What Is It?

The Wolf Tooth RoadLink DM (Direct Mount) is a CNC-machined aluminum derailleur link that replaces Shimano's stock direct-mount derailleur link. It is designed to increase cassette clearance on compatible Shimano road and gravel rear derailleurs, allowing the use of larger-range cassettes without replacing the derailleur.

How It Works

The RoadLink DM replaces the original Shimano direct-mount link (B-link) found on compatible derailleurs.

By repositioning the rear derailleur slightly lower and farther back:

It creates additional clearance for larger cassette sprockets.
Maintains better chain wrap than excessive B-screw adjustment.
Preserves near-factory shifting performance on wide-range cassette conversions.
Enables road and gravel bikes to run lower climbing gears for steep terrain, bikepacking, and touring.

Important: The RoadLink DM increases cassette clearance but does not increase derailleur chain capacity. Total drivetrain capacity limits still apply.

Key Features

CNC-machined 6061-T6 aluminum construction
Lightweight design
Stainless-steel mounting hardware
Optimized for Shimano 11-speed road and gravel drivetrains
Improves compatibility with 11-36T, 11-40T, and 11-42T cassettes
Helps maintain chain wrap and shifting quality
Suitable for road, gravel, touring, commuting, and bikepacking applications
Made in the USA

Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Type	Rear Derailleur Optimization Link
Brand	Wolf Tooth Components
Model	RoadLink DM
Material	CNC-machined 6061-T6 Aluminum
Hardware	Stainless Steel Bolt
Weight	20 g
Color	Black Anodized
Country of Manufacture	USA
Installation	Replaces Shimano direct-mount derailleur link

Compatibility

Compatible with:

Shimano 105 R7000
Shimano Ultegra R8000
Shimano Ultegra RX800 / RX805
Shimano Dura-Ace R9100
Shimano GRX RX810 (1x setups)

Optimized for:

11-36T cassette
11-40T cassette
11-42T cassette
Improves performance with 10-42T cassettes

Not compatible with:

Direct-mount derailleur hangers
Most 2x GRX setups
Triple-chainring drivetrains

Who Is This Best Suited For?

Gravel Riders

Perfect for riders wanting wider gearing and easier climbing without changing to a mountain-bike derailleur.

Bikepackers & Tourers

Ideal for loaded bikes that need lower gearing for long climbs and rough terrain.

Road Cyclists in Hilly Areas

Allows the use of larger cassettes while retaining Shimano 105, Ultegra, or Dura-Ace components.

1x Drivetrain Enthusiasts

A popular solution for converting road and gravel bikes to wider-range 1x gearing.

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