Further to the 1x thread – if I were upgrading both mech and shifter, should I consider SRAM? Normally for me it’d be a toss-up betwen XT or XTR depending on what’s available at what level of discount.

Flip a coin mate, they’re both good.
I think I prefer SRAM overall but that’s just preference, I couldn’t quantify it.

possibly. I’d keep off eagle for the moment. I keep seeing posts about its fragility. It certainly feels fragile in use.

top end sram is very nice, more innovative than top end shimano, both great to use
cheap shimano (slx & below) is excellent
cheap sram stuff (x9,gx and below) is flimsy overpriced crap

Personally, I love X0 but it ain’t cheap. I’d tend to GX mech with X1 shifter, and 1150 GX cassette. It’s the range that’s important to me, though: so I’d happily consider 1150 cassette and XT shifting. The bombproof cassette is great. I’m a great believer that control of shifting is more important than the derailleur beyond base level, so I tend to run a better pod than mech. Shimano 11sp makes no sense to me personally, I need to run a bigger front ring and the bigger 11-46 cassette to get where I want to be in terms of top and bottom. If I was after bang for buck and sod the weight, M7000 cassette, 36 front and M8000 shifting would be hard to see past simply because of that cassette that’s usually around 30-40 quid.

I often think SRAMs range is misunderstood by people coming from a Shimano background. I feel GX is somewhere between SLX and XT, X1 is basically XT but rare in non-oem, X0 is about XTR trail and XX is pretty much XTR Race- the no holds barred XC light and money no object group. X0 and XX are very similar apart from materials and therefore strength and durability. The big differences once you graduate past X1 are in the cassette, and compared to the Hope and XTR M9001 cassettes, SRAM prices aren’t that bad. As always, it’s the perceived price of Shimano due to heavy discounting that makes SRAM look as expensive as it does.

Xt mech and shifter
Sram GX cassette (10-42t)*
Whatever chain you like
Seuperstar narrow-wide ring on your existing chainset

* if your wheel takes an XD driver

I’ve been very happy with SRAM X1 after years and years and years on XT and XTR.
The only thing I don’t like is being locked into SRAM brakes if you want the default Reverb lever to fit. Everybody seems to like Guides, but they’ve never felt great to me.

Nothing beats the 2003 3×9 XTR Rapid Rise (without the flappy paddles though) 🙂

I’ve only just switched to GX Eagle, so too early to say on that.

10 speed Shimano.

I’m still at the “How f****** much?” point with both the price and weight of 11 speed, let alone 12. I’m sure they only exist so that when they inevitably release a gearbox everyone will look at the weight and price and think it’s an improvement.

GX 12 speed 1850g
Pinion C.12 2100g

Shimano but thats because I like the 2 way operation of the shifter

I chose Shimano as the stuff seems an awful lot cheaper than SRAM and would work with my existing hub.

My XT set-up has worked pretty much flawlessly well until yesterday, but in fairness I abused it terribly.

It’s a shame their dropper post (which admittedly they don’t advertise as Shimano) was half as reliable.

XTR shifter with XT mech.

I often save money on cassettes since they are disposable. Seems like from the other thread that a SRAM cassette is the way to go even if I use Shimano shifter and mech.

I’m still at the “How f****** much?” point with both the price and weight of 11 speed, let alone 12. I’m sure they only exist so that when they inevitably release a gearbox everyone will look at the weight and price and think it’s an improvement.

GX 12 speed 1850g
Pinion C.12 2100g

How do you think they compare on efficiency?

Aren’t gearboxes more efficient than hub gears due to larger internals?

How efficient is 1×12 with what must be Satan’s own chain line?

Based on 11sp mtb, Shimano shifting of some combination and GX cassette is the best possible combo of range and price I think, yes.

My biggest criticism of the GX range is the shifter. I really dislike it, it feels much cheaper than the rest of the range. I suppose this is simply to differentiate from the rest of the 11sp range though.

So.. X0 is like XTR? And XX is like the ludicrous bling version of XTR they brought out?

GX 12 speed 1850g
Pinion C.12 2100g

Haven’t you just compared the gearbox-only with the whole GX groupset.
So should be 2100g vs 738g for GX

chakaping – Member
Xt mech and shifter
Sram GX cassette (10-42t)*
Whatever chain you like

That’s what I run. The difference in shifting quality between the XT cassette and the SRAM GX cassette is significant, which surprised me. The XT cassette looks medieval too, they need to do something to fix range and obvious lack of innovation.

So.. X0 is like XTR? And XX is like the ludicrous bling version of XTR they brought out?

Pretty much. X0 is basically XTR Trail and XX is the no expense spared for the grams XTR Race. The X0 shifter and mech are bloody lovely, but you could buy most of a group for what they cost.

