Very good video, informative. But, you forgot to mention the most important reason why you should change from a FREEWHEEL to a CASSETTE. The axle bearings in the FREEWHEEL and the CASSETTE are completely different. The axle bearings on the FREEWHEEL are located inside the hub itself, which leaves the FREEWHEEL hanging over the end of the axle. This means that when you peddle the bike, as the FREEWHEEL is engaged and under tork from the chain, there is more possibility that the axle can bend. That is why on some bikes with FREEWHEELS, you can actually see it WOBBLE when the rear wheel spins. With the CASSETTE, the axle bearings are at the end of the FREEWHEEL BODY that the CASSETTE attaches to. In this design, the axle has no chance of bending under tork. That is the main reason I have built a new rear wheel for my bike using a Shimano Hyper-Glide 8 speed CASSETTE. This is really the most important reason to switch from a FREEWHEEL to a CASSETTE...
Thank you for this. I cant believe how many videos keep showing the physical comparisons but make no mention of why one *might* be better than the other depending on usage.
One major advantage of a cassette freehub is that the outer bearing is closer to the end of the axle, greatly reducing bending forces on the axle. Most cheap bikes like Schwinn still have 7 speed screw-on freewheels. Chinese Ebike rear hub motors generally still use screw-on freewheels, but use 14mm axles. Park tool do a special tool, the FR-1.3 which works with 14mm axles.
Old freewheel any day over the cassette, Shimano makes some highly affordable, durable ones, and they works great for what they need to do, i run freewheel on my fatbike, got tired of those shobby lightweight cassettes that wore down so quickly, same with freewheel hubs, been running the same freewheel from Shimano 8 speed for 5 years now, no problems, and it costed me 14 euro brand new.
I get ~750 km from a bike with freewheel and ball bearing bb. The hub seals may last longer, but are not O-ring type. Replacing hubs and bb is good learning.
FYI, you can take part and change the sprockets on freewheel and change the sprocket too... there is just less of a chance to loss them like on a cassette...
They still make freewheel sprockets because they are cheap, in order to sell lesser parts in bulk. Alot of bike consumers just doesn't have money to upgrade to 8-12 speed, so most bikes still has a 3x7 or 3x8,
Servicing a freewheel was the most exciting part of servicing my bike,I couldn't unscrew it until I found 1.5 metres water pipe to serve as an extension,then tapping on the lockring,then cleaning it from the salty elements and lubing
How exactly is the cassette more environment friendly than freewheel? Replacing only a sprocket is not possible in most cassettes that are riveted with an exception of the smallest ring that is the least likely to get worn out. Cassettes are made of aluminum, which is much easier worn out and aluminum processing is worse for environment than steel. Old steel free hubs last forever without wearing out and are made to last. Unless you upgrade there will never be a need to replace freewheel. Modern cassettes are designed to get worn out after a couple of years. It's consumable item.
Only the real high end weight weenie stuff is aluminum. Every cassette I've come across is steel. And yes, on those steel cassettes (7-8sp) the last 4 or 5 gears are riveted, but it's not that hard to cut the rivets out. Finally, when you replace a freewheel you're also replacing a ratcheting system, which is full of bearings and pawls which may still have life in them.
I prefer freewheel just because it is straight forward on and off. Assuming you have the right tool and the nut isn't too big. Which so far for me has been the case.
You don't have to take a axel off. You are doing this wrong, the hard way. And you can service the freewheel and lube it's internal mechanism way easier than the cassette system. Maybe the freewheel doesn't give countless gears but is a system that is more robust.
i just went to a website selling bike parts and a new free wheel costs less than $10 whereas a new cassette costs $20+. but i get it that the cassette is more environmentally friendly and allows one to change just one wheel if its damaged.
A few years ago I broke my wheel and axle on a 7 speed freewheel hitting a bump. I kept riding it broken for a year or so because the tire held the wheel together and the quick release skewer held the axle together so I didn't know anything was wrong. I replaced the wheel / axle and then another year later wore out the chain / sprocket and bought a new freewheel. So I effectively rebuilt everything with the same obsolete parts! It looks like I could have replaced the wheel with a freehub wheel / cassette and had an upgrade assuming that 7 speed cassettes are an option. Next time I will check! I only cycle for recreation and exercise so I need nothing fancy.
I never had to remove the axle of my freewheel hub to remove the cogs, I have a tool with thinner walls that fits in between the cogs and the axle nut.
100% I have just upgraded my 300€ bike from freewheel to cassette because I broke the axle due to the close placement of the bearings on the freewheel. But first check you have an old of 135mm. Also, good idea to wait until you break either the rim or the axle.
Put the freewheel removal tool with the hexagonal part in a bench vice and put the freewheel on it and now turn the wheel. This is a longer lever than most ttools have.... just one question: do you make a vid about your 300km ride at -5 degree
Cassettes fit onto Freehubs. Freewheels do not have a freehub. Freewheels can also have replacement cogs and different ratio freewheels can be custom built. Freewheels can vary from 1 through to 8 speeds. Freewheels vary in quality. There are even Shimano Dura-ace freewheels. The main disadvantage of using a freewheel wasn't even mentioned (where the drive side bearing is located and the subsequent axle stresses) A new 7 or 8 speed Freewheel can be purchased for around £15 and will be more durable than a 10 or 11 speed cassette.
Well I think freewheels are better. You don't have to take them apart just to get them off. Newer is not always better. To take off a freewheel all you need is a freewheel remover tool, a socket and breaker bar. To take off the Cassette you need a Cassette removal tool, a chain wrench, a socket and breaker bar. And you literally have to take the Cassette apart. More opportunities to lose and misplace parts.
anyway, i have to correct you on your FREEWHEEL is OUT DATED. Its not OUT dated. its more on to DEpartment store bicycle. we all going to start somewhere when we start picking bicycle as pass time, Comute or such. saying FREE WHEEL is OUTDATED is like Saying 4 Banger ENgine is OUtdate compared to v ENgines
i been using 7 speed freewheel Raleigh ugo for past 11 years,so far no issue,but when the question arise for an upgrade,the bicycle shop will suggest to chg a new bike that come with cassette.
