PULLEY
WHEEL
The most common bearing used in a bike rear derailleur pulley wheel is the 688 (inner diameter: 8mm, outer diameter: 16mm, width: 5mm).
In pulley wheel situations, the wheels usually wear out faster than the bearings themselves. Hence, the need to replace the bearings in pulley wheels is very rare. Instead, replacing the pulley wheels provides a fresh start.
There are many options for pulley wheels to fit various rear derailleur systems, making it difficult to choose. Follow this basic principle: know your rear derailleur speed and brand, then check the following table to find the right one for you.
Larger pulley wheels tend to be better for energy saving (even if only slightly) and also look great. Measure your current rear derailleur cage to determine the maximum size that will fit.
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KNOW YOUR PULLEY WHEEL
There are three main stream brands of rear derailleur systems in the market, they are Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo. Each brand has different variations such as 10, 11, 12 speed and can accommodate 11, 12, 13, 15 tooth pulley wheels. There are much larger size pulley wheels available, but it normally comes with its own cage due to the limitation of the original cage size.
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If you know your rear derailleur system brand, the speed and you can check the maximum size of pulley wheels your current cage can handle, you can easily go through the following table to lock in the pulley wheels you will need.
FIND YOUR PULLEY WHEEL
Special Notes:
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All road-version pulley wheels are oil and grease-free, utilizing the ceramic ball's natural lubrication feature on hardened bearing races. Therefore, there is no need to apply oil or grease before use. Simply check every 5,000 km to ensure they are running smoothly. If they become dirty, clean them with soapy water and rinse with tap water.
Delrin, carbon fiber, alloy, and titanium wheels each have their own features, as outlined below for your reference:
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Delrin: Durable, lightweight, and runs very quietly. While not visually striking, it gets the job done. It is an affordable option.
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Carbon Fiber: Extremely lightweight and visually appealing, but can be slightly noisier than Delrin and may wear out more quickly.
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Alloy: Highly durable with a slightly noisier performance than Delrin, though not annoyingly so. It looks great and has excellent longevity.
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Titanium: Exceptionally durable, lightweight, and visually superior. It’s an excellent upgrade for your system but comes at a premium price.
Tooth Count and Compatibility:
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11-tooth pulley wheels are the standard starting point. Laboratory tests show that larger pulley wheels can reduce power consumption, but the gain is marginal. If you are competing at a high level, it may be worth investing in oversized jockey wheels ranging from 12-tooth to 15-tooth or even larger. The oversized pulley wheels do look great and can enhance the overall appearance of your bike. However, please ensure compatibility with your current cage size.
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Our range includes pulley wheels up to 15-tooth, which will fit most medium and long cage rear derailleurs without requiring a cage change. For your convenience, we have listed the pulley wheel sizes along with their diameters.
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11-tooth pulley wheels: Compatible with almost all systems, whether short, medium, or long cage. Diameter: 42mm.
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12-tooth pulley wheels: Compatible with medium and long cage systems. Diameter: 46mm.
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13-tooth pulley wheels: Compatible with medium and long cage systems. Diameter: 51mm.
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14-tooth pulley wheels: Compatible with medium and long cage systems, primarily for MTB use. Diameter: 49.5mm.
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15-tooth pulley wheels: Compatible with medium and long cage systems. Diameter: 59mm.
Narrow-Wide Tooth System:
The narrow-wide tooth (narrow tooth thickness: 2.2mm; wide tooth thickness: 3.7mm) pulley wheels are designed specifically for SRAM Eagle systems. All other pulley wheels use narrow-tooth designs.
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Narrow Tooth
Narrow-Wide Tooth