I.E. I also wonder if we have reached the tipping point on 1x in terms of benefits vs weight. Durability also gets to a peak, topping out at X01, which is the most durable version of Eagle. RUB The main differences are in materials used, and the top-level derailleurs have tighter tolerances and more precise manufacturing and assembly methods to improve longevity. I have X01 cassette and chain then a Gx derailleur. In most cases, 8, 9, 10 and 11-speed drivetrain users can mix-and-match between brands without too much concern as long as you keep with the right cog count (as covered in our drivetrain compatibility article). With lessons learned in materials engineering, metal treatments and design, many 11-speed chains improved in durability over 10-speed chains, and it seems the same applies for certain brands of 12-speed chains, too. If you are going from GX Eagle to XX1 or X01, you wont need to worry about this. For now, Kerins theory is that the coatings used on many KMC chains repel common lubricants from doing their task, and its a theory backed up by the fact that many users often report their KMC chains sounding dry and squeaky in short periods of time. x01,xx1 just in case you want to spend more money. Recently, SRAM updated XX1, X01, and GX Eagle with a larger 52t cassette cog, which was previously a 50t max. Based in North Carolina, Tyler loves finding new travel adventures to share with his family and is always on the lookout for the next shiny new part to make his bikes faster and lighter. GX: Upgrades to a one-piece construction with all cogs pinned together, and increases to 10-50 range. It would be cool to see a comparison of using these parts across the various group to come up with the best performance to cost combo. There are a mind-numbing number of factors that go into making a chain efficient, and thats no surprise when you consider there are over 38,000 unique instances of sliding friction involved every minute at 90 rpm. Once again, SRAM rocked the mountain bike world and released X01 and XX1 AXS, wireless electronic shifting. Yeah its long. Personally, im just going to go for a GX with an X01 chain. Itll cost you $1,900 for a full X01 Eagle AXS groupset and $2,000 for an XX1 Eagle AXS groupset. - Trigger Shifter, or Single click E-Bike Shifter options, If you were to blindfold someone and ask them to try to notice the, Padded / Protective Short Liners / Chamois, SRAM Eagle Groupsets Compared! Where its common to see inner, outer and pins given special heat treatments, the rollers are rarely spoken of and this is certainly an element that came up in Kerins testing. Well, youre in luck. However, 12-speed is a totally different story. At the time of writing, Kerin was not setup to do such testing, but does suggest that based on the SRAM Eagle chain results, the AXS Flat Top chain will be, without question, amazingly durable. In fact, common chain tools wont physically fit into the X01 and XX1-level SRAM chains, even after elongation wear is measured. This is because the cassette is machined out of a single block of alloy, instead of being forged cogs and pinned together. These chains feature oversized rollers which require specific cassettes and chainrings to use. - X01 Eagle Shifter:117g- X01 Eagle Rear Derailleur:285g- X01 Eagle Crankset:463g- X01 Eagle Cassette: 372g- X01 Eagle Chain:262g, - 1x Specific, 12-speed drivetrain- 520% range (10-52t Cassette)- XD Driver specific- Trigger Shifter, Grip Shift, or Single click E-Bike Shifter options- Adjustable downshift paddle- 4 color options for cassette and chains- $1,275. Kerin is in the process of working on this very area, so stay tuned. When you put it like that, no reason to go all the way to XX1. The newest XX1 gets a makeover by way of sleek, new graphics to match any colored cassette SRAM offers, as well as the extended 10-52t cassette range. CAD Learn how your comment data is processed. If you have the Shimano HG style freehub body and you dont want to upgrade it, you can always use the NX Eagle cassette with the rest of the GX Eagle components. With more alloy parts, X01 is made for the heavy trail rider or enduro racer. Its often these coatings and materials used that dictate a price difference in chains. After KMCs X11E chain, it was FSAs Team Issue chain and SRAMs budget PC1130 which were due for replacement by the 2,000 km mark, two-thirds of what many popular premium chains reached. The next two versions of SRAM Eagle are barely a step down. In this, he tested the top Shimano chains from each respective speed, and the results may surprise you. And those differences can be quite apparent, with thousands of kilometres separating the best and worst in terms of durability, and as much as a 4 watt (at 250W, 90rpm) difference in drag not insignificant figures. SRAM AXS Eagle blew some minds when it first came out, creating the first truly wireless shifting for the mountain bike market. Hey, what is SRAM NX and GX the equivalent of in Shimano road and mtb groupsets? EUR Its for someone who is looking to shave grams, which comes at the cost of not being quite as durable. Each chain was tested at least twice (53 links at a time), matched with a half-length of Shimano Ultegra control chain each time. NZD, This article was written / authored by Liam Woods. All Eagle rear derailleurs work the same way and have their clutch with Cage Lock features. These coatings also help to explain why Kerin experienced a progressive ramp-up of wear rates on cheaper models of chains likely the result of increased material friction once the coatings had worn away. Most wont give it a second thought when it comes time for a new one, and its common to simply replace the worn chain with one that matches the name on the derailleurs. However, and as Kerin points out, the new chains feature a totally new plate