A company called DNP makes 9 and 10 speed freewheels. Interestingly, the make freewheels that go all the way down to 11-tooth on the smallest gear. AFAIK, though, they can only fit hub-drive motors on ebikes, which have integrated axles and leave room for the ratcheting mechanism to be smaller. I think on a regular bike, the smallest gear can't get any smaller than 14-tooth simply because the built-in ratcheting mechanism takes up too much space. So on specs alone, unless it's a hub-drive ebike, you can assume that if the smallest gear is 14-tooth, it's probably a freewheel. I get that freewheels dominate the cheap bikes in department stores and what not because they are cheaper... but it kind of sickens me that entry-level $500+ bikes from major brands like Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, etc... still have freewheels. Even Walmart bikes around $300 will have cassettes, and some even have tapered headtubes and clutch rear mechs.
Actually you're confused. Lower priced bikes come with freewheels because they figure the people that buy those bikes aren't going to be modifying them. And even if they are, they probably aren't changing things like cogs. So they don't see the point in putting a cassette on it. The person buying a bike for under $500 is probably not going to use it enough, or to the extent that they would ever wear down the cogs. Also, bikes under $500 usually have pretty entry level wheels,and they figured you're going to change those first. So leave it up to you to choose what hub you want on your new wheelset.
@@dangerous8333 Even without modifying, cassettes have other advantages. Chief among them is more gear range and the option of more gears without the fiddliness and unreliability of a 3x. To your example of the person buying a bike for under $500, like you said, they may not use it that much... By extension, they are also less likely to be in great shape, so they need more granny gears. You don't get that in the universal 14-28 freewheel. Sure, if you live in a place as flat as Florida, that may be fine, but try riding in San Francisco with that kind of gear range and you'll get the point fast. Also, my point of ire was that bikes at the LBS for $500 and _above_ do not offer a cassette. It's generally fine if the $200 Kent at Target has a freewheel. It's not fine for a $550 Giant. No John Q. Public who isn't going to take their bike out and about is going to shop the LBS over the big box stores... And if bikes at Walmart for $350 already have a 1x with a wide-range cassette and sized frames (which have appeared as of this year), what sort of excuse do the major brands have for not offering similar value at their entry level? At that point, the only value of the LBS bikes shows up either at the higher end of the market or more extreme sizing end (e.g. very short or very tall riders).
Hello Danielu, could you make a movie how to replace freewheel with cassette? How can I change the axis? Do I have to measure all of the parts? Please help, pozdrawiam. Krzysztof
yeah. The real advantage of a cassette system is that the axle is much better supported due to the extended bearing spacing. freewheels are super prone to bent axles.
Well, for a MXUS hub ebike, there really is no option but a freewheel. Cassettes won't fit on that hub, something I learned the hard way when the DIY guy had to take off my 11/46 9 speed cassette and replace it with a crappy 14/28 6 speed freewheel when assembling it. Apparently a Bafang hub can mount a cassette, something I wish I knew earlier. So now I've ordered a Sunrace MFEX9 9 speed freewheel from Ebay, to get my gear ranges (and number of gears) back where I want them. It's 11/32, so while I won't have the low range I had with the cassette, at least I won't be losing any top end. Protip: read the fine print on the kind of ebike kit you're getting. Most hubs will not fit a cassette, only a freewheel. Especially more powerful ones.
Yep I dealt with the same issue. I went from 11 to 14 smallest gear so I had to get a larger front chainring. I really only use a few of the rear gears but it sucked running out of pedal at 15 mph
This is a well explained video. Of course you have the cackling fools who instead of making their own video just criticize...with trivial, ridiculous and inaccurate suggestions.
OK! The Video was nice! You explained very nicely. But please tell me a way to realign my rear derailleur hanger accurately without expensive tools. And My bike have 135mm drop out spacing is it possible to install 8 speed freewheel on it??
@@ansh_thepro Oh ok, you're screwed :( Is it steel? Cause if it's steel it's quite safe to bend back, but if it is aluminum then it's probably gonna snap and then you have to go singlespeed.
Tell me the difference in them between riding because ive never had to take mine apart so far even the beginning of your video of you spinning them i didn't see a different but for you to have to know how to replace or service them then they must not be better i have had a bike 12 years with countless miles only had to replace brake pads,rear derailer, shifters , tires same rims just tubs and tires
The only real advantage of the freewheel is repairs when the ratcheting pawls wear out It's far easier and cheaper to simply unscrew the freewheel and replace it then it is to tear apart your entire expensive hub to repair it, or replace the entire thing
Chjfhd Dhdhhdh No, it's the same compatibility problem as with putting freehub+casette on a freewheel hub. And there's also no reason to do that (unless you're building a very vintage bike).
Shimano Uniglide Cassettes do not use a Lock ring. I've just purchased a NOS Shimano Deore MT60 hubs and 7 speed Ultegra Uniglide Cassette for £60. The quality of these 30 year old components are excellent. I will be lacing them onto some Mavic CXP Pro rims with DT competition spokes. Cost for these wheels (including the cassette) will be around £150. Very durable and stiff responsive wheels using outdated technology.
