When SRAM's XX1 drivetrain debuted back in 2012 it created quite a stir, thanks to its wide-range, eleven speed 10-42 tooth cassette, and a unique chainring tooth profile that made chain guides optional equipment for riders that chose to get rid of their front derailleurs. There was only one catch – the high price of admission. The XX1 group retails somewhere in the neighborhood of $1500 USD, a price that helped create a burgeoning aftermarket accessory industry fueled by riders that wanted to run a wide-range 1x setup, but couldn't justify laying out the cash to turn things up 11.
SRAM GX Drivetrain Details• 11-speed, 10-42 tooth Full Pin cassette
• Available in 1x or 2x configurations
• Trigger or Grip Shift
• Open Core aluminum crank arms
• Bottom bracket options: BB30, PressFit 30, GXP, PressFit GXP
• Price: $564 USD
•
www.sram.com /
@SramMedia Last year's launch of the X1 drivetrain slightly reduced the cost of converting to a SRAM 11-speed drivetrain, but its pricing still remained on the higher end of the spectrum. That brings us to the GX gruppo, the one that finally tips the scales in favor of affordability. A complete drivetrain, including cranks, goes for $564 USD. Already have a set of cranks and a narrow-wide chainring that you like? Then the price for a new derailleur, chain, cassette, and shifter is $333, although bear in mind that doesn't include the price of an XD driver body, a necessity for running SRAM's 11-speed cassettes.
We covered the
nitty-gritty details of the GX group when it was first announced, but here's a quick rundown of the components, and a look at how SRAM was able to reduce the overall price so drastically.
Cassette: The GX cassette is where a large portion of the cost reduction comes from. It's constructed from 11 chromoly cogs that are joined together with 123 stainless steel pins. Using those pins rather than machining the whole assembly from one chunk of steel (the method used for the XX1 cassette) does create a heavier final product, but it greatly reduces the cost, and the 401 gram XG 1150 cassette retails for $144 USD. For comparison, an XX1 cassette costs $416 and weighs 260 grams.
Shifter: Once again, the GX shifters are nearly identical to their X1 relative, with an aluminum thumb paddle for upshifts and a smaller composite paddle for downshifts. There are two mounting position to help get the distance between the lever and a rider's thumb just right, and the unit is also Matchmaker compatible, allowing it to play nicely when it's used in conjunction with SRAM's brakes.
Derailleur: Visually the GX derailleur looks very similar to an X1 derailleur, and the weight difference between the two is less than 10 grams. It has all the features we've come to expect from SRAM's higher end derailleurs, including version 2.1 of their roller bearing clutch design, and the Cage Lock system that (as the name suggests) locks the cage into a forward position for easy rear wheel removal.
Cranks: The GX 1400 crankset's hollow crank arms are constructed from 7075-series aluminum, and are joined to either a 24mm or 30mm spindle depending on the bottom bracket being used. A four bolt, 94mm BCD pattern is used to hold the X-Sync chainring on, but it is possible to remove the spider and install one of SRAM's direct mount rings, which are available all the way down to a 26 tooth option, just in case you plan on pedaling up a vertical wall.
On the TrailAlthough there may be a significant price difference between the GX gruppo and its more expensive siblings, out on the trail the performance is remarkably similar. Each click of the shifter is met with a positive response from the rear derailleur, and it's easy to tell when the chain has moved to the next cog. The shape of the thumb paddle on the GX shifter, the one that's used to move to an easier gear, is ever-so-slightly different than that found on an X1 shifter, but the action feels identical. It's possible to move up through five gears with one push of the larger lever, and the smaller trigger moves the derailleur down the cassette one gear at a time. Throughout the duration of the test period, shifting was accurate and precise, without any ghost shifting or odd behavior. This particular drivetrain spent time on two different bikes, and ended up being impressively low maintenance - other than a minor cable tension tweak no other adjustments were needed.
The best components are ones that don't call attention to themselves, and that proved to be the case with the GX crankset. Once installed, there weren't any issues, just smooth spinning no matter the conditions. The fact that they can accept a direct mount chainring is a nice touch, an option that will be welcomed by riders seeking easier gearing or just looking to save a little bit of weight. Given the GX 1400's ability to accept chainrings ranging from 26 all the way up to 38 teeth, it's simply a matter of picking the size that best matches the terrain you ride most frequently and going from there.
DurabilityThe overall durability of the GX group has been downright impressive. The rear derailleur now bears a few scratches and scars from close encounters with rocks, but it's still shifting smoothly, and there's no excessive play or noise coming from any of the pivots. Even the little pulley wheel that the cable is routed around is spinning freely – I thought for sure that the mud and grit would have gummed it up to some degree. All of the pins in the cassette are still securely in place, and the wear on the cogs is relatively even and on par for the number of miles it's seen.
