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Looking at a new gearset for the full sus...
I've always liked SRAM, but since I got the GX 11 speed it felt much worse than anything I've had before. Got a few bikes with the following setups:
GX 11 speed RD and shifter = feels cr*p
GX 10 speed RD, X9 shifter = feels pretty good. Silky and crisp.
XT 11 speed RD and shifter = feels good, a bit heavy shifting but thunks in to gear well
Any opinions on what to replace the GX 11 speed with? GX rear mech with X1 (or above shifter?), or just go Shimano XT? Seems like the shifter might make more difference in the feel than the RD?
I’ve always liked SRAM, but since I got the GX 11 speed it felt much worse than anything I’ve had before. Got a few bikes with the following setups:
I’m with you there. I’ve got a bike with 11sp GX and another with an ancient X7 and X9 9sp combo. The ancient stuff feels a lot nicer than the new.
If/when the mech dies I’m jumping to Shimano, probably SLX
Yeah, when I had X9 10 speed all round it felt a million times better than any of this GX nonsense! That 10 speed had a clutch as well, so it's not any extra tension causing it to feel worse.
I think the X9 shifter had a bearing rather than bushing inside, I can't see details on that for the newer stuff though
GX & NX are just not worth it ime, especially if riding tough stuff: rear mech pivots develop play and flap around, sometimes taking a load of spokes with them.
Then you have to wait weeks & weeks for warranty replacement
even budget Shimano deore 10sp & sunrace 11-42 is a better bet, slx, xt, ftw
It’s funny, I had X9 10 speed and then GX 10 speed - and now have GX 11 speed on 2 bikes complete with Sram direct mount cranks.
The X9 was the baggiest mech after a couple of years that I’ve had. It still shifted but not the crispest.
Replaced with GX 10 speed and that was an improvement - running with an 11-42 Sunrace cassette.
GX 11 speed is better than both tbh - one lot is just over a year old and the other set is 3 years old. Both mechs have had new jockeys but other than that I’m on original cassettes / mechs / shifters / chainrings - just with several new X1 chains along the way.
Every now and then I wonder about eagle 12 speed but just read too much about failing mechs etc so stuck to 11 speed and just trying to get fitter to put those eagle thoughts to bed!
SLX with an XT shifter for me, every time.
SLX or XT mech but always an XTR shifter. Just feels so much better than anything else IMO.
Thanks for the replies all.
In all fairness, the GX 11 speed I have is quite a few years old now and is used form everything from Surrey Hills to Dyfi, revs etc, so it's probably taken a beating. But I was never that happy from the start.
Think I'll carry on with Shimano, XT and maybe an XTR shifter, depending on price.
XT all the way. I have just swapped out GX eagle mech and shifter for XT when I broke the GX mech. Shifts better, feels nicer and XT mechs are much chepaer when you break one
XT shifter wins everytime, XTR not worth the extra cash, SLX doesn't multi shift like the XT which is about a fiver more. I've never broke a shimano shifter unlike self destruct Sram ones I've had in the past.
Another vote for Shimano, the 11sp might not be the slickest but I've found it very durable and reliable.
Not something I can say about the GX setups I've had (cassette excluded).
XT it is then.
SRAM, I hope you're listening- bring back your old drivetrains adjusted for 11/12 speed rather than than what we currently have!
Is it me or does GX (and NX) just sound cheap too? Bad naming strategy from the SRAM guys
The other advantage of shimano is the mech is tucked in closer to the cassette than the SRAM one so less vulnerable to rock stikes.