SRAM EX1 Cassette

[Sidepod]

Anyone using this? I get the theory of essentially a wide ratio gear set to use the torque of the motor but, in my opinion is just doesn't work. For my normal riding pace/cadence it's either spinning like a dentists drill or grinding away slowly. Can't be good for eaking the most out of the battery either?

Am I missing something or do I just need to swap out the cogs?

 

[JimBo]

I think it depends on the rider's shifting patterns. I have EX1 on two of my bikes (2017 Haibike Allmtn 8.0 & 2018 Commencal Meta Power Race Fox), and love it.

It took me a few rides to get used to the different shift patterns than I use with "normal" cassettes, but haven't experienced anything like what you're describing. Not sure if it matters, but most of the trails I ride have roller coaster aspects with some steeply pitched hills, rather than mostly flat. As a result, I spend 80% of my ride time in gears 1-4, and I think the biggest "gap" on the EX1 cassette (XG-899) is between 4-5. The lower gears seem to have pretty "normal" gaps between them.

This guy, on the other hand, clearly spent most of his 12-sp ride time in higher gears. He might not like the 899's big gaps down there!

 

[steve_sordy]

When I was looking for my first emtb, a few of the bikes had the 8-speed EX1. I did not like them either for the same reason as @Sidepod says. I just could not find a cadence I liked. Didn't seem to matter what gear I was in. It was suggested to me that I should simply change the number of teeth on the ring. (I assume by, lets say, half the % difference between the cassette gears). I wasn't convinced by that argument, but it was made irrelevant by me choosing a bike that happened to have 11 gears, problem solved.

 

[maynard]

I think it depends on the rider's shifting patterns. I have EX1 on two of my bikes (2017 Haibike Allmtn 8.0 & 2018 Commencal Meta Power Race Fox), and love it.

It took me a few rides to get used to the different shift patterns than I use with "normal" cassettes, but haven't experienced anything like what you're describing. Not sure if it matters, but most of the trails I ride have roller coaster aspects with some steeply pitched hills, rather than mostly flat. As a result, I spend 80% of my ride time in gears 1-4, and I think the biggest "gap" on the EX1 cassette (XG-899) is between 4-5. The lower gears seem to have pretty "normal" gaps between them.

This guy, on the other hand, clearly spent most of his 12-sp ride time in higher gears. He might not like the 899's big gaps down there!
View attachment 49397

This reminds of adds of old cassettes for sale. Still works well . Hasn't had much use . Umm how come all the paints worn off then ?

 

[Sidepod]

So what is the solution? Not my specialist subject, is there a compatible cassette that allows mix and match cogs? Happy to ditch top and bottom ratios and spread the rest out more evenly, retaining 8 speed?