You are hereForums / By Discipline / Mountain (off road) / MTB Gear / Leonardi Racing Kit General Lee 11/40 cassette kit
Leonardi Racing Kit General Lee 11/40 cassette kit
Can't find original post where someone asked about the above kit so will start a new post. I'll put my impressions of the kit up here and any problems/issues. I've just fitted the system and have not ridden it seriously so this is just setting the scene. This kit changes the gearing on a SRAM 10 speed 11-36 cassette to an 11-40, 10 speed. It is also compatible with the front ring from a SRAM 1 x 11 but keeps all the standard shifting gear. For Shimano the kit is different and turns it into an 11-42 cassette.
Why am I doing it – I can't climb! Being well into Grand Masters class, I'm getting a bit old to climb anything over 20% – and on some of my 'regular' climbs the 36 is just a bit of a struggle. So hoping the lower gearing may help. NOTE: If you are a good climber and can ride up the escalator/elevator/whatever then you don't need this 
. Also the cost of making the 1 x 11 into a 2 x 11 (and yes it can be done 
) is more than I want to spend.
I was running SRAM XX, so got the SRAM General Lee (GL) kit which has 25x29x34x40 cogs. There is a Shimano kit that runs 29 x 42 and uses three gears. Purchased the kit from http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/misearch.html?s... and arrived within a week. No instructions for fitting it which was a little disapointing. The gears seem fairly loose on the carrier.
Cost = 100 Euro – but you may need to change the derailleur if you go 2 x 10.
Gearing: As I'm not much of a climber, I was running an XX, 2 x 10 on a 29r. Front rings are 20x36 and remain unchanged. Though may change this to 22x38 with the GL. These front rings and the 11-36 cassette give me very similar cadence x speed as a 26r. The figures below are approximate for a cadence of 90. (will be some variation depending on tyre and inflation pressures)
My 29r in 20x36 = 6.6 kph. In 36 x 11 = 38.9 kph
A 26r in 22x36 = 6.85 kph. In 36 x 11 = 36.7 kph
GL 29r in 20x40 = 5.95 kph. In 36 x 11 = 38.9 kph
This gives a much greater spread of gears than any combination of 1 x 11 gearing
Weight: – Because the GL system comprises 4 cogs of 25, 29, 34, 40 (for SRAM) you have to use a specific cassette, the SRAM PG1070, 10 speed 11-36. You then remove the low gear 4 cogs and replace with the GL cogs. If you have an XX or XO system this results in added weight, the figures below are for 11-36 (weighing my cassettes with no lock ring).
XX = 220 grams (11-36)
XO = 255 grams (11-36)
GL with part of PG1070 cassette = 340 grams (11-40)
So the GL kit adds 120 grams to an XX set up. As the chain needs to be a bit longer (114), then a few grams there. If I change the rear derailleur to an X9 then a few more grams. All other parts of the system remain unchanged.
Chain and derailleur:
Chain length: I can just get away with 112 links. The rear derailleur is at its limit on big big (36x40). Current rear derailleur is a long cage XX with an advertised 40 teeth total capacity. Though the XX probably has a comfortable capacity of 43 teeth it is still struggling with the total capacity of 45 teeth (36-20)+(40-11)=45. It is able to handle big x big JUST! With the XX or other derailleur with a 40/42 tooth capacity the small small becomes questionable as there is not enough tension to take up the slack in the chain. So will be changing the rear derailleur to an X9 model which has a total capacity of 45 teeth.
So initial test indicates adjustment is going to be critical. The shifting on a 1070 cassette does not appear to be as precise as on the XX. The shift from the SRAM 1070 to the GL cogs is noticeable but may be better when adjusted correctly.
I'll post more when I get in a decent ride.
FWIW
[Mod. please do not SHOUT in the title]
- Login to post comments
- Bookmark & share
If you upgraded to a 26er you wouldn't need to go bigger than the 36 because the wheel size is smaller and you'd be saving nearly a kilo on the weight of the bike.
Hi Hudson.
As per previous discussions on the trails. Am more than happy to consider a straight swap of my Giant Anthem for your s-works epic.. it is a 26", and i am happy to throw in a new xtr 11-36 rear cassette for you, cause im that much of a great bloke.
enjoy experimenting with your new setup and see you at the dwelli.
pete
But 26r's aren't mountain bikes are they? Aren't the more progressive and quality manufactureres stopping making them? And aren't they primarily for jump parks and those who can only go downhill? Why would I forgo the pleasure of 20%+ uphill grades for a jump park bike? And aren't giants supposed to have something to do with bean stalks and fairy tales for kids? Why would you name a bike after a song by Fleshcrawl? Or even a composition to an English religious text? Oh well hope to see you struggling on your pretend MTB in the Dwelli
Zoom think you had a typo there, it should have read 'downgraded' not 'upgraded'. Anyway with the 29r i can just run into downed trees and get over them without having to learn to get the carbon front wheel up in the air as on a 26r.