Issues
As far as functionality goes, the GX drivetrain was completely trouble free – the derailleur and shifter both withstood months of abuse, and they still have plenty of life left in them. I do have two small wishes though, wishes that apply to all of SRAM's mountain bike drivetrains and not just GX. They may not be possible due to patents held by Shimano, but it's worth a try.
The first request would be for an adjustable clutch. Previously, even though it wasn't specifically advertised or recommended by SRAM, it was possible to increase the clutch tension on Type 2 derailleurs by removing a plastic dust cap and turning the large torx head bolt hidden underneath.
Newer derailleurs are marked as being Type 2.1, and have a pin that holds the bolt into place, making increasing the tension impossible. There was enough tension on the GX derailleur to keep the chain on without a chain guide, but I would have liked to be able to increase it a little bit in order to reduce the amount of chain slap.
The other request would be to have the ability to drop multiple gears with one push. If you're currently on a SRAM drivetrain, think about how many times you 'click, click' through two gears at a time. It'd be great to be able to push the smaller thumb paddle a little further and be able to drop two gears instead of one.
Pinkbike's Take: | For riders who are interested in giving a 1x11 drivetrain a try, the GX gruppo drops the price of admission even further, and offers nearly identical performance to SRAM's higher end offerings at a much lower cost. The extra weight is really the only penalty that the more wallet friendly components incur, and if those grams are truly a concern they can easily be shed by ponying up for a lighter cassette. This is the trickle-down group that riders have been waiting for, and there's no doubt that we'll be seeing it specc'd on plenty of complete bikes in 2016. - Mike Kazimer |
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I also agree with @ajax-ripper, Im a shimano man but the 11 spd sram has been much smoother in my experience
Next year will be XTR action, will see how it works.
Regarding the reliability, it's worth mentioning the simplicity of SRAM's shifters forced Shimano to drastically reduce the number of pieces inside their shifters to less than half the previous amount.
To me, anyone who shits on either system, especially at the SLX/XT/X9 level probably just hasn't spent enough time on them. They're both great tech, and work really well. Every design has its tradeoffs.
And FWIW, I used to say silly things like "Shimano for life" before I aged a bit and acquired some wisdom. Now I buy whatever works best for me at whatever price regardless of brand. I guess there are some advantages to getting old...
I previously only had Shimano on my bikes and then I bought a bike with XX1...oh god I hated it but like @bkm303 said, you get used to it! Now I love it but for my new bike, I think I'm gonna go with XT M8000 shifter and derailleur instead of Sram GX. I've got Guide RSC and X1 cassette but will mix it with a little bit of Shimano cause I REALLY miss that doubleshift thing!!!
Come to think of it, the above is probably why I have had success as an on-the-side mechanic, because enthusiasts talk, and the handful that i've done work for don't trust the local shops.
The primary issue with Shimano is that the fat teeth on the chainring still drop chain sometimes. I've NEVER dropped a chain with the narrow-wide profile of the SRAM chainrings whereas it happened several times with the Shimano "fat tooth" chainring in only a few rides.
To cite a previous Mike Kazimer article, "it's an acquired taste..."
There is no better option for a tinkering shredder.
10 cog with a 34 chain ring is a higher gear ratio than an 11 cog with a 36 chain ring.
Makes a huge difference on steep downhills.
I will ride 36t fron with 11-40t back on 650B wheel. I like hard gear, I haven't earned it, I am this way. If world's fastest downhillers and Enduroers use 36t front to 11t back then sorry mate, who are you trying to fool that you need a harder gear? Abzillah - who the F pedals on steep downhills?
So yeah, XT kinda owns the 1x11 argument at the moment.
Now of course there is personal preference, and I respect that. SRAM shifters have a heavier, longer, more "positive" action than Shimano. Shimano's top shifters are very light, with a crisp, short throw. What I get out of it is the feel of a precision instrument vs. one designed for blunt force. As an engineer, I really appreciate precision and something that feels as if it was designed with incredible attention to detail. Note I said "feels".
That said, if you ARE willing to pay for that small weight savings, then you can run a SRAM cassette with shimano shifter/mech combos.
I'm still in love with the Rohloff 14 speed gear hub option. Yep, I'm one of those guys. Just wish I could afford it.
I owe you a beer ! You just made my day/evening !
Ref: X0 9speed and SLX vs X9 10sp. Bang on the dot !
I tried:
M8000 rear der with 10speed XT shifter and 10speed cassette = ALL OK.
M8000 rear der with 9speed SRAM shifter and 9speed cassette = ALL OK.
