At Chain Reaction £409.99 Flash deal gets 15% of so £348.50 code FLASH15
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/sram-gx-eagle-axs-12-speed-mtb-upgrade-kit/rp-prod204071
Cheapest I've seen it for a while.
Just ordered a kit for the super commuter!
Nice! I'm going to have to stick with cable for a lot longer though due to relative skinthood.😁
Anyone got a long term review of this. Somthing that's never interested me but at this price it's worth a try. The idea or something going wrong and having no gears on a ride puts me off.
Had GX AXS for a year, and 2x XX1 AXS since release in 2019. Zero issues. I’m never buying a cable mech again. GX mech is functionally the same as XX1, just a packet of crisps heavier.
I've done about 1200 miles on my (second hand) GX AXS and the only time I've had an issue is when I hadn't used the bike for a while and forgot to charge the battery. I am also never buying a cable mech again.
We have been running it on two ebikes that came fitted with it 12 months ago.
Mine is XX1 and the other is GX. Had no problems ans wouldn't go back even though we are running cable on other bikes which will be upgraded when they wear out.
Daughter has been running X01 on her Enduro for quite some time again with no problems
It's well worth carrying a spare battery just incase you forgot to charge it it.
We find that the droppers need charging more than the mech ones do
coming up to 4 years on my X01 setup. Now on its 3rd bike. Its been absolutely flawless. Yes the clutches wear out and get a little chain slappy, but its a small price to pay for excellent all year round shifting.
I can only assume the GX will work just as good. Hoping this offer is still on come payday!
Must... resist. I've been tempted by axs for a while but decided to try standard gx eagle instead.
Some good deals on fox forks with that code too. 38 factory for 620. 34sc for 510. 34 performance for 425.
Anyone got a long term review of this
Had GX axs on my ebike for the last 2 years, ridden in all weathers, through uk winters (so proper muddy), all fine, still working fine. I do have a suspicion that the battery might have lost some of its capacity, it doesnt seem to last as long any more.
davros
Some good deals on fox forks with that code too. 38 factory for 620. 34sc for 510. 34 performance for 425.
Yep, just nabbed a 140mm 2023 36 for 630 euro with code FLASH15
Well my PSA has cost me money. Didn't need the AXS but after seeing the savings on the 38s have opted for the 29 170 in Orange. Not over keen on the colour and have a 160 shaft to swap out. I also had a voucher code so saved a bit more
Tempted. Currently on 11-spd X01 with an Absolute Black oval chainring on Next SL cranks. I think I'd need this upgrade kit, a cassette, and a chain - I suppose it would be sensible to get a chainring too? I have the original chainring that came with the bike, almost unused, but obviously 11-spd - would that work?
but obviously 11-spd – would that work?
I don’t see why not, I’ve used Eagle 12 speed with a narrow/wide SRAM CX1 chainring with no issues. I had to run the Eagle chain and I found that using a worn chainring with a new Eagle chain was very noisey!
Awesome, I'm pretending I've not seen the forks though.
Seriously tempted with the axs kit .the only nagging doubt is that some people report the clutch isn't strong enough and due to the extra weight of the mech you creates a lot more chain slap .
Those above notice this at all.
I had been looking for a 36 and 140 is perfect for my needs. Couldn't resist at that price 😀
Not noticed it at all. Apart from charging the battery every so often its been fine.
I do not need GX AXS I do not need GX AXS I do not need GX AXS I do not need GX AXS I do not need GX AXS I do not need GX AXS I do not need GX AXS I do not need GX AXS I do not need GX AXS I do not need GX AXS
I do not need GX AXS I do not need GX AXS
Exactly, it's obsolete already, you need XX1 transmission...
Seriously tempted with the axs kit .the only nagging doubt is that some people report the clutch isn’t strong enough and due to the extra weight of the mech you creates a lot more chain slap .
Those above notice this at all.
