FIRST IMPRESSIONS | EDITORIAL
Transmission For (A Bit) Less - SRAM T-Types GX
Our business is a luxury business" - Chris Hilton, SRAM
Gone Gucci
I unload the T-Type-equipped, Ultimate suspended, Kamloopsian carbon fibre Arrival 170mm from my bike rack and cautiously look both ways before crossing the street. I tell myself I'm worried about getting smoked by one of my fellow mountain bicyclists, ripping residential roads in their TRD Tacoma but the truth is, I'm paranoid that I'm going to be that asshole whose GX Transmission test rig shows up in photos on the internet before July 11th. Actually, the whole scene is a bit weird.
How did I end up reviewing SRAM's latest entry into bourgeoise bicycle bits, even if it is the budget-friendlier version of the newest wireless shifting system? Hell if I know. It's certainly not because my opinion on buttons and batteries for mountain bikes matters. But, ask any shop around and they'll tell you that the only mountain bikes selling for full retail these days feature a T-Type drivetrain.
I'm just hoping SRAM pumps as hard marketing GX Transmission as they did with the earlier releases, and all you babes in bike land are satiated on marketing malarky before coming across my banal balladry. This shi...ft is really good but, much like a $600 rain jacket, it's a lot easier to just go ride it than to try and write about its value. I believe we need a distraction...
LOOK OVER THERE! THAT GUY IS STANDING ON HIS REAR DERAILLEUR!
Next up on NSMB.com we'll be reviewing the fresh LV x YK Maxi Bumbags. Cam McRae will be sporting this spectacular "My Eternal Soul" model featuring "surrealistic organic shapes in pulsating colors" for 4500 CAD.
Always looking out for the min-max winner in any lineup, Andrew Major mines the Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama collection for the highest value. This trio of colourful pumpkins is 23.5% less expensive, at 3450 CAD.
Luxury Landscape
"You don't have to buy it!" - Chris Hilton, SRAM
Having the time and means to ride bicycles in the forest is a luxury. It's always been a luxury, even back to the activity's local roots in bike messenger culture. Luxury. Even for those few folks doing it on the cheap by rooting through the tire recycling pile at their local shop looking for that 90% Assegai with a ripped sidewall or a Magic Mary that's missing a couple of knobs.
What drives me bonkers, is when folks point to products like SRAM's Transmission as examples of mountain biking becoming too expensive for the average enthusiast. It's like saying commuting across town has become too expensive because helicopter commute prices have soared since they started serving champagne.
Lower-priced bikes have never been better. Boutique bikes continue to sell very well and, just like high-end car models, that’s where all the margin dollars are hiding.
Just keep cranking and GX Transmission delivers the kind of master-level triple-rainbow shifts that would have been cause for celebration when manually timing the shifting on drivetrains gone by.
The lower-priced T-Type manages to deliver all the shifting performance of SRAM's Transmission promise in a great-looking package rather than the nouveau riche, trying too hard to look expensive, vibes of the top-end options.
It's true; riding a T-Type bike provides the luxury of not having to learn to tune or shift a drivetrain - although, you may have to remind Jeeves to plug the batteries in - but there's nothing here that is remotely necessary to having a wicked time playing bikes in the woods.
The 1100 USD price of a GX T-Type crate drivetrain is significantly less than other Transmission options. For the same complete package with cranks (minus a bottom bracket) XO will run 1600 USD, XX1 will take 2050 USD, and the XC World Cup-winning XX SL is 2200 USD.
It's still a metric shit-ton of money to shift a bicycle drivetrain. Ostentation is in the eye of the bike owner.
I’m not racing so I can choose esoteric & eccentric over efficient & exotic.
GX T-Type gets the replaceable skid plates and outer link, tool-free cage, and clutch of its higher price siblings.
GX Transmission direct mount. No limit screws here. Though there's no b-tension screw, the derailleur position is still adjusted as part of setup.
The appearance of the massive clutch knuckle is softened on the GX derailleur.
Upgrading the GX T-Type cassette (250 USD) to an XO T-Type cassette (400 USD) and GX chain (50 USD) to an X0 chain (100 USD) 'only' adds 200 USD to the bill and based on Eagle and AXS results, this may significantly increase drivetrain life.*
Sadly, we all know that product managers will be stashing GX cassettes and chains on XO T-Type bikes, instead of the other way around where it would make a real difference to performance longevity. That's the long-term key to sustainability of performance because fresh out of the box, I do not believe anyone can tell the difference between GX and the other T-Type drivetrains.
When it comes to the shifting performance of GX Transmission, it is as excellent as it is unnecessary for the average mountain biker.
*To be clear, while this may turn out to be accurate, we don't yet have data on the longevity of the GX T-Type chain and cassette, which are nothing like the GX AXS/Eagle versions. More on that below. -Ed.
The inner cage is made from steel but GX T-Type, like the XO version, does not come stock with the self-saving lower 'Magic Pulley.'
Tool-free cage replacement is just so easy, and T-Type cages are interchangeable.
Already sporting some contact scars - that's mountain biking.
Automatic Shifting
"...inspiring cyclists is where we aspire to be." - James Alberts, SRAM.
One of my friends at SRAM asked me how I was getting along with GX T-Type after my first few rides. And, I had to admit, it's the lightest, fastest, most automatic shifting I've ever ridden. I told him that compared to the multi-speed drivetrain on my Marin, this thing is much more precise and intuitive. Then I laughed because the drivetrain on my El Roy is actuated by a friction thumb shifter run underneath my handlebar.
There's a duality here, considering this can be impressive and really not matter at the same time. The acceleration of a Lamborghini Aventador is mind-boggling and that car also goes the same speed as a 1981 Mazda B2000 in bumper-to-bumper Vancouver traffic. I’m not racing, so I can choose esoteric & eccentric over efficient & exotic.
It took a half dozen rides to get used to the push-button T-Type remote, which clearly embraces the wireless nature of SRAM's top-end shifting.
It likely comes as no surprise that the push-button remote and instant servo-motor shifting is much more intuitive than my friction thumb shifter.
What's interesting, to me, is how much I prefer the simple two-button controller, now, compared to the much more sophisticated first-gen AXS remote.
I shift significantly more often while riding Transmission when compared to any other drivetrain. I credit this to the fact that there's zero brain power required beyond pushing a button. There's no need to soft pedal, adjust cadence, or do anything but just keep turning those cranks. Truly, the less I think about shifting, the better T-Type shifts.
The system is not automatic-automatic like it will be one day (or like Shimano's new system can be -Ed.). I still have to push the button to tell the derailleur to go up or down my cassette but that's the full extent of responsibility for my brain which otherwise can stay occupied trying to remember the lyrics to whatever I'm singing in my head.
Now, out of boredom, I find myself trying to break it. I'm regularly shifting in situations I think are ridiculous. It even changes multiple gears fairly fluidly under full-power pedaling loads during standing climbs; situations where I’d never think of shifting any other drivetrain, even Shimano‘s excellent XT LinkGlide or a previous-but-still-awesome SRAM AXS setup.
T-type mountain cranks are all SRAM 8-Bolt for power-meter compatibility. But it doesn't hurt with the BMX-style bash-guard options they've added.
The cranks came with two bash guards but I'm so dominantly right foot forward that I remove the other one.
As widely reported, T-Type moves the chainline outboard from 52mm to 55mm.
Setup Notes
"We have always followed the path of eliminating barriers for riders." - Andreas Koelsch, SRAM
Stemming from the aforementioned information deluge accompanying SRAM's previous T-Type discharge, there is a plethora of setup guides available. The best I've seen is SRAM's own 11-minute video. I followed this guide, with the exception that I didn't get my torque wrench out.
For my first ride, I ended up running my chain one pair of links too long. The performance was great but my derailleur's position looked funny. As simple as SRAM's formula sounds, that is of counting links based on chainring size and chainstay length, there are multiple opportunities for human error in the process; if it doesn't look to be set up right, it probably is not.
My three-speed (sitting, standing, and walking) doesn't even have a shifter but strangely, shifting Transmission is more intuitive than riding in one cog. Despite being aluminum, I have to shout out the longevity of Endless Bike Co. Kick Ass Cogs.
Whether using a trigger shifter or a friction Thumbie, I'm a proponent of Shimano's LinkGlide shifting. Dollars be damned? T-Type is superior, if a bit less engaging. On my budget, I'd like to see SRAM upgrade their cable-actuated options.
The GX cassette is nickel plated which is said to decrease drivetrain noise and increase durability. Still, based on my past experiences, this is the piece I'd upgrade to XO at purchase.*
*Actual durability of the GX T-Type cassette and chain are TBD by consumers and media but - according to Chris Mandell of SRAM, "You cannot tell the difference between GX, XX and XX SL in terms of ride performance without a scale. The same is true of long term durability.." -Ed.
An eagle soars majestically above the other birds, but seagulls get more french fries - and you can never be too salty about this stuff.
Min-Max & Chainlines
I hope to talk much more about chainlines in a future GX T-Type review but I I need to mention it here. SRAM dictates a 55mm chainline with Transmission. The cassette is also moved outboard so that the effective chainline in the lowest gears remains similar to a standard 52mm chainline with a Boost-148 hub.
Certainly, in the future, there will be options to min-max a T-Type purchase by continuing to use existing cranks. For example, Wolf Tooth will have us covered for Shimano, RaceFace/Cinch, and SRAM 3-bolt cranks in addition to their CAMO system once they catch up with Drop Stop B, which is compatible with SRAM Flat Top chains for road and Transmission.