The Freewheel external hub thread will be more robust and stiff than a cassette freehub internal thread to the hub shell. Freewheel Cogs will be stiffer than Cassette Cogs. Suntour 7 speed Freewheel Cogs etc and Shimano Uniglide Cassettes will last longer and have better wear than 10 or 11 speed hyperglide cassette.
exactly, i have seen a few snapped freewheel axles because of the poor bearing positioning. 7 speed will probaly last longer than 10 speed because of wider spacing and thus stronger chain, not because its a freewheel. I dont think a 7 speed freewheel will last longer than a 7 speed cassette
@@thrjygdcmnbfdzfsa If using a loaded Touring bicycle then a solid heat treated 4130 cromoly axle would be a good idea, for general racing/training the better quality freewheel hubs such as 1980s Dura Ace, Super Record, Mavic rarely had axle problems. wheelsmfg.com/products/hub-parts/all-axles.html
@@ultiss A 7 speed Suntour Winner or Dura Ace MF7400 Freewheel or 7 speed Uniglide Cassette will generally last longer than a 7,8,9,10 or 11 Speed hyperglide cassettte. I recently purchased an Ultegra 10 speed Cassette (wanted to upgrade from 7 to 10 speed) and I was disappointed at the quality even compared to the cheaper Ultegra 9 speed Cassette.
One issue, you never just change the chain. On any thing with cogs and a chain, when running the chain wears with the teeth on the cogs so “replacing the chain often” will not extend the life of a crank set and cassette or freewheel. You should not believe that you can ever just change one part and not the connecting parts because you will have to replace your chain more and more as time goes on and waste more money and resources on replacing just the chain.
You also need to remove the axles from a Cassette freehub to remove the freehub from the hub shell (for maintenance and replacement) with similar torque on the hex allen wrench as you would with the freewheel removal tool.
Yes. the long axle on a 10-speed freewheel could easily bend or break as the bearings of freewheels are on the inside of the hub opposed to modern hub design where the bearings are on the outside. Same is valid for 8-speed freewheels, so these axles broke more oftenly then the shorter 7-speed axels.
Is the power on Sram Eagle cassettes transmitted mainly through the structure of the cassette and can the cassette flex, however little. When my small sprocket on my Eagle SX is engaged there is a malfunction under load accompanied by a loud metallic clunky on my new Boardman 29er 8.6.
AVOID taking advice from ppl on channels, who don't know how to properly remove a freewheel without removing the axle.... BTW cassettes have a lot of advantages, but easier removal is not one of them... FYI that was the incorrect locking nut so was getting in the way and it just needed to be removed and replaced..... or you could even cut slots in removal tool to keep using the incorrect locking nut.... Bottom line you never have to remove an axle to remove a freewheel, if its set up correctly and the mechanic knows what he is doing....
There's lots of older freewheels (Atom Zeus Regina) that ALWAYS require You to remove the axle. He's using some cheap FW tool, not the Park, or Shimano one that should clear a 17mm locknut.
Freewheel tool will work on Cassette type but since the Cassette tool's notches are short, it can't be used vice versa. Moral of the story? Buy a Freewheel tool.
dear sb team i need ur guidance!!! i have giant escape 3 (bought second hand) n i want to transform it into a gravel adventure bike is it possible?? and it has Shimano tourney drive train with 7 speed free wheel!! sir the bike is best fit but i want to change the drive train as on plains roads i feel it to b slow butit climbs very well n shall i stick to its flat handlebar or shall i shift to dropbars for long rides!! sir this corona has a big impact on my pocket n job i cant buy a new bike n the transformation im thinking about ill try to do it next year but still i need ur guidance!!! it also has front rack options on its aluminum forks!! what do u suggest sir???
Hello, first you can't change to drop bars, it's possible but extremely expensive and pointless because the geometry will change, second regarding the drivetrain, stick to what you have because you need to change the rear hub to get smaller gears. My advice is to stick to it for now and when you want to upgrade, save your money and buy the escape 2 or a merida speeder, or crossway, the cheaper ones are alright, maybe when you have enough money find a good second hand bike and trade it, and if you fancy drop bars but affordable, you can look at triban 100 or 120
there is a lot of advantages such as the ball-bearing, being more optimal located in a cassette... but this fool couldnt even remove a freewheel without removing the axle FLMAO.... so he was just comedy relief
Cassette hubs have the right side bearings farther out. On a freewheel hub the axle is unsupported and breaks/bends much easier. Also, since the ratcheting part is part of the "disposable" freewheel, they cut corners on it. Better cassette hubs have much nicer ratcheting action.
i think it is a Question is ... what are you doing with Your bike ... if You are realy doing Downhill Mountan biking then ok Then You need a Stable axel and then the Casette Technike will be a big advantage to a Casette because of the wider Bearing Points , but if you use Your Bike in a "normal" Way to get from Point a to Point b and have Fun to drive on normal Roads and light lanes in the field or forrest then a 300€ Bike with "old" Freeweel konfiguration will work fine its the same Question as in a lot of Videos on TH-cam where they ask .. what type of Bicycle Lock i need to secure my 3000€ Bike in front of the Train station .... if i Use a 3000€ Bike for Semi pro Sports ... i dont put it in front of the train station for more than 2 minutes without line of sight .... if i want a Bike for Transportation and a little Fun driving in fresh air ... then i dont need to pay more than max 500€ .. if i need both ... and i can afford a 3000+ Bike ... then i shoud have additional 200-300€ for a day to day bike ...... Sorry for my bad English ...
I find free hubs pretty bad. Not only they are outdated but due to the distance between the bearing and the bike frame they always get bent over time even in normal use.
Freewheels should be phased out imo. Imagine getting into cycling and wanting to upgrade your gearing- only to find out you also need to upgrade your rear wheel.
It's me rn. I bought a SS thinking I'll keep the maintenance low and I'm not that into it anyways. Now I'm really into it and I don't think anyone makes a SS with a freehub...🤦♂️🤦♂️
If Your bike came with a freewheel (probably a very cheap bike), and you're riding hard enough to need to switch, then You should upgrade Your whole bike.
1:09 you call it a "free hub" but it's a freeWHEEL, but make no clarification in the video. At the beginning 0:04 you did the correct thing: put a text warning. You should add errata in the description and/or pinned comment, that'll help, it only takes 30 seconds to write it.
