FAQLoad - 10 speed / 9 speed gearing comparisons

10 speed MTB cassette ratios

At present there are 10 speed MTB cassettes available in 11-32, 11-34, 12-36 and 11-36 tooth ranges:

11-32T (SRAM)	11	12	14	16	18	20	22	25	28	32
11-34T (Shimano)	11	13	15	17	19	21	23	26	30	34
12-36T (SRAM)	12	13	15	17	19	22	25	28	32	36
11-36T (Shimano/SRAM)	11	13	15	17	19	21	24	28	32	36
11-40T (Sunrace)	11	13	15	18	21	24	28	32	36	40

Here's another way of looking at how the gear ratios on the 11-32, 11-34, 12-36 and 11-36 cassettes are distributed:

11-32T (SRAM)	11	12		14		16		18		20		22			25		28		32
11-34T (Shimano)	11		13		15		17		19		21		23			26		30		34
12-36T (SRAM)		12	13		15		17		19			22			25		28		32		36
11-36T (Shim/SRAM)	11		13		15		17		19		21			24			28		32		36
11-40T (Sunrace)	11		13		15			18			21			24			28		32		36	40

9 speed MTB cassette ratios

Common 9 speed MTB cassette ratios are 11-32, 11-34 and 12-34. I've also included some wide-range 11-36 and 12-36 cassettes that have become available:

11-32	11	12	14	16	18	21	24	28	32
11-34	11	13	15	17	20	23	26	30	34
12-34	12	14	16	18	20	23	26	30	34
11-36	11	13	15	18	21	24	28	32	36
12-36	12	14	16	18	21	24	28	32	36

Here's another way of looking at how the gears are distributed:

11-32	11	12		14		16		18		21		24		28		32
11-34	11		13		15		17		20		23		26		30		34
12-34		12		14		16		18	20		23		26		30		34
11-36	11		13		15			18		21		24		28		32	36
12-36		12		14		16		18		21		24		28		32	36

9 speed / 10 speed comparisons

11-32T:

9-speed 11-32T	11	12	14	16	18		21	24	28	32
10-speed 11-32T	11	12	14	16	18	20	22	25	28	32

11-34T:

9-speed 11-34T	11	13	15	17		20	23	26	30	34
10-speed 11-34T	11	13	15	17	19	21	23	26	30	34

11-34T 9 speed / 11-36T 10 speed:

9-speed 11-34T	11	13	15	17	20	23	26	30	34
10-speed 12-36T	12	13	15	17	19	22	25	28	32	36

12-34T:

12-34T 9 speed / 12-36T 10 speed:

9-speed 12-34T	12	14	16	18	20	23	26	30	34
10-speed 12-36T	12	13	15	17	19	22	25	28	32	36

12-34T 9 speed / 11-34T 10 speed:

9-speed 12-34T		12	14	16	18	20	23	26	30	34
10-speed 11-34T	11	13	15	17	19	21	23	26	30	34

11-36T:

11-36T 9 speed / 11-36T 10 speed:

9-speed 11-36T	11	13	15		18		21	24	28	32	36
10-speed 11-36T	11	13	15	17		19	21	24	28	32	36

XTR / Dura Ace 9 speed chain

Weighs 289g which is about 45g heavier than the.

Wide ratio 9 speed cassette

For my daughter's latest build using 26" wheels I needed to come up with a wide ratio 9 speed cassette. I ended up putting together the following:

Using 10 speed chain on 9 speed drivetrain

Can you do it?

XT 10 speed cassettes

11-32t

Going 1 x 11 speed

Here's the analysis based on my daughter's current 1 x 10speed setup:

XTR M980 10 speed cassette

Quick facts

10 speed / 9 speed gearing comparisons