SHIMANO SLX cassette 12-speed CS-M7100 | 10-51 teeth Shimano follows suit and also relies on a 12-speed drive for the SLX M7100 group. In contrast to the competition, the Japanese give the biker the choice whether he prefers a maximum bandwidth (10-51 teeth) or a more narrowly graded cassette with lower cadence jumps when shifting (10-45 teeth). The former particularly appeals to riders who want to pedal long and steep climbs with high cadence. Soft and precise shifting processes have always been a trademark of Shimano cassettes. The sprockets of the last generation Hyperglide cassettes have been placed in such a way that the chain runs extremely smoothly and with little vibration, especially when shifting to a larger sprocket. Shimano introduces Hyperglide + with the SLX M7100 cassette. Thanks to this technology, the gear changes now take place just as smoothly when shifting into a heavier gear and are 1/3 faster compared to the CS-M7000 cassette. When designing the cassette, Shimano relies on a material mix of steel and aluminum for the pinions. While the ten small sprockets with the lowest chain wrap and the highest load are made of steel, the two large sprockets are made of aluminum. This load-dependent use of material leads to even wear of the cassette and also extends the life of the chain. The cassette is held together by an aluminum spider.