Anyone changed to wireless gear shifting and...

On the road bike i wouldnt go back (esp Shimano)

On the MTB's i have both, wireless is nice but my well maintained cable shifting bike works just as well as the wireless bike

The apex AXS on the gravel bike is brilliant. If/when the MTB gets replaced I’ll happily go wireless.

Ive gone wireless on the MTB and gone back to wired. The advantages just are not enough/not there to warrant the extra cost and faff. However on the gravel bike wireless all the way.

Went axs on the mtb and love it. Set once, forget it. Charge the battery once a month. Adventure bike had it too. Same there, set once then go ride.

Ive gone wireless on the MTB and gone back to wired. The advantages just are not enough/not there to warrant the extra cost and faff.

Interesting. Presumably after going back you sold the wireless kit to defray the sunk extra cost? Otherwise, once it's spent, the only extra cost is when things wear out or get broken? What extra faff? Ie what are the advantages/disadvantages of one over the other in your experience pls?

This may sound like I'm a wireless fanboi. Not at all, I'm still mechanical but am interested in people's views/motivations that have switched back and forth.

I have GX AXS on both the normal and e-bike.  wasn't going to bother on the e-bike, then a cheap (£100) mech popped up on FB.  Just needed a battery and shifter and overall loads cheaper than the 1st lot I bought in 2021 (I think).  Also a lot nicer to use than mechanical GX.

Also got posh XX1 shifter & mech, and an X01 mech as spares just in case, but the only issue I have had is with sloppy bushes on the original AXS mech

I’m never buying cables again. Running 3 MTBs and a gravel Bike, with another MTB being built with it currently. Also, if the option is available, not speccing cable guides on frames.

2x XX1 has been faultless since release in 2019, 2x GX is functionally identical, just a bag of crisps heavier. Next build will be GX too

AXS on gravel love it, so smooth, and if i ride the bike a couple of times a week, then the battery hasnt failed me yet, so i really have to rmemeber to charge it every 4 or 5 weeks.

mtb not yet, although friends love it,

in the past decade i reckon i've broken a rear mech every 16-18 months, therefore i cant justify it.. too tight.

Well my Shimano Di2 isnt wireless but is that what you mean?

Definitely wouldn't go back. (on an Ebike) makes much more sense, especially when it works with freeshift too.

I do think the SRAM shifter is a much nicer ergonomic shifter than the Shimano Di2

Wouldn't go back..

I've GX AXS on the enduro bike.. T-Type GX AXS on the downcountry bike, and AXS XPLR on the gravel bike..

T-Type is the pinnacle of the lot, but all AXS is great!

Shifts so much better than cables, and t-type shifting under power is wizardry!

DrP

I have old AXS on an MTB which has, from a pressing a button & it shifting, been fine. However, SRAM have somehow managed to make the clutches even more feeble than old Eagle stuff, which is quite the achievement.

As a result, chain clatters around everywhere & sounds like a bag of sh*t.

T-Type on a couple of other bikes & whilst it’s a doddle to set up, I seem to be able to bend the lower cages with just harsh words. This seems to be a pretty common problem & because the jockey wheels are offset, it’s basically impossible to re-straighten them. End result is, it shifts like absolute junk.

All they have effectively done is move the sacrificial part closer to the ground as the main body is ‘very’ sturdy.

When it’s straight however, it’s great & the bare cages are now available & cheap, and the steel GX ones seem to be stronger than the higher end alloy ones.

I wouldn’t sell it and go back though yet, my other half has still got a bike with Shimano 12spd on it & they are littered with their own issues.

I’m selling my AXS off the gravel bike and going back to cables. Just isn’t worth the faff for me. Nothing is fundamentally wrong with it but I prefer the feel of mechanical to the clicky button of AXS and I’m converting it to a flat bar bike anyway.

Cheeky stealth ad but if anyone is interested in a set of hardly used Apex AXS drop bar brakes/ shifters, 1x cranks, rear mech and cassette for a good deal let me know!

I have a road bike with 11 speed Ultegra Di2, I would love that (or similar) on all my road bikes, but maybe not my gravel bike.
My MTB's, no; as said, well maintained cables just work, and after the inevitable crash, are a sight easier/cheaper to replace/repair.

IMHO

I have old AXS on an MTB which has, from a pressing a button & it shifting, been fine. However, SRAM have somehow managed to make the clutches even more feeble than old Eagle stuff, which is quite the achievement.

@HobNob - if you haven't already, it helps a lot to put a silicon o-ring on the main bolt before it goes through the mech (it just pushes out). I think the added friction just reduces the counterweight effect of the mass of the battery.

