{"id":51697,"date":"2023-07-05T18:00:53","date_gmt":"2023-07-05T16:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=734645"},"modified":"2023-07-05T18:35:41","modified_gmt":"2023-07-05T16:35:41","slug":"what-is-a-mullet-drivetrain-plus-how-to-pair-mtb-derailleurs-and-road-shifters","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/what-is-a-mullet-drivetrain-plus-how-to-pair-mtb-derailleurs-and-road-shifters\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a mullet drivetrain? Plus how to pair MTB derailleurs and road shifters"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everything you need to know about mullet drivetrains <\/p>

By Nick Clark\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 05 July 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

A mullet drivetrain pairs drop-bar shifters with a wide-range mountain bike rear derailleur, usually set up 1x.<\/p>\n

Mullet drivetrains offer the range of a mountain bike groupset<\/a> while providing drop-bar comfort for long days in the saddle. They are most commonly seen on gravel bikes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mullet drivetrains have been on the fringe of gravel tech for many years, with few officially endorsed setups offered by mainstream brands.<\/p>\n

However, several groupset manufacturers now offer officially compatible mullet setups, with some bike manufacturers speccing them as stock.<\/p>\n

In this article, we will explain what a mullet drivetrain is, how they work, what kind of bikes you will find them on and outline the issues with compatibility.<\/p>\n

What is a mullet drivetrain?<\/h2>\n
\""Microshift\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Mullet drivetrains are increasingly popular on gravel bikes.<\/span><\/figcaption> Microshift<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

In the simplest form, a mullet drivetrain is a hybrid groupset that pairs road bike shifters with a mountain bike derailleur and wide-range cassette.<\/p>\n

Mountain bike derailleurs are compatible with the largest cassettes<\/a>. Many are also stronger than road or gravel bike derailleurs.<\/p>\n

They are increasingly popular as aftermarket or custom-build upgrades because they offer the same (if not greater) range as a 2x setup, but with the simplicity of a 1x drivetrain<\/a> while retaining a drop handlebar for position variety on long rides.<\/p>\n

How does a mullet drivetrain work?<\/h2>\n
\""Sram\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Mullet drivetrains provide the widest range possible for 1x gravel bikes.<\/span><\/figcaption> SRAM<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

A mullet drivetrain works in the exact same way as a regular road\/gravel or mountain bike drivetrain, but only if the cable pull ratios of road shifters and mountain bike derailleurs are the same.<\/p>\n

SRAM and Shimano use different ratios for their mechanical mountain bike and road bike groupsets<\/a>. This makes combining components across disciplines impossible without an upgrade or adaptor kit.<\/p>\n

\""The\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Though rarely seen, it is possible to pair 11-speed Shimano Di2 mountain bike components with 11-speed Di2 road bike shifters.<\/span><\/figcaption> Josh Patterson \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The situation is simpler with electronic groupsets<\/a>. SRAM AXS derailleurs and shifters will speak to each other regardless of whether they are road, gravel or mountain bike components.<\/p>\n

There is also more limited compatibility between Shimano Di2 road, gravel and mountain bike groupsets (full compatibility is outlined on Shimano\u2019s site<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Mechanical mullet drivetrains can also be configured using bar-end shifters, with Microshift<\/a> making compatible shifters for Shimano drivetrains.<\/p>\n

\""Microshift\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Bar-end shifters are rarely seen today, but they work well.<\/span><\/figcaption> David Caudery \/ Immediate Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Bar-end shifters are less practical than hood-mounted shifters and can cause knee obstruction in some cases. They are, however, very robust, which makes them a popular choice for hardcore touring bikes<\/a> and bikepacking bikes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\""Wolf\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Cable pull ratio converters enable you to pair drop-bar shifters with mountain bike derailleurs.<\/span><\/figcaption> Wolf Tooth<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Cable pull ratio converters, such as the Wolf Tooth Tanpan or Jtek Shiftmate can be used to pair otherwise incompatible components with each other. That means exotic mash-ups \u2013 such as pairing SRAM shifters with Shimano derailleurs \u2013 can be used.<\/p>\n