The DUB Wide GX cranks I'm running use a 3mm offset to achieve a 55mm chainline, and there's no 6mm offset option for 8-bolt cranks, but I am hoping to play with some different chainlines in the future if only because SRAM says to use 55mm only.
With a Wolf Tooth Drop-Stop B chainring, I could have run the Arrival's stock SRAM 3-Bolt crankset with the T-Type drivetrain.
Hard Charging
Despite the examples that a few of my friends have set, it's really not that hard to keep your batteries charged. Change the coin batteries in your shifters once a year just to be on the safe side, charge the derailleur and/or dropper post when their LED indicators are red after a ride, rather than green.
That said, out in the wild I've seen one broken dropper post cable this year and zero broken derailleur cables. I know significantly fewer folks running electric-powered drivetrains but I've seen more issues with out-of-juice batteries than out-of-life cables. AXS, and now T-Type, clearly aren't for everyone.
My friend Toucan combats dead batteries by keeping a charger in his car. He's also been known to recharge on the go by high-posting it on climbs while a portable charger handles re-juicing.
On the climbs it's common practice to steal the dropper post battery to power the rear derailleur, and vice versa, with a gear preselected, for the descents. I've yet to have a dead battery on the trail, but I do carry a spare.
So AXS Is Shit Then?
"Who's it for? It's for the mountain biker. That sounds lofty, but who doesn't want robust, better shifting, with less f***ery installing?" - Alex Rafferty, SRAM
I acknowledge how impressively, and mindlessly, T-Type shifts. Especially how equally GX T-Type shifts comparing it, fresh, to higher-end T-Type options. I still have less than zero desire to add batteries to my own bike, but what about the AXS aficionado? Is it time to upgrade to Transmission? That's a tricky question to answer.
My feelings about batteries aside, I prefer The Pod over the previous AXS shifter, so I'd be keen to change out for that. Not for the 150-200 USD that SRAM is commanding for it, but given the mixed reviews I imagine I could probably get a straight-up trade with a disappointed purchaser of a full T-Type crate setup.
Beyond that, I actually prefer AXS. It's standard shifting, albeit lightning-fast, with an electronic controller. I still have to execute my shifts with forethought and an earned/learned, amount of pressure control at the pedals. I think working to get better at something, like shifting or cleaning a climb, should be celebrated rather than endlessly simplified.
T-Type is a marked improvement in raw shifting performance, but I question the value in upgrading a perfectly awesome AXS drivetrain that's already in use.
That's especially true for folks with bikes that aren't UDH compatible who will also need to purchase frame components - a new rear triangle in the case of this Arrival.
Aside from the novelty of trying to abuse SRAM Transmission by asking it to change gears in the most awkward pedaling situations, I don't really appreciate the attempt to make everything elementary. It's like the difference between a flow trail and flowing a trail. Learning to shift properly really isn't that hard and there's a reward in doing it.
I know many, and maybe most folks will disagree with me here and for them I say, if you have the cash, then buy T-Type and you will not be disappointed. The harder you pedal through your shifts the smoother your gear changes will be. I'm okay to be in the growing minority that is quite happy with the previous level of "f***kery" in mountain biking.
I suspect this battery configuration, with the battery protected and tucked away inside the mech, will trickle up to the other T-Type derailleurs.
It's a much cleaner look for future T-Type road and gravel drivetrains as well.
The battery is fully protected without easily-lost plastic armouring.
Project Seagull
"Innovation starts with identifying a problem to solve." - Henrick Braedt, SRAM.
I want to leave you with my absolute favourite thing about SRAM GX T-Type. Truthfully, it's a carryover from my experience with SRAM GX AXS. For all my outward cynicism, I'm just a hopeful mountain bicycle nerd with big dreams. It seems to me that, now that the smart folks on SRAM's drivetrain teams have fully fluffed their top-end options, with T-Type XX SL, XX, X0, and now GX, it's time to pay a bit of attention to their shi...fting at the bottom.
An eagle soars majestically above the other birds, but seagulls get more fench fries - and you can never be too salty about this stuff. Let's see a future with fewer gears and a combination of more precision and durability. Sure, the poors will still have to learn to properly shift a bike but maybe some of the UDH Full Mount durability magic and simple setup could trickle down. I'm thinking 9-speed, 11-50t, with a single limit screw to mimic the micro-adjust feature on the wireless derailleurs. Sound good?
In the meantime, SRAM-equipped bikes continue to be worthy of your consideration from complete GX and up, and if the impossibly smooth and simple shifting of Transmission sounds like it's for you, then GX T-Type is a relative bargain.
A complete GX T-Type setup, including cranks, is 1100 USD. A rear derailleur is 400 USD. A cassette is 250 USD. A chain is 50 USD. And the crankset is 200 USD with a chainring but not including a bottom bracket. For more information check out SRAM.
Height - Steve Buscemi-ish
Wait - Patiently
Ape Index - T-Rex
Age - The same as DOS
Favourite Trail(s) every week - Pipeline (thank you Ken!) to Lower Crippler (thank you Andy!)
Favourite Song(s) this week - I'm Your Man. Nick Cave (covering Leonard Cohen)
Favourite Colour - Cosmic Lilac
Bar Width - It depends
Reach & Stack & ETT - It depends
Crank Length - 175mm except when it's 170mm
Wheel Size - Hot For Mullets
Comments
nothingfuture
9 months, 2 weeks ago
So I've got this watch. It's digital, and it'll tell me the time, accurately, for months at a time. The day of the week, too, and the date. It'll keep track of the tides, and phases of the moon for decades. Leap years pose no problem, and it's got alarms and stopwatches (with lap splits!) and all that, too.
But I've got this other watch that only tells me the time. It's less accurate, and doesn't do the date or day or any of that. It's got no battery (it's "charged" by the swinging action of my arm when I move around) and a tiny miracle of gears and springs allow it to do it's thing.
These are both useful watches- but they make very different things their priority. I wear the digital watch a lot- it's practical and high performance. But the one that gets my heart beating is the mechanical watch. It's got the soul that I love.
And so it is with my bikes. I don't race anymore, so the "pinnacle of performance" that electronic shifting represents doesn't mean much to me- the gains just don't matter when I'm not racing or being competitive. But timing a fine mechanical shift with my pedal stroke to have a gear change that's smooth and crisp? That's magic, to me, and it's part of why I'll be keeping with mechanical systems.
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Pete Roggeman
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Well said.
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Deniz Merdano
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Love a good watch analogy. Especially when it's an automatic movement.
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Andy Eunson
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Or car analogy. Nothing wrong with a lot of the comfort and electronic gizmos cars come with now. Some are mandatory safety things, but try and buy that basic vehicle off the lot. I hear dealers are not stocking as much inventory any more and what they do have is higher end full of options models. If you have to order what you want, you’re waiting a while and not getting to negotiate much. Look at trucks. All kinds of $80k plus plus trucks with too much plush. People suck it up too. Carpet in a truck? Oh you can buy for more money rubber mats. Or phones. Who does not have a case for their phone? Oh you should have a protective case for your phone. NO. A phone should not need a case. A bike does not need electric shifting. I would hate to see mechanical shifting exist only on basic low level bikes.
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Justin White
9 months, 2 weeks ago
"For sale: Like New Take-off: GX Trans mech & shifter, never ridden. (Funds will be used to purchase 2 full XT drivetrains)"
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Andy Eunson
9 months, 2 weeks ago
One XT drivetrain. And a sweet watch.
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kamloops_rider
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Have you tried the transmission drivetrain yet? On a trail you know and ride usually?
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Justin White
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Interesting how people will so quickly attribute "soul" to a mechanical thing, but almost never to a digital thing. Even though for the digital thing, humans still did lots of work, put a lot of themselves into it: someone designed it, someone wrote (many layers of) software for it, someone tweaked it once the hardware net the software, someone added little features that might make someone smile, someone optimized it to make a computer that could easily outrun the ones that flew to the moon fit on your wrist and last for 2 weeks. I can see the "soul" in my Garmin, but it might be because I'm a software engineer and can see what goes into it, it's not a black-box to me. Where-as more people have someone understand of how a mechanical watch works, at least that there are gears and springs and mechanisms, and that transparency breeds the tendency towards seeing/feeling the "soul" of it.
That said, I don't want electronic shifting/anything on my fun bikes except lights (because the "mechanical" equivalent would be something untenable, perhaps a carbide miner's lamp? And because "night ride" should be a normal ride type)
Perhaps any soul in Transmission is overridden by the anti-soul of things like having to be online to use the setup app. Even the need of the app at all: "Transmission: you now _need_ your phone to ride your bike."
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Cooper Quinn
9 months, 2 weeks ago
The central point of this thread is understandable, but just to be clear you don't need your phone to setup Transmission.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I do not have any SRAM app to my phone and I’ve reviewed AXS and now T-Type rigs.
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Justin White
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Have you gone through the out-of-the-box setup, following their intended procedure?
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Yes, as per the article I followed SRAM’s setup guide. Micro-adjustment does not require the app.
Perry Schebel
9 months, 2 weeks ago
i'll admit to being momentarily bemused with having to install the app to enable multishift (mandatory as a primary shimano user) on my axs equipped test bike.
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Andrew Major
9 months ago
I love the multi-release on my pre-clutch Shimano M972 rear derailleur, but don't find I miss it on the newer stuff. Learned behaviour after too many hours on Deore drivetrains maybe?
