
It's bugging me.

I run 1 by 11 46 with the Rx 15
36 up front

Has anyone tried if SRAM rear derailleur 12s would work with Shimano road shifter 11s and 11s cassette without ratio converter?

thanks incredible video !!!

I use an 11-40 xt cassette, grx long cage + wolf tooth and a 42-26 double. Works flawlessly.

2x9 tell me I'm wrong. I hate Shimano for doing this. They need to do sub compact with normal widths.

Great! Good info!

Hi everybody. Currently on the way from the Netherlands to Indonesia by bike. I have the grx 800 2 bi with a 11-34 cassette (biggest cassette recommended by shimano)However I do miss a granny gear for the steep (gravel) climbs as my bike is heavily loaded. Does a 11-40 or 11-42 work when I have in front the 31-48 without a goat link? Any advice/experience is highly appreciated!

42 rear and 30 front that is insanely low. I have 34 and 32 lol. Do you find 11 and 46 front fast enough?

Super well done video! The camera work is outstanding. As they say a picture is worth a thousand words and good video is worth even more. (Well I say the last part). Anyway thank you.

Great video ! really informative ! I am wondering how could such a wide range drivetrain somehow be set up on a 2x11s shimano 105 5800 SGS long cage (& RS700 lever coupled with a 50/34 crankset) ? [gravel flat bar type of bike]. Thanks a lot in advance for the help ! Cheers !

I have nearly 5,000 miles in my 11-42 x 30-46 GRX810 with the Wolf's Tooth. I have some very punchy hills here on the Wabash river. I'm 64 years old. This system works great. I ride a 2022 Trek Checkpoint SL5. I would recommend this combination if you need more gears for the hills.

Have to come back and thank you for this video. I'm now running my diverge comp carbon 810 2 x 11-42 and it is awesome. can climb all day and not die :)

That's what I have been looking for about 2 weeks. After tons of theories and recommendations here's your video: no doubt that we can do this. Thanks a lot

Great vid! … please some guidance and advice. I own a 2016 Giant Anthem carbon 27.5 … full susp … XT groupset. I’ve had many years of carefree mtbiking on her. My interest is now leaning toward multi day bikepacking (mainly gravel) … don’t have the cash available to invest in new bike thus considering converting my trusty Anthem for gravel use. I guess biggest consideration will be drivetrain … will GRX 2x work? MTB shifters? .. what would be the ultimate combo?

Oh, my GOD! Your drivetrain is so filthy it almost resembles mine!

BTW, I'm at about 4000km with an Acera derailleur and a 11-42 casette... The tensioning screw sits well on the hanger and never had any issues with that. I might try 45T next cassette change...
Those bastards lied to us... 36T largest cog, dammit! :))

Hi Neil

I have the Easton 47/32 chainring. Would this work with the 11-42 chainring, using my GRX 815 w/ 10sp goatlink?

Many thanks

Great info. Did you lengthen the chain each time you installed the bigger cassette?

Good sir question. Would the 11-42T casette work for a 46/30 and 48/31 GRX crankset if you add a wolftooth dm on a GRX810 RD?