Which bikes use a mullet setup?<\/h2>\n
\""3T\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Mullet drivetrains are becoming a more common sight on gravel bikes<\/span><\/figcaption> SRAM<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Mullet setups are most common on gravel bikes<\/a>, where the ergonomics of a drop handlebar pair well with the wide range of a mountain bike drivetrain.<\/p>\n

Bikes such as 3T\u2019s Exploro Ultra<\/a> and Moots\u2019 Routt ESC can be specced with mullet drivetrains, both in the form of SRAM\u2019s AXS groupsets.<\/p>\n

Some touring bikes<\/a> will also feature a mullet drivetrain because it allows for a simpler setup with fewer components that may fail, while also giving a gear range that enables you to tap out hills on a heavily loaded bike.<\/p>\n

What about gravel groupsets?<\/h2>\n
\""Pinnacle\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Gravel derailleurs don\u2019t always offer the same range as those found on mountain bikes.<\/span><\/figcaption> Russell Burton \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

While, strictly speaking, a mullet drivetrain should encompass both road and mountain bike components, many manufacturers now produce 1x gravel groupsets that nearly match the range of a true mullet setup.<\/p>\n

However, gear range is still less than a mountain bike derailleur and cassette combo, which often feature cogs north of 50 teeth.<\/p>\n

Mullet drivetrains by manufacturer<\/h2>\n

SRAM mullet drivetrains explained<\/h3>\n
\""SRAM\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
SRAM has embraced mullet drivetrains.<\/span><\/figcaption> SRAM<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

SRAM has fully embraced mullet drivetrains with its AXS range.<\/p>\n

Any AXS shifters can be paired with any AXS Eagle rear derailleur.<\/p>\n

\""Sram\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
SRAM Apex Eagle levers are the first from the brand to use the X Actuation cable pull ratio.<\/span><\/figcaption> Warren Rossiter \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

On its mechanical groupsets, SRAM uses two different cable pull ratios, with Exact Actuation used on the road derailleurs and X Actuation used on the brand\u2019s 1x mountain bike derailleurs, making the two incompatible without modification.<\/p>\n

However, SRAM\u2019s new mechanical Apex Eagle<\/a> levers use the X Actuation pull ratio, making them compatible with all Eagle drivetrains.<\/p>\n

Shimano mullet drivetrains explained<\/h3>\n
\""Shimano\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Shimano Cues could be the brand\u2019s first mullet drivetrain.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Like SRAM, Shimano uses different cable pull ratios on its road and mountain bike groupsets. This means it\u2019s difficult to combine components without a third-party cable pull ratio adjuster.<\/p>\n

Its Di2 groupsets can be set up in mullet orientation, but at this time the solution is more of a bodge than an advertised feature.<\/p>\n

Shimano\u2019s new Cues<\/a> drivetrain holds promise for future mullet conversions, with every shifter in the new range using the same cable pull ratio.<\/p>\n

Tiagra is yet to fall into the Cues range, meaning drop levers are currently unavailable, though there is hope we will see an affordable mullet setup from Shimano soon.<\/p>\n

Microshift mullet drivetrains explained<\/h3>\n
\""Microshift\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Microshift has mullet options for all its drivetrains.<\/span><\/figcaption> Microshift<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Microshift is unusual in the fact the same cable pull ratio is used on both road and mountain bike groupsets, allowing for high levels of compatibility.<\/p>\n

The brand\u2019s Advent and Advent X<\/a> range enable you to combine a clutched rear derailleur with a maximum cog size of 46-tooth and a drop-bar shifter, although this restricts you to cable-operated disc brakes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Microshift also makes a variety of bar-end shifters that are compatible with Shimano and SRAM drivetrains, enabling you to operate a mullet drivetrain and still use hydraulic brakes.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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