You're wrong. Building the wheel on a new hub is still cheaper than buying the whole new wheel, even if you're are paying for it and not doing it yourself. About 22 euros for a pair of alivio/deore level hubs, 30 euros for the rebuilding work. You won't get front+rear wheels with alivio/deore level hubs for 50 euros anywhere. This is just one example, rebuilding yourself would be much more cheaper and would allow to spend more money on even higher level hubs. I call BS on "upgrading is not possible". And as somebody has already mentioned, the main disadvantage of a freewheel wasn't even covered.
But when you have a freewheel in 2019, it means almost automaticaly that you have a rubbish rim as well. But ok, I get what you mean and wouldn't complain about that it's cheaper to rebuild the wheels. Just when you're already upgrading such thing like hubs, replacing rims too would be something I would highly consider at least.
@@jeskli11 alu rims are alu rims, double, of course. I can't imagine what could be wrong with them. And no, my bike wasn't new, it's pretty old,actually. But I got what you are saying. The rims on my wife's bike (with a freewheel), which was much newer than mine,were really pretty bad,not even double. Still got a decent deal on used Maverick wheels with Deore hubs - 25 euros for both, in good condition. That could also be considered an upgrade-the result is the same. She now has a cassette just like me and even for less money!
Why would you change the front wheel?? I have upgraded my rear wheel from 7v freewheel + V-brakes + single wall to freehub + 8v cassette + (V-brakes + 6 bolt disc brakes) + double wall for 40€ wheel + 12€ cassette
@@JorgeAlvarez-ex3vs Well, in fact, it wasn't necessary, not at all. I could simply do it your way. But I just like to have everything of the same type :)
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Very good video, informative. But, you forgot to mention the most important reason why you should change from a FREEWHEEL to a CASSETTE. The axle bearings in the FREEWHEEL and the CASSETTE are completely different. The axle bearings on the FREEWHEEL are located inside the hub itself, which leaves the FREEWHEEL hanging over the end of the axle. This means that when you peddle the bike, as the FREEWHEEL is engaged and under tork from the chain, there is more possibility that the axle can bend. That is why on some bikes with FREEWHEELS, you can actually see it WOBBLE when the rear wheel spins. With the CASSETTE, the axle bearings are at the end of the FREEWHEEL BODY that the CASSETTE attaches to. In this design, the axle has no chance of bending under tork. That is the main reason I have built a new rear wheel for my bike using a Shimano Hyper-Glide 8 speed CASSETTE. This is really the most important reason to switch from a FREEWHEEL to a CASSETTE...
Thank you for this. I cant believe how many videos keep showing the physical comparisons but make no mention of why one *might* be better than the other depending on usage.
Finally
Why would you peddle your bike? You can just as easily sell it online without bothering people that may or may not be interested in acquiring it.
One major advantage of a cassette freehub is that the outer bearing is closer to the end of the axle, greatly reducing bending forces on the axle. Most cheap bikes like Schwinn still have 7 speed screw-on freewheels. Chinese Ebike rear hub motors generally still use screw-on freewheels, but use 14mm axles. Park tool do a special tool, the FR-1.3 which works with 14mm axles.
Great point!
So does this make you faster?
Even giant and trek use freewheels on their cheapest bikes
@@mahmam3128 Only because there's no point in putting a cassette on a bike that someone might not even bother utilizing.
Old freewheel any day over the cassette, Shimano makes some highly affordable, durable ones, and they works great for what they need to do, i run freewheel on my fatbike, got tired of those shobby lightweight cassettes that wore down so quickly, same with freewheel hubs, been running the same freewheel from Shimano 8 speed for 5 years now, no problems, and it costed me 14 euro brand new.
Sweet video, it really gets just in-depth enough!
Some oldschool wheels where laced on freewheel hubs and they're working great now days without some problem
"some"
@@rcs2003 😅
some problem is axle break every 2000km
I get ~750 km from a bike with freewheel and ball bearing bb. The hub seals may last longer, but are not O-ring type. Replacing hubs and bb is good learning.
FYI, you can take part and change the sprockets on freewheel and change the sprocket too... there is just less of a chance to loss them like on a cassette...
They still make freewheel sprockets because they are cheap, in order to sell lesser parts in bulk.
Alot of bike consumers just doesn't have money to upgrade to 8-12 speed, so most bikes still has a 3x7 or 3x8,
Servicing a freewheel was the most exciting part of servicing my bike,I couldn't unscrew it until I found 1.5 metres water pipe to serve as an extension,then tapping on the lockring,then cleaning it from the salty elements and lubing
Is this true that freewheel is an out dated technology? I am still seeing new bikes coming with freewheels installed.
well its not outdated. its like saying the 4 banger is good as outdated compared to V engines. and yet they still 4 banger on the road.
Why outdated when it's one of the pioneering technology of drivetrains in bicycle history that is still practical to use up to this day?
6:05 "integrated clicky thing" LMAO
How exactly is the cassette more environment friendly than freewheel? Replacing only a sprocket is not possible in most cassettes that are riveted with an exception of the smallest ring that is the least likely to get worn out. Cassettes are made of aluminum, which is much easier worn out and aluminum processing is worse for environment than steel. Old steel free hubs last forever without wearing out and are made to last. Unless you upgrade there will never be a need to replace freewheel. Modern cassettes are designed to get worn out after a couple of years. It's consumable item.
Only the real high end weight weenie stuff is aluminum. Every cassette I've come across is steel. And yes, on those steel cassettes (7-8sp) the last 4 or 5 gears are riveted, but it's not that hard to cut the rivets out. Finally, when you replace a freewheel you're also replacing a ratcheting system, which is full of bearings and pawls which may still have life in them.
@@kevinchen1788 you are right. it is possible to change individual sprockets. But it is impossible to buy single sprockets as far as I know.
I prefer freewheel just because it is straight forward on and off. Assuming you have the right tool and the nut isn't too big. Which so far for me has been the case.
