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Found: Internal hack to convert SRAM MTB 10 speed to 11, without replacing shifter or rear derailleur

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SRAM 10 speed to 11 hack rapide shifter derailleur 1x (1)
Photos c. Rapide

It looks like Rapide has opened the door to some interesting drivetrain modifications. If you have a 10 speed SRAM mountain drivetrain, with an inexpensive part you could upgrade to 11. Without replacing the rear shifter or derailleur. You will have to perform a little surgery to your shifter, but it looks like a fairly simple swap. You’ll also still be limited by the constraints of your current rear derailleur as far as cassette size, but with cassettes like Shimano’s 11 speed XT 11-40 or even 42t, this could lead to some creative gearing…

SRAM 10 speed to 11 hack rapide shifter derailleur 1x (2)

SRAM 10 speed to 11 hack rapide shifter derailleur 1x (5) SRAM 10 speed to 11 hack rapide shifter derailleur 1x (4) SRAM 10 speed to 11 hack rapide shifter derailleur 1x (3)

Offered by South Africa’s Rapide, the company claims the installation of the 11 speed selector wheel takes only 15-25 minutes with only a few simple tools. Available in three versions, there are unique selectors that will fit pre-2014 SRAM X7/X9 10 speed, pre-2014 X0 10 speed, and 2014 or later X7/X9/X0 10 speed shifters. Sold for R199, according to the Google, that works out to just over $12. It will probably cost more to ship it to you than the actual cost of the part.

rapide.co.za

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Myke
Myke
8 years ago

Very cool. I wonder if this can upgrade the older 9spd shifters too?

Myles Mayhew
8 years ago
Reply to  Myke

“Available in three versions, there are unique selectors that will fit pre-2014 SRAM X7/X9 10 speed, pre-2014 X0 10 speed, and 2014 or later X7/X9/X0 10 speed shifters”

I’d imagine it’s due to the design of the internals on each option. X5 isn’t that serviceable afaik.

Brad
Brad
7 years ago
Reply to  Myles Mayhew

I think 2016 X5’s are serviceable (at least somewhat). I took my shifter apart and repaired it, looked to me like I could get to everything in there.

Colin
Colin
8 years ago

Get me a road one now, and maybe one that isn’t MIM’ed like the factory one. I’d buy a bucket full.

Tom
Tom
8 years ago

I wonder what SRAM make of this- will they order cease and desist? Or will they be cool…

J N H
J N H
8 years ago
Reply to  Tom

SRAM can’t do that. Ift hey were chucking out parts labelled as SRAM then yes absolutely SRAM would deploy the lawyers, but these are mods for SRAM parts and are billed as such. Not much they can do about that.

Mcluv-n-it
Mcluv-n-it
8 years ago
Reply to  J N H

I hope not, such a revolutionary idea, what an affordable way to move to 11sp, just a little shifter gear and chain/cassette(which are consumables anyway, change to 11sp when the old 10sp chain and cassette need replacing).

Shanghaied
Shanghaied
8 years ago

Nice idea, I’ve been thinking about 3-d printing a 10-speed ratchet for Shimano’s MTB Dual Control levers for years now. May still have to go down that route, since it appears that I’m the only one who liked Dual Control and Rapid Rise.

fbi
fbi
7 years ago
Reply to  Shanghaied

If you succeeded in doing this (11s would be even better), I’d buy you 3 sets right now 🙂
I love my Dual Control shifters !

Heffe
Heffe
8 years ago

This is so sweet. I love it. I think I have an XX shifter though – is that substantially different than XO? I thought they were more or less the same.

siegelchiro
8 years ago

Would this work with an 2015 X5 shifter, or does it need to be at least X7?

jj
jj
8 years ago

Brilliant, good to see innovation isn’t dead amongst the riders.

I wonder why sram didn’t offer this :p

*Drumroll for the semi ragey excuses and bs horror stories*

suede
suede
8 years ago

@shanghaied Dual control, meh. Still rolling rapid rise though, been contemplating a cheap derailleur guard so I don’t destroy my XTR rear mech.

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 years ago

. I’m surprised this hasn’t happened sooner. People have been filing an extra click into SRAM road shifters since before SRAM had any 11sp parts available. This is surely better since the steps fit an 11sp cassette perfectly. $12 seems awesome too, I hope they get US distribution

Myles Mayhew
8 years ago
Reply to  Veganpotter

Just ask them to ship it to you – we have very well priced international handling companies, who can ship to pretty much anywhere for that size item for less than $12 (R 199) at the current rate of exchange. The guy heading up the company is SUPER helpful.

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 years ago
Reply to  Myles Mayhew

Sure but it’ll still be a good $20-24 for a $12 part.

ripps
ripps
8 years ago
Reply to  Veganpotter

Got a DIY guide for this?

