SunRace CSMZ90 Cassette: Product Overview (The Eagle Alternative?)

Overview

While some companies are looking to create and release new, never-before-seen products to the market, there are other companies looking to improve or adapt on these new products. SunRace has been doing this for years with their aftermarket drivetrain parts. With a wide variety of 11-speed cassettes to choose from, you can take your existing 11-40T Shimano cassette and replace it with an 11-46T or 11-50t 11 speed offering from SunRace. Usually coming in at a lower cost, all black and utilizing the same Shimano/Sram 10-11spd freehub body, it's possible to get a large range on almost any bike on the market. Now fast forward to the release of Sram’s GX Eagle, making the large range 12 speed much more affordable. Unfortunately, there was one issue: freehub bodies…

Compatibility

Not all hubs or wheelsets offer an XD freehub so that you can run Sram or E*Thirteen style cassettes. Actually, for many OEM hubs and wheels, it’s almost impossible to make that happen. While the GX shifter and derailleur are not terribly expensive, the freehub is the limiting factor. Sunrace’s introduction of the CSMZ90 12 speed wide ratio cassette offers a simple solution to this problem. It has a spread of 11-50t and that’s all on the 10-speed style freehub body. You can now get a wide range 12-speed cassette on many, many bikes out there! Retail price is $110, making it less expensive than the Sram GX cassette and capable of fitting on more bikes. You do, unfortunately, miss out on the 10t you get with Eagle, but Sunrace figured that compatibility with more freehubs was more important than having the small gear. There is still an impressive 11-50t range that will fulfill most riders out there!

Our Take

While we are still waiting to get our first Sunrace 12 speed cassette to test, this new release is exciting for those riders on stock bikes that cannot get an XD freehub body or someone looking to gain greater range at a low cost. The SunRace CSMZ90 12 speed wide ratio cassette has caught our eye for sure. From it's blacked out stealthy finish to the affordable retail price. It's not every day you can see a new product and say it’s affordable!