Freewheel is old but still relevant. Only change to cassette when your wheel dies.
man need to change the hub also costly, need to check mine bike
i can't remove my freewheel, so have to change to new wheel once the cogs are worn
You don't have to take a axel off. You are doing this wrong, the hard way.
And you can service the freewheel and lube it's internal mechanism way easier than the cassette system.
Maybe the freewheel doesn't give countless gears but is a system that is more robust.
i just went to a website selling bike parts and a new free wheel costs less than $10 whereas a new cassette costs $20+. but i get it that the cassette is more environmentally friendly and allows one to change just one wheel if its damaged.
it $$$$ ..nobody cares about eco friendly bs
So I can upgrade my free wheel to a free hub.. For just changing the hubs?
6:10 “clicky thing”… One Way Bearing.
A few years ago I broke my wheel and axle on a 7 speed freewheel hitting a bump. I kept riding it broken for a year or so because the tire held the wheel together and the quick release skewer held the axle together so I didn't know anything was wrong. I replaced the wheel / axle and then another year later wore out the chain / sprocket and bought a new freewheel. So I effectively rebuilt everything with the same obsolete parts! It looks like I could have replaced the wheel with a freehub wheel / cassette and had an upgrade assuming that 7 speed cassettes are an option. Next time I will check! I only cycle for recreation and exercise so I need nothing fancy.
Impressive how old standards don't die.
very good sir. but i am a big fan of the free wheel
Same
I never had to remove the axle of my freewheel hub to remove the cogs, I have a tool with thinner walls that fits in between the cogs and the axle nut.
Is it worth upgrading from freewheel to cassete?
I have Giant Atx 2
100% I have just upgraded my 300€ bike from freewheel to cassette because I broke the axle due to the close placement of the bearings on the freewheel. But first check you have an old of 135mm. Also, good idea to wait until you break either the rim or the axle.
Use it as it is, there is no point changing to a cassette for that type of bike.
You can't really. You would have to get a new rear wheel or rear hub.
@@someguy9520 Huh?
Put the freewheel removal tool with the hexagonal part in a bench vice and put the freewheel on it and now turn the wheel. This is a longer lever than most ttools have.... just one question: do you make a vid about your 300km ride at -5 degree
Yes, I'm gonna make it.
Cassettes fit onto Freehubs.
Freewheels do not have a freehub.
Freewheels can also have replacement cogs and different ratio freewheels can be custom built.
Freewheels can vary from 1 through to 8 speeds.
Freewheels vary in quality. There are even Shimano Dura-ace freewheels.
The main disadvantage of using a freewheel wasn't even mentioned (where the drive side bearing is located and the subsequent axle stresses)
A new 7 or 8 speed Freewheel can be purchased for around £15 and will be more durable than a 10 or 11 speed cassette.
freewheels also have less range since their smallest sprocket is larger than one from a cassette.
a 7 speed cassette and 7s freewheel cost the same
Why would they be more durable? Same cog thickness and probably higher quality steel. I hoe that you actually tested that out
If you don't know which one you have, you probably have a freewheel.
Haha! Nice joke! But sorry you was wrong!
Haha, I agree, always worst case scenario, that's how I live my whole life.
It's mostly true
You mentioned it, I looked it up. Sunrace makes a 9 and 10 speed freewheel, wow.
Well I think freewheels are better. You don't have to take them apart just to get them off. Newer is not always better. To take off a freewheel all you need is a freewheel remover tool, a socket and breaker bar. To take off the Cassette you need a Cassette removal tool, a chain wrench, a socket and breaker bar. And you literally have to take the Cassette apart. More opportunities to lose and misplace parts.
Rubbish...the axel can bend on freewheel
love that they still make them and people still Waste time on them :=
anyway, i have to correct you on your FREEWHEEL is OUT DATED. Its not OUT dated. its more on to DEpartment store bicycle.
we all going to start somewhere when we start picking bicycle as pass time, Comute or such.
saying FREE WHEEL is OUTDATED is like Saying 4 Banger ENgine is OUtdate compared to v ENgines
i been using 7 speed freewheel Raleigh ugo for past 11 years,so far no issue,but when the question arise for an upgrade,the bicycle shop will suggest to chg a new bike that come with cassette.
Stubborn calling a freewheel a freehub again and again is a bad start when explaining something.
A company called DNP makes 9 and 10 speed freewheels. Interestingly, the make freewheels that go all the way down to 11-tooth on the smallest gear. AFAIK, though, they can only fit hub-drive motors on ebikes, which have integrated axles and leave room for the ratcheting mechanism to be smaller.
I think on a regular bike, the smallest gear can't get any smaller than 14-tooth simply because the built-in ratcheting mechanism takes up too much space. So on specs alone, unless it's a hub-drive ebike, you can assume that if the smallest gear is 14-tooth, it's probably a freewheel.
I get that freewheels dominate the cheap bikes in department stores and what not because they are cheaper... but it kind of sickens me that entry-level $500+ bikes from major brands like Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, etc... still have freewheels. Even Walmart bikes around $300 will have cassettes, and some even have tapered headtubes and clutch rear mechs.
Actually you're confused.
Lower priced bikes come with freewheels because they figure the people that buy those bikes aren't going to be modifying them. And even if they are, they probably aren't changing things like cogs. So they don't see the point in putting a cassette on it.
The person buying a bike for under $500 is probably not going to use it enough, or to the extent that they would ever wear down the cogs.
Also, bikes under $500 usually have pretty entry level wheels,and they figured you're going to change those first. So leave it up to you to choose what hub you want on your new wheelset.
@@dangerous8333 Even without modifying, cassettes have other advantages. Chief among them is more gear range and the option of more gears without the fiddliness and unreliability of a 3x. To your example of the person buying a bike for under $500, like you said, they may not use it that much... By extension, they are also less likely to be in great shape, so they need more granny gears. You don't get that in the universal 14-28 freewheel. Sure, if you live in a place as flat as Florida, that may be fine, but try riding in San Francisco with that kind of gear range and you'll get the point fast.