SLX 10sp SGS rear der with 11 speed XT Shifter+Cassette 42T = Almost OK (need a bigger upper pulley on the SLX and then it's OK)
Or, you can keep your existing freehub, buy an XT cassette and 45t expander, and go to a 36 or 38t front ring for that super high gear without losing your low gear. Then when that rear cog is worn next season, replace just that cog for $60 (a price at which you'll find them easily by that time).
Again, the super-wide-range cassette is a cool idea, but factor in the price penalty and it fails vs. expanded XT.
This is a silly comparison as we are excluding 99% of the buying public in the process, but I did it to prove my point. GX is more expensive than XT no matter how you work it, despite the fact that GX is targeted at Deore/SLX.
For the rest of the world, the XD requirement widens the gap immensely. Hell 90% of them are still on Shimano or clone hubs so GX means at least $300 for a new wheelset.
Plus I've spent probably 15,000 quid on mountain bikes in the last 8 years, I dont give a shit about 15 quid extra for a gx cassette over an xt. Shifting performance is identical (I should know, im running one of each cassette back to back on the same bike (they didn't have the xd driver in stock and needed to get it rideable)) and the xt cassette is actually heavier than the gx.
Considering weve not even touched the subject of improved ground clearance and less weight with a smaller chainring, your not gaining any head way here.
Far more bikes come with 11spd SRAM than Shimano because 11spd SRAM has been around for three years! XT just came out! It won't take long at all (it's started already) for XT to supplant X1 in bike specs, and GX will be a pretty rare showing as there's no point when you can get a better groupset cheaper. XX1/X01 will probably remain dominant in the high end space (at least for AM/Enduro) because Shimano hasn't really positioned XTR as a real competitor to those groups. They are pushing XT for AM/Enduro 1x11 applications.
Shifting performance is far from identical, I know from experience. For starters, SRAM's groups require pretty regular adjustment to maintain clean shifting, and even at it's best, it can't match Shimano's "it just works" functionality. Shimano is set-and-forget, or until you break something. As I mentioned elsewhere in these comments, I have yet to meet anyone in person who would choose SRAM over Shimano given the choice. It's only here on the internet that I find the SRAM fanboys. Likely because they feel they have a chip on their shoulder and must speak up. I dunno. It's silly though, if you prefer SRAM for any reason (even if you just like red and black, I know I do), that's cool. But don't bash the company that's been building some of the best MTB components out there for decades to make yourself feel better. That's pathetic.
And your doing exactly the same, so pot kettle black.
Shimano have also been responsible for some of the worst mtb components too (7 speed SIS).
Naturally you would probably say to that - well SRAM cassettes would give you the same range without needing to be expanded. I agree, and in fact I tried to work that out.
The problem was that my expanded 10-speed cassette cost me a grand total of $88 (new XT cassette - $38, new OneUp 42t/16t kit - $50), and the expanded 11-speed cassette will cost me $158 (new XT cassette - $68, new OneUp 45t kit - $90). Equivalent quality and range with SRAM would cost me $298 on my AM bike (new X1 cassette - $233, Spank XD driver - $65), and a whopping $433 on my trail bike (new X1 cassette - $233, new Fulcrum XD driver - $200). So as you can see, it's no contest in my case, and I even have convertible wheels, where most of the world does not.
Comments: I haven't used this but it is overpriced and will break on you in 2 seconds. SHIMANO 4 LYFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who to trust though?
I do speak up alot here because this is the only place i've seen such a herd of SRAM fanboys. It just doesn't exist in the real world from my experience.
You could also realize that we are debating opinions here and that the words "can only be said in..." are automatically incorrect.
But don't bash the company that's been building some of the best MTB components out there for decades to make yourself feel better. That's pathetic.
Its exactly what you're doing, so please, shut the f*ck up now. We get it, you prefer shimano, you don't need to go on and on and on on every single comment on this article. People have different opinions and preferences to you. Get over it.
"Have you tried guide RSCs? Mine shit all over anything shimano has made ever."
Your quote. Here's some advice that you shoudln't need - Don't want to see bashing? Don't start bashing. If you would have shut the f*ck up at the start, we wouldn't be here right now. Get your house in order before you criticize mine.
So the real irony here is your trying to get the last word in and be right, when all you've done is point out how ridiculous you've been. Im done, I won't let another idiot drag me down to their level and beat me with experience.
The problem is that you've taken my words as a personal affront. You posted a strongly worded comment, so I responded with one, and you took it personally.
The truth is i'm not here to bash SRAM. I'm here to point out that Shimano is a better value. I'm not the one posting words like "shits all over anything shimano has made ever". I've had several other mature discussions with folks in this thread about the merits of each product, but you are the only one attacking anything.
