pgoat

Anyone have experience with these? Or know if they are rebranded and if so, made by whom?

I was thinking of grabbing a 7spd to pop on my commuter (rigid steel mtb, recently took off inner and outer chainrings, will run 46x12-28; chain ring is a TA with some mileage, chain is new SRAM PC-870/PC-58).

Any compatibility issues here?

Does anyone know how the Forte cassettes perform or hold up over time? I have only used Shimano HG with this bike.

redtires

I'm sure they are probably either Taiwanese or Chinese cassettes made to work with HG. Most likely made by SunRace or the like. I doubt you would have any problems with shifting, durability would most likely be akin to the lower end Shimano cassettes. Of course, if you don't take care of your drivetrain, even the most expensive cassette can be ruined in short time.

HillRider

I have two of Nashbar's house branded cassettes, one 7-speed and one 8-speed. They are on bikes using Shimano indexing shifters and they shift reasonably well. Not quite as good as Shimano's own but plenty good for the price. The bikes they are on are a beater and a bike dedicated to an indoor trainer so they are more than good enough for that service.

Since Nashbar is owned by Performance, it seem very likely the Forte and Nashbar cassettes are the same. Nashbar's are by Sun Race and are Taiwanese.

clancy98

I have their 9sp cassette and no problems at all, and it shifts great.

pgoat

Thanks guys.

I am typically horrible about chain maintenance and replacement but I learned my lesson now - I just ruined my last drive train, oiling the chain maybe two or three times in nearly two years and cleaning it less frequently than that

I plan to keep much better tabs on this now That I know better. Just wanted to see what people's experiences were with them.

This is definitely a beater bike, ridden 7-10 miles each way M-F to work and back. I'm near mass transit and can bail in emergencies, but wasn't sure whether there were any functional issues. As long as it shifts reasonably well with a single chainring (i have the 46T mounted on the middle of a triple crank) I'm cool with it assuming it would last say, a year or so. (That's with a clean and lubed chain)

TallRider

I've used both Performance-branded (Forte) and Nashbar-branded cassettes and have been pleased with them. HG-style ramped and shaped cog teeth are the norm now, and they work fine for shifting. Only bike I'm currently running them on is my commuter but I have a few others sitting around.

pgoat

Thanks Tim.

Btw, awesome webpages on your bikes! I'm gonna drool at my leisure when I am off later this week.

Mondoman

I picked up a 7-speed Forte cassette last fall on sale, and was not impressed. The build quality looked shoddy, so I returned it and paid an extra $5 for an SRAM cassette.

JTGraphics

I just sent Performance Bike a email last week with my concern that the Forte cassette's I was using had a serious defect and they are checking into it.
I have had 2 Forte cassette's snap 12t gears off while riding once almost put me down while I was standing sprinting and snap! like a chain breaking, the next one while sitting, and a coworker just snapped one off last week. Thats when I sent them a letter with my concern.
If anyone else has had this happen let them know.

pgoat

Doh!

I saw all thumbs' up this morning and just hit the order button....then I see this

oh, well, $19.99 plus 10% off. we shall see....

JTGraphics

Ya @ $19 it is a deal for sure but that time it came apart when sprinting wasn't so great then this wasn't once but twice for me and then my coworker did the same, I was lucky someone may not be that’s why I wrote them I hope something becomes of it for some else's sake.

pgoat

thanks for doing that, and for sharing here.

I'm just putting this on a beater commuter, but I still need to charge through traffic lights and whatnot so it's a concern....maybe at those prices it was just a bad QC issue?

pls let us know if they respond.

rydaddy

This happened to my co-worker last year. It was a high gear too, not sure if it was 12t or not. I told him to stay away and he didn't listen.

A commuter should be ok... but my buddy was riding XC.

JTGraphics

For me it was my commuter this was on.

Mondoman

If you don't already know about it, check out www.spadout.com when searching for mtn bike components. They list the SRAM PG-730 cassette at roughly $13-20, depending on the vendor (plus shipping, of course). They also list a Shimano Megarange 11-34 7speed for under $17 at Niagara Cycle Works: https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...oducts_id=6355

rydaddy

Yeah, 'commuter' could be defined many ways. I commute on my racing bike. In any case, my buddy's cassette exploded on him.

pgoat

It can - my commutes are slow in terms of mph (well, actually, that would be all my riding) but I do a lot of little bursts, much stop and go and needing to zip through lights, away from trucks trying to kill me, etc etc. so it is a concern when stuff fails you suddenly and catastrophically.

Please do keep us posted. If there is a lot # etc I want to make sure Performance follows up and does right by its customers.


I usually buy their tubes in bulk and I have been having serious QC issues in the past year or two, mainly with leaks around the valve area (the little oval section the valve is seated in). I wrote them once and they never responded. I may just have to bug them again now (just had another new tube go the other day); I have certainly spent thousands of dollars there over the years, so I have earned the right to gripe.

Lawrence08648

I bought a 9 speed 28T cassette from Nashbar a few years ago and it looks very very cheap. I used it twice and it made noise. I'm waiting to replace my chain and chainrings before I try using it again. If it makes noise this time, back it goes.

ErnieAZ

I bought an 8-speed Forte cassette from Performance last year. It lasted 2 1/2 months, 350 miles. A tooth broke off the smallest cog (12 teeth), and another tooth was cracked and about to break off. It was a very poor quality product. I didn't pay much for it and just tossed it in the trash, rather than go to the trouble and expense of returning it. I did give it a poor review on Performance's website. https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=5130.

Lawrence08648

I posted in April that I had bought a Nashbar cassette 28t and it looked cheap. I replaced my chainrings, chain, and cassette using that cassette. I only bought it as a hill climbing cassette so I've since taken it off and am using a 26t until I need it for steep hills. I used it for almost a month and probably have 600-800 miles on it and it's worked fine. I'm happy with it.

apacherider

I know this is an old thread but I broke the second smallest cog on a Forte 9 speed cassette last night. The ring that comprises that 2nd smallest cog cracked on my ride, then proceeded to self destruct 4-5 miles later. The cassette was purchased 10 days ago. Used on an XC bike and most of it was pavement/street riding, about 200 miles or so. Only 10 of which were singletrack.

Pretty annoyed as this is the SECOND forte cassette to fail on me in this same gear.

Photo below, you can see where the second smallest cog is completely missing:



I spend thousands at Performance every year. Really ticked off that this happened. In all my years of riding I have never even broke a chain so seeing a cassette fail, twice in as many weeks is somewhat disturbing.

shelbyfv

Maybe you should have bought something different after the first one broke?

apacherider

It was the only 9 speed MTB cassette they had in stock at the time other than XTR. The other Forte cassette I broke, I just chunked in the trash since I had bought it over 6 months ago, still not alot of miles on it, under 1000. The latest cassette is heading back to Performance.

Weird thing is that they are made of steel, not a flimsy aluminum. I wonder if they were not heat treated correctly?

shelbyfv

At least Performance has a great return policy. Price Point usually has good prices on SRAM 9 speed mtn bike cassettes.

JTGraphics

Yes but the record of of the quality isn't very good as far as I am concerned and return policy doesn't cover medical if you go down as I almost did.