Cassettes: Sram PG980 v Shimano XT (and chains!)

Broonster

It's come to the point where I'm about to change my chain & cassette for the very first time. I like Sram kit (although I've nothing against Shimano stuff), so have decided that I'll probably stick with it. However, I have read about varying opinions on Sram's cassettes and wondered what people's general opinions are. I've narrowed my choice down to either:

Sram PG980:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=8332

or Shimano XT:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=20677

Any opinions on these? They're both around the same price, so much of a muchness in that sense. I'm also planning to buy a Sram chain (possibly PC991), so maybe that will have a bearing on my cassette choice?

Actually, whilst I'm also on the subject of chains, can someone tell me the difference between the Sram PC991 & PC 991 'Cross Step'?

Cheers!

supersonic

XT is lighter - and many report lasts longer.

As for chains, I'd get the PC951 and simply change earlier to prolong the cassette.

joshtp

XT cassette is widely regarded as the best available, not as light as XTR, but longer lasting, and still very light, best shifting, and better than all sram ones.
as for chain, a cheap sram one, and change it every 6 months.

Andy B

XT or SLX casssette + KMC X9-93 chain

Not much weight difference betwen XT & SLX, but SLX is a fair bit cheaper

If you have a Hope ProII rear hub you need to use XT & above cassette (or Sram equivalent) as they are mounted on an alloy carrier which helps stop the alloy Hope freehub body from gouging. SLX has only 3 rings on the carrier, XT has 6 mounted on it.

so long as the chain & cassette are the same speed then you can use any combo you like