my bikes span this argument…
I’m running 1×11 Shimano XT on the plus bike
SRAM 1×11 on the full suss
SRAM old skool 2×10 on the 29er.
the 1 tooth difference at the business end makes very little difference IMO. I still spin out on fast road descents, but very rarely need anything more on the trails. If ever.
Shimano seems to suffer in the mud more than SRAM. When things get really boggy, and the drivetrain is caked, the Shimano chain retention seems to be way worse. I have no idea why. To the point that in extreme conditions it can become unrideable. (if anyone knows of anything I may have set up wrong then I am all ears…but 99.9% of the time it is slick and faultless….just whenever it gets shown mud things go belly up – to the point I wouldn’t want to race it in winter).
My only grip with SRAM. XD Hubs. Do we really need this standard? Especially with a 50 tooth granny ring, you can run a slightly larger chain ring.
Oh – My 2×10 has worked fine for 6 years and is so cheap in comparison to replace worn items! (But having been sucked in my marketeers and liking the aesthetics of 1x – that’s all I would probably buy moving forward)