Hi all, my wife and I are new to E-MTB bikes and just recently purchased 2023 Rail 7 Gen 3 bikes with Shimano Deore M6100, 10-51, 12 speed cassette's. We ride both trails, roads, and the beach and have been riding between 10-30 miles a day when we can. When we first got the bikes I rarely used the electric assist except when absolutely necessary. After putting somewhere in the range of 275 miles my bike on the smallest gear (10 tooth) was starting to skip so much it sounded like a pop gun going pop, pop, pop rapidly and not giving much pull. The next gear up was doing the same thing but nowhere near as bad. My wifes bike was also starting to do so a little on the smallest gear. Neither of us knew that it was recommended to shift to the larger gears when coming to a stop so that it would be easier on the bike when we start off and to make sure we shift regularly through gears. We also both prefer more resistance when pedaling and the ability to go faster when on the road or parts of trails where the easy gears are not required. That being said we took our bikes to the trek store and they told us we couldnt spend as much time in one gear and that we needed to start on the larger gear. After repairing both of our bikes and replacing the two smallest gears we started riding and making sure that we were shifting and using the full range of gears and minimal assist. We also were only using the smallest gears once we had gotten to speeds the larger gear could not easily keep up with ( basically maintaining a higher cruise speed with almost no load). After 40 miles the chain started slipping on the lowest gear yet again. I now have 125 miles on the new gears and it slips more and I have barely even used the smallest gear after what the tech at the store said. We also have been making sure to not shift under load and we always make a point to shift to the larger gears like they instructed to prevent starting on the smallest gear putting it under high load and torque.
How is it even possible to wear a gear out that fast? ( I know people are going to question or not believe how I said we are riding but I can assure you I have given a complete description of how we ride and the care we have been taking to do exactly what we have been told)
It makes little sense to me considering I have never worn out a gear on an MTB before and I always used the smallest gears especially when starting because I wanted high torque and power and to go fast. This being said I would understand a little more if I was using the motor due to the higher torque it would put on the gears but I have barely used it and when I do I have mainly used the lowest two settings but for the most part I have left it off. There is no way I create that much torque to destroy the gears that quick.
After reading some other post on this forum I have decided to temporarily change the chainring to a 38t from 34 so that I get more pull on the larger gears where more chain can spread any torque across more teeth at once. I plan to change the cassette and shifter later to a linkglide 11 speed cassette because from what I can tell they are supposed to be able to handle more torque and seem to be better quality to me.
I would love to hear some suggestions and thoughts. Are these shimano deore 12 speed cassettes poor quality? the gears definitely seem to be subpar material.
How is it even possible to wear a gear out that fast? ( I know people are going to question or not believe how I said we are riding but I can assure you I have given a complete description of how we ride and the care we have been taking to do exactly what we have been told)
It makes little sense to me considering I have never worn out a gear on an MTB before and I always used the smallest gears especially when starting because I wanted high torque and power and to go fast. This being said I would understand a little more if I was using the motor due to the higher torque it would put on the gears but I have barely used it and when I do I have mainly used the lowest two settings but for the most part I have left it off. There is no way I create that much torque to destroy the gears that quick.
After reading some other post on this forum I have decided to temporarily change the chainring to a 38t from 34 so that I get more pull on the larger gears where more chain can spread any torque across more teeth at once. I plan to change the cassette and shifter later to a linkglide 11 speed cassette because from what I can tell they are supposed to be able to handle more torque and seem to be better quality to me.
I would love to hear some suggestions and thoughts. Are these shimano deore 12 speed cassettes poor quality? the gears definitely seem to be subpar material.
