It's new (gravel/everything) bike day this year and going through the various options in prep for my C2W to refresh. Frame etc. all decided, just deciding on groupset.
I've pretty much decided on Sram Force AXS, since Shimano 105 Di2 has been infuriating to live with compared to the 2016 Red Etap on my road bike. My question to the forum dwelling oracles are as follows:
1. Is the 1x and 2x crankset the same, and only the chainrings would need swapping, other than a spacer to alter the chainline? I know they do a wider one to allow massive tyres, which I won't be using, but any reason why I can't put a 1x ring on the 2x cranks? I know I'd have to change the rear mech and have a UDH in order to use the explr rear mech, but would be nice to know down the line if it was easy to switch should I choose to swap between 1x & 2x, and not have to remove seat tube mounted batteries (Catch up Shimano).
2. Are new 12speed 2x groupsets still compatible with Shimano 12 speed cassettes? I've always used Ultegra cassettes with 11speed Red Etap because they're significantly cheaper. Would also mean I wouldn't have to change the freehubs on my spare wheels - assuming I'm not bothered about loosing the 10t.
3. Anyone used Sram brakes with Shimano ice-tech (XT) rotors? Any horror stories?
Thanks in advance.
I'm building Force AXS onto a Cotic Cascade now.
Force shifters talk to a GX AXS derailleur and Reverb AXS dropper that I had in the parts bin.
GX derailleur to be used on an XTR cassette - 12 speed is 12 speed as far as gear steps go, there should be no compatibility issue with Shimano/Sram here. I needed the cassette to fit a Microspline hub.
XT rotors also planned for the Force calipers - should be ok!
Everything at least 50% off, lots of used/Ebay as appropriate for a Frankenbike to pass the time in a wet February.
If anything doesn't work I'll let you know...
Just tried fitting 160 mm ice tech rotors with my apex xplr axs. The arms in the rotors foul the apex calipers. Bugger
I can't answer all your questions but I just converted a complete 2x Force AXS (prev generation) drivetrain to a 1x set up.
I swapped out the chainrings for a single Woolftooth jobbie, plus a 10-52 GX cassette and GX derailleur (not T-type as I don't have a UDH frame) plus a non-flat top chain (which IIRC was required cos derailleur was not T type).
I also needed a spacer for the cassette as I didn't want to swap freehub. I don't think the cranks needed a spacer (my LBS did the work and didn't mention anything about re-spacing cranks)
Just tried fitting 160 mm ice tech rotors with my apex xplr axs. The arms in the rotors foul the apex calipers. Bugger
Should have said tried road and mtb RT800 rotors
If it's flat mount calipers you have got the spacers on the calipers the right way round to use the 160 rotors?
Yeah. The bike comes with 160 mm rotors. Trek Checkpoint SL5 Gen 3
That's a booger, I've MT800s with Force calipers without issue if that helps