I was about to say that ^^ it's not the clutch, it's the fact that the main body of the mech is free to rotate on the hanger as there's no cable putting tension on it, and it's heavier than a non wireless mech.

Which has been fixed in the new T-Type axs.

I've had a o-ring installed on my GX axs for ages and it's loads quieter.

To answer the original question: no.

GX AXS on my G1, and my next bike will have T-Type AXS. Never going back.

My old thumbs love not having to pull cables these days so I not only have wireless shifting on both my bikes I have wireless droppers too

I'd be wireless on my dropper(s) too if it weren't for the fact that I need more length.

Have had electric gear shifting (Di2 and AXS) before on both Roadbikes and the MTBs but my current bikes are all on cables, the cost of new rear mechs made made me nervous and current 12-speed Shimano is superb.

I like things with linkages spring, cables and clogs that I can fix, are unlikely to just stop working for no damn good reason and which don't generate yet more E-waste.

I get the appeal though.

I've got Di2 on my nice road, it's lovely but if I had to go back to mechanical I don't think I'd loose to much sleep.

Both MTBs are 11s mechanical, Shimano shifting, GX cassette and Race Face cranks. Works really well and have no intention of going 12s, let alone electronic. I've destroyed 5 rear mechs on the full sus in the last 4 years and £60-70 for an XT mech is a whole lot better than £250 odd for a GX AXS one.

Have axs on the xc fs, it is good but I'm not replacing my mechanical stuff for it.

Not better or worse,  just different as far as i am concerned

Interesting. Presumably after going back you sold the wireless kit to defray the sunk extra cost?

Or he gets everything at trade/supplier prices so he can try whatever he wants at a fraction of the price we can. That's what I used to do.

I'm a regular civilian these days but I'll still die before I pay RRP for anything.

I'm running cable powered GX Eagle which is fine but I'm after one of these...  https://www.tweekscycles.com/sram-gx-eagle-axs-t-type-12-speed-groupset-4001208/

Anyone know of a better price anywhere?

We have been running it on 4 of our bikes for some time with no problems. I did snap the cage on my XX1 derailleur but fitted a ratio one and its still good. Daughter uses hers daily on the trails in Rotoura. Took spares out with her 18 months ago but not needed as its still running smooth.

Wouldn't go back to normal and the other bikes will be upgraded as stuff wears out

@sharkattack. This any good

https://www.tradeinn.com/bikeinn/en/sram-gx-t-type-eagle-transmission-axs-groupset/139580509/p?queryID=c89a31c2f278f44f229adc649abfc37a&buscador_search

Like di2 on the cross bike for cx racing / bridlewaying / roading - all good. Would probably look for it spec'd on a new bike, but wouldn't be in a hurry to upgrade an existing bike. Do not like up and down on the same shifter, due to my clumsy paws, so if I ran a front der that might be a problem.

MTB not that appealing - it would be way down the list of things to look for. I'd run it no prob, just wouldn't go out of my way to have it. Psychologically don't like the idea of riding somewhere very remote (in the UK sense) with electronic gears - I don't know if it's popular with the bike-packing crowd for that reason. Maybe it's not an issue.

TT bike is the one where I'd consider it a priority - testing on mechanical gears feels way out-dated now.

Couldn’t say I was bothered either way, until today when my hands were properly cold. The button gear shifter was fine to use still, cable dropper was painful to use, so never going back to cable gears! And know what to ask Santa for

@sharkattack. This any good

Thanks but they're in Spain so it's £12 shipping plus whatever taxes I get stung for.

When I've bought from them I've not had any extra charges. Parcel from them this week was the same

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I've tried wireless SRAM stuff. Quite happy I didn't pay for it. Shifting was really not to my liking.

Though, to be honest, SRAM mech shifting feels bloody awful to me as well. Shimano cables are very similar in feel to my Di2. Front is somewhat faster though.

Only significant bonus is the lack of cable servicing on Di2!

Love my Di2, running quite old 11x Ultegra DI2 on a road bike. Is absolutely great most of the time, have had a few issues when wearing thick gloves - but thats about the only problem I've had.

Gravel Bike has Force XPLR (from 2023) - works a dream.

I also have cable gears, Campag EKAR on another gravel bike - hateful! (Its not really that bad, just not as nice as Force)

Since 2018when I first went for electrical gears, I think the battery has stopped working twice mid ride....that was always user error though when I hadn't charged it for a while. Both times it was only the front mech that stopped, so was ok to continue without too much bother.

I have a brand new XT Di2 rear mech in the classifieds… 🙂

No duty to pay at tradeinn, the price you see is the price you pay...the downside is it could be slow delivery.