Anyway, the AXS/T-Type shifting is so fast I'm happy to click through the gears, especially with the new remote, but past me would have possibly considered downloading the app to enable multishift.
Jerry Willows
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Transmission must be such a small % of actual SRAM drivetrains out there.... a vast majority of bikes must be on NX or SX so why not spend some $ on getting the lower end to actually compete with Shimano?
Maybe all the SRAM employees should ride SX and NX drivetrains for a year.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Re. NX and SX, I couldn't agree more. Here's my take from my T-Type piece in March, Lost In Transmission:
"Transmission is out in the world now. It's awesome. If you have the treasure and are thinking of buying in, you will not be disappointed. If I was king of SRAM tomorrow, I'd take it away from every engineer, designer, product manager, field-test rider, customer support person, bike tech, and executive in the company and I'd make them ride SX for the rest of the year. Maybe a few hours on Shimano Deore - HG, HG+, or LG - to just see how far they have to go."
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In terms of sales of drivetrains. NX and SX win bicycle spec based on complete packages with forks and brakes. RockShox as a brand commands the most interest among budget-friendlier bicycle buyers. But in terms of focus, it's right at the very top of this piece:
"Our business is a luxury business" - Chris Hilton, SRAM
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Jerry Willows
9 months, 2 weeks ago
what % of bikes can even do Transmission?
I think the main reason(s) SRAM is all in on T is for brand image/perception, the ability to upgrade existing customers and for differentiation/competitive advantage.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
The vast majority of performance mountain bikes are now T-Type compatible. 3,000,000+ UDH hangers sold!
There's an added cost in cases where a bike has a MicroSpline or HG driver. You may lose some features in terms of flip-chip wheelbase adjustment on some bikes. If you have an Arrival you'll need a new back end.
But, if your bike is from the last few years and you'd consider upgrading it to T-Type you probably can. There are some notable exceptions, like the Specialized Enduro with the 'sandwich hanger' - although you may be able to buy just a UDH seatstay?
______
I think it's fair to say that SRAM does an excellent job of assessing where the (high-end) market is going and getting there ahead of Shimano. AXS to T-Type before the new Di2 has even seen the light.
But below GX it's a waste of time. Shimano is competing with itself. Which is too bad, clearly there are smart people at SRAM who could come up with a killer replacement for SX/NX and it would be nice to see new ideas and more competition at that end of the market.
As I noted though, that's all volume. The margin dollars are hiding in the T-Type level stuff.
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Pete Roggeman
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Yep. Think of SRAM like Brembo brakes. Brembo isn't worried about spec on a Ford focus. Not a perfect comp but similar.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I don't know about that. Does Brembo make an SX Eagle equivalent?
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Jerry Willows
9 months, 2 weeks ago
or Level Brakes?
Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
@Jerry, they get a pass for Level brakes - the use case is right in the name.
If they called them Descent or Downslope I’d agree with you.
Pete Roggeman
9 months, 2 weeks ago
That point is what the last sentence is for - I'm just bolstering your own argument.
Relative to the overall bike market, even SX and NX stuff is aimed at bikes that cost orders of magnitude more than the average person's bike. No, SRAM is not like Ford, they're like Porsche. SX and NX is for a Cayman or Boxster, T-Type is for a GTS3.
Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
@Pete,
I guess my analogous take would be SRAM is like Ford, GM, etc. They’re focusing their design, engineering, marketing, and customer care on high-end, high-margin dollar products but they still sell massive amounts of cheaper stuff.
Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
@Pete “No, SRAM is not like Ford, they're like Porsche. SX and NX is for a Cayman or Boxster”
If any brand in VW group made a car that was SX level they’d buy them back from the owners… or put them all on a ferry and sink it in the Atlantic.
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*edit: but I can see how your analogy works in terms of watering down the brand, if SX wasn’t absolute shite.
NotMeAtAll
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I had to login just so I could upvote your 'level' brakes.
Justin White
9 months, 2 weeks ago
If you really think they haven't considered the deficits in SX and NX, and more importanly (to them) what it would cost to "fix them", you need to update how you think about these big companies and capitalism.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
All companies are compromised of individuals. We treat them as being their own entities, and forgive them nearly any transgression as being part of a sole motive - profit.
But at the end of the day, companies are just us. And it’s hard for me to believe that there’s not a motivation beyond raw profit to produce comparatively good products at every price point.
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DadStillRides
9 months, 2 weeks ago
This has to be the most interesting article on gx transmission we'll see. I appreciate the way you reinforced the unjustifiable price while simultaneously describing some invaluable performance characteristics.
I think you are also the first person I've seen cite vw as a quality brand, or at least one that isn't specifically bad quality. ..Unless you count a guy I met from Germany who said they are better than French made cars. Both of the vws I've worked on must have found their way off the ship bound for the bottom of the Atlantic.
Are you sure SRAM generates most of it's profit from high end? Economies of scale is usually the name of the game in manufacturing.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
It’s a bit of an inside dig on my Ford experience - having only previously owned Fords/will never own one again. I had a 2014 Focus, bought new, with ~100K and three CV Transmissions (very common issue) and felt very f*cked-off by Ford and our dealer (very common sentiment).
I’ve never owned a VW, I just know they bought back a ton of cars when they f*cked up. Which is how I see SX. SRAM never should have released it. NX at an SX price point? Totally acceptable.
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Re. Profit/economies of scale. I don’t work closely with SRAM or know their margins. My understanding is the “luxury brand” focus is based on where they generate revenue but I could be misunderstanding what I’ve been told.
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Justin White
9 months, 2 weeks ago
If SRAM never released SX, then bottom-end builds would be just that little bit more expensive right now (after accounting for normal inflation and pandemic-bike-boom inflation). If it was unacceptable, then OEMs wouldn't have purchased it. But it certainly seems acceptable by their standards of cost to quality trade-offs, evidenced by SX's proliferation.
VW's diesel buyback was not about fixing quality issues, though, it was about misrepresenting what the vehicle could actually do (namely "not pollute too much").
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I wonder the "luxury brand" contribution to revenue is more from name recognition and brand awareness than raw sales revenue of the high-end stuff. I've recently heard that some UCI World Tour primary team sponsors estimate hundreds of millions in effective advertising costs provided by tens of millions in actual sponsorship costs. 10x or more for some deals. The impression of greatness is worth a lot in advertising dollars.
Brad Sedola
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I had the same car Andrew, from new as well. Same transmission issue. Last year, once it decided to drink all it's coolant, I knew it was time to let it go. My 2003 Jetta wagon TDI was the best car I've ever owned, emissions be damned, although it had an appetite for glow plugs.
If I'm faced with having to buy a new frame or complete bike to accommodate any new standard, it'll likely be something with gearbox.
Cr4w
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I'm with you. I'm not necessarily anti transmission but my 11 speed XT 11-42 stuff is cheap, super compact, relatively light and shifts incredibly well and costs pennies on the dollar comparatively. That being said I am looking forward to seeing how Transmission does under hundreds of new users this year.
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Perry Schebel
9 months, 2 weeks ago
anachronistic high five! yeah; apart from being ~1/3 the price, my trusty 11 speed setup saves (quick math) ~3/4 lb unsprung weight. a lot of mass dangling off the end of the swingarm with these systems.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
You're both old. Stop gatekeeping. Having learned, and earned, the ability to shift and tune those "anachronistic" drivetrains you think it's fair that you ride around the woods on lighter and significantly less expensive setups? You should both buy Transmission tomorrow to help support the trickledown of "eliminating barriers" and "less fuckery."
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Gage Wright
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Learn from me, I "upgraded" my 11 speed then went back to a short cage 10-45 12 speed system. Mistakes were made and diner plate cassettes were bought but now both my wallet and bike are a little lighter and the climbs are just as easy.
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Cr4w
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Have you considered
... just one gear?
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Hahaha. Multiple people have noted that I managed to include a pump for single-speeding in this piece.
But maybe that’s what the piece is really all about?!
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Cr4w
9 months, 2 weeks ago
This comment has been removed.
Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
No, no. The whole GX T-Type crate including cranks is just 1100 USD. That’s like 1500 Canuck Bucks.
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Cr4w
9 months, 2 weeks ago
That's why I deleted the comment. The pricing is a lot more reasonable for GX.
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tashi
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I’m actually pretty open to electronic shifting (not SRAM though, gross) but my 10-speed XTR shifter just keeps on working and working and working…maybe in another 10 years I’ll get a chance.
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NotMeAtAll
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I'm on a frankensmission. I use SLX 11 speed with garbaruk wide range cage, 9s 11/50 cassete from sunshine, Sram 9s shifter, YBN 10s gold chain, shimano hollowtech2 'acera' cranks and sunrace 32t steel chainring. It's a workhorse. It just works.
It's been a long time arranging the parts, before shimano's 12s offerings.
Today, shimano 11s 11/51 is The Goat of MinMax. On your setup, the best upgrade for the buck is the 11/51 11s cassete, 12s YBN gold chain and a garbaruk wide range cage.
Also, there is something about YBN sla treatment that gets that chaing going for so long.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
This is the first time anywhere that I’ve seen/heard someone recommending a YBN chain as a performance option.
I’ve ridden a few bikes with them, but always budget options - OE price point stuff.
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BadNudes
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Chain waxing roadies seem to like YBN. MSpeedwax, Silca, Zero Friction Cycling and the ilk all seem to rate YBN pretty highly. Nobody in MTB cares lol.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Interesting. Going to look into it more; thanks.
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NotMeAtAll
9 months, 1 week ago
Yeah, my experience with them is awesome. Runing the 10s SLA option (gold!) with smoothe has been amazing.