But I agree, we should be done with this, because we are accomplishing nothing.
once i kill the xt/zee setup up i'll swap it out for a xt 11spd. shimano just makes a better product all the way around imo.
I have a problem with X9 pivot bolt having seized inside the body (no, not the hanger).
I'll probably stick to 10sp with an expander cog.
I ditched my x7 that came with mine as it's was behaving like yours. Lost count of how many times I tweaked and changed cables. I went shimano and cured it but I then switched to eternal for longevity and maintenence reasons and found it was miles slicker aswell. Wish kona would put proper big entry /exit ports on instead so can run internal one piece.
-two rear mechs randomly failed
-chains and cassettes are much more expensive
-shifter pawls made of butter
I run two faultless Zee set ups, one with a cage I had to straighten and a shifter pod I got off ebay with no cover on. Shimano chains (dont get the ones that rust) can still be joined with powerlinks and are cheap as chips from Chainreaction.
Just my experience but Sram has terrible wear and reliability issues.
Hey, drop the jabs about small chain rings only for climbing walls. There are legit reasons for such rings. The aluminum 42t cog is precious, so it's smart to avoid using it. I love the challenge of riding steep stuff in spite of walking. Personally, I use a 28t or 30t oval, but have tried the 26t and 32t. Love direct mount rings! Also, more comparison to Shimano would be nice - seems XT 1x11 is within $20 of GX.
I would appreciate more info on the cassette. When buying a replacement for my worn X01 cassette I strongly considered the GX, but there is no info out there about the shifting quality. The construction is so different and there is actually potential for improved shifting considering the ease of machining individual cogs . . . maybe you could add more details on that.
@fatenduro - you are so right - cost of wear items is high! I've been on X01 for 2 seasons and have worn-out 4 rings. Now switching to steel from WolfTooth! Additionally I've worn-out 1 cassette and 2 chains, but that's not unreasonable.
Also, XT is quite a bit cheaper than GX at the moment. under $400 for complete groupset, just over $500 if you want brakes too.
My thoughts, impressions:
- I only went with the XT cassette because my old hub didn't have a new free hub body option. I'd have payed the extra costs for the Sram, and not particularly for the 10t which I'd barely use. But it weights less. And that unsprung weight I gained with the new cassette is very noticeable for me. It'd shred mud better and - it's subjective - more aesthetic as well.
- The Sram shifter is just way more ergonomic, and so crisp, precise. The only thing I miss is the double upshift option. Comparing to higher models, you can't feel the difference. Unlike with Shimano where XTR shifter was in another league even from XT.
- The derailleur is just a derailleur, works fine. Comparing to Shadow+ design, it is so big though.
I have always used Shimano XT drivetrain before, although I wished for Sram since the 9 speed era. They really ruled back then. This 10 speed experience lasted only for a couple of months for me.
So all in all I'm very impressed with what I got for my money. I'm sure you wouldn't be disappointed either.
The new XT looks promising, too. It is really up to personal preference what you like. None is better than the other, just offers a slightly different package.
The Bronson lives up to it's billing, it's stable at speed while still feeling agile and a lotta fun! The price point isn't too bad. I love their linkage design, the non press fit BB, and the Boost spacing feels fine. I ride the Bronson as my only bike and it does well on everything from XC rides to park laps. I ride mostly aggressive trails on it and it shines!
how is the bike in steep downhill sections?
Not saying the SRAM kit is bad as I know many people who use it happily with no issue but they all got it on a full build bikes as nobody can afford to buy it aftermarket. I've worked in bikes shops so can see the mark up and it just makes me angry they are cheeky enough to charge it, would rather buy from a company that doesn't charge a fortune just because it can, especially when is comes to wearable / replaceable items like cassettes.
Also never realised people cared about the 10t cog so much, I never even use my 11t unless spinning out downhill on the road but who needs that on their MOUNTAIN bike, totally not worth the XD driver and pricey cassette.
Plenty of steepish, chunky terrain around here in my neck of CA....regularly 20-30%...never drop a chain, badass brakes with 180mm rotors, super cheap setup with the sram pg-950 cassette (only $25 for that bad boy!).
Does it shift? Yes?
OK. Go ride.
www.pinkbike.com/u/nate-at-bikeco-com/blog/xx1-cassette-install--creak-check.html
You don't need to run a chain tensioner
I'm running 1x10 shimano and RF NW ring...so far over 2k miles and only now starting to drop the chain once in a great while.
I can't comment for the gx pinned cassette, but the one piece ones are ridiculously hard, you tend to go through chains and chain rings but the cassettes last really really well in my experience (especially if you're good about replacing the chains and chain rings)
Way better than any of my 2-3x setups in terms of drivetrain lifespan