It was only last year that Sram's two 12-speed drivetrains XX1 and X01 Eagle onto the market. Thanks to the wide spread of the 12-speed cassette from 10 to 50 teeth, a range of 500 per cent is available. This means that the majority of mountain bikers should be able to cope very well with just one chainring for sporty use. The catch is that, as befits top gear groupsets, both drivetrains cost well over 1000 euros.
Eagle gearstick for the people
To make 12-speed technology affordable, Sram is now presenting the new GX Eagle. For 499 euros for the complete groupset, Sram is paving the way for the broad mass of bikers to have access to the single chainring and thus dispense with the front derailleur. In future, the new drivetrain will be seen on bikes costing just over 1000 euros. The new Sram groupset will be available immediately.
GX Eagle in detail
To make the price point possible, Sram has decided not to use carbon fibre for the new GX Eagle. Forged aluminium cranks are used instead. Sram also uses tried and tested technology for the cassette. Unlike the two top groupsets, the cassette is not elaborately milled from a steel block, but the individual sprockets are riveted together. The cassette range remains the same. GX buyers also benefit from a spread of 10-50 teeth. The GX Eagle therefore requires an XD freehub body, which is now available for almost all common hubs.
Weights in comparison
The cassette (+82 grams) and crankset (+110 grams) in particular weigh slightly more than the top XX1 Eagle and X01 Eagle groupsets. However, the GX Eagle is only 250 grams heavier than the X01 Eagle due to the smaller number of parts. BIKE has already had the GX Eagle drivetrain on the scales:
First ride impression of the Sram GX Eagle
BIKE has already been able to ride the GX Eagle extensively on the trails in Latsch for two days. The drivetrain worked flawlessly and reliably both on steep ramps and downhills. Without a direct comparison with the two more expensive Eagle groupsets, we could hardly notice any difference in terms of precision and shifting performance. This makes the GX Eagle a very interesting option for anyone who is flirting with a single drivetrain with a wide range but doesn't want to spend too much money. BIKE has already tested a GX groupset to assess its durability. More on this in a future issue of BIKE.
