Being put off by XX1

Assuming I had the money from an XX set up, I’m not sure I would.

Over the summer I rode both a 1×10 Saint and an XX1 bike. Although i can see the extra gearing from SRAM made for a really nice spread ratio, the Saint shifting just felt better. Double shifts on the triggers were great and although saint isn’t cheap, I’d rather smash a Saint mech than something twice (?) The price. Both of the bikes were owned and maintained by an OCD pro mechanic, he wasn’t happy with the amount of fettling the XX needed to stay performing as a top level drive train should.

Besides that, XT or Saint is, to my mind, the right balance of performance per pound with a little baking factor over SLX. Add into the equation that if I’m not particularly flush and break something in my Shi mano set up, I can downgrade and keep my bike going.

Something i haven’t heard talked about, although it was when people went from 7 or 8 to 9 gears at the back was how thethe gears would perform in sticky mud. As the basic derailleur design hasn’t really changed since then, isn’t it still a problem? Especially with all these fijentooerances people are talking about.

I’ve been happy with my X0 3×9 but can’t with for Father Christmas to bring my Saint 1×10 bits.

Well after some more fettling with a file (don’t ask) and random b-tension screw adjustments, X01 was working satisfactory in Yorkshire gloop and icy cold conditions last night, so maybe I’ll keep it after all. When it works its great, when it doesn’t its shite! 🙂

Assuming I had the money from an XX set up, I’m not sure I would.

XX, or XX1? They’re not the same, I found XX more tolerant of gritty cables than XX1, but it still required more fettling than XTR to stay working nicely.

When it works its great, when it doesn’t its shite!

That’s about the crux of it!

Sensitivity to set up, being affected by mud and grit over time and mountain bikes are not great combinations.

My Spearfish isn’t proving easy to find a 2x front crank for so I am sorely tempt by XX1 cassette, M9000 mech and shifter with XTR M985 crank 1x. Then I realise I have to change the sodding cassette body… How much do I need 2 extra teeth and one less – possibly not that much but the gap (even with an xt 16t) is really horrible…..

Why the difficulties with 2x on the Spearfish? Any reason you can’t just fit two rings to a triple chainset?

I must say that for me, doubles make even less sense than triples.
In a double I just feel like I’m always crossed up, and bogging down into little/little by mistake, or wringing it’s neck with big/big unless I sit and try to calculate my next shift by moving that, then that… I guess I’m just thick.

The simplicity of 1x is just great. Much easier for novices too. One shifter. And a nice Southpaw KS or Reverb lever on the other side.

I’m running 30 with 11-36 on 650B(+) and find it fine for the Eastwood to Hebden run in on the road when I can’t be arsed with the canal bank.

30/36 gets me up the climb on the Pennine Way up to the Pike ok too.

ymmv

It’s early days for me yet, but I’m liking the X01 setup on my new bike. I was using X9 (2×9 setup) previously with zero problems for many years, so hopefully will be the same.

As an aside looking at the state of many bikes I see out on the trails I’m not surprised some people have issues with shifting. Maybe Shimano kit is more tolerant of lack of maintenance, which may affect some riders more than others. I don’t spend ages fettling my drivetrain, but I do make sure it is clean and lubed after every ride.

people who are put off by the “£300” cassettes need to shop around

And end up paying £200 for a cassette?

No thanks, I’ll stick with XT.

£170 from CRC btw. Might be better deals out there. That’s still pretty bloomin expensive mind

but I do make sure it is clean and lubed after every ride.

Likewise FWIW, but I’ve been using it a fair bit longer than you.

£170 from CRC btw. Might be better deals out there. That’s still pretty bloomin expensive mind

£150, not XT money, but it’s still lighter than the XTR 11-40, and cheaper.

oh, I’ve jsut started with 1 x 10 on my Cham, how long does it take before you stop trying to change gear with your left hand 😆

stood up loads more, that’s about the only difference, and I’ve got bigger gears on the back, was 32 now 36 (is that right?)

Why the difficulties with 2x on the Spearfish? Any reason you can’t just fit two rings to a triple chainset?

