Difference between 10 and 11 speed on Bike

You might be wondering what the difference between 10 and 11 speed cassettes are and if one is better than the other. It is something that comes up when looking to buy a new set of wheels and you need to make sure you have the correct sized cassette or a spacer for the cassette hub.

Outside of needing a spacer for your hub, there isn’t much of a difference between installing the cassette, and making the correct adjustments to your derailleur to make sure that the bicycle functions properly.

If you are buying a new bike and deciding between purchasing a bicycle with a 10 and 11 speed bicycle, this post will tell you the differences between the two and why you would choose one over the other.

The same is the difference between 7 and 8 speed cassettes and how these two are different. Finally you will learn the difference in general between a lower speed cassette, say a 7 speed versus a higher speed cassette, say 11 speed and why one may be better for the riding that you are doing.

If you are in the market for a new bike, shifting mechanics may be useful to you on how and when to shift. This guide here may be useful to learn about shifting under load and when is the best time to shift your gears on your bicycle.

Is higher speed cassette better?

Next time you are in the shop for a tune up, you may ask the bike technician if a higher speed bike is better. Here is what we have to say:

When your cassette has a higher speed setting, this means that there are more cogs on the cassette that you can count. Specially, if you have a 7 speed cassette, this means that there are seven cog rings on the cassette. If you have an 11 speed cassette, then there are 11 speeds.

The high and low end of the cassette on a 7 speed is typically the same as the high and low end on a 11 speed.

This is a general rule, though it is not always true.

But what this means is that the rider of an 11 speed will have an easier time finding their specific gear that they are looking for whereas a 7 speed rider may get an “in between feeling” from time to time when riding their bicycle.

Difference between 10 and 11 speed when Cycling

This is the case between 10 speed cassettes, and newer 11 speed cassettes. 11 speed cassettes tend to have a smoother shifting.

In the case of our bikes that roll with Ultegra components, it tends to be very smooth when you are riding in the low gears, when fine shifting is imperative to keep moving forward.

Difference between 7 and 8 speed when Cycling

Between 7 and 8 speed cassettes, the same difference occurs as between 10 and 11 speed cassettes. Except, here, there is an even wider gap between the shifting ability.

For this reason, 7 and 8 speed cassettes are typically reserved for hybrid bicycles and commuter bicycles.

For the most part, if you would like to upgrade from a 7 speed to an 8 speed, most cassettes are made now so that they can be interchangeable by adding a spacer and making the right adjustments to the derailleur. However, if you do this incorrect, your chain could skip.

Road cyclists typically will have bicycles that are 10 and 11 speed to accommodate for the higher need for smooth transitioning during long distances, the energy saving aspect that comes with this and the ease of hill climbing.

Which is better 10 or 11 speed?

11 speed bicycles are better as they easier to find the specific gear that you want to be in.

For example, if you are going up a gentle hill, sometimes you can find yourself in a spot where you are on a gear where you are working too hard to get up the hill – but if you shift to a low gear for less resistance, then you will actually be far too low and not feel as if you are moving very efficiently.

11 speed bicycles help by decreasing the gap between gears and making the transition smoother to be able to find your correct gear.

Do I need 11 speed?

Each person on our team rides a Shimano Ultegra groupset with one person riding a Dura Ace group set. They are all 11 speed cassettes and everyone says that it is nice, though using a 10 speed will not be the ultimate game changer to your ride.

Having an 11 speed cassette is a great addition to your ride, though it is not the same game-changing effect as say, switching from running shoes to cycling shoes, or making sure your bicycle is fit correctly (There is a brief guide here as well), or making sure you’re eating correctly, or warming up and cooling down in a correct way.

It is recommended to get it if possible, though your life will not change.

Conclusion: Difference between 10 and 11 speed

10 and 11 speed bicycle cassettes are very similar. They do not make the bicycle faster, but they decrease the overall amount of space in between switching gears in a cassette.

This feature will make climbing hills and finding the correct gear far easier for the rider and make the ride feel more smooth and efficient.

If you are able to move to an 11 speed cassette, it is recommended, though there are a list of other items that may be most important to helping make your ride smoother.