I've always done about 1500km on shimano sil-tec, chains, about 600km on KMC gold chains. Been on the YBN for about 3000km and the don't seem to be wearing out any time soon.
Some years ago I've seen an independent lab test of a lot of chains, and also lube testing.
To resume briefly, YBN most expensive chain was the top longevity, followed by Sram's XXO1topdog and shimano dura ace m9100. Waxing the chain yelded awesome results, up to 15 thousnd km with re-waxing in about 300km. Smoothe drip wax was second to waxing, but up to 9thousnd km. Maybe silca can be better than smoothe, but where I live I can't even find and importing is horrendously expensive. Like 150usd for a 15ml bottle.
Andrew Major
9 months, 1 week ago
Cheers, I’m into nice chain lubes - WR-1, Boeshield, Dumonde - but not waxing or anything super premium.
Still, will look into YBN - thank you,
BadNudes
9 months, 2 weeks ago
It fills me with hope that they give Andrew a carbon, locally-made superbike with wireless electronics and at least 4 batteries, and instead of reading a boring song of praises of what is certainly the best bicycle parts ever (obviously) we get to read about how much (or how little) it actually matters, who it might matter for, and what it might mean for the real-world budget-conscious riders (where it really matters IMO). The man is incorruptible. I wonder how long before we get an e-bike review from Andrew, knowing full well that our views on that particular motor sport are pretty well aligned... it'd be a fun read, to be sure.
Hey Andrew, sorry... awkward to be talking about you in the third above then address you directly, but I'm not going back to edit... but your note on the Kick Ass Cogs' durability got me curious; how long do you usually get out of one? I was a bit disappointed to have to flip mine after ~8 mo. of wish-I-had-more-time-to-ride weekend warrior riding, but that might just be down to my lax chain-wear checking. Got myself a Wolf Tooth stainless steel cog to replace once the flip side has flopped. I loved reading your take here, thank you!
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
“The man is incorruptible”
Hahaha. Or no one in bike industry would pay my price?
Thank you for your words though.
“but your note on the Kick Ass Cogs' durability got me curious; how long do you usually get out of one?”
A while! Hahaha. I don’t really keep track, but I ride a lot on my single-speed and I’ve properly killed two in last three years. One is missing a couple teeth and the other just wore out. They make great ornaments though! Clean ‘em up and wrap bike chain around the outside.
Aluminum cogs were an issue for me until I started using them with 10spd and now 11spd chains. Way longer wearing setups now.
If Wolf Tooth did a stainless 22t cog though I’d be very tempted. Their stainless rings are awesome.
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BadNudes
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Thanks! I was using an 8sp chain, now an 11sp chain since flipping, so hopefully this side will last me at least a year
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
As an aside, I’m not telling anyone else what they can/should or can’t/shouldn’t do in the forest. But, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait forever for that e-MTB review.
I believe to my very core that mountain bicycling, playing bikes in the forest, is wonderful because it’s a human powered activity. If I couldn’t pedal my own bike I would do something else.
Certainly, there are future circumstances where I could see owning an e-cargo bike as a car replacement. But if at all possible I’d rather manage my time/life to be less in a hurry and ride a regular bike.
That said, there will be plenty of e-bike coverage on NSMB moving forward so I’m certain my lack or participation will go unnoticed.
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BadNudes
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Haha fair enough, and I wholeheartedly agree! I really don’t get the appeal of motor-sport e-bikes, but I love the idea of utility e-bikes. I’ve actually been shopping car replacement e-cargo-bikes recently, I could get a nice deal on the Trek e-bakfiets but the thing is 165lbs! That would give me serious battery management anxiety I think.
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danithemechanic
9 months, 2 weeks ago
"When it comes to the shifting performance of GX Transmission, it is as excellent as it is unnecessary for the average mountain biker."
I think this sums it up for the 99% of the people that, in the aftermath of that first media bombing, turned up to me and asked if they needed one in order to keep on riding.
I'd say keep an eye on the smaller brands, give them some exposure, review them, buy them.
At Eurobike i played around with TRP 12spd and asked if they would make a cheaper one, and they said they're worried about selling this one first.
Microshift had an amazing new road/gravel groupset, launching this month too, with the most beautiful clutch switch i've ever seen. They too can't really go crazy yet with different options, as they first have to sell what they can afford to make.
Personally the only piece of the big S brands left on my bike now is an used derailleur and shifter, and i'm excited about the day i will have a completely S-free bike!
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
The TRP drivetrain interests me. They’ve clearly put a lot of effort into it and involved their supporter riders heavily.
But urggggh, what an uphill battle.
MicroShift stuff is okay at a great price. But my prediction is their spec is going to be absolutely eaten by CUES. Shimano name, Shimano LG shifting, competitive pricing.
I’d love to see MicroShift thrive, but they’re going to need more positive shifting feel and faster shifting stat.
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KavuRider
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I do think this stuff is cool and I would love to even try AXS or Transmission some day.
For now...I'm still reeling over the cost of a GX cassette. In fact, on my Ripmo AF, I was due to replace my cassette and chain (let it go waaaay past stretch limit, whoops) and since my rear wheel is still running HG, I went with a Sunrace 12 speed cassette and KMC chain. Still using the stock NX shifter/derailleur. Amazingly...it shifts pretty well. Or at least better than the ragged out NX stuff did. And it was half the cost. I'm glad I am not in-tune enough to tell how bad NX is. But then, I run my drivetrains until they are completely destroyed.
I have a used GX derailleur squirreled away, but I am not looking forward to when I have to upgrade the drivetrain again on that bike. It is just so expensive now...
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
It’s not that NX is unrideable. It’s a huge step up from SX and I have plenty of time logged working on SX drivetrains.
It’s just for less money a rider can get a significantly better drivetrain from Shimano. Deore 10, 11, or 12 are all impressively superior.
I’d love to see SRAM put out a product that legitimately competes with any of those existing Deore setups, never mind the potential of M5130 LinkGlide.
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Justin White
9 months, 2 weeks ago
They'd have to break up with Trek and others, and lose all those guaranteed OEM sales, to have any incentive to compete with Deore.
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Timer
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Exactly. Looking at the insane numbers of bikes being sold with SX and NX, its clear that there is absolutely no need for Sram to improve anything.
Thats actually Srams entire business model. To sell product packages with a few parts that people actually want on their bikes and fill up the rest with super cheap crap. Preferably crap that contains very expensive wear items.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I’m not that cynical. SRAM is made up of 3500+ individuals and I’d guess a large majority of them love bicycles and want to be proud of their contribution to other people loving bicycles.
Yes, it’s a business. Yes, it’s much sexier to work on T-Type level stuff. But there’s also pride in competition.
There’s no way the average SRAM employee doesn’t want to compete with Shimano at every product level and that they can currently be comparatively proud to be putting an SX drivetrain with a Powerspline crankset out into the market of entry level performance mountain bicycles.
I have high hopes for Project Seagull.
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Timer
9 months, 2 weeks ago
This may very well be true. But Sram is a large company run by people who are businesspeople first and foremost.
And it makes no business sense to try and gain market share by investing lots of money in the development of new products, when you can gain the same market share by abusing your market position.
Thats the cult of no-holds-barred capitalism in action right there.
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LWK
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I'm in the camp of being perfectly content with my 12s XO setup so this is all pretty meh to me, especially given the price.
For me, the only thing that jumps out as being rather cool is the bash guard integrated right into the chainring. That is pretty slick.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
The bashguard is slick - I’ll be writing more about the UBG standard (universal bash guard) in the future but I’d love to see brands machining their rings to be compatible.
These chains aren’t cheap!
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Tjaard Breeuwer
7 months, 2 weeks ago
I too, like the bashguard on the chainring, but then remembered I run a chain guide.
I run the Cascade component guide, which only sits on top of the chain.
How far away from the chainring does the bash sit? Would it clear the Cascade guide (perhaps with some filing of the guide)?
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Andrew Major
7 months, 2 weeks ago
The bashguard sits quite close to the chain. I don't think you're putting anything between the two of them. You could modify the guide to just sit on top and inboard of the chain.
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trumpstinyhands
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Do we know if the cassette teeth are more resistant to bending compared to normal Sram cassettes?
We've had to throw so many otherwise decent Sram cassettes in the recycling bin that are on our E-bike rental fleet. This is either with original AXS or mechanical. I don't if there are more incidents with either version. People either buy into the 'you don't need to back off pedaling forces when changing gear' advertising, or just don't know any better. It'll probably be thousands of dollars worth of cassettes thrown away before they even get any wear this year.
Can someone please spend a week with transmission on an E-bike and keep the bike in Boost / Turbo / Ludicrous (WTF...) / etc mode and do your worst possible gear changes for the entire period, and report back? :D
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Working in a shop, I've seen cassette teeth bent on SRAM Eagle cassettes. Blenderized bikes and not, I've seen examples of both, it's fair to say that this comes down to hero shifting.
Hero shifting is, in my experience, no longer an issue with T-Type. Push the button and f*cking pedal hard my friend! So assuming the bike has a whole Transmission drivetrain - technically being moved outboard these cassettes are not compatible with non-T-Type Eagle anyway - I would expect that there would be far fewer cases, perhaps zero cases, of overzealous button-pushing damaging cassettes.
I'm certain that at some point NSMB will have a GX Transmission take that includes aspects of motor-assisted-pedaling or pedal-assisted-motoring. Over 50% of T-Type drivetrains sold will be on plug-ins.
