The Link Glide Thread

I'm actually quite interested in this!  Way more interested in this that Eagle/AXS/Di2/XTR etc etc.

Currently running 1x10 Deore/SLX/XT mix with 12 speed chainring, was wondering if we have an inkling whether I can just put a new 10 speed Link Glide Cassette (11-43 or 11-48 maybe with a goat link) and new link glide (just a normal shimano 11speed) chain and use my current shifter and mech... If the overall cassette width and cog spacing is the same, it should work*. 

Probably too soon to say but if you see anything elsewhere online, shout up.

Patiently awaits the arrival of Andrew Major...

* - probably not as well as a full link glide set up but useable.

You gotta bait the trap with some push on grips....

No, its a different leverage ratio than other Shimano offerings, you gotta go all in with Cassette and shifter....but you can use any chain. At least this is what I learned from the pinkbike podcast with Shimano about Link Glide.

The cassette is very heavy, but I am thinking about getting the XT version....shifting almost any time without issue just sounds so good!

Posted by: pedalhound

No, its a different leverage ratio than other Shimano offerings, you gotta go all in with Cassette and shifter....but you can use any chain. At least this is what I learned from the pinkbike podcast with Shimano about Link Glide.

That's correct. Cassette and shifter are specific to LG.

Also, to the OP, check out Andrew's article on the release, in the comments he makes it pretty clear what's compatible.

I'm confused between LinkGlide and CUES. Are they the same thing?

As far as I can tell, there are 5 tiers, 3 CUES and 2 LinkGlide.

U4000 - 9 speed

U6000 - 10/11 speed

U8000 - 11 speed

M5130 - 10 speed

M8130 - 11 speed

Can you mix and match, like use the M8130 shifter with the U6000 cassette and derailleur?

Posted by: TristanC

I'm confused between LinkGlide and CUES. Are they the same thing?

As far as I can tell, there are 5 tiers, 3 CUES and 2 LinkGlide.

U4000 - 9 speed

U6000 - 10/11 speed

U8000 - 11 speed

M5130 - 10 speed

M8130 - 11 speed

Can you mix and match, like use the M8130 shifter with the U6000 cassette and derailleur?

NVM, answered my own question. I found the new Shimano compatibility site:

https://productinfo.shimano.com/#/com?cid=C-432&acid=C-432

Short answer, yes, as long as it's the same speed, it's compatible. Cool!

Posted by: DanL

You gotta bait the trap with some push on grips....

Hahaha.

Posted by: TristanC

Posted by: TristanC

I'm confused between LinkGlide and CUES. Are they the same thing?

As far as I can tell, there are 5 tiers, 3 CUES and 2 LinkGlide.

U4000 - 9 speed

U6000 - 10/11 speed

U8000 - 11 speed

M5130 - 10 speed

M8130 - 11 speed

Can you mix and match, like use the M8130 shifter with the U6000 cassette and derailleur?

NVM, answered my own question. I found the new Shimano compatibility site:

https://productinfo.shimano.com/#/com?cid=C-432&acid=C-432

Short answer, yes, as long as it's the same speed, it's compatible. Cool!

It’s even deeper than that. Because LG drivetrains all use the same cog pitch, motion ratio, and cable pull you can mix-match components that don’t have the same number of speeds as well.

For example, if you buy a Deore M5130 bike but want to upgrade the shifter you can run an XT M8130 with one click limited out. Or if you’re on vacation and destroy your XT derailleur of shifter and all you can find is CUES 4000 9-Speed you’re going to lose a few gears (either 2-clicks, or derailleur H/L range) but it’ll shift perfectly over what you have.

———

The only thing to really be aware of if you’re a part swapping bike nerd is that 11-Speed LG (XT, U6000, U8000) cassettes take up the same real estate as a 12-speed HG+ cassette (thicker cogs). As such you’re probably not getting LG-11 to work with your 135/142 frame, Boost-148 or SuperBoost-157 only.

LG-10 or LG-9 cassettes for 142/135 even if you use XT shifter/derailleur (with shifter click(s) limited out).

Wow mentioning push on grips really worked.