Yes, and it's not the clutch - it's the same strength as the regular eagle stuff. It does slap around more though, it's from the mech body rotating around the main bolt when the chain goes slack and the cage goes forward. Because there's no cable running from the frame to the mech which provides a bit more tension and stops the mech body rotating, and the mech body is heavier, it's free to rotate around when there's no tension on the system. Which causes the extra noise. You can easily see it yourself, lock the cage forward on a cabled mech, and you'll see there's tension (provided by the gear cable) that stops the mech flapping around like a pair of saggy bollocks in a strong wind. The AXS mech doesn't have this.
There's a couple of fairly easy fixes for this, it basically involves providing extra friction on the main derailleur bolt to stop it flapping around. Funnily enough, it's one of the things that has been fixed in the new AXS stuff.
Having read some of the gushing reviews of the new stuff, I’m somewhat put off spending money on old tat.
I was really tempted by this, then realised almost all my stuff is 12 speed and none of it is 12 speed.
I've been thinking about an AXS upgrade for some time, but couldn't *quite* justify it at £400. £350 was looking a lot better, but still not completely sure - until riding around Swinley in the wet today, finally got fed up of my SLX mech shifting up really slowly once it (more likely the cable) gets full of damp grit. AXS upgrade ordered just now - if it's half as good as Di2 on my road bike I'll be very happy.
Having read some of the gushing reviews of the new stuff, I’m somewhat put off spending money on old tat.
how good the old tat is, is the reason im not all that arsed about the new stuff.
NSMB.com reckon the old tat will work with the new cassette/chain with just a 2.5mm spacer between mech and hanger
I did always wonder about using the Shimano cassette/chain for better shifting under load, but SRAM cassettes are so durable that I've never had the need to replace one
NSMB.com reckon the old tat will work with the new cassette/chain with just a 2.5mm spacer between mech and hanger
Surely the adjustment within the mech would allow for that, it has to allow for the non-standard location of the mech hanger on current bikes anyway. There's a decent range of adjustment with the micro-adjust feature.
I'm not sure also how the shifting 'waits' for the ramps in the cassette until it shifts up, does it shift and then the chain design means it doesn't derail until it hits those ramps, or does the mech know where the cassette is and delays the shift until it's in the right spot? That would be some crazy shit if so!
Thanks for such a PSA on payday. Also ordered a 100mm dropper for my youngest's Vitus which she can grow into.
Blister podcast have a pretty interesting interview with a SRAM employee that mentions the Transmission shifter software/firmware (whatever) is designed to shift the mech by different amounts as the mech knows which gear you're in on the cassette, it needs this due to all the shift ramps built into the new cassette.
I'd be surprised if the old AXS stuff would shift well with the new cassette as presumably the indexing is specific to all the new machining on the new cassette.
Now the upgrade kit is ordered, has anyone seen any good deals on 12 speed cassettes at all?
Cheers OP, i'd been looking for a while but not hit the button.
It did get me thinking though, the SRAM Rival eTap AXS XPLR mech has a range of 10-44 and works with a GX Eagle flat bar shifter and i run a 10-45 XT cassette which you'd think it would accommodate. From a little bit of reading it looks like it comes with a clutch so should be ok for MTB use. Has anyone tried this as the mech is smaller and considerably cheaper than the GX Eagle one!
Has anyone tried this as the mech is smaller and considerably cheaper than the GX Eagle one!
doesn’t come with a shifter though, iirc?
Usually the AXS mech alone doesn't come with the battery. Unless you have a charger will need that factoring in as well
I was working on the logic I'd have a charger and battery from the eagle set I've just bought 🙂
Thanks for the psa, cheapest I’ve ever seen it. Ordered
Am I right in thinking for mtb, there isn’t a 2x AXS option ? I’ve seen 2x AXS on road / gravel bikes.
Am I right in thinking for mtb, there isn’t a 2x AXS option ? I’ve seen 2x AXS on road / gravel bikes.
Correct. SRAM is 100% 1x for MTB.
I can’t seem to get mine set up properly.
Mech hanger checked, chain fine, used the plastic b screw guide and I can’t get it right.
Any tips?
