
I have used this every year once cyclecross is over. Change it out with a new chain and your drive train will shift with ease and run so silky smooth. Plus you wont feel bad when you want to get down and dirty cause it's so affordable!
Use this on my older (2008) carbon hardtail 29er XC bike. Not worth spending the $$$ to upgrade the drivetrain to the latest. This cassette is durable and reasonably light. I've been using these for a long time and they seem to last quite a while with no evidence of significant wear.
I got the 11-28 version of this and I've had this for about half a year by now and still in tip top shape. the 28 tooth helps get my up to 15% gradient (paired with a 5034 chain ring), but any steeper, I have a little bit of a harder time. Despite that, it works as expected, shifts smooth, and is actually relatively cheap compared to the competitors. As long as you keep it clean, they should last a very long time.
I bought the 11-28's and although at times I do run out of gears to go through while climbing, they are just great. very reliable and durable. Only had one issue with them I had the proper amount of spacers, but for some reason, the 11 tooth gear wouldn't fit too steadly, took it to a local bike shop and said they don't know what is wrong. I let it be because I usually never even get to the 9th gear in the rear, but if you do, be cautious.
I converted my ventage bike from 7 speed to 9 speed and found the new shifting with this lower cost cassette as smooth as when the bike was new. I also purcahsed a new Sram cassett for my racing bike ($300) and while the more expensive one is top of the line, this sure works great and the weight difference is not that much. Strongly recomend this one, don't let the low cost fool you, it is a great buy, strong, durable, quiet, magic
I first switched to the SRAM PG-970 because it was the cheapest Shimano-compatible 9spd cassette I could find. Surprised when it arrived - it made the old Ultegra cassette look like something from Soviet-era Russian agricultural implements in comparison!
The SRAM is lighter, looks better, shifts better, and seems like it will wear forever. Just replaced the 11-23 with a 12-26 because I will be doing more long, steep hills and wanted lower gears, but with over 10,000 miles on the old one, it shows little sign of wear.
I actually wanted an 11-26 but couldn't find one, so disassembled the 12-26 and removed the 14, move the 13 and 12 up one position, and fitted the 11 from the old cassette and voila! Just what I wanted.