Also, my point of ire was that bikes at the LBS for $500 and _above_ do not offer a cassette. It's generally fine if the $200 Kent at Target has a freewheel. It's not fine for a $550 Giant. No John Q. Public who isn't going to take their bike out and about is going to shop the LBS over the big box stores... And if bikes at Walmart for $350 already have a 1x with a wide-range cassette and sized frames (which have appeared as of this year), what sort of excuse do the major brands have for not offering similar value at their entry level? At that point, the only value of the LBS bikes shows up either at the higher end of the market or more extreme sizing end (e.g. very short or very tall riders).
how about energy transfer, durability and smoothness?
@Thomas The Offroad Train upgrade with what bro, cassette or free wheel
@Thomas The Offroad Train bro pls give me link of some casette u recommend
@Thomas The Offroad Train thnx bro
Same.
Hello Danielu, could you make a movie how to replace freewheel with cassette? How can I change the axis? Do I have to measure all of the parts? Please help, pozdrawiam. Krzysztof
The freewheel pawl mechanism is more serviceable than the sealed unit the cassette slides on. You can service a freewheel with a hammer and a punch.
yeah. The real advantage of a cassette system is that the axle is much better supported due to the extended bearing spacing. freewheels are super prone to bent axles.
Well, for a MXUS hub ebike, there really is no option but a freewheel. Cassettes won't fit on that hub, something I learned the hard way when the DIY guy had to take off my 11/46 9 speed cassette and replace it with a crappy 14/28 6 speed freewheel when assembling it. Apparently a Bafang hub can mount a cassette, something I wish I knew earlier.
So now I've ordered a Sunrace MFEX9 9 speed freewheel from Ebay, to get my gear ranges (and number of gears) back where I want them. It's 11/32, so while I won't have the low range I had with the cassette, at least I won't be losing any top end.
Protip: read the fine print on the kind of ebike kit you're getting. Most hubs will not fit a cassette, only a freewheel. Especially more powerful ones.
Yep I dealt with the same issue. I went from 11 to 14 smallest gear so I had to get a larger front chainring. I really only use a few of the rear gears but it sucked running out of pedal at 15 mph
This is a well explained video. Of course you have the cackling fools who instead of making their own video just criticize...with trivial, ridiculous and inaccurate suggestions.
OK! The Video was nice! You explained very nicely. But please tell me a way to realign my rear derailleur hanger accurately without expensive tools. And My bike have 135mm drop out spacing is it possible to install 8 speed freewheel on it??
Get a new one. You can't do it accurately without the tool.
@@th_js it's integrated to the frame :-(
@@ansh_thepro Oh ok, you're screwed :(
Is it steel? Cause if it's steel it's quite safe to bend back, but if it is aluminum then it's probably gonna snap and then you have to go singlespeed.
if you could accurately align it without tool they didnt make the tool. Your options are eyeballing it, getting a tool or going to a bikeshop
Get a new one is better.....One day i was like you, and then in some descending my rear deraileur deform....................
I have seen there is a 10 speed freewheel Sun Race makes them.
OK, I didn't know about that.
a glimer of hope for ppl like me, ty for the info
very inforative. Thank you!
Necessary for racers but okay to recreational MTB.
Tell me the difference in them between riding because ive never had to take mine apart so far even the beginning of your video of you spinning them i didn't see a different but for you to have to know how to replace or service them then they must not be better i have had a bike 12 years with countless miles only had to replace brake pads,rear derailer, shifters , tires same rims just tubs and tires
of course that are 7 speed cassettes.
You can also find 6 speed cassette made by Maillard - it is Maillard Helicomatic :)
Just a a bit of advice maybe but your lock ring tool looked like the inside would accept a 3/8 drive rachet or ½ rachet
Very good video, very clear. Thank you very much
Yes, exist 9s and 10s freewheel (Sunrace)
thx, but are damn expensive
Ventura 9 Speed Freewheel
is more in my price range.... BTW this gay was just a Freewheeling bike snob....
The only real advantage of the freewheel is repairs when the ratcheting pawls wear out
It's far easier and cheaper to simply unscrew the freewheel and replace it then it is to tear apart your entire expensive hub to repair it, or replace the entire thing
You can remove a Shimano free hub easily
I have six speed bike what you recommend for apgrade
Bili ka ng bago!
Yes Sir , I have 9 speed freewheel, with 13 - 32 teeth .
i just bought 10 speed freewheel 11-28. but i didnt put it in my bike yet.. idk if its fit..
@@lattepus7888 I bought also a 10s freewheel about 9months ago,
The great thing is it's 32t,
The worst thing is that it's not servicable.
Can i fit a freewheel on a freehub wheel?
Chjfhd Dhdhhdh No, it's the same compatibility problem as with putting freehub+casette on a freewheel hub. And there's also no reason to do that (unless you're building a very vintage bike).
no
Is it worth upgrading from freewheel to cassete?
I have a Giant Atx 2 2018
@@chjfhddhdhhdh8137 Yes, better hubs and better cassettes....
No, you can't.
Thanks chap , well put this
Shimano Uniglide Cassettes do not use a Lock ring. I've just purchased a NOS Shimano Deore MT60 hubs and 7 speed Ultegra Uniglide Cassette for £60. The quality of these 30 year old components are excellent. I will be lacing them onto some Mavic CXP Pro rims with DT competition spokes. Cost for these wheels (including the cassette) will be around £150. Very durable and stiff responsive wheels using outdated technology.
Excellent video, thank you for explaining the difference.
Im keep my freewheel thanks simple and reliable
Don't they make freehub extensions for those who are stuck with freewheel?? That seems like a logical step right? Am I missing something?
