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Ultegra 6600 chain ring with R8000 GS-11 - 11-32 cassette

Is it going to possible to retain my 50/34 Shimano 6600 compact up front and procure the Ultegra R8000 GS-11 medium cage derailleur and 11-32 CS R8000 cassette plus a longer chain and make them work?  Is the extra gear a width problem?

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15 comments

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Secret_squirrel | 1 year ago
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This will 100% work.   I did the same with Tiagra 10 speed rings onto 11 speed 105 gears & cassette.

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David9694 | 1 year ago
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With any indexed systems the gear selector cements you in to that number. With cassettes, you can sometimes make changes (because it doesn't always go that 11s is wider than 10s is wider than 9s, but each chain seems to be narrower than the last) depending on what freehub you have:

https://www.slowtwitch.com/Tech/Cassette_How-To_-_Part_2_3257.html

https://www.celebrazio.net/bicycling/shimano/compatibility_tables.html

Your 5600 series set-up is probably living on borrowed time?  I've been looking at replacement chainrings for a FC 5700 in silver - I can find the inner 39t ones, but the 50t outers don't seem to be anywhere.

 

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wtjs | 1 year ago
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I am impressed by the fault tolerance of Shimano (and quite likely Campag and SRAM as well, but I have no experience)- my 9-speed Sora with knackered cassette, chainrings and super-knackered chain should be well onto its last legs, but it's still changing well, and only last week coped with a trailer towing trip up to the Lakes. I've had the replacements ready for years, for when it becomes intolerable

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IanMSpencer | 1 year ago
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The issue is the extra gear with a 6600 10 speed shifter, will not work. The spacing is wrong, so you end up needing new shifters. 

The problem around the front mech is one of toleranaces and there are lots of combinations of shifters and derailleurs that can be made to work and the 11 speed chain on a 10 speed crank is OK, but as I said, not the problem here.

So, if the question is what to put on the back to accommodate a 34 sprocket cassette, you probably need to be looking at Tiagra.

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Grahamd replied to IanMSpencer | 1 year ago
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IanMSpencer wrote:

The issue is the extra gear with a 6600 10 speed shifter, will not work. The spacing is wrong, so you end up needing new shifters. 

The problem around the front mech is one of toleranaces and there are lots of combinations of shifters and derailleurs that can be made to work and the 11 speed chain on a 10 speed crank is OK, but as I said, not the problem here.

So, if the question is what to put on the back to accommodate a 34 sprocket cassette, you probably need to be looking at Tiagra.

On my old bike I am running Tiagra 4600 shifters with Ultegra long cage 6700 RD and 11-34 cassette with no issues whatsoever.

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David9694 replied to Grahamd | 1 year ago
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10s cassette? 

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Grahamd replied to David9694 | 1 year ago
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David9694 wrote:

10s cassette? 

Yes, sorry should have said.

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IanMSpencer replied to Grahamd | 1 year ago
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Yep, I was thinking about cassettes, but yes, derailleurs themselves are generally not too fussy about the change, the movement range of an 11 speed RD is at least that of a 10 speed, and I don't think they've changed the pull ratio. But why spend the money? Recent Tiagra is sound.

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OnYerBike replied to IanMSpencer | 1 year ago
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IanMSpencer wrote:

Yep, I was thinking about cassettes, but yes, derailleurs themselves are generally not too fussy about the change, the movement range of an 11 speed RD is at least that of a 10 speed, and I don't think they've changed the pull ratio. But why spend the money? Recent Tiagra is sound.

It's a bit more complicated - essentially the cable pull (the amount of cable moved by the shifter per "click") and the derailleur actuation ratio (the distance the derailleur moves per distance of cable movement) need to match.

So either the combo will work perfectly, or it really won't work at all.

Mixing Tiagra 4600 with Ultegra 6600 (10 speed) is a match. 

However, if you tried to use a newer 11-speed Ultegra derailleur (R8000 series) with those same Tiagra 4600 shifters, it wouldn't work.

However, if you used the newer Tiagra 4700 shifters with that same 11-speed mechanical derailleur, it would match and again work perfectly. 

You could not mix Tiagra 4600 shifters/derailleurs with Tiagra 4700 derailleurs/shifters, despite both being 10 speed.

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OnYerBike | 1 year ago
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I very much imagine Shimano's official compatibility charts will say "no".

However, the internet is seemingly awash with people who run 10-speed chainrings with 11-speed chains and casettes with no problems - see e.g. https://www.velonews.com/gear/technical-faq-10-11-speed-drivetrain-compo...

To be clear, you would also need to ensure your rear hub is 11-speed compatible, use an 11-speed chain, and 11-speed shifters too. 

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Creakingcrank replied to OnYerBike | 1 year ago
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Because I was looking this up earlier for my own purposes: The 11-34 version of the R8000 cassette is actually a mountain bike cassette and so will fit a 10 speed hub, if the OP has one of those. Could be a money saver.

https://cyclingtips.com/2018/03/shimano-ultegra-hg-800-11-34t-cassette-r...

I would expect the 10 speed chainrings to work fine, but wonder if a bigger problem might be wear and skipping with the new chain, if they are old. 

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OnYerBike replied to Creakingcrank | 1 year ago
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Creakingcrank wrote:

Because I was looking this up earlier for my own purposes: The 11-34 version of the R8000 cassette is actually a mountain bike cassette and so will fit a 10 speed hub, if the OP has one of those. Could be a money saver.

You're right - I should have twigged because I have the 105 HG700 11-34 on my gravel bike and that is the same!  

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wtjs replied to OnYerBike | 1 year ago
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11-speed shiters too

I say! Steady on!!

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OnYerBike replied to wtjs | 1 year ago
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You need to make sure your movements are properly indexed.

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Hirsute | 1 year ago
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I think it should work but you can explore the mysterious compatibility chart to be sure
A thread here of how to follow the chart

https://bicycles.stackexchange.com/questions/86581/how-to-interpret-shim...

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