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Vincent Edwards
9 months, 2 weeks ago
From what I understand, SRAM created an intentional shift delay that’s designed to be in sync with the shift ramps. So called ‘hero’ shifting is electronically limited. Does that sound correct?
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I asked SRAM if with T-Type it’s fair to say you’re asking the drivetrain to shift, rather than telling it to, and they said no.
So I think they’d probably say it’s fairer to say it’s electronically optimized rather than electronically limited.
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Justin White
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Eagle and especially HG+, already "delay" the shifting until the chain makes it to the shift ramps. Watch some shifts carefully and you will see that it's very unlikely the chain ever moves over with being assisted by the ramps. I think there are 5 ramps on a SRAM 50T, so you'll definitely hit 2 or 3 in a single pedal circle. There is a delay, you just never feel it because it's small enough, relatively.
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Andy Eunson
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I think drivetrains have "waited" for shift gates to execute a shift (more or less) since Shimano invented that tech in 1989? I don’t know if one could force a shift between the gates very well because there are enough of them that it’s hard to differentiate a gated shift from a forced one. I dunno. Just a thought. Shimano’ s low normal certainly shifted differently and never forced a shift to a lower gear because it couldn’t.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Interesting point. I definitely notice a difference in how LinkGlide and T-Type ‘lift’ the chain up and down the cassette, but maybe better to think of it as evolution rather than revolution.
At our place we have a range of drivetrains from the 2005 X0 on Claire’s SQ24 to the T-Type on this Arrival so I should put some bikes in the stand and really watch the chains go up and down.
Cheers,
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Todd Hellinga
9 months, 2 weeks ago
random thought, maybe get some slow-mo video of the chain lift on the different systems?! lol
Deniz Merdano
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I have pedaled a GX equipped Santa Cruz Heckler for a day in full boost mode while shifting like a buffoon. While it's not a whole week of abuse, the pre-production sample never skipped a beat!
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Pete Roggeman
9 months, 2 weeks ago
First look coming soon on a Transmission-equipped Trek Rail that I'm definitely intending to treat as if I was never taught how to shift. Like Deniz, I also spent a day on GX T-Type and was encouraged to be rough with it and it's as smooth as anything I've used with the exception of Di2 + LinkGlide. All of a sudden ebike drive trains don't require kid gloves anymore.
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trumpstinyhands
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Good to hear things are hopefully looking up. Funnily enough I got to work this morning to see another Eagle cassette thrown in the recycling bin. Sigh.....
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IslandLife
9 months, 2 weeks ago
How badly are people mangling these cassettes? I bent a tooth on a GX cassette a couple years ago from a horribly planned and highly watt'd shift. Didn't realize I'd bent a tooth, just knew my shifting went to shit and I couldn't fix it. Took it to my local... they quickly diagnosed the bent tooth, but just bent it back and sent me on my way. That cassette lived another happy two years before I sold the bike.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
E-bikes.
“It’s you,” only stronger. Way stronger.
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Cooper Quinn
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I've lost teeth a couple times on the 50t on Eagle, right where the shift ramp puts the chain up onto that cog. But, this has no noticeable impact on shifting.
Meat power only, Major. ;)
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I noted elsewhere I’ve seen it from hero-shifting with meat & motor, but it’s much more common with 4x you power.
cxfahrer
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I am still on 1*11 and 1*9 XT drivetrains, and prefer those smaller mechs and cassettes. For my climbs an e13 9-46 is good enough, and for bikepark or shuttling any big derailleur - even a Deore 5120 - I would regard as a downgrade.
And yes, I went through some GX cassettes (which are basically the same for 11 and12 speed) worryingly fast, compared to the massive cncd steel cogs on the e13. I don't believe that nickel plating would have mattered.
In my opinion SRAM is going a direction which is dead end. Where will it lead to, what is the real benefit of ever more "perfect" shifting? When I started roadbiking around 1985, it was all about the most incremental differences between those 2*8 gears, to always find the ideal gearing for any given climb. I ended up in pain with the 13-14-15-16-17-18-20-22 or so Ultegra cassette.
Would it make more sense on eBikes - as Shimano or Pinion are doing?
PS @Ed. - I hate those remarks. Make my mind wander when trying to follow the flow.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
"In my opinion SRAM is going a direction which is dead end. Where will it lead to, what is the real benefit of ever more "perfect" shifting?"
I say this without judgment, cynicism, or malice - it is what it is.
SRAM and Shimano are in a performance drivetrain duopoly and the key goal - spoken or unspoken - of any duopoly is to maintain the highest possible barriers for any other firm to enter their market.
If riders expect shifting on the engineered level of T-Type and LinkGlide - particularly instantaneous up-and-down the cassette servo-motor driven electric-signal-fast shifting - then the likes of TRP, Box, MicroShift, etc. don't have a chance of really breaking into the performance mountain bike market, no matter how much money they dump into race teams and marketing.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
As an aside, I did mention the duopoly in my draft. It simply did not survive editing:
"One of my friends at SRAM, wait. Oh, yes, like every single person writing about GX T-Type today, I know a couple of the 3,500+ people who work at the Chi-Town-based member of mountain biking's drivetrain duopoly. So, please, salt everything I have to say about Transmission to your preferred flavour."
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SomeBikeGuy
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Hey look, stock GX AXS Transmission builds can now be had from major bike brands for under $10k CAD! Santa Cruz Bronson w/ X0 Transmission, $10,499 CAD. Bronson w/ GX Transmission, $9,249 CAD. Or get the Bronson w/ GX Transmission and Reserve carbon wheels for $10,499 CAD. Pick your Santa Cruz, more or less the same price points will apply. And you'll eventually see other brands do the exact same thing, because this is what GX AXS Transmission is for. It's an OE play designed to get Transmission builds in at under $10k CAD or roughy $7500 USD.
One can't help but wonder how much less expensive SRAM's electronic equivalent to SLX would be if the other half of the functional duopoly that is the cycling drivetrain industry right now (Shimano) could actually physically ship product right now and could be bothered to develop anything at the moment, but what can you do?
Oh right, you can run Shimano 12 speed cassettes and chains with SRAM's older, derailleur hanger dependent wireless electronic derailleurs and shifters. Because that combo shifts stupidly well and is way less expensive to run.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
“Oh right, you can run Shimano 12 speed cassettes and chains with SRAM's older, derailleur hanger dependent wireless electronic derailleurs and shifters. Because that combo shifts stupidly well and is way less expensive to run.”
Can confirm that mating an HG+ cassette, chain, and ring to an AXS drivetrain is an awesome shifting combination.
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Justin White
9 months, 2 weeks ago
The other half is bothering to develop things like electronic shifting that is connected to e-bike motors, hot on the heels of pretty much the best high-end mechanical ever (XT 12), and a low to mid range that really matters (cues). They're not bothering to develop things like wireless for the sake of wireless, with the customer unfriendliness of multiple batteries, especially in the face of the juggernaut of e-bikes where there already is a single huge battery that can be shared.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I have to give best mechanical shifting to date to XT LinkGlide 11-spd. It’s a proper mountain bike drivetrain - shifts great and just eats the miles.
SHI-12/HG+ is brilliant out of the box but I don’t find it matches the performance longevity of past Shimano products.
———
That said, I don’t see how future Di2 isn’t going to have multiple batteries so that’s a weird flex.
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SomeBikeGuy
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I'll grant you that XT 12 speed is brilliant, particularly the chain and cassette, even if it probably wears a bit faster than other Shimano drivetrains. Now, given what we've seen on the road side of things any upcoming mountain bike Di2 product will have at least 1 coin cell battery in the shifter and either a battery on the derailleur or a battery somewhere in the frame with a cable to the derailleur. Unless they figure out the piezo electric thing they were working on for the shifter but that's likely to be a disaster for multiple reasons. Current road 12sp Di2 has at least 1 coin cell battery per shifter, a cable that links the shifters together, a wireless connection to the rear derailleur, a cable that links the rear derailleur to a central battery, and a cable that links that battery to the front derailleur. Oh and a proprietary magnetic charging cable that is next to impossible to get your hands on if you lose the one that came with your bike and attaches magnetically to a spot on your rear derailleur that's prone to getting covered in road gunk. And you need somewhere inside the frame to mount a battery, which you need to charge by plugging in the rear derailleur, which is fine because everyone stores their bikes right by an electrical outlet or has a pretty high capacity USB battery brick to charge with, obviously.
So accepting that electronic drivetrains are here to stay, and they are, then you're right, having multiple easy to obtain, reasonably inexpensive batteries, a charger that's available in either single or quadruple battery options that you can use wherever is easiest for you without having to move your actual bike to an outlet, and a super easy to install drivetrain that shifts very well is way more rider/consumer unfriendly that the mess of wires and internal battery that is Di2. *Feel free to insert an eye-rolling emoji here.*
There's a cable out there that will link your SRAM wireless derailleur to certain e-bike batteries. It's likely about 10000 times more annoying to install and set up than an AXS derailleur, which is probably why it's such an uncommon thing to see specced on new bikes. It also doesn't necessarily work with any/all e-bike batteries, which is a problem Shimano's system also has. Oh, you want to wire a Shimano 12sp Di2 derailleur to your Specialized Turbo Levo SL battery or any number of other popular e-bikes out there that don't use a Shimano battery or compatible connectors? Yeah, not gonna work for you. SRAM Transmission, with what you consider rider/consumer unfriendly removable batteries? No problem. Totally compatible. Bolt it on and go riding. You'll have to charge it once in a while, just like you'll have to charge your e-bike.