I like it on a road bike, I don't really see the point on an MTB if not racing and I've no interest in actually owning any bike with wireless gears. I rode a Transmission bike for an afternoon not long ago and it was ok. Felt very predictable and consistent, if a bit slow to change (vs the sometimes fast sometimes hesitant nature of trad gears). But for the cost and ride experience overall, tbh I just didn't get it. It didn't improve my experience but it would add a lot of cost. But I'm more into mechanical solutions generally and I like working on them - there's something I like about a well tuned, perfectly set up control-by-wire. I'd miss having the option if it wasn't available.

Presumably after going back you sold the wireless kit to defray the sunk extra cost? Otherwise, once it’s spent, the only extra cost is when things wear out or get broken? What extra faff? Ie what are the advantages/disadvantages of one over the other in your experience pls?

I don't really pay for my parts, at least not anything like cost when I do. It's usually stuff that ends up on demo bikes when I'm done with it or comes off a demo bike, or a sample from a company etc.

Also I have to deal with warranty for customers so I'm also biased towards reliable parts. For me on the MTB I find that I always come back to wired and wired will stay on until there's something new to try again in 3 years time. Whether it's chain slap, battery charging, shifter ergonomics, weight, reliability, ability to withstand impacts/being dragged through a bush, it always ends up for me that the more mature cabled gearing offerings (either SRAM or Shimano) wins out. That's not to say I don't appreciate the excellent shifting wireless offers when operating as intended, hence why it's the only thing I would run on a road or gravel bike, but that's not worth the other trade offs to me on a trail/enduro/dh bike

The best cabled xtr set up is nowhere near as good as wireless

I love axs on my Camino with faultless shifting and that easy “quick shift down”

I went into wireless knowing not much, but now having owned it would never go back.

My two rides a week are served with as others have said a once a month charge.

I am now looking to convert my 5 evo to wireless, as a Luddite I can’t say anymore.

Nope, been wireless for 4 years and would not go back

Wireless here on my Trek exe..... Wouldn't go back either, battery powered from main battery also .

I have Ultegra di2 on road bike,  older 2 x 10  , and it has been brilliant.

Also have xt di2 on Enduro bike , 1 x 11, brilliant too. Only once broke à rear mech as forgot the clutch.  Survived Morzine 3 times .

And mechanical xt 1 x 12 on cross country bike.  It is good but not as good.  I hope Shimano will bring  di2 12 speed very soon .

I hope Shimano will bring  di2 12 speed very soon .

12 speed XT DI2 has been out ages

I thought about stripping it https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/sense-check-keep-or-remove-sram-axs-transmission-from-a-new-bike/

If the bike didn't have headset cable routing, I almost certainly would have.

Now I've lived with it a bit, I do prefer Shimano 12 speed with XT shifter, for the ergonomics and feel.

I'm waiting for wireless brakes, then I'll go all-in 😉

Went back to XT for the latest build. Functionality while riding is very close, reliable, good weight and a very reasonable cost.

Running a £500 mech and shifter set up is absolutely bloomin ridiculous. #Factoid

Nothing wrong with a bit of 'ridiculous' every now and then though 🙂 🙂

Maybe a stupid question but when you fly with the bike (and take the T-Type mech off the frame to protect it) - do you have to go through a setup again or is it just good to go when bolted back on.

or is it just good to go when bolted back on.

This, same as any rear mech.

Had X01 Transmission. Didn't get on with the bike and think the weak(er) clutch on it didn't help the experience. I think it also shifts slow compared to Shimano.

My new custom build is Shimano XT and couldn't be happier with it   I'll be avoiding electric shifting where I can. The moment the App tried to force me to update the firmware whilst I was trying to adjust the trim was a low point... I get that setting up mechanical is a bit of a black art but it's one I know and I just don't need more batteries and the like in my life.

 do you have to go through a setup again or is it just good to go when bolted back on.

It's the same process t-type requires as after a rear wheel removal, bit of a faff with the whole tighten up, back it off line it up etc. But only takes a few moments to do once you know what you're doing.

Ive had wireless AXS and dropper post for about 2 years and it’s been great and makes for a super clean cockpit.

I did have an issue where I got a low battery warning on the wahoo head unit and got stuck in gear. It was the battery in the controller so make sure you take a spare or change regularly as warning to dead was about 15 minutes. That’s been the only issue.

I found this an interesting look at the ways and wherefores of electronic shifting

https://bikepacking.com/plog/cost-of-convenience-wireless-shifting-review/

That is not a cold hard look.  It's a carrier bag of cliche, and I'm not seeing a whole lot of people going back beyond cables and all the way to friction shifters on the downtube