10 spd 6700 MED rear or 11 spd 6800 SHRT rear

[porkupine]

Just wondering the opinions of cyclists here towards preference

solely looking (AT) a mech / cassette ratio perspective,

would you prefer to purchase a 10 speed 6700 Ultegra medium cage rear mech or a 11 speed 6800 Ultegra standard rear mech, and why?

Thanks in advance!

[Hillsaretheenemy]

That would depend on whether I had a 10 speed or 11 speed bike.

[Duck!]

Completely pointless comparison as they're not interchangeable & wholly dependent on the rest of the rest of the running gear. 6700 will work with 10- & less sp. shifters, while 6800 will only work with 11- sp. Cage length is determined by gear range.

[davesday]

would you prefer to purchase a 10 speed 6700 Ultegra medium cage rear mech or a 11 speed 6800 Ultegra standard rear mech, and why?

A medium cage RD allows for a larger sprocket (easier gear) to be installed - typically a 32T. While a short cage RD typically only feature largest sprocket in the range of 25-28T. Therefore they can't be compared because the gearing is different. The medium cage one with bigger sprocket (11-32T) will be a choice for hill climbing but you may be lacking on the optimisation on the high end gears due to larger jumps. Short cage RD with 11-28T or even 12-25T will be better on flats or if you want the top end speed (assuming you're capable of accessing them). The gearing will be closer and I reckon 11-speed will be even better (lesser jumps).

So the choice depends on your type of usage. There has been talks about short cage RD shifts marginally faster than medium case but I don't think its true or significant enough to matter.

[Duck!]

There has been talks about short cage RD shifts marginally faster than medium case but I don't think its true or significant enough to matter.

It's complete rubbish; the upper body, which does the shifting and determines sprocket clearance, is the same for both cage lengths, so there is no difference at all in performance. Extra cage length only gives the additional chain wrap to cover a wider gear range.

Every Shimano derailleur introduced since 2012 except Dura-Ace will accept at least a 30T big sprocket, even in short cage form; 4600, 5700-A & 6700-A (these A-types being mid-model updates of their respective models) take 30T, while 2400, 3500, 5800 & 6800 take 32T. You can use short cage with up to 30T & any chainring combination, but with 32T you'd only be able to use a close (CX) pairing or single chainring.

[cyclotaur]

You can use short cage with up to 30T & any chainring combination, but with 32T you'd only be able to use a close (CX) pairing or single chainring.

Yep ... 32T and CX (46/34) works fine with 5700 for me.

[davesday]

There has been talks about short cage RD shifts marginally faster than medium case but I don't think its true or significant enough to matter.

It's complete rubbish; the upper body, which does the shifting and determines sprocket clearance, is the same for both cage lengths, so there is no difference at all in performance.

Thats so true.

[2wheels_mond]

Then forgive the stupid question, but why do short length cages exist at all, if there is no performance difference?

[Duck!]

Short = standard.... Basically ever since derailleur gears were invented, the derailleurs have been designed for what was available in terms of gear range. Clusters were 5-sp, typically with a range of 14-28 tops, often tighter, and chainrings were 42/52. With such a narrow range, longer cages were simply unnecessary. Even though gear ranges have expanded from the "corncobs" of old, by far the most commonly used gear ranges are well within the capacity of a standard short cage.

In fact, with triples (always a relative rarity, which originated the need for a longer cage) losing favour, and with modern derailleurs designed to suit wider gear ranges, I put it to you that there is actually no longer any need for the longer cage version. I can assure you, from workshop experience, that a 6800 standard short cage derailleur will handle 11-32 on a compact, and get the full gear range.

[Hillsaretheenemy]

Yep I've been using a 50 34 and a 11-32 for while with the short cage.. 50 -32 is a bit ugly but works. I don't use it. otherwise I love the range.

[GeoffInBrisbane]

Short = standard.... Basically ever since derailleur gears were invented, the derailleurs have been designed for what was available in terms of gear range. Clusters were 5-sp, typically with a range of 14-28 tops, often tighter, and chainrings were 42/52. With such a narrow range, longer cages were simply unnecessary. Even though gear ranges have expanded from the "corncobs" of old, by far the most commonly used gear ranges are well within the capacity of a standard short cage.

In fact, with triples (always a relative rarity, which originated the need for a longer cage) losing favour, and with modern derailleurs designed to suit wider gear ranges, I put it to you that there is actually no longer any need for the longer cage version. I can assure you, from workshop experience, that a 6800 standard short cage derailleur will handle 11-32 on a compact, and get the full gear range.

Duck, do you know if I can get away with a 30T on a short cage Red22 mech with a compact? Most of the time I run 11-25, sometimes 11-28, but very occasionally I want even lower. Would be nice to to have to spring for the medium cage WiFli version if I don't have to...

Cheers,
Geoff

Edit: 32T would be even better, but I figured it can't be possible or they wouldn't have made such a song and dance about WiFli.

[Duck!]

I am not 100% sure with SRAM, but I have a suspicion that unlike Shimano it's not just cage length that differs; WiFli derailleurs appear to have a longer main body than standard to get the bbig sprocket clearance.

[GeoffInBrisbane]

Rats. Thanks for the heads up.

[jasonc]

Rats. Thanks for the heads up.

you? need more than 28?

[GeoffInBrisbane]

Rats. Thanks for the heads up.

you? need more than 28?

I certainly would have liked a 30T for Henri Roberts Drive. 28T was hard to keep turning while seated.

If I ever try Mystery Rd, I want a 32T!