Now read the above and pretend you're a bike manufacturer, say Santa Cruz or Specialized. Your options are SRAM's wireless products, which they'll ship to you ASAP, or whatever Shimano has in the pipeline, which you'll be told is shipping at "some point in the future" and if you're building e-bikes locks you into their batteries and drive systems. Shimano isn't looking so consumer-friendly now, is it? Yeah, didn't think so.
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Cooper Quinn
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Goddammit I typed out a big-ass reply to this and it somehow disappeared.
Anyway. I agree.
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Justin White
9 months, 2 weeks ago
"It's likely about 10000 times more annoying to install and set up than an AXS derailleur"
Amazing over-the-top estimate. Even if it was 100 times more annoying, I'd choose it for an e-bike all day, because that one-time process removes all need to ever think about another battery, and that's worth 1000+ installations to me. Same applies for every "good" you listed about separate batteries. I don't care how many ports come in a charger, you have to add up every time your brain devotes any thought to "how's my battery?" against the process of running (if it's really that difficult, you have other problems) a wire one time. And your brain will think about it, because there is zero tactile feedback to help determine when the time is approaching.
"compatible connectors"
They just forced a universal dropout/hanger into existence. Who's to say the same can't be done for wires? If you couldn't charge your phone inside your car, would that car or phone be acceptable? Just charge the phone when you charge your car. Don't forget to charge the gearbox, too.
I'm not sure where the stuff about bike manufacturers came from. I didn't say it was bad that anyone was speccing SRAM, just that wireless for the sake of wireless is stupid.
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Cooper Quinn
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Eh. Having two battery types cover the entire system is... simple. Installation of an AXS drivetrain is incredibly simple. Wires and Di2 are not.
Its a 2 minute operation to swap an RD across bikes on AXS. It might not be possible w/o getting new wires on Di2. Its even easier to swap a seatpost.
I'm not sure where you're going with that cell phone charger analogy, its only until recently that there's been any sort of compatibility across brands, and there's still two major standards generally split to Android phones and Apple. They don't *want* compatibility, they want you tied into their system; it took the EU government stepping in to mandate Apple to change. But you have highlighted the most annoying part of AXS charging - its micro-USB, not USB-C.
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BadNudes
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Haha! That's the first I'd heard that AXS uses micro USB instead of USB-C, hadn't really thought about it because this stuff is not for me, but that is hilarious!
Cooper Quinn
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I'm sure it'll get updated at some point, but yeah... anything that's shipped since like 2019 with anything other than USB-C is incredibly annoying to me, ha.
Justin White
9 months, 2 weeks ago
The phone in car analogy has nothing to do with connectors. It's the idea that you would be unable to use the massive power supply in your car to power your phone, at all, regardless of connector. Every trip, you would have to make sure your phone is charged enough to get to where you want. Yes phones last a long time and it only applies to really long trips, but it's an analogy about acceptance, and not being able to charge in a car would be pretty well unacceptable. As is the part about the gearbox: I know car gearboxes aren't battery powered, but an analogous AXS one would be, and would have to be charged separately from the car's motive battery. I'm pretty sure that would be unacceptable to most (all?) people.
Swapping a derailleur in 2 minutes is such a niche thing, SRAM doesn't even tout that in their extensive marketing. It just doesn't matter, and again the ease of installation needs to be weighed against the ongoing process of keeping everything charged, and the brainpower it takes to be mindful of it, versus the tactile feedback of when a mechanical system needs anything.
Remember, I'm not saying AXS or T-Type is straight up bad, just that there are trade-offs with both electronic (especially wireless) and mechanical, and I think some of them are overlooked in the face of the electronic stuff being shiny and new and maybe not actually better overall.
It even kind of goes back to when AXS was new and they were shouting how great it was that it works underwater and moves out of the way when pushed from the outside. Those were baseline, all mechanical mechs work underwater and gives way under the same inboard force, yet they were touted as special in the context of AXS. No shit, of course it needs to do that, otherwise it's a non-starter. AXS and T-Type don't do anything that mechanical equivalents can't do, they just do it with slightly less physical effort (buttons vs levers), much less (zero in fact) tactile feedback, and much more impact on the precious environment that we ride our bikes in (shit, I had completely forgotten to rag on full wireless for environmental concerns. Bikes now require elements that are extremely destructive to harvest, and they create e-waste. Hooray!)
Also, MicroUSB? Are you kidding? You must be kidding? Come on, you have to be joking... that's so dumb. Maybe I should take back what I said about being shiny and new, revised to just shiny.
Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Of all the things I dislike about the electrification of mountain bicycling, I think listening to dudes whinge about what type of cable they need to charge what accessory has to be the worst.
Followed closely by any number of folks pointing out the false equivalency of using batteries in lights to mountain bike at night, as if there’s another viable option.
BadNudes
9 months, 2 weeks ago
@Andrew - Re; lights, every winter I get a little curious about the SON 28 110 6-bolt dynamo hub, but winter is also when I need to service my hubs all the time which is not possible with the dynamo...
And point taken about cable crybabies, but to me a micro-usb port in 2023 just screams "every penny pinched on your premium product!"... not that it really matters.
Andrew Major
9 months, 1 week ago
@BadNudes
I’ve looked into running a dyno but I’m just not moving fast enough grinding up climbs or crawling down janky lines at night.
bushtrucker
9 months, 1 week ago
@BadNudes
I wouldn't reccomend a dymano hub powered light as you primary source of illumination for Mountain Biking. Like @Andrew said, you just won't be going fast enough a lot of the time to get enough light out of one. But a bike mounted dynamo light could work really well as a secondary light source to a more powerful helmet light, if that's how you like to roll.
As for the durability of SON hubs. I've owned 4 of them and only one has required any attention. It's bearings were replaced at around 35,000 km. That included 5 years worth of winters. The labrynth seal on them really is as good as it gets!
Andrew Major
9 months ago
@bushtrucker @BadNudes, I would be very curious to hear about experiences with slow-rolling trails (technical up/down) using a dyno as a secondary light. My understanding is there simply isn't enough speed, but I'm very curious.
bushtrucker
9 months ago
@Andrew a lot of this will depend on the setup. SON hubs are very effecient but their lights are very road/touring spec (and perfect fore that use) but I wouldn't reccomend them for trail. I've heard great things about KLite light for avoiding the dreaded flicker. Kerry there would most defineitely take care of you too if you wanted to try a set out.
https://bikepacking.com/news/klite-bikepacker-ultra-v2/
Other things to consider are that for a SS setup you'll probably keep enough speed to have useful light most of the time riding uphill anyway. And on the flat/down hill sections where you really need it it's won't be a worry. Since the lights brightness will increase as soon as you speed up. The other great thing about dynamo lighting is it's perfect for riding to and from the trail so you can maximise you primary/brighter light time for on trail use. So yeah, for trail use it might not 100% work out but for a commuter bike I wouldn't build a wheelset without one.
Andrew Major
9 months ago
@bushtrucker, thanks for the experience/link/recommendation.
I haven’t seen those Klites before.
Cam McRae
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I have been testing a bike like this. Apparently there is a reserve for when your battery dies in the Trek Fuel EXe that allows you to keep shifting for a good long while (I have no idea about other systems), but otherwise your derailleur won't shift without main battery power. Even if you have a spare AXS battery along, you'll have that connector banging around so much (and maybe going into your spokes?) that it'll be impossible to ride anything but flat pavement.
It far from ideal. While they make the connector, SRAM doesn't even seem to encourage its use. And Trek says nothing about it (that I have found) in marketing copy.
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Andrew Major
9 months ago
Assuming all the T-Type derailleurs are moving to the same architecture as the new GX, I don't think the Trek wired setup will be compatible going forward. Is it a PIA to remove the wired connector entirely and just switch to running the SRAM battery setup?
Timer
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Sram and Shimano are catering to very different segments of the market right now.
Shimano is focusing very heavily on E-Bikes. Both with fully automatic electronic shifting coupled to the motor and with their robust lower end CUES drivetrains. Which are likely to become the default spec for every e-bike outside of the absolute high-end.
Electronic drivetrains for non-motorised mountainbikes are really a very small niche in the overall bicycle market. Right now, Sram is the only one bothering to develop for this niche.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Have to strongly, and maybe a bit sadly, disagree. T-Type is 100% an e-bike first product. Just look at the comments in this thread from Deniz & Pete re. riding T-Type on full-on pedal-assisted-motorized rigs. It’s meant to hero-shift when you’ve plugged-in and your wattage is x4.
SRAM’s motor will be out soon enough and then the full potential of T-Type and Flight Attendant and etc. will be on plain view. Including auto-shifting.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
A bit sadly, because as much as I agree that CUES owes its existence to e-bikes and that will also likely be a motivator behind better SX/NX drivetrains, these products will improve budget-friendlier meat-powered mountain bikes too.
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Justin White
9 months, 2 weeks ago
The full potential of maximum battery counts!
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Andrew Major
9 months ago
Even at my most cynical, I never would have believed that there'd be a day that mountain bikers would need to change batteries in their tubeless tire valves.
I've been ruminating on this comment trying to picture what component that doesn't have batteries now will have them in the future.
Real-time spoke tension app? On-the-fly adjustable saddle support? Brake pad wear LED indicator?
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Kenny
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I wonder at what point they'll stop making normal cable actuated X01?
That will be a sad day indeed...
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
SRAM has a decent track record of supporting past products so I'd imagine you'll be able to buy cable-actuated X01 Eagle for some time, as well as AXS Eagle since only the shifters and batteries are truly inter-compatible.
