In this article, we use so-called affiliate links. With every purchase through these links, we receive a commission from the merchant. All relevant referral links are marked with . Learn more.
The price was still relatively high. But the ride tests left no doubt that the AXS technology works perfectly. If higher unit numbers continue to drive prices down, will we soon only have wireless shifting on mountain bikes? Who knows? Our endurance test at least answers the question of the reliability of the Sram GX Eagle AXS electric drivetrain. When we set off on our first tours with the electric GX in May, the excitement was great. Although the Premium version XX1 AXS had already proven to be amazingly resistant the year before - including the battery. The GX version was virtually identical in construction, but was made of much cheaper materials. Did this mean that the electronics were less well protected against moisture? Would the bearings of the pulley wheels be susceptible to corrosion? And was the workmanship commensurate with the price, which seems favourable in relation to the XX1, compared to the mechanical GX gearstick but is almost twice as high?
To find out, we didn't spare the gears. We didn't shy away from mud battles or riding in the rain. The constant ups and downs of Munich's Isar trails were a constant challenge for the gears, while on Alpine tours the gears were changed under full load. The GX AXS coped with all this without complaint. It manoeuvred the chain over the sprocket set without a single hitch. The battery proved to be long-lasting. It lasted up to six weeks between charges. The button cell of the controller: still original. We didn't really warm to the trough-shaped gear lever. The classically shaped, retrofittable rocker paddle (19 euros) we like much better. And the wear? The derailleur pulleys: still smooth-running. The cage: rattle-free. The springs: firm. In contrast to the crumbly GX chain, the rear derailleur hardly shows the effects of the season. Find out how the GX Eagle chain and cassette compare to more expensive Sram groupsets and Shimano drivetrains here in our Drivetrain wear test of 1x12 groupsets.
Whether radio or Bowden cable will dominate in the future is therefore less a question of reliability and more a question of price. And whether bikers can make friends with battery management.
Sram GX AXS
Weight: 521 gram
Price620 Euro (rear derailleur, controller, battery) >> e.g. available here
PLUS Good workmanship; precise shifting; tidy appearance; shifting character adjustable via app; stepless downshifting
MINUS High price; battery management required; expensive replacement battery (49 euros); original rocker switch takes some getting used to
Functionality 5 out of 6 points
Durability 6 out of 6 points