The Freewheel external hub thread will be more robust and stiff than a cassette freehub internal thread to the hub shell.
Freewheel Cogs will be stiffer than Cassette Cogs.
Suntour 7 speed Freewheel Cogs etc and Shimano Uniglide Cassettes will last longer and have better wear than 10 or 11 speed hyperglide cassette.
Amfear Liathmor very true, but the axle is much better supported by a cassette hubs, which makes it harder to bend an axle
exactly, i have seen a few snapped freewheel axles because of the poor bearing positioning. 7 speed will probaly last longer than 10 speed because of wider spacing and thus stronger chain, not because its a freewheel. I dont think a 7 speed freewheel will last longer than a 7 speed cassette
@@thrjygdcmnbfdzfsa If using a loaded Touring bicycle then a solid heat treated 4130 cromoly axle would be a good idea, for general racing/training the better quality freewheel hubs such as 1980s Dura Ace, Super Record, Mavic rarely had axle problems.
wheelsmfg.com/products/hub-parts/all-axles.html
@@ultiss A 7 speed Suntour Winner or Dura Ace MF7400 Freewheel or 7 speed Uniglide Cassette will generally last longer than a 7,8,9,10 or 11 Speed hyperglide cassettte.
I recently purchased an Ultegra 10 speed Cassette (wanted to upgrade from 7 to 10 speed) and I was disappointed at the quality even compared to the cheaper Ultegra 9 speed Cassette.
Don't worry, with a freewheel you will bend or break the axle first.
Great explanation, thank you!
Your casette is 7 speed, not 8 as you said. Ty for your helpful videos. Greetings from Romania!
Gabriel Dorobantu I think he said 8 was the limit of free wheels, at least he believes so.
One issue, you never just change the chain. On any thing with cogs and a chain, when running the chain wears with the teeth on the cogs so “replacing the chain often” will not extend the life of a crank set and cassette or freewheel. You should not believe that you can ever just change one part and not the connecting parts because you will have to replace your chain more and more as time goes on and waste more money and resources on replacing just the chain.
You also need to remove the axles from a Cassette freehub to remove the freehub from the hub shell (for maintenance and replacement) with similar torque on the hex allen wrench as you would with the freewheel removal tool.
Amfear Liathmor That's right, but in general you replace (or at least I do) casette much more often than maintain freehub body.
nicely explained!!
The freewheel is just the same as cassette that have 12 gears but you have to buy or replace the hub to a 12 speed compatable freewheel hub
Best explanation on TH-cam
No need to remove an axle... wrong information.
are all 10 speed cassette already?
Yes. the long axle on a 10-speed freewheel could easily bend or break as the bearings of freewheels are on the inside of the hub opposed to modern hub design where the bearings are on the outside. Same is valid for 8-speed freewheels, so these axles broke more oftenly then the shorter 7-speed axels.
Is the power on Sram Eagle cassettes transmitted mainly through the structure of the cassette and can the cassette flex, however little. When my small sprocket on my Eagle SX is engaged there is a malfunction under load accompanied by a loud metallic clunky on my new Boardman 29er 8.6.
disc wheels with through axle vs disc wheels with quick release next??
He already did a comparison QR vs thru axle where he even wanted a rim brake thru axle bike
I have a single speed cassette
there is 9 speed and actualy there is 10 speed freewheel 11t-36t made in china
Cassette is better but obviously more pricey depending on the model you buy
Thank you sir supar information
there is a 8 speed freewheel so he is right
AVOID taking advice from ppl on channels, who don't know how to properly remove a freewheel without removing the axle.... BTW cassettes have a lot of advantages, but easier removal is not one of them...
FYI that was the incorrect locking nut so was getting in the way and it just needed to be removed and replaced..... or you could even cut slots in removal tool to keep using the incorrect locking nut.... Bottom line you never have to remove an axle to remove a freewheel, if its set up correctly and the mechanic knows what he is doing....
There's lots of older freewheels (Atom Zeus Regina) that ALWAYS require You to remove the axle. He's using some cheap FW tool, not the Park, or Shimano one that should clear a 17mm locknut.
Freewheel tool will work on Cassette type but since the Cassette tool's notches are short, it can't be used vice versa. Moral of the story? Buy a Freewheel tool.
Good video. Explains clearly
The explaination is perfect.But you made som error
dear sb team i need ur guidance!!! i have giant escape 3
(bought second hand) n i want to transform it into a gravel adventure bike is it possible?? and it has Shimano tourney drive train with 7 speed free wheel!! sir the bike is best fit but i want to change the drive train as on plains roads i feel it to b slow butit climbs very well n shall i stick to its flat handlebar or shall i shift to dropbars for long rides!! sir this corona has a big impact on my pocket n job i cant buy a new bike n the transformation im thinking about ill try to do it next year but still i need ur guidance!!! it also has front rack options on its aluminum forks!! what do u suggest sir???
Hello, first you can't change to drop bars, it's possible but extremely expensive and pointless because the geometry will change, second regarding the drivetrain, stick to what you have because you need to change the rear hub to get smaller gears. My advice is to stick to it for now and when you want to upgrade, save your money and buy the escape 2 or a merida speeder, or crossway, the cheaper ones are alright, maybe when you have enough money find a good second hand bike and trade it, and if you fancy drop bars but affordable, you can look at triban 100 or 120
So riding quality wise, if we don't take number of gears into consideration, there is no advantage to having a cassette
there is a lot of advantages such as the ball-bearing, being more optimal located in a cassette... but this fool couldnt even remove a freewheel without removing the axle FLMAO.... so he was just comedy relief
Cassette hubs have the right side bearings farther out. On a freewheel hub the axle is unsupported and breaks/bends much easier. Also, since the ratcheting part is part of the "disposable" freewheel, they cut corners on it. Better cassette hubs have much nicer ratcheting action.