GX for me, sits on par or slightly above XT for performance and floats on a cloud for weight and range.
Only used the grip shift which is close to the XO version.

Sram – innovative designs that people generally want but often badly executed.
Shimano – do whatever the hell they want but seem to do that really well.

I wish there were more options to be honest.

I must be a real cheapskate!

I’m perfectly happy with my SRAM NX 11 speed shifter and mech, with a Shimano 42 cassette and SRAM chain, plus Superstar N/W oval ring.

Can’t fault any of it.

Think it was less than £100 for the lot.

Sram – innovative designs that people generally want but often badly executed.
Shimano – do whatever the hell they want but seem to do that really well.

Can’t argue with that.

As above the mix & match approach works pretty well.

However Sram are **** for not doing a 10-44t or 10-46t cassette in 11sp.

However Sram are **** for not doing a 10-44t or 10-46t cassette in 11sp

You could simply fit a 30t upfront for the same result (assuming you haven’t already done that!)

XT shifter and mech 10 speed. Tried and tested for years. New stuff needs to see more use before reliability issues will be resolved. If you need more than 10 gears on a 1x setup, get yourself fitter/stronger or a bigger front ring. Before we know it people will have cassettes the size of dinner plates on their back wheel!! 😆

Before we know it people will have cassettes the size of dinner plates on their back wheel!!

There is a long list of people who need to find an actual dinner plate… Anyway go look at molgrips other 11dp thread no real 11sp fails there, think after 4 odd years sram have it nailed.

Well, it depends whether you want to go 12 speed or not.

However Sram are **** for not doing a 10-44t or 10-46t cassette in 11sp

they arent silly, you can pay the ugrade tax to 12 speed

fortunately Sunrace/ Shimano to the rescue!

You could simply fit a 30t upfront for the same result (assuming you haven’t already done that!)

Way ahead of you mate.

The 30t x 10t give me about as fast a gear as I need, but I could do with a slightly easier gear for climbing.

I know why they don’t offer this, planned obsolescence, but it’s still annoying.

fortunately Sunrace/ Shimano to the rescue!

Want to keep XD driver though.

Shimano. Been stung a couple of times with SRAM releasing things and using the first buyers as beta testers. Shimano just works, it may not always be innovative or as exciting as some of the new, shiny SRAM stuff but you know it will work.

Many, many years ago (we’re talking 90’s here) I was told by a bike shop mechanic, probably in relation to a Suntour product, that you need a very good reason to not buy Shimano, having ignored this a few times and been stung, I now stick to this advice. They’re one of very few brands that I am genuinely loyal to.

Ah yes they I once bought crap line…
I remember the shimano rear mechs before shadow that seemed to explode or the wholly unsuitable external bb’s they first released and the leaky brakes.
Id suggest trying sram 11,it might change your mind.

I’m a Shimano fan if I’m honest, had SRAM 9 & 10 speed and it’s not bad, just not Shimano.

had SRAM 9 & 10 speed and it’s not bad, just not Shimano.

So no idea about the 11sp 😉
Got XT 10sp and the GX 11sp was better for me.

Ah yes they I once bought crap line…
I remember the shimano rear mechs before shadow that seemed to explode or the wholly unsuitable external bb’s they first released and the leaky brakes.
Id suggest trying sram 11,it might change your mind.

For every Shimano issue there are more SRAM ones. GXP BB’s were worse than even early HT2, SRAM mechs that went sloppy within months and SRAM/Avid brakes were appalling.

I suppose I could try 11 speed SRAM but then why would I when Shimano works so well anyway?

It’s more a point about commenting from experience rather than history

Got XT 10sp and the GX 11sp was better for me.

So you haven’t tried XT 11sp shifting?

Personally I think it’s better than GX, though I’m sure you understand that equipment preference is subjective.

yep I did on a demo somewhere along the way, think I’ve tried 10sp Sram x9, x0 Shimano SLX XT and a heap of the 9sp stuff.

Plenty of personal preference in there but it’s always fun when people who have never tried any of them know what it’s like

It’s more a point about commenting from experience rather than history

Not an unfair comment. However, in a time precious world trying every systems is difficult, so yes, I use historical performance to shape my decisions, I’m comfortable with that.

So you haven’t tried XT 11sp shifting?

Personally I think it’s better than GX, though I’m sure you understand that equipment preference is subjective.

Subjective always, contact points and drivetrains are.

GX shifting improves markedly if you use a better trigger pod. The standard item is horrid. Use an X1 pod and it’s actually quite good. I have a bike configured this way and another with M8000 shift on GX cassette currently. I tried the M8000 cassette and didn’t like it. For me, it’s more about integration with other components as far as controls are concerned, I’m comfortable with either brand although I’d run X0 if money was no object – purely for preference rather than any functional concern.