Posted by: AndrewMajor

It’s even deeper than that. Because LG drivetrains all use the same cog pitch, motion ratio, and cable pull you can mix-match components that don’t have the same number of speeds as well.

For example, if you buy a Deore M5130 bike but want to upgrade the shifter you can run an XT M8130 with one click limited out. Or if you’re on vacation and destroy your XT derailleur of shifter and all you can find is CUES 4000 9-Speed you’re going to lose a few gears (either 2-clicks, or derailleur H/L range) but it’ll shift perfectly over what you have.

———

The only thing to really be aware of if you’re a part swapping bike nerd is that 11-Speed LG (XT, U6000, U8000) cassettes take up the same real estate as a 12-speed HG+ cassette (thicker cogs). As such you’re probably not getting LG-11 to work with your 135/142 frame, Boost-148 or SuperBoost-157 only.

LG-10 or LG-9 cassettes for 142/135 even if you use XT shifter/derailleur (with shifter click(s) limited out).

Ah, that makes sense. Sounds like the optimal min/max for someone who doesn't care about weight might be the M8130 shifter, either the U6000, U8000 or M8130 derailleur, and the LG400 or LG700 cassette.

Posted by: TristanC

Ah, that makes sense. Sounds like the optimal min/max for someone who doesn't care about weight might be the M8130 shifter, either the U6000, U8000 or M8130 derailleur, and the LG400 or LG700 cassette.

U8000 isn’t a group most mountain bikers will be concerned about - I talked about it in my CUES intro if you’re interested.

It essentially replaces T-8000 as well as adding some e-bike specific components. 

OE I think we’ll see brands keep the shifter/derailleur grouped together and min-max builds will focus on cheaper cranks/chains and maybe LG400 cassettes with XT.

Aftermarket, I could see M8130 shifter/M5130 derailleur/LG400 11spd being a hit.

I’d really like to ride M5130 and CUES U6000 groups. I’m reviewing a bike right now with M6100 (Deore HG+) and it’s still excellent, but with M5130 there are some other key upgrades that could happen.

Posted by: craw

Wow mentioning push on grips really worked.

Sometimes. 

Talking about rigid MTB with photos is the real pro move.

Posted by: AndrewMajor

Aftermarket, I could see M8130 shifter/M5130 derailleur/LG400 11spd being a hit.

I’d really like to ride M5130 and CUES U6000 groups. I’m reviewing a bike right now with M6100 (Deore HG+) and it’s still excellent, but with M5130 there are some other key upgrades that could happen.

I'm riding M5100 11-speed on two bikes, and I like it a lot, but the smoother shifts and higher durability CUES offers are tempting. I put on a lot of miles and it'd be nice to not chew through a cassette so quickly.

One of the attractions for me over the 12-speed stuff is not having to find special 12-speed chainrings, so I can put itty bitty rings on my fat bike for winter too.

I read an interview about Linkglide with Nick Murdick from Shimano that brought up an interesting point: the cable pull and derailleur action ratio is totally “flat” with Linkglide as opposed to “progressive” with previous groups. What I take this to mean is that with previous groups, more or less cable is pulled by the shifter depending on what gear you are in. Since cassette spacing is consistent horizontally, presumably the derailleur ratio on a progressive group varies depending on the gear selection as well. 

I’ve never found a resource explaining how much the pull and ratio varies on each group set, but this explains how much inconsistent information regarding cross compatibility is actually out there in the wild.

Posted by: TristanC

I'm riding M5100 11-speed on two bikes, and I like it a lot, but the smoother shifts and higher durability CUES offers are tempting. I put on a lot of miles and it'd be nice to not chew through a cassette so quickly.

One of the attractions for me over the 12-speed stuff is not having to find special 12-speed chainrings, so I can put itty bitty rings on my fat bike for winter too.

I'm about to swap over to M5100 mech with Sunrace cassette, after being unimpressed with longevity of  my first-ever 12spd setup. I was a bit disappointed that I jumped the gun on buying M5100 last winter before CUES came out, but with a steel ring and cassette, I don't think wear will be much of an issue.