Shimano SLX 12 Speed Cassette & Direct Mount 12 Speed Chainring [Rider Review]

Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for.

If you put a bunch of trail miles in there is a good chance your drivetrain is either worn out or it's getting there soon. If you are in the market for a drivetrain refresh then great place to start is the cassette and chainring. Our friend Rick shares his experience with his upgrade to the Shimano SLX 12 Speed Cassette & Direct Mount Chainring. Check it out!

Overview

I'm a person who prefers to try out new technology; in my job, in my life, and also with my bikes. As a result, I have tried Shimano 12-speed in various flavors on my bikes. First I tried using existing cranks/freehub with an HG+ compatible chainring and Sunrace 11/51 cassette (HG/not microspline) to go along with the Shimano SLX chain, M8100 shifter and Deore M6100 rear derailleur. It actually worked pretty darn good with a bit of "B-screw" Tweaking. It's proven to work fine in the trails however just did not seem that much different than my Shimano 11-speed on another bike. I've left that bike as described above since it's my backup and moved on to the next configuration which was to be installed on my main ride as I still had the urge to try a full Shimano HG+ / Microspline drivetrain.

I don't plan to shift under load but it's nice to know that you can when it's needed.

You may recall that I did purchase SLX M7110 hubs from Worldwide a few months earlier, then built them up with Stans rims and DT Swiss spokes. Once done I turned my attention to the cranks and cassette. I bought the SLX SM-CRM75 chainring and SLX M7100 10-51t cassette from Worldwide and mounted them up to the wheelset that I had just finished building. I had no issues mounting the cassette to the SLX hubs; at the same time, the SLX chainring slid on my MT900 crankset like butter! With all of the mounting out of the way, I then cut the chain to the right length, mounted the XT M8100 shifter and SLX M7100 rear derailleur. Again, the installation was nothing out of the ordinary.

After setting up the B-screw to match the 51t line on the derailleur the shifting felt great in the stand and down-the-block test however it's on the trail where it matters. The next day I took the bike to my local trail to give it a run for the money. I have to say that I am very impressed with the setup. It shifts so smooth and positive with each click (or two)! Even under power, the shifts are crisp and concise. The Sunrace setup is good, but this is on another level of smoothness while being ever so slightly more precise. I find that I don't have to worry whether or not the shift will complete as each click is instantly met with another gear. Shimano and their 12-speed SLX drivetrain offerings have this down pat!

Final Thoughts

The team at Worldwide Cyclery has its acts together. They offer a good range of products and most importantly do not have "fake" sales. Their coupons work on many more items than their competitors ... which is why I continue to support them and also to send more of my / my friends business their way. I can't emphasize how important it is not to get stoked on a sale and have the bubble burst.