i think it is a Question is ... what are you doing with Your bike ... if You are realy doing Downhill Mountan biking then ok Then You need a Stable axel and then the Casette Technike will be a big advantage to a Casette because of the wider Bearing Points , but if you use Your Bike in a "normal" Way to get from Point a to Point b and have Fun to drive on normal Roads and light lanes in the field or forrest then a 300€ Bike with "old" Freeweel konfiguration will work fine
its the same Question as in a lot of Videos on TH-cam where they ask .. what type of Bicycle Lock i need to secure my 3000€ Bike in front of the Train station ....
if i Use a 3000€ Bike for Semi pro Sports ... i dont put it in front of the train station for more than 2 minutes without line of sight .... if i want a Bike for Transportation and a little Fun driving in fresh air ... then i dont need to pay more than max 500€ .. if i need both ... and i can afford a 3000+ Bike ... then i shoud have additional 200-300€ for a day to day bike ...... Sorry for my bad English ...
I find free hubs pretty bad. Not only they are outdated but due to the distance between the bearing and the bike frame they always get bent over time even in normal use.
Why do you call freewheel as freehub in the beginning?
Big Cassette doesn't want you to be freewheeling myan.
My bike has a freewheel and it’s 9 speed.
Freewheels should be phased out imo. Imagine getting into cycling and wanting to upgrade your gearing- only to find out you also need to upgrade your rear wheel.
That's me just now
It's me rn. I bought a SS thinking I'll keep the maintenance low and I'm not that into it anyways. Now I'm really into it and I don't think anyone makes a SS with a freehub...🤦♂️🤦♂️
That freewhell is 7 (seven) gears. I can't found 8 gears freewhell.
@@thebbb. yes I know, but in the vídeo he say that's a 8 gears freewhell and that thing doesn't exist
Actually they are even 9speed freewheels but they are kinda pricy
@@Quimerateck really? Don't know it!
@@javito810 sunrace make's 7 8 9speed freewheel and i think i saw a 10 speed one
@@Joshuaqn 8 speed freewheels have been around since the early 90s, predating ebikes by a long way
Damn i have a freewheel.😱😱
Oh God.
@@Sydney-Ghumo I hadn’t known, I already ordered a cassette not knowing the difference. I since ordered a whole new wheel to be able to use a cassette
@@chrissr318 hahaha same here. Damn
But I enjoy the sound of a freewheel
nice gude thanxs!!!
How upgrade my bike from freewheel to cassette?
Change your hub to cassette type hub and change cassette
If Your bike came with a freewheel (probably a very cheap bike), and you're riding hard enough to need to switch, then You should upgrade Your whole bike.
but the sounds of freewheel is good than cassette type.
the freehub does the sound not the casette
I'm more confused now than I was before watching this. Freewheel, freehub, cassette....wut?
Free wheel is essentially the cogs and hub stuck together all in one, free hub is the name of the hub where the cassette sits on
1:09 you call it a "free hub" but it's a freeWHEEL, but make no clarification in the video. At the beginning 0:04 you did the correct thing: put a text warning. You should add errata in the description and/or pinned comment, that'll help, it only takes 30 seconds to write it.
I only watch this guy to amuse myself by watching how many mistakes and subjective opinions he passes off as facts.
@Giuliano Skywalker Yes, there are a lot of opinionated, know-it-all TH-camrs but this guy really sets a very very high standard for them 😁
Wow
👍
Ive seen a bike with a freewheel that is a 10 speed and goes from 11 to 46.
Where?
@@travelpackgamerz vitus nucleus
I did not even know there still are freewheels.. i have had cassette since y2000.
"supermarket" type bikes will always have freewheel, until the world's end i think :D
Same here. My uncles bike from 19XX(city/touring bike) has a 7spd cassette
Freehubs so 1980s
80 viewer and 9 liker 4th comments er
80th* 9th*
Commenter*
This the hap of the free wheel..and this is the hap of cassette
The most is 9 speed freewheel, not 8
See the comment above ;)
@@cannondany wow I didn't know it could go up to 10 speed
Freewheel hubs are terrible. I'd rather have a 7 Sp. cassette, than break axles all the time with freewheel no matter how many gears they have.
You're wrong. Building the wheel on a new hub is still cheaper than buying the whole new wheel, even if you're are paying for it and not doing it yourself. About 22 euros for a pair of alivio/deore level hubs, 30 euros for the rebuilding work. You won't get front+rear wheels with alivio/deore level hubs for 50 euros anywhere. This is just one example, rebuilding yourself would be much more cheaper and would allow to spend more money on even higher level hubs. I call BS on "upgrading is not possible".
And as somebody has already mentioned, the main disadvantage of a freewheel wasn't even covered.
In my country lace new rim on hub costs only 4$and new rim about9-10you are right building wheel is cheaper then buying whole
But when you have a freewheel in 2019, it means almost automaticaly that you have a rubbish rim as well. But ok, I get what you mean and wouldn't complain about that it's cheaper to rebuild the wheels. Just when you're already upgrading such thing like hubs, replacing rims too would be something I would highly consider at least.
@@jeskli11 alu rims are alu rims, double, of course. I can't imagine what could be wrong with them. And no, my bike wasn't new, it's pretty old,actually. But I got what you are saying. The rims on my wife's bike (with a freewheel), which was much newer than mine,were really pretty bad,not even double. Still got a decent deal on used Maverick wheels with Deore hubs - 25 euros for both, in good condition. That could also be considered an upgrade-the result is the same. She now has a cassette just like me and even for less money!
Why would you change the front wheel?? I have upgraded my rear wheel from 7v freewheel + V-brakes + single wall to freehub + 8v cassette + (V-brakes + 6 bolt disc brakes) + double wall for 40€ wheel + 12€ cassette
@@JorgeAlvarez-ex3vs Well, in fact, it wasn't necessary, not at all. I could simply do it your way. But I just like to have everything of the same type :)