Forum menu
Torn between NX or SLX on my new build. SLX looks better and gets the better reviews but NX means I don't have to buy a new freehub micro spline body at £50. So... Is SLX £50 better than NX.
SLX with an alternative cassette that fits your current freehub body?
I've had nx 11speed for a couple of years. Works fine. I like the positive "clunk" feel of sram.
I have slx 12 speed on my new bike. Works fine. I like the light slick feel of shimano.
HTH 😉
Spend even more and get the xt cassette and shifter.
Will be leagues ahead of NX in function and weight.
Slx plus sunrace cassette for the win.
NX = cheap sh*the with exploding mechs and shifters that need warrantying twice in the first year.
I wouldn’t trust the NX mech to keep shifting well for a decent length of time. Had an 11 speed one, replaced with XT which is way more solid. Also have GX Eagle and that’s a bit on the finicky side...
My experience is that when new there’s little to choose between them, you pick the one you prefer the feel of. but once there’s a few hundred miles under them the shimano stuff is likely to keep on working better.
There are exceptions to every rule of course.
Right I just need a deal on an XT group then 😁
If you go slx get the whole lot rather than mixing in a random cassette. Performance difference is noticeable. NX is utter shite all the way through.
Merlin were knocking out OEM shimano drivetrain pretty cheap recently.
Had SLX on a 2016 MTB, upgraded to XT for my 2019 build. The only difference I can tell is that the shifter feels that bit ‘nicer’ to use.
Dead easy to set up and no problems so far.
Maybe not relevant but my first experience of owning a SRAM group on a 2017 gravel bike has been one of constant problems EG, BBs made of cheese, can’t get the crank fit just right, can’t get the crank off without a length of scaffold pole, regularly have to reset the callipers, callipers have zero tolerance that doesn’t allow for a bit of grit or micro warped disc, eats sram branded pads and rotors need replacing soon as a result, pistons stick occasional, hoods are now slack and rotate, constantly have to reset the shifter lever position, plastic shifter internals replaced due to failing, Spring in the mech seems to be getting slack. Jockey wheel bearings changed after approx 1500 miles.
Can’t wait to get rid of it when funds permit, utter shyte........
chains seem ok though.
I’ve been shimano for ever. Tried a sram shifter and really didn’t like it...
Bought xt shifter and mech, also bought the slx 4pots. They are a different colour, but were fair bit cheaper than xt equivalent.
+1 for nx rear mechs having a self destruct function, I always end up killing the cheaper SRAM stuff.
Even worse warranty replacements can take months! & that was before coronaggedon
SRAM groupsets are garbage imo. The guide g2 brakes I have are very good and better than shimano.
I would go xt crank and derailleur
Slx cassette and chain
Xtr shifter.
SLX is more comparable to GX
XT to XO1
XTR to XX1
Shimano has always been cheaper but NX was just some cheap shite sram came up with
Let's be honest, there's not much point to Sram transmission components now Shimano have finally done wide-range 1x drivetrains so well with their 12sp ranges.
I bought a Giant Trance with NX back in November and while I haven't ridden it massively I'm pleasantly surprised by the NX 12 speed. I was resigned to having to replace parts of it but it hasn't stopped being perfect (OK, and heavy) yet.