Eric Hansen
Eric Hansen
8 years ago

This is actually super cool, but won’t equal the XD systems in precision or ease of use. The pull ratio changed from 10 to 11, and SRAM 10 was stiff and titchy as hell to adjust. For $12 + cassette, though, why not?!

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 years ago
Reply to  Eric Hansen

Not problem with Shimano 11 speed cassettes since they’re spaced the same as road and all 10 speed SRAM Mountain derailleurs work with 11sp SRAM road shifters.

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 years ago
Reply to  Veganpotter

Also, adding a barrel adjuster out back helps a ton

Myles Mayhew
8 years ago
Reply to  Veganpotter

Reportedly works very well. By far the cheapest way to upgrade to an 11 speed setup

Giorgio
Giorgio
8 years ago

A similar transformation is possible to transform grip shift from 9 speed in 10 speed:
http://shpws.me/CDJ5

drus
drus
8 years ago

This is not new, google for ikomar work.

Mike Bechanic
Mike Bechanic
8 years ago

They should ship with a sticker that you can put on the shifter to mark it as something that has been changed from original. Could help eliminating some erroneous compatibility assumptions on the part of an unsuspecting mechanic.

Heffe
Heffe
8 years ago

@Eric Hansen This will work fine with any 11 speed cassette and any Exact Actuation rear derailleur that can handle the gear spread.

Michael Cleveland
8 years ago

Apparently, the idea is popular as their band width has been exceeded… I’ll have to check back later. Of course, there’s still the problem of the Rolls Royce costs for a cassette to match. However, it’s still a lot less expensive than a whole group.

Bazz
Bazz
8 years ago

Looks like they have the Sunrace 11 speed cassette, chain and shifter adapter for about $109.65 all up: http://www.rapide.co.za/product/sram-11-speed-upgrade-kit/

TimB
TimB
8 years ago

Order the whole conversion kit. This also makes the
shipping cost more palatable

Garbaruk
8 years ago

This items looks like a perfect addition to the cassette Xtender we manufacture which converts your 10sp cassette to the 11sp!

goridebikes
goridebikes
8 years ago

This annoys me to no end. The only thing more annoying is the guys above who think Dual Control + Rapid Rise should still be in use…

The chief benefit of the 11-speed system is in the derailleur architecture, which this mod does not allow to use, as it maintains the older leverage/pull ratios, just adding another tooth to the ring.
So enjoy using your prior generation derailleurs on cassettes that exceed their max range and the mediocre shifting that comes with it… Just like “one-up” and similar conversion / XX1 imitations, encouraging consumers to settle for sub-par shifting in order to save a few bucks.. Guaranteed this shifts terribly in the middle range when paired with a 40 or 42t cassette.

It blows my mind how roadies will spend $500 per gram saved and mountainies will spend only $1 per percent shifting improvement. Surely there’s a middle ground here guys of spending money for legit improvements instead of jury-rigging everything.

Jwaal
Jwaal
8 years ago
Reply to  goridebikes

Goridebikes, this isn’t for roadies.

Oli
Oli
8 years ago

Do you work for SRAM or something?

Bazz
Bazz
8 years ago

They have international shipping now. Yay, I’ve ordered for my X9.

snapbangfixed
snapbangfixed
8 years ago

goridebikes! yeah my 10spd x0/x9 SUCKS on my 11/40 range, said no one ever. I’ve setup plenty of 10 and 11 speed mtb and road drivetrains, my shifting is as smooth an functional as anything “properly” setup. Even under load, with a triple it never missed a beat through all the snow I packed into the cassette

Bazz
Bazz
8 years ago

Got Mine! Fitted it (old X9 2 x 10 that I had converted to 1 x 10) and it’s pretty ho-hum actually, it just works, exactly as before but now there is 11 gears.

Got the Sunrace 11 speed 10-42t cassette as well. Nice steps between gears. The Sunrace cassette is actually about 11-15 grams lighter than the XT 11 speed 11-42t cassette.

I double checked everything as I went and was very straight forward and took about 25 minutes including re greasing the shifter cable and cleaning out the shifter while I was at it., The ratchet sits on a little table with rises and so the ratchet can only be fitted one way around, You can’t get it wrong by mistake for instance.

Luis
Luis
7 years ago
Reply to  Bazz

Bazz how take the order to ship?

Bazz
Bazz
7 years ago
Reply to  Bazz

About 3 weeks for shipping I think it was. It’s coming all the way from Africa rather the Europe or the US, makes shipping expensive too I guess.

Roger Deanston
7 years ago

The shipping from Raptide costs significantly more than the part pushing it to the cost of a new whole 11 speed shifter. Has anyone found a good stateside seller on these? 15 bucks is a great deal. Not sure how it’s a 30 dollar shipping fee, even from South Africa…

jaime granados gomez
jaime granados gomez
6 years ago

do I need to buy a part for a sram x 0 of the year 2011, where can I buy it? Thank you

Sam DeGonia
Sam DeGonia
4 years ago

No longer available

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