Short chainstay design with split pivot and reasonable tyre clearance means not suitable for triples, 24t max small ring and 38T max big ring. I had thought about triple to double but isn’t the granny more inboard so making clearance more of an issue?

Just fitted a 40t one up cog, feeling flabby already !!! 😉

ermm

so you can now get a cassette for £150. So when XT 11 speed comes out you could probably go for 1 x 11 Shim / SRAM for around £375 – £60 (driver), £150 (cassette), £40 (front ring), £40 (shifter), £60 ish (mech), £25 chain. Knock £100 or so off that if you are changing chain and cassette anyway

Likewise FWIW, but I’ve been using it a fair bit longer than you.

Of course, I haven’t run X01 long enough to make an informed judgement on its reliability. You’ve clearly had some issues and I’m guessing you really do look after your bike, so that is a bit of a worry. But when people say this and that drivetrain is unreliable or difficult to set up I tend to take it with a pinch of salt. Plenty of people moaned about X9 in its day and I never had a problem riding through all sorts of shit on it.

Is Shimano really better on reliability? Much of a muchness in my own experience.

You’ve clearly had some issues and I’m guessing you really do look after your bike, so that is a bit of a worry.

Well yes and no, I wouldn’t go as far as ‘issues’ as such, not least because it was remedied with new cables, which is pretty routine anyway. But it had needed a lot of fettling to work acceptably well (but no better) on a couple of rides, and then it just went to pot and was rubbish!

Is Shimano really better on reliability? Much of a muchness in my own experience.

I found it more consistent and less needing of regular attention personally, based on XX (which I used for a year) versus M980 XTR (which I used for 3 years). Plenty of people would disagree though, I think there’s a personal preference thing in there as I do think they’re quite different in feel anyway.

XX1 has definitely needed more attention to stay working well, and that’s on a hardtail where I’d expect it to need less – better cable runs etc. However, as said, I was using some lightweight gear outer, which probably exacerbated the problems. Will revert to SP41 with XTR I suspect.

For 9/10ths of my riding I’d be fine, for that 1/10th I’d be throwing the bike into a tree and walking home I was kind of over it by the end of the glentress seven…

But there wasn’t anything steep enough to need a granny in this years’ GT Seven

Why are people paying near £200 for a cassette ? it is crazy.

The same reason that they pay over £3000 for a frame, or £800 for a single rim, or £400 for a pair of shoes, or £500 for a handbag.

Because they want to. You don’t have to. Not sure why it’s crazy though? Just not your choice.

b r – Member

But there wasn’t anything steep enough to need a granny in this years’ GT Seven

The first time, aye, but after 50 odd miles of going as quickly as I can, it got a tad wearying. I would have shed blood for a 42T going up the field for the last time, or up the steep road, or up past the freeride, or in fact up anything steeper than a descent 😆

Which is kinda ironic, because I had one in the garage, I just didn’t fit it because I’m lazy

Adsh, I ran XO 2×10 on my 16″ spearfish with XX mech up front and it all worked spot on. Still got the front mech in as near new condition too if you’re looking for one!

X01 rear mech was not returning as if the return spring has gone weak, stripped all the pivots down and washed out all the grit and dirt with GT85, but still no joy. So decided to shorten the spring with some pliers and choice swear words, bit of a bitch to put back together but now returns with a nice clunk like a Shimano rear mech – result!

Think I might change over to Shimano next time they have some XTR 11spd mechs and shifter on special offer 🙂

My XTR mech and shifter have arrived – shifter has a far more positive click than 10 speed XTR (Northwind will be pleased). Can’t see any accidental double shifts as with previous versions. Will fit them tomorrow.

Fitted XTR 11 speed mech and shifter on my Nomad with a XX1 cassette a few weeks ago now. Feels great and better feel than the XX1, operation is perfect as well.

X01 rear mech was not returning as if the return spring has gone weak, stripped all the pivots down and washed out all the grit and dirt with GT85, but still no joy. So decided to shorten the spring with some pliers and choice swear words, bit of a bitch to put back together but now returns with a nice clunk like a Shimano rear mech – result!

I had a similar issue with a mech like this, I tried everything (even with no cable fitted it wouldn’t shift down the block).