I would highly doubt that we'll see any continued drivetrain development of cable-actuated systems above the NX or maybe GX level. I'd be happy to be wrong.
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Niels van Kampenhout
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I think the end game is Auto-Transmission. Why pay 1100 USD when you still have to remember to shift?
Feels like SRAM is happy to leave the value end of the market to Shimano and Microshift.
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Pete Roggeman
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I'm not sure. Shimano has it and it's great but just like enthusiast drivers usually prefer manual transmission, I think performance mtb will favour control over shifting or at least semi-auto.
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Cooper Quinn
9 months, 2 weeks ago
"A bike with a Hammerhead, Quarq (also owned by SRAM) powermeter, and an AXS derailleur seems like it's a wheel-speed sensor and some programming away from something like Shimano’s (currently) ebike-only Auto-Shift, but "smarter" as it could connect to RockShox's Flight Attendant suspension and an AXS seatpost."
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Glenn Bergevin
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I'm ready to try it... The durability, shift effort and general maintenance requirements of Shimano 12 speed have been a major bummer for me. I've got 11s GRX on my gravel bike and 11s Deore on my fatbike... Both are so much more consistent, reliable, long lasting... And I don't miss the 10t cog much at all.
If SRAM/RS offer an electronic lockout option that integrates with the AXS/T pods, I'm going way SRAM heavy on my next build. Flight attendant is nonsense, but fast, convenient manual lock out, dropper control and shifting all in one system... That really appeals to me. A hall sensor on the post could enable some really cool options for dropper/suspension control... Combine full open with a fully dropped post, a 'trail' mode when the post is up. Lockout with a long press of an assigned button... The technology is all there, just have to package it.
Edit: it also seems weird that we've got a manual transmission with automatic suspension, but not the inverse or options for full auto, or what I really want, full manual with electronic control.
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Cooper Quinn
9 months, 2 weeks ago
It seems odd to me that you're opposed to FA, but do want your suspension talking to your dropper post?
FWIW, you can use FA in a fully manual mode, too. Pushing whichever button you assign to FA cycles through the three modes. But I realize the cost of FA is... well. Yeah.
But I do think we're headed to the land of integration you're speaking of; I touched on it last week.
https://nsmb.com/articles/hammerhead-karoo-2/
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Glenn Bergevin
9 months, 2 weeks ago
To be clear, I want them to talk, not make decisions. The ability to map buttons to do what I want is the real key.
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Cooper Quinn
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Certainly the lack of "control" when FA is in full auto is the weird part. And how often it adjusts - its many orders of magnitude more often than you'd push a button. Whether that's good or bad is up to you.
But I'll say, you get used to it. It's far from a perfect system, but it's predictable and adjustable. And also expensive, and has shortcomings.
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Jerry Willows
9 months, 2 weeks ago
This comment has been removed.
Cooper Quinn
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Jerry Willows - weight weenie.
Jerry Willows
9 months, 2 weeks ago
also adds over 300 grams.... seems like a technology that will get better with time. Not a fan of an early adopter on this one.
(didn't mean to delete my original comment)
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Cooper Quinn
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I guess I have to make fun of you for being a weight weenie again then!
Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
@CooperQuinn, do you think he’s more worried about 300-grams or that someone at SRAM will program in a #JerryWillowsHatesMyBike mode and suddenly his fork and shock will lock out and his gears will freeze somewhere in the middle of the cassette?
It’s certainly my favourite possibility with all this wireless stuff.
JVP
9 months, 2 weeks ago
So much grump in the comments about these shifters. They're f-ing brilliant. Not having to deal with bent derailleur hangers is 100% worth it. Not just the hassle of hangers, but the crap shifting for 6 months while you procrastinate buying and installing a fresh hanger, which reminds me...
The benefit of good shifting after being flogged will be even greater for the average rider who probably doesn't even know what a derailleur hanger is and probably sets their bike down on the drive side. This is good stuff, and it'll make things better for the masses.
But yeah, bring on the mechanical version. Hopefully they do that, but I give it 50/50 odds.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Who is regularly bending UDH hangers?
(Even if they are ‘those people’ who put their bike down on the driveside?)
Nothing for or against Full Mount, but UDH is rad as it is and nearly universal on performance mountain bikes.
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mrbrett
9 months, 2 weeks ago
(Even if they are ‘those people’ who put their bike down on the driveside?)
Ahem. Two Galfer Shark rotors costs more than my Advent X derailleur on one of my bikes. I therefore argue the brake side is the expensive side.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Bending rotors laying a bike down on the ground is a new one for me. Is that really a concern? They don’t exactly stick out from your frame like a rear derailleur.
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JVP
9 months, 2 weeks ago
The better question is how many UDH hangers are straight and true?
I’ve bent a few, though they were Norco OEM, not made by SRAM. Those days are done, now rockin T-Type on that bike.
I should send a pic of my XO1 derailleur (It’s now on my other bike). It’s amazing that it still works, and it works flawlessly… when the hanger is straight which is pretty much never.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I’m laughing. Your reply reminds me of this exchange from 3,000,000 about the universality of UDH.
Andrew:
“What UDH doesn’t use M12x1.0 threading for the axle? That’s new for me.
———
*edit. Never mind, of course it’s Norco.”
…
I’m glad Full Mount is working for you. I too look forward to it trickling down.
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JVP
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Honest question, do the OEM SRAM UDH break instead of bend? I’ve heard of a few snapping but haven’t witnessed it on the trail. They’re pretty light feeling with that plastic coating.
The higher quality aluminum UDH from NS Billet or Wheels Manufacturing probably worth it.
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DancingWithMyself
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Agreed. Had a SRAM UDH come unbonded\break in my hands tightening with a fairly new torque wrench. Now running a NSB on that bike. My new 5010 frame came with a similarly nice, SC branded UDH.
Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
@DWM,
I’ve seen all kinds of bike parts under and overtightened thanks to the use of torque wrenches. Most folks would be better off if they ignored bicycle torque specs in most cases.
The NSBillet UDH hangers (or Wheels MFG ones) are absolutely an upgrade. But they’re a lot more money.
DancingWithMyself
9 months, 1 week ago
I'm sure my experience is very rare. And, while I am certainly no pro mechanic, I agree with Andrew that turning torque wrenches with also accounting for feel is a recipe for eventual disaster. Have learned that the hard way.
And it's very possible I wasn't paying good attention or in a hurry with the UDH, but I like to think I would have stopped torquing if it had gotten really firm and I was still applying what felt like way too much force.
Andrew Major
9 months, 1 week ago
@DancingWithMyself
My favourite recent example is the Hixon one-piece carbon bar/stem that comes on some top-end Scott bikes.
At the printed torque rating of 5NM the stem bolts are barely tight enough that the bar and wheel will turn together.
Called a couple Scott dealers to find out what they torque them to since carbon stems always make me nervous. Both agreed 5NM is a bad joke. One shop tightens them until they last past the twist test (clamps wheel between legs and twist the bar) and the other does use a torque wrench but goes to 8NM (effectively doing the same).
A rider would be much better off tightening their Hixon so it’s tight than following the 5NM printed (or anything close).
Duncan Wright
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I'm sorta in a middle ground right now where AXS on a UDH is about as good as it gets. Heck, even the lowly mechanical XO1 on my Stumpjumper Evo is still shifting good as new after being laid down twice at low speed and once quite hard onto the driveside. I would really love to get the better spacing of the low cogs, but given the associated jump in weight, it's quite likely I'll just pick up another GX AXS upgrade kit and call it good for now.
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Tjaard Breeuwer
9 months, 2 weeks ago
My kid bent their UDH , the 12sp XO1 derailleur was still good.
And that derailleur has the lower ‘ear’ of the cage bent out at 30 degrees, since it met a rock a year ago.
And they don’t put their bike down on the drive side except for crashes,
So, it does happen.
But, It was nice to be able to buy a new hanger* easily, and cheaply.
*2 actually, after we stripped the bolt of the spare we allready had, because we didn’t realize it’s reverse threaded. ;-(
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Yeah… it’s not like I haven’t seen a wrecked UDH hanger, it’s just exceedingly rare compared to how often I replaced (some) pre-UDH hangers.
All I was trying to say is that Full Mount seems awesome, but most folks are never going to see a benefit over the, excellent, UDH design.
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Justin White
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Interesting that SRAM is supporting, and indeed selling, crank mounted bashguards again. I'll bet this new chain is even more susceptible to small dings binding up links and making shifting suffer. Was becoming a pain to find a way to protect your chain on frames without tabs. Wolf Tooth's BashSpider is the best choice, but only came about recently.
Though coincidentally to the contemporary trend of short cranks, the BashSpider doesn't fit perfectly with Canfield cranks for those wanting both (very good) short cranks and a crank-bash. I had to do a little tactical grinding, going to email and show Canfield where the interference is for hopefully a future revision.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
NSBillet also has a great looking very short crank option and using Cinch they should work with the Wolf Tooth Bash Spider.
Canfield are great for the price though, no doubt. I have a pair on my daughter’s bike. I don’t like short cranks myself but I love that it’s easy to get good cranks for kids now.
I really like the SRAM bash setup. Working on a piece about UBG (universal bash guard) as I don’t think it would take much for most companies to machine their rings to be compatible.
