Shimano 11-Speed Sprocket Types and Differences

Shimano’s sprocket types for 11-speed (11s)

CS-R9100

This is the current model sprocket of DURA-ACE, Shimano’s top-of-the-line component for road bikes. The five low-side sprockets are made of titanium, making them both rigid and lightweight. However, the 11-23T (165g) configuration that existed in the previous model CS-9100 is no longer available, so the lightest sprocket is now the 11-25T (175g).

As it is designed for road bikes, the main gear configuration is cross ratio, and sprockets up to 30T low have been added to the lineup to take advantage of the large number of 11-speed gears.

CS-R8000

Shimano’s current ULTEGRA sprocket for road bikes. Unlike the current DURA-ACE model CS-R9100, this sprocket does not have titanium teeth, making it more affordable. Unlike the CS-R9100, it does not have titanium gears.

It covers a wide range from 11-25T to a maximum of 11-32T, and also includes sprockets with extreme cross ratios such as 14-28T, making it a product with a wide range.

CS-R7000

The current model sprocket of Shimano’s 105 for road bikes. Compared to the CS-R8000, which is one higher grade, there are fewer options for tooth number configurations.

CS-9000

A sprocket from the previous generation of Shimano’s top-of-the-line DURA-ACE components for road bikes. The 5 low side sprockets are made of titanium, and they are both rigid and lightweight (165g for 11-23T).

The teeth configuration is quite biased towards cross ratio, and it is a true race grade.

CS-6800

This sprocket is the previous generation of Shimano’s ULTEGRA, the top-level component for road bikes. 11-23T, the lightest sprocket in the 11-speed range, weighs only 212g.

The sprocket has a well-balanced lineup of gear configurations from wide to cross ratios, making it easy to choose.

CS-5800

This is a sprocket from the previous generation of Shimano’s 105 race-ready components for road bikes. Even the lightest 12-25T sprocket weighs 269g, which is heavier than the top grade.

The gear configuration is a bit more wide-ratio and there are fewer options, so if you are looking for a finer gear ratio, you should choose a higher grade.

CS-M9001

This is a sprocket of the current model of XTR, Shimano’s top-of-the-line component for MTB. Among them, this model has a super wide ratio gear configuration of 11-40T.

Like the DURA-ACE sprockets for road use, titanium gears are used on the low side (only 40T is aluminum).

CS-M5100-11

This is the current model sprocket of Shimano’s top-level MTB component, DEORE. 11-51T is the ultra-wide ratio sprocket in the lineup.

The sprocket is available in a super wide ratio of 11-51T. Since there is a considerable difference between high and low, you need to pay attention to the capacity of the rear derailleur you use at the same time.

Where is the difference?

There are quite a few different types of Shimano 11-speed sprockets, as they have been the current and higher-end models for the last 10 years. Let’s take a look at the differences between them.

Differences in material, finish, and weight

Looking at Shimano’s 11-speed sprockets by material, they can be divided into three main grades.

1. top-of-the-line models with titanium gears (CS-R9100, CS-9000, CS-M9001)
2. top model with lightweight aluminum (CS-R8000, CS-6800)
3. regular aluminum models (CS-R7000, CS-M5100-11)

The top-of-the-line titanium model is “lightweight and highly rigid” but expensive. On the other hand, the lightweight aluminum models are heavier than titanium, but they are lighter and more affordable.

On the other hand, the regular aluminum model has a large number of teeth (11-speed), which may increase the weight when upgrading from 10-speed, so be careful if you want to save weight.

Difference in Number of Teeth

In Shimano’s sprockets for 11-speed, the concept of cross ratio and wide ratio has changed somewhat.

1. cross ratio -> 11-23T, 11-25T
2. wide ratio -> 11-28T, 11-30T, 11-32T, 11-34T, 11-36T Super wide ratio -> 11-40T, 11-42T, 11-51T

Up to 10th gear, the maximum wide ratios were 11-34T and 11-36T, but in 11th gear, the maximum wide ratio is now 11-51T.

Until now, wide ratio sprockets have been mostly used for MTB, but it has become difficult to share the capacity of ultra wide ratio sprockets with road bikes.

Differences between models

Difference between CS-R9100 and CS-R8000

Both of these sprockets are high-grade sprockets for road bikes, but the CS-R9100 is exceptional in that it uses titanium teeth. The weight and rigidity of the CS-R9100 are indeed top-grade.

However, if you consider the price, the CS-R8000 has excellent cost performance. If you are not going to race, the CS-R8000 is good enough.

In terms of gear ratios, the lineup is almost the same between the two, but if you want 11-32T, you can choose the CS-R8000 or the CS-R7000, which is one grade lower with 105.

Difference between CS-R8000 and CS-R7000

Even more annoying than the CS-R9100 and CS-R8000 are the CS-R8000 and CS-R7000.

Both use race-grade ULTEGRA and 105 sprockets, but in terms of weight, the CS-R7000 is 10% heavier, but the gears in the lineup are similar, and the price difference is only about $30.

Difference between CS-R9100 and CS-9000

Both are 11-speed DURA-ACE sprockets, but the latest version, the CS-R9100, is definitely lighter, so if you want to save even 1g, the CS-R9100 is your choice, but if you don’t care about saving a few 10g or want to upgrade from ULTEGRA or 105, the CS-9000 is a better choice. If you don’t care about a few 10g weight reduction or want to upgrade from ULTEGRA or 105, you can choose the CS-R9100.

Differences between the CS-R8000 and CS-6800

The CS-R8000 and CS-6800 are the same ULTEGRA grade, but the major difference is the gear configuration.

While the CS-R8000 covers a wide range of gears from 11-25T to 11-32T, the older CS-6800 only covers a cross-ratio configuration from 11-23T to 12-25T.

If you like the cross-ratio configuration, the CS-6800 is fine, but if you want 28T or more on the low side, you will have to choose the CS-R8000.

Difference between CS-R7000 and CS-5800

The CS-R7000 and CS-5800 are both 105-grade bikes, but the only difference is that the CS-R7000 has an 11-30T gear configuration, and they weigh the same, so there is basically no big difference between them.

Rather than worrying about the difference between the CS-R7000 and CS-5800, you may want to consider the CS-R8000 and CS-6800, which are the ULTEGRA 11-speed sprockets one step higher.