When I spoke to SRAM it was a known issue, something to do with the mounting pivot seizing, the clutch being knackered & a weak spring.

They just chucked it in a bin & gave me a new one. I think I might swap my stuff over Shimano & just run it with an XX1 cassette in the future.

njee20 – Member

(Northwind will be pleased).

Ta! Still want to try some out but that’s good to know.

So a top end groupset is improved by switching to another manufacturer’s top end shifter and mech? What a bargain!

My XTR mech and shifter have arrived – shifter has a far more positive click than 10 speed XTR (Northwind will be pleased). Can’t see any accidental double shifts as with previous versions. Will fit them tomorrow.

Really looking forward to hear how this goes, as I’d be inclined to go for this setup on my new build rather than all out SRAM. Do you need a rad cage or similar to help the mech get up to 42 or does it supposedly work fine as standard?

My M9000 shifter and dérailleur have also just arrived to be fitted to a X1 cassette, looking forward to trying it out tomorrow.

Bit gutted the XD driver body for Crossmax wheels isn’t in stock anywhere until middle of Jan so I’m going to have to live the with the chunky Stan’s wheelset that came with the bike.

Shimano all the way, I’ll be swapping out spam x0 for 11speed xtr.
Much prefer the feel of shimano shifters and the double click system

Really looking forward to hear how this goes, as I’d be inclined to go for this setup on my new build rather than all out SRAM. Do you need a rad cage or similar to help the mech get up to 42 or does it supposedly work fine as standard?

I’m hoping not… We shall see tomorrow I guess!

Really looking forward to hear how this goes, as I’d be inclined to go for this setup on my new build rather than all out SRAM. Do you need a rad cage or similar to help the mech get up to 42 or does it supposedly work fine as standard?

No you don’t need anything other than a XTR mech and shifter. I’ve had it fitted for over a month now and it’s been spot on. Far nicer shift than Sram, I’ve just bought another mech and shifter for my other bike.

Rick Draper – Member
Really looking forward to hear how this goes, as I’d be inclined to go for this setup on my new build rather than all out SRAM. Do you need a rad cage or similar to help the mech get up to 42 or does it supposedly work fine as standard?
No you don’t need anything other than a XTR mech and shifter. I’ve had it fitted for over a month now and it’s been spot on. Far nicer shift than Sram, I’ve just bought another mech and shifter for my other bike.

Rick, how is the chain retention with the XTR setup. With SRAM i have never lost a chain even on the very rough stuff. I have always preferred Shimano shifting over SRAM and i am tempted by this set up.

Not dropped a chain riding exactly the same trails as I did with my XX1 mech but you can hear the chain rattling around more so I might tighten the clutch a little bit.

a top end groupset is improved by switching to another manufacturer’s top end shifter and mech? What a bargain!

More prospect of trickle down to reasonable price level within a year or two with shimano though.

And then I guess they’ll make an 11-40t cassette, which could be modded to 10-42t?

I have decided to go full shimano 1×11 – the xx1 cassette plus xd body proved a tad expensive for a small increase in range.
Will report after 1st ride tomo.

Well, after a muddy ride in the Surrey Hills, I can report the new XTR drivetrain works, and works really well.

The good points:
– shifting is very precise, the upshift in particular. My 10 speed XTR often double shifted up, which was a tad annoying, not the case with new XTR
– The drivetrain is almost silent
– Stood up well to mud and grit, despite me running summer lube (squirt)

The bad point:
– The clutch lever is a pain and will break very soon

Im happy with some extra range as my 1×36 in the winter was hard going.

Good to hear the positives, not so good to hear about the clutch. Does it feel flimsy? Also what’s the warranty on shimano kit?

I used my XXXTR1 setup today (as I’m calling it). Very impressed. The XTR shift is far better than the SRAM IMO, much snappier and less vague, particularly in the middle of the block. Very light, but with a defined click, more so than M980s. Nice positive downshift too. I’m happy. Didn’t use the 10 or the 42, but on the stand it happily Shifted into both (GS cage mech).

Clutch was fine, bike was silent

XTR sounds good, although 20 miles around Grizedale this weekend with the modded X01 worked OK, guess I’ll put up with it a while longer 🙂