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Justin White
9 months, 2 weeks ago
The Talon is great looking, but only aesthetically, not to me as an actual product I want: it's the price. Literally double the price as Canfields for what is basically the same product. Not saying it's not worth the price: I know that doing a fully machined piece is costly, but perhaps it's just not the appropriate process for this product. The shape of cranks lends itself to forging, and forging is just stronger. Just like welded tubular titanium is maybe not appropriate... cost-benefit trade-off is unbalanced. Thus, Talon is almost like eeWings to me, in that I would only get it to show off that I could afford it.
We had UGB already: 104 BDC. Like I said, I'm glad they're supporting BGs again, but that willful dishonesty of pretending that it's a bonus instead of something that should have always been there is so annoying. I'm not going to praise UBG for fixing something that they intentionally broke. I mean, it's the same number of bolts (4) to get guards on both sides!
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
104BCD works fine for me. Actually, as long as it has granny tabs and companies produce 64BCD narrow-wide rings it works for everyone in my household in terms of ring-size options.
But, come on. Direct Mount has opened up to a of options for chainline adjustment, ring size choice (SRAM 3-bolt from 22t to ??t) and generally the rings/teeth are much more durable. I’m thinking bash guards to protect chains not rings.
For the record, the Talon cranks are less than 1/2 the price of eeWings. Double the Canfields, yes. But certainly closer in price to your first choice.
In terms of them being billet, I like that NSB focussed more on making an ultra-durable product than shaving grams. It’s something a rider can expect to have forever, and from the testing they’ve done it’s a weight penalty not a strength penalty I think folks will be focussed on.
Anyway, great that you love the Canfield cranks, I’ve had a good experience with them. I’m working on a write up of the Talon cranks and they are lovely.
———
CINCH Vs. SRAM 3-bolt?
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Justin White
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I didn't say anything bad about direct mount. If this new DM plus bash system had been around from the beginning, this would be a non-issue. It's the previous push for DM without bash capability followed by the revert to "here's a new fancy direct-mount bashguard system" that is annoying/bad. It's New Coke bullshit.
Teeth longevity for sure has nothing specifically to do with the mounting system. If DM teeth are stronger it's because they are made stronger, not because it's DM. Even assuming the allegedly weaker teeth of 104 rings, I agree that BGs are there more to protect chains than rings, that's why I mentioned that perhaps the BG is back because the flattop chain can't handle small dings very well.
I didn't mention weight, nor durabilty. Neither would stop be from buying either option, since I can't see the Talons really being any more or less durable, as cranks go, than the Canfields, regardless of the weight, but that's not my issue anyway. Nor is their loveliness. It's trying to offer them up as a sensible option to something half the price that is weird. They're expensive not because they're better, they're expensive because they're made with a sub-optimal process for making such parts and that takes more effort to produce the same end result. Billet is not better, it's different. I mean, I have a fully CNCed NSB spider on a SRAM 3-bolt crank on my hardtail, it's awesome stuff. And despite being the only option in that space for a bit, and being [machined from] billet, it still wasn't stupidly priced, perhaps because the process was more appropriate for the application.
At least eeWings can stake a claim on the "feel of Ti".
As for the Cinch mount in the Talons vs SRAM 3-bolt in the Canfields, I'd slightly prefer Cinch. Despite the ease of use of SRAM 3-bolt, Cinch just seems better/stronger, and it's symmetrical so can be easily spun to possibly avoid potential interference. I've not had issues with either, as long as loctite is used appropriately, but the symmetry and larger holding surface seems to have merit, perhaps evidenced by SRAM's evolution to 8-bolt...
So, despite the [slight and unforeseen] drawbacks to the Canfield/BashSpider/3-bolt combo, I'd still choose them: compared to just buying Talons, I effectively paid myself $200 to make the slight modification to the Canfields to end up with the same result: shorter cranks with a bash guard. Worth it. And the Canfields also look lovely.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I make a point of not telling anyone how to setup their bicycle, or what value to assign to certain preference-forward features of products like how they look or where they’re made.
Stoked you’re stoked on your Canfield cranks and they’re the best short crank value for you.
JT
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Curious which gen cranks you have, 0 or 3mm offset?
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Justin White
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Latest gen (2nd?), I'd have to look at their site to figure out the offset.
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Peter Appleton
9 months, 2 weeks ago
My kind of T Type
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Cam McRae
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I see your T Type and raise you a T Type with a T Top.
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Jerry Willows
9 months, 2 weeks ago
that has Kid Rock written all over it.
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Dave Smith
9 months, 2 weeks ago
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Jerry Willows
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Joe Dirt edition
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Steelisideal
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Genuine question…
Am I going to have to start stockpiling conventional GX 12 speed derailleurs and chainrings?
Not remotely interested in electronic shifting on my personal (mostly home-maintained) bikes.
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Andrew Major
9 months, 2 weeks ago
SRAM has a decent track record of supporting legacy products so this isn’t something I’d be in a panic about.
GX Eagle (cable) is still a current product getting spec. on bicycles. If that changes it may be worth having a spare just for immediacy of replacement.
That said, there are some killer deals right now on pre-T-Type Eagle components so it may be worth having a browse.
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Timer
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Don't worry about the chainrings. Aftermarket manufacturers like wolf tooth or race face are likely to keep making x-sync compatible chainrings for decades.
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dave_f
9 months, 1 week ago
Why are people still making off with catalytic converters when they could be stealing these puppies? In terms of tools you'd need a hex wrench and some link pliers, isn't Wolftooth already selling a kit for this?
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Andrew Major
9 months, 1 week ago
I’ve been saying this since AXS came out! Quick link pliers and a multi-tool. Remove two bolts and you have a derailleur and a paired shifter. Two more a that adds an AXS Reverb and remote! Not bad for four bolts work.
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Andy Eunson
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I imagine that SRAM will release a cable version as well at some point. That derailleur mount interface has a lot of merit. I imagine that other derailleur manufacturers will also soon have derailleurs that use the same interface. Did SRAM patent the UDH interface?
I’ve been watching the TdF and the Astana team have had so/me shifting issues. They run Dura Ace DI2. Cavendish looked to be on the way to a record breaking win but his derailleur was jumping between the two highest gears. A few days later one of his team mates lost shifting and needed a bike change. No idea what their issues were but just because something is electric does not mean you won’t have issues.
I also note that a few World Cup XC races have been won this season on mechanical XTR. Mechanical isn’t gonna hold you back. I can’t recall if I’ve ever broken a shift cable in 40 years of riding mountain bikes.
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SomeBikeGuy
9 months, 1 week ago
All but guaranteed that the vast majority of Tour riders having issues with their shifting are using some form of aftermarket, oversized derailleur pulleys and an aftermarket derailleur cage. Or have idiots for mechanics. Possibly/probably both.
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Andrew Major
9 months ago
Just coming back to this as I noticed the dearth of SRAM cable-actuated road groupsets yesterday. Not something I'm generally on top of, but now only APEX is available as cable-actuated, and even then there's an AXS version?
It makes me assume that we'll see NX T-Type by the time the year is out.
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JT
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I think SRAM realized that they couldn't out perform Shimano (and to a much lesser extent, Campy) on the mech shifting front so just went full monty on the electronic end. And it worked. I haven't come across any T stuff yet, but have a load of experience on their AXS and pre AXS wares. They worked pretty damn well, aside from some nits. As said they're in the luxury market, where conspicuous consumption is the norm and more of it encouraged. They can have it. Not saying I won't be secretly mocking folx who aren't using it to fullest extent just as I do anyone driving some 6 figure super car who can barely shift the thing without killing it or chirping the tires. I recognize the judgmental priggishness of that statement, but it's just how I feel on the matter. Nice that it works, kudos to the teams involved in making it so, but it ain't my cuppa.
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Justin White
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I appreciate the semi-locked aspect of the b-position being fixed at setup time, since b-pivot noise is pretty much the only noise left on my bike. Been thinking about a TRP setup just for Hall Lock. But I have to wonder just how many "pivot out of the way for safety" hits the dropout will be able to take before that knurled part of the mech "hanger" chews up the inside of the dropout enough to matter.
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DancingWithMyself
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I've had good luck using a washer on the outside of the derailleur to home brew a Hall lock. I think there's also a way to file the sleeve on an X01 bolt to do the same thing? A lot of slop of older GX derailleurs can be avoided by using an X01 bolt early on in the GX derailleur's life.
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Jerry Willows
9 months, 2 weeks ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IChC4h8WDkA&t=633s
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mrkdwrds
9 months, 2 weeks ago
This comment has been removed.
Hugo Williamson
9 months, 2 weeks ago
I doubt if T transmission will be of any concern to the exquisitely talented nutters that are going to race Hardline this weekend!!
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Andrew Major
9 months, 1 week ago
No drivetrain concerns at all… you jinxed them?!
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Tjaard Breeuwer
7 months, 2 weeks ago
Oh boy, am I ever conflicted about what drivetrain to put on a new bike. We have 4 mtb’s in my house, each with 2 wheel sets.
What to put on the fourth one?
On the one hand, our bikes do suffer rock strikes a bit. I just replaced the hanger and derailleur on 2 bikes bikes, so cheaper and less finicky shifting (9 speed LinkGlide?) would be nice.
On the other hand, compatibility is nice in case stuff brakes, or we grab the wrong wheel by mistake. I also try and keep a (mechanical) rear derailleur on hand, in case one breaks while we on vacation (at a race or just for fun). So, it’s nice if they are compatible.
On the other foot, I work at a shop, so GX Transmission would cost me about $350 more than GX Eagle mechanical, which I would happily pay if it lasted longer, with less adjustments (especially the night before an enduro).
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