What’s it doing or not doing?
jkomo
I can’t seem to get mine set up properly
Your hanger is most likely slightly bent. Stop trying until you can align it, you'll drive yourself mad. I did.
Now the upgrade kit is ordered, has anyone seen any good deals on 12 speed cassettes at all?
@crossed HG or XD freehub?
10-50 for 129 Euro, shipping to UK you won't pay VAT
https://r2-bike.com/SRAM-GX-Eagle-Cassette-12-speed-Full-Pin-XG-1275-10-50-teeth-black
Tracey can i ask how you know they are 170mm
I’m about to press the button on some orange 38’s but they don’t seem to have any indication of travel as far as i can tell?
Cheers
Now the upgrade kit is ordered, has anyone seen any good deals on 12 speed cassettes at all?
Bird cycles works were selling off garbaruk 12 speed micrspline cassettes for £175 on their eBay store.
That's pretty cheap for a 330g cassette.
Live chat this morning both the orange 29 are 170 and the 27.5 are 160. They said they were going to update the website.
Ideally wanted 29 160s in black but at that price gone with orange and black decals.
Cheers. Suspected may be the case. Spare set for me too. Thanks for replying.
do these AXS mech/shifters play nicely with shimano 12 speed cassettes / chains / chainrings?
Idle curiosity - I too *DO NOT NEED AXS*
There's a Bike magazine article that gushes for several pages about AXS with Shimano chain and cassette being the ultimate 12s setup. Well, until this week.
Edit... HERE
Arrrgh!
Must resist!
do these AXS mech/shifters play nicely with shimano 12 speed cassettes / chains / chainrings?
Idle curiosity – I too *DO NOT NEED AXS*
yes, if a little bit noisy either end of the block and took a bit of fiddling to set up. But the micro adjust on the button makes fiddling a breeze. Shifts are pretty perfect.
I couldn’t believe how bad the new xt 12 speed stuff is after many years on sram, soon to be on the classifieds!
Ok... I didn't need that, but I'm now £350 lighter!!
Still need a cassette and chain... oh and freehud.
I've had xx1 on my xc bike for some time, and it's excellent, so, here we are..
Thanks for the PSA (I think 🤔)
Will this work on a 11sp cassette?
Garbaruk 10 -48 with sram 11 speed chain??
If those forks were in black I'd be in a lot of trouble right now...
It can't be that hard to spray them black 🤔
Will this work on a 11sp cassette?
Garbaruk 10 -48 with sram 11 speed chain??
No ,I'm afraid it wont
do these AXS mech/shifters play nicely with shimano 12 speed cassettes / chains / chainrings?
Yep all works fine,been using my axs mech with Shimano cassette and chain for the last 2 years
The problem is once I’ve set it up it seems fine on the stand, but after a run or two it’s as if it is in between cogs. Just all noises and grumbly.
Mech hanger aligned with the park tool jobbie.
I’ve got the cheapest sram groupo on the ebike that everyone hates, and that runs perfectly!
Does anyone have any experience of the Garbaruk cassettes? Are they any good compared to the SRAM 12 speed ones?
Will this work on a 11sp cassette?
Garbaruk 10 -48 with sram 11 speed chain??No ,I’m afraid it wont
Thank **** for that. I can put my bank card away.
Does anyone have any experience of the Garbaruk cassettes? Are they any good compared to the SRAM 12 speed ones?
I have an xD 10-48 11 speed that replaced a SRAM 10-42 12 speed. Zero difference in shift quality. If I 2as getting the kit 8n the OP, I'd probably be looking at a Garbaruk cassette for it.
"It did get me thinking though, the SRAM Rival eTap AXS XPLR mech has a range of 10-44 and works with a GX Eagle flat bar shifter and i run a 10-45 XT cassette which you’d think it would accommodate. From a little bit of reading it looks like it comes with a clutch so should be ok for MTB use. Has anyone tried this as the mech is smaller and considerably cheaper than the GX Eagle one!"
It should be fine, I've got a Rival XPLR MECH running with Eagle 10-50 X01 cassette and it works ok on my Vendetta.