shaping thats designed to improve shift performance, but in turn, makes it a poor fit for other drivetrains. However, dimensions can change between batches, and so as Kerin found, its not a given that spending more gives you more. Every drivetrain manufacturer will tell you not to run any chain other than their own, while the aftermarket chain makers just say trust us, its cool. SRAM XX1 Eagle is the option for the cross country racer, weight weenie, or someone just looking to shave any gram possible. Cross-compatibility between models is a tricky game in the chain world. I start with the shifter, as that is what you feel the most, and I choose to use the SRAM X01 Eagle shifter. Shimano chains are seemingly the most efficient on the market while also offering decent durability. And as mentioned before, the hollow pins found on the Dura-Ace chain are not simply about weight savings they result in a stronger rivet. NX: Standard stamped steel cogs, and other than the three-cog cluster at the top, each are individual pieces with plastic spacers between them, offering 11-50 range. And where the Dura-Ace 11-speed posted better elongation wear numbers, it fell short with the digital chain checker (roller play and wear). Sure, older 8-, 9- and even 10-speed systems do offer wider cog widths which provide increased surface area with the chain, but does that actually mean the chains are more durable? Offered in both SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS as well as SRAM X01 Eagle AXS, you can get the durable option, or the carbon option. SRAM SX Eagle is going to be the most entry level SRAM 12-speed mountain bike groupset you can get. And when it comes to understanding what makes a chain fast, theres arguably nobody on this planet that knows the space better than Jason Smith, formerly of FrictionFacts and now the Chief Technology Officer at CeramicSpeed. Im not cheap, im just health conscious! XX1: Same construction as X01 cassette, upgrades to PVD gold Ti-Nitride-like coating to improve corrosion resistance and durability. So what makes a chain fast? Just like road biking, from very good to best, you pay about $1000 for each pound shaved off the bike weight. Its almost a universal law that there is no real cost benefit or functional benefit to any top tier group compared to 2nd rung (excluding Campy SR which is really a above an beyond factory tuned level). video As always, run a good lube and keep your drivetrain clean thats the real trick to getting the most value and performance from your drivetrain components. Itll be interesting to see whether SRAM can bring their 12 speed system to road before Shimano brings their micro spline system to your Dura-Ace this fall, Great post! At least for Shimano, the efficiency does improve as you spend more. However, the specifics of those different coatings and processes remain a closely guarded secret of each respective brand. While you can purchase a SRAM SX Eagle shifter, rear derailleur, and crankset aftermarket, theyre most commonly found as stock on a bike, or OEM. If you mix and match parts, it's really hard to notice between the different levels. If you want to just get the wireless AXS shifting for your current SRAM Eagle setup, you can easily just upgrade by getting the SRAM AXS Controller and SRAM AXS Rear Derailleur. SRAM Eagle is an entire drivetrain ecosystem, as all levels can interact with each other, but there are also five levels to this ecosystem. The fat bike spindle costs a little more. However, variances in recorded roller diameter and wear rates of the rollers themselves forced Kerin to also adopt the more traditional method of measuring total chain elongation. Kerin believes this is a batch variance, and that its quite possible (even likely) the Dura-Ace chain can offer improved durability. Soon to follow was NX Eagle and then SX Eagle. XX1 Eagle , Currency: X01 Eagle is aimed at the aggressive trail or enduro rider looking to get that snappy, precise shifting you love from SRAMwhile not sacrificingdurability. Basically the X01 arms are stronger and less likely to have any issues. And similarly, SRAMs Force AXS Flat Top chain is faster than the more expensive Red version. The key findings from this article are also discussed in Episode One of the CyclingTips Nerd Alert podcast. Coming in just behind, and reaching the .5% wear mark at near 3,000 km were the Shimano Dura-Ace (HG-901), YBN SLA Gold, Campagnolo Chorus, Campagnolo Record, and YBN Anti Corrosion. Ive wondered about that, too. That can work, but I want to talk about the version I choose to run on my enduro bike for the best performance to cost. SRAM claim the worlds longest-lasting chain with their XX1, and they are not kidding, Kerin said. Below are Adam Kerins specific chain recommendations that he chooses to race with (and as a result, the products hell be choosing to stock following this test). At the other end of the scale was the KMC X11E chain which lasted only 1,694 km in Kerins gritty test, and inexplicably, KMCs US$120 DLC chain wasnt any better. SRAM NX Eagle will be the next full groupset you can get, and its a great option to upgrade if you are currently using a 2x or 3x system. Once youve done that, then read Zero Friction Cyclings chain testing brief and its lubricant test protocol. Now you can mix and match all levels of Eagleas well as thecolors of the cassette and chains. So for SRAM XX1, X01, and GX, you need to use a XD driver/freehub body. Examples of this are seen with KMC and Shimano chains, which are both known to show minor amounts of roller-based wear when new, and according to CeramicSpeed, are lightning-fast, too. This will come with the SRAM controller and rear derailleur. However, and if possible, you should most definitely swap back to the impressively durable SRAM chains in your training. And