The PG-1170 sits in the middle of SRAM's 11-speed road cassette hierarchy — one step below the Red XG-1190 and Force XG-1170 X-Dome cassettes, and a step above the PG-1130. Heat-treated steel cogs handle the durability side, and the largest four cogs are fixed to an alloy carrier for weight savings and stiffness. That construction is why it's the go-to replacement cassette when a rider needs 11-speed shifting without paying for the machined-from-billet X-Dome cluster on the higher-end options.

The PG-1170 is compatible with the Force 22 and Red 22 11-speed chains , and it drops onto any Shimano/SRAM 11-speed road freehub body — the standard HG driver you already have on most road wheelsets. No hub changes, no swap kits, just install and set your B-tension. If you're building up a bike with 11-speed SRAM shifters or replacing a worn cassette on an existing Force 22 or Red 22 drivetrain, this is the direct fit.

Gear range is where the decision usually gets made. The 11-25T and 11-26T ratios keep the jumps tight for flatter courses and criterium-style riding, the 11-28T is the do-everything option most riders end up on, and the 11-36T opens things up for climbing, gravel, or 1x setups when paired with a Force CX-1 rear derailleur. Note that Shimano GS-cage derailleurs will shift the 11-36T just fine in practice even though Shimano's own spec sheet caps the officially supported large cog at 34T — a small B-limit adjustment gets it dialed.... Read More