You do miss our on the fancy clutch and impact absorbing mechanism but it's quite a bit cheaper and lighter.
Fitted it yesterday, which was fairly straightforward other than it wasn't wanting to run firmware updates through my phone. 1st ride on it today, it's really very good isn't it. Significantly better than cabled GX eagle or xt 10sp I have been running before.
Fitted it yesterday, which was fairly straightforward other than it wasn’t wanting to run firmware updates through my phone. 1st ride on it today, it’s really very good isn’t it. Significantly better than cabled GX eagle or xt 10sp I have been running before.
Fitted mine in the week, first ride today, very very nice. Also struggling with the firmware upgrade.
For anyone that missed the CRC deal, GX AXS kits are down to £386 on Pro Bike Kit.
If anyone is sad enough to be a weight weenie like me and looking for the best value AXS, then my findings for an XX1 weight groupset at a fraction of the cost:
SRAM GX AXS upgrade kit from PBK or your friendly LBS (mine was happy to price match)
Garbaruk cassette. The easy choice for quality, value and lighter than 12 speed XX1 weight.
XO chain is 2/3 the price of XX1 and seems to be lighter compared to XX1 by a few g's, only lacking an aesthetic colourful final coating and otherwise being the same.
Loads of chainrings drop some g's and are cheaper than SRAM. I'm using Works Components for the best balance of quality, weight and value I have found.
Garbaruk/ Ratio Components both do cages for the GX AXS mech to drop a significant chunk of weight and are way cheaper than buying X01/ XX1.
SRAM X01/ XX1 cranks are a really solid, light option. There is usually some kind of variation on sale for around £200. I bought a version with undesirable graphics which must have put them in the sale, then just covered the arms with matte black vinyl.
Hard to get much lighter AXS without going in to HOPP diminishing returns and a fraction of the cost of XX1 🙂
Early impressions is that the ergonomics on the standard shifter paddle is pretty poor. I'll give it a few rides but probably swap for either the updated SRAM paddle or the AD Biking Quickshift paddle.
This Ratio cage will take a GX AXS mech to roughly the same as an X01 one, but for less money.
https://ratiotechnology.com/product/sr52x-derailleur-cage/
^ already ordered as part of my "budget" XX1 weight, AXS groupset
Is there actually any difference between the GX and X01 AXS kit apart from a few grams?
Is the X01 or XX1 stuff any harder wearing? I know there's a difference with the chains and cassettes but are the mech's and shifters all functionally the same?
I couldn’t believe how bad the new xt 12 speed stuff is after many years on sram, soon to be on the classifieds!
Sorry to derail slightly, but is this a thing? I have 9 speed XT (2x MTBs), 11 speed cheap-SRAM (town bike), 11 speed Force (gravel) and 11 speed Ultegra Di2 (road). My SRAMs work OK# but they're very clunky. 9 speed XT is perfect, as is Ultegra 11. I'm considering moving into this century for MTB# and had assumed that Shimano would be the smooth / best option. Is that not the case these days?
GX controller is identical to all the others
Rear mech is identical to X01 and XX1 besides the cages (material and weight) and a ti mounting bolt on XX1. GX with Garbaruk or Ratio cage is the same function and weight as X01 and 10g heavier than XX1
X01 and XX1 chains test as more efficient and significantly longer lasting than cheaper chains. X01 is 2/3 price of XX1 and a few g lighter as it is silver rather than coloured.
First real ride on my Shimano-AXS setup today, and it works like a charm. I modified the AXS derailleur to use Shimano-spec jockey wheels (actually the Superstar Components ones from my old mech) and set the B tension gap for a Shimano setup rather than using the AXS tool. Because the AXS mech doesn’t have the setup line from Shimano mechs, I measured the distance from pulley centre to the setup line on my old mech as 44.5mm, and used that to set the gap.
The chain and all cogs still think they are in a Shimano setup and the AXS mech is just responsible for moving the pulleys in and out. Lovely crisp shifting all the way.