12 Speed shimano Cranks

[guru]

Does anyone know if Shimano 12 speed cranks (Dura Ace and Ultegra) are compatible with an 11 speed drivetrain ?

[joevers]

Should work fine. Use a 12 speed Shimano chain.

[AngryScientist]

Should work totally fine. I'm using a 13 speed crank with a 10sp rear end with zero problems.

Additionally, when Athena came out in compact, everyone had an Athena-11 compact crank on their otherwise 10 speed bike.

no problems expected.

[fredd]

Hopefully they’ll snap less often…

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by joevers

Should work fine. Use a 12 speed Shimano chain.

Don't think so..match the chain to the cogset..but should be fine with a 11s chain.

[Mikej]

12s Shimano chains routinely used on 11s Shimano cassettes / cranks rd around here. So, 12s cranks and 11s rear end with 12s chain should work fine. 12s chains last waay longer.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by Mikej

12s Shimano chains routinely used on 11s Shimano cassettes / cranks rd around here. So, 12s cranks and 11s rear end with 12s chain should work fine. 12s chains last waay longer.

MTB, XTR/XT chains I'm guessing? I guess, but 12s XTR/XT also 'way' more expensive, particularly compared to some really long lasting 11s chains like KMC.

For right below..there is nothing unique about how a 12s chain(shimano) is made vs a 11s chain. Thinner plates, thinner pins and rollers but materials are the same as 11s XTR/XT.

[AngryScientist]

Originally Posted by Mikej

12s chains last waay longer.

why is that?

[Mikej]

[QUOTE=AngryScientist;3044414]why is that?

https://zerofrictioncycling.com.au/chaintesting/

[joevers]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

Don't think so..match the chain to the cogset..but should be fine with a 11s chain.

For a while folks have been running 12s chains on otherwise 11s road setups. I don't know whether or not an 11s chain will shift well or run smoothly on 12s chainrings, but I do know the XT/XTR 12s chains they run quieter and are supposed to last very well. An 11s chain might work fine, it probably will, but 20$ difference in chain price is pretty minimal if you're talking about buying a 12s Shimano crank.