Wolf Tooth 96 BCD 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.

Wolf Tooth offers a lot of aftermarket chainrings for all kinds of cranksets that offer great quality and looks. Our friend, Ken, just threw one on their XT cranks. See what they think! 

Overview

The Wolf Tooth Chain Ring for Shimano 12 Speed makes me howl with joy. I've been converting a bike from Shimano XT 2x to 1x12 and being a guy who likes to save money wherever I can I took a chance on a non Shimano part. This chain ring was half the cost of the XT ring and almost as light as the scary expensive XTR ring. Well clutch my pearls and touch my fanny sign me up for one.

After careful calculating of the existing gear ratios I determined that a 30 tooth ring and the Shimano 12 speed 10-45 cassette would give me the range I sought.

Was it a good idea? Yes it was.

Using the existing Shimano crank (a 2x XT 8000 series) it was of course a direct mount. It does have a little derail after 2 rotations of backpedaling in the big cog but I think some shims will cure that. Shimano as usual created a groupset that plays best with other Shimano created parts but Wolf Tooth's geniuses created a tooth profile that is engineered to fit the new Shimano 12 speed chain (of course you have to fit the correct link on the correct tooth during the installation). So far it's holding that chain tighter than Kim Wexler's ponytail.

The engineers at Wolf Tooth have again created a beautiful bike part just how do they do it? Is it because they are frozen for months every year and have time to ponder and measure and build and test? Is it the 10,000 lakes? Maybe being in Minnesota it's all the Hot Dishes they get to eat? Maybe it's because they love cycling and have really large brains? Whatever the reason right here in the USA they are cranking out these rings hot on the heels of Shimano's release of the XT 12 speed group. There are other 12 speed ring options but at the time I ordered this ring from the Most Excellent people at Worldwide Cyclery no one else had created a ring that was specifically designed for the Shimano 12 speed chain.

Final Thoughts

Of course my ordering experience was terrific. My order confirmation was loaded with compliments as if the staff at Worldwide Cyclery was not worthy of me. But they are worthy and they love cycling and they don't take themselves to seriously. Biking is fun and they are fun too gosh darnit. You know that they have your order right away and they tasked those hamsters in the warehouse to get it shipped before they can go get all buried and sleepy in their hamster woodchips. Wolf Tooth and Worldwide Cyclery that's two W's. You know what else comes with a W? Win that's what and this chain ring is a winner.