that makes sense: if a lubricant is causing vast abrasive wear on metal, it has to be wasting energy, too. Two things: didnt realize til now that TB has a scar under left eye, and studio could benefit from some sound proofing. Then ill upgrade to X01 here and there as i can afford it, and sell the part that im replacing. The process for applying the secret-formula wax-based submersion lubricant (after a multi-stage cleaning process) is the same across all chain models, and so it provides a clear and precise indication of the most efficient chains. Once you install these and adjust them, that is pretty much all the work to be done. Its a question I posed to Kerin after the previous testing was done, and he got the Zero Friction Cycling torture machine up and running again to find out. Those racing at the top-level on SRAM mountain bike drivetrains should consider alternative options (such as KMCs X12 chain, or a Shimano chain as suggested by Kerin) to get the most efficiency possible. This is specific to the way the cassette mounts onto the wheel. SRAM NX Eagle slots in right below GX, at just $375 for a full groupset. This is mainly from the rear cassette you will find on the SRAM NX and SX Eagle groupsets. Given all of this, and to a point, it makes financial and performance sense to spend a little more and get the better chain even if its just for peace of mind through not having to check wear quite as often. Again, not something I want when on a trip and just want to rip some fun trails. BRL And yes, that control chain proved repeatably stable, validating the results shared here. The brief answer is: larger gaps between the various components, allowing lubricant to travel freely and do its job while reducing the sheer amount of friction between the various chain parts. Plenty of brands have followed, but I don't think anyone does it as well as SRAM. Right? All are available in eMTB versions with single click downshifts, too. Variance in roller dimensions can be excused, but a difference in pure elongation when new cannot, and for that, Kerin points to sloppy manufacturing (perhaps isolated to bad batches) as the only answer. Because of this unexplained inconsistency, and the surprisingly good results of the brand new X11TT chain, Kerin plans to retest the DLC chain in near time, a chain that KMC claims to be its most durable 11-speed offering. This article will be updated once those results are in. You might want to do this when upgrading or if you have a more expensive version and break some part and want to grab the more affordable option. And to a point, its the distance between these rollers that the cogs must mesh with. I have a X1 11-speed crankset and it has nice hollow aluminum crankarms. Keep in mind that Kerins test considers .5mm to be worn out, and so .12mm is almost a quarter of the allowable wear allowance. Episode One of the CyclingTips Nerd Alert podcast, Zero Friction Cyclings chain testing brief, Wippermann Connex conducted its own such test, How to check for chain wear: The easy way, the best way, and why, Chain quick links: A guide to easy connection, The best degreaser: cleanliness made safe and easy, The best chain breaker for the home mechanic: 15 tested, Chain cleaning: A complete guide from lazy to obsessive, Seeking the holy grail: A fast chain lube that saves you money. Shimano 105 vs Ultegra vs Dura-Ace Adam Kerin of Zero Friction Cycling is doing some impressive work in this space and has spent some 3,000 hours and over AU$15,000 of his own money to find the best chain. As previously reported in our best chain lube feature, Adam Kerin found an almost direct correlation between reduced friction (efficiency) and improved chain durability when selecting chain lubricants. With exclusive test data from Zero Friction Cycling and CeramicSpeed, we dive deep to find out. However, when it comes to the chains themselves, there is no such correlation or pattern. Support us! Other chains that showed wear noticeably faster via a chain wear checker than pure elongation were Shimano Dura-Ace, YBN E-bike chain, SRAM PC1170 and SRAM PC1190. AUD *All groups are weighed with stock 32-tooth chainrings and DUB cranksets except XX1 Eagle, which is weighed with the original non-DUB 30mm spindle version. Is upgrading your shifter to xo and downgrading GX cass to NX still have the same shifting feel as a X0 group. Theyre so durable, in fact, that they had started to wear through the cogs from pure abrasion before measuring as worn. Similarly, the chain designs themselves have changed, and where 8- and even 9-speed chains would see the inner links turn solely on the connecting pins, newer chains typically see these forces shared across the pins and specifically stamped plates, too. GX: Upgrades to chrome treatment on the pins to increase strength. A full NX Eagle groupset with shifter, rear derailleur, cassette, chain, and crankset is just $375! Black Ti-Nitride treatment reduces friction and helps prevent corrosion. Its made to be both more affordable yet not sacrificing any performance. SRAMs product managers told us the difference from NX up to X01/XX1 chains can be 2x the lifespan. CeramicSpeeds data is a little dated in this area, but they suggest theres an approximate half a watt difference (again, at 250W, 90 rpm) between Ultegra and Dura-Ace chains. Ignoring the extra gear, am I wrong? It's a hard system to beat that really kicks most other drivetrains ass when you compare price, durability, and weight. Eventually, GX Eagle came out. I often mix and match my parts. So as you can see I run quite a mix of parts, but it's all about the balance of price, performance, and weight. What is most impressive is how affordable SRAM 12-speed has become. Glad that BR is going to video recap on complex posts. Makes my full GX but with X01 cranks seem ideal.