Can we talk about how Sram screws everyone with their ridiculously expensive tiered product lines?*
The transmission lineup is just a marketing exercise designed to further raise prices on consumers. I mean, one of the biggest selling points is that you can now stand on your derailleur!
Sram now offers 6 tiers of drivetrain (XX SL, XX, XO, GX, NX, SX) and they are the leading component supplier to OEMs. The XX SL transmission costs $2,700 USD! While I doubt I'll see many XX SL on trail, it's really designed as a price anchor for the rest of the lineup.
Wonder why a mountain bike costs more than dirt bike? It's because we are suckers for shiny sh^t and don't realize the game. Sure, it's "good business" some will say as SRAM is just extracting the most from every buyer based on their disposable income, but if you've ever complained about the price of a mountain bike, this is the reason why.
*For the record, this is the bike industry in a nutshell but SRAM drivetrains are the most blatant offender.
Oct. 23, 2023, 8:26 a.m. - roil
Can we talk about how Sram screws everyone with their ridiculously expensive tiered product lines?* The transmission lineup is just a marketing exercise designed to further raise prices on consumers. I mean, one of the biggest selling points is that you can now stand on your derailleur! Sram now offers 6 tiers of drivetrain (XX SL, XX, XO, GX, NX, SX) and they are the leading component supplier to OEMs. The XX SL transmission costs $2,700 USD! While I doubt I'll see many XX SL on trail, it's really designed as a price anchor for the rest of the lineup. Wonder why a mountain bike costs more than dirt bike? It's because we are suckers for shiny sh^t and don't realize the game. Sure, it's "good business" some will say as SRAM is just extracting the most from every buyer based on their disposable income, but if you've ever complained about the price of a mountain bike, this is the reason why. *For the record, this is the bike industry in a nutshell but SRAM drivetrains are the most blatant offender.