(1350grams both wheels 
)
Seriously have a good ride in the Dwelli
Just checking in to see what the latest news is in regards to the GL mod to your cassette. I'm about to make the change to 1x10 but unsure of what front ring size I will run as I don't want to lose too much gearing ratio at either end, this will be the problem solver I think.
How have you gone with the adjustments? Have you been able to achieve smooth shifting?
I'm currently running full x9, 2x10 (26,39)(11-36).
I'm also aware there are a few other brand adaptors on the market, anyone else have any experience with them?
-TJ.
Hi – soz been out injured – damaged cartilage and slightly torn ligaments in right knee - so been focussing on other things :/. Anyway ridden enough now to give some feedback. This is about the Leonardi General Lee conversion for a SRAM system that changes the gearing from a 11 – 36 to an 11 – 40 cluster. The Shimano equivalent makes for a 11 – 42 cluster.
Gearing:
With 20 granny and 40 rear cog (you read that correctly!) means that every two turns of the crank is one turn of the rear wheel. Most of you wont need this but I'm 67yrs old, have limited power available, on 170 crank length, and, when climbing, need to spin and not grind away with a low cadence. (did I mention stuffed knees?)
Fitting – straight forward – except no fitting instructions. Kit comes with a thin shim to go between the gears but no indication of which gears it fits between. I put it between the two halves of the Leonardi and found shifting bloody awful. Measured the distance between the gears and found the distance between 8 & 9, 6 & 7, and 5 & 6 were different (NOTE: 1 = high/small gear – 10 = low/large gear). So moved spacer to between the standard SRAM gears and the Leonardi gears (6 & 7) and now have equal spacing.
Shifting: Is not as good as standard SRAM XX or XO from 6th (SRAM) to 7th (Leonardi) going up or down. Also not as good as XX/XO within Leonardi's 4 gears. Much adjustment was made to the 'B' screw and the cable adjustment, and whilst the shifting has become acceptable, it is not as good as SRAM or Shimano. This is with a new chain. This is the most disappointing aspect of the conversion.
On my bike (Epic 29r) I'm now using a 114 link chain with 20–36 front cogs. With a 112 chain the large–large (36f-40r) uses up the full capacity of the X9 derailleur so it is close to being too straight. With 114 links there is a safe capacity in large-large, but the small-small (20f - 40r) is not usable as the X9 is at maximum retraction and the chain rubs on the small gear (11t) and idler wheel in the derailleur. However, as I don't use small-small this is not a problem for me. Also I believe this is a function of chain stay length and will vary between bikes. Also if you use the standard 22 or 24 granny this would not be a problem, but chain length maybe?
Dumping two or three gears at a time across SRAM and Leonardi, or within Leonardi, with an XX trigger, wasn't an issue, but changing up or down one gear was where the shifting suffered. Occasionally I would change down two gears and quickly change up one to avoid a missed shift. So this is the most disappointing aspect – as will continue to be mentioned
.
Riding:
On one route I ride that emulates stage 1 of the Cape 2 Cape, there is a couple of hills that are over 1km, with 21%+ grades (11%+ average) (C2C stg1 hills are approx 22% & 12% avg) according to Google, and above that according to Strava. I've never quite got up them before using 20f – 36r. With 20-40 I made it up both (though my HR was 2 bpm off my measured maximum!). So the lowered gearing had the desired effect for me of riding 21%+ grades. Top end speed isn't affected as it remains unchanged.
Worth it: For me yes. Compared to a full 1*11 system the cost is less and given that I'm using a 2*10 system compared to the 1*11 of XX1/XO1 I have a much wider range. If you don't do steepish hills, or just do the KC or XC race courses, then 1*11 could be good. For me, I need a wider range, so now I have 6kph in small-large (20f-40r) and 39kph in large-small (36f-11r) at a cadence of 90.
Negative: - shifting is not as good as I would like and is disappointing.
FWIW
That's awesome!-I want to MTB when I retire,but I think Glenrock might just have too many hilly spots for me!-might have to retire down south coast where it is a bit flatter!
When you retire you RobbieO, you'll have time to do some hill training.
My cousin, at 71, could still beat me up hills.
You're only to old when you can't cock your leg over the bike.
I was looking at one of these kits to change my xx 2x10 to a 1 x 10.
Thanks for taking the time to write a detailed review.
Think I'll wait a bit and go the whole XX1 thing or maybe even wait till my next bike!
The section that reads "With 114 links there is a safe capacity in large-large, but the small-small (20f - 40r)" those last figures should have read - (20f - 11r) - slight error