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Despite the immense size of Shimano, Sram in particular, the only serious competitor, has had a decisive influence on the development of mountain bike drivetrains in recent years. With the Introduction of the 1x12 circuit the Americans replaced the traditional company Shimano as the technology leader in 2016. Just two years later Sram with its NX groupset the new 1x12 drivetrains of mountain bikes up to the affordable entry-level range.
Shimano won't jump on the 12-speed bandwagon until 2019 with XT and SLX
In 2018, the Japanese responded to the growing pressure and also gave their new XTR a twelfth sprocket on the cassette. Since summer 2019, the more affordable SLX and XT groupsets have also been equipped with twelve-speed cassettes. Eight twelve-speed variants are now available across all price categories. At both Shimano and Sram, the individual components of the different drivetrains are compatible with each other. This means that every biker can configure their own drivetrain to suit their budget. The cheapest upgrade kits consisting of rear derailleur, cassette, chain and shifter are available from 167 euros. The additional retrofit chainring required for the old cranks costs from 40 euros.
If you want to convert an old Sram single-speed drivetrain to Sram double-speed, you don't need a new freehub body. If you do not want to or cannot replace your old HG freehub (Shimano), you have the option of installing a Sram Eagle NX cassette. We have weighed all the drivetrains (with the exception of the Shimano Deore M6100) and also describe our riding impressions in practice. This comprehensive overview and all the information and prices provided are therefore based on our data from 2020.
Overview: Sram vs. Shimano 12-speed MTB groupsets
Sram groupsets
- XX1 Eagle AXS
- X01 Eagle AXS
- XX1 Eagle
- X01 Eagle
- GX Eagle AXS
- GX Eagle
- NX Eagle
- SX Eagle
Shimano shifting groups:
- XTR
- Deore XT
- SLX
- Deore
Shimano Deore - M6100
For the 2021 model year, Shimano has expanded its 1x12 range to include the more affordable Deore M6100. In order to make the number four in Shimano's component hierarchy suitable for the masses, Shimano has even set the new Deore drivetrain below the €300 price limit. All new Shimano Deore 12-speed components will be available from model year 2021.
Freewheel standard Micro-Spline
Bandwidth 510 %
Price Switching group³ approx. 300 Euro
Shimano SLX - M7100
The SLX was Shimano's entry into the twelve-speed class until the 2020 model year. At a similar price, it is over 200 grams lighter than Sram's NX Eagle counterpart. However, a new freehub body for around 60 euros is also required for the conversion. In practice, the drivetrain works very well. Many even like the smoother shifting feel of the lever better than that of the more expensive XT lever.
Freewheel standard Micro-Spline
Weight of shifting group¹ 1857 grammes
Crank weight 649 grammes
Bandwidth 450 % / 510 % / 623 % (2x)
Price Upgrade kit² 167 Euro
Price Switching group³ 270 Euro
Sram NX Eagle
Srams NX Eagle groupset is no lightweight, but it has one major advantage: its cassette is compatible with Shimano's decades-old HG freehub. With the 11-speed final sprocket, its range is narrower than that of all other twelve-speed drivetrains. The shifting feel is slightly less defined and it runs a little louder than the higher-quality Sram drivetrains.
Freewheel standard HG standard
Weight of shifting group¹ 2074 grammes
Crank weight 707 grammes
Bandwidth 455 %
Upgrade kit price² 187 Euro
Price for shift group³ 268 Euro
Shimano Deore XT - M8100
The XT groupset from Shimano has been combining reasonable prices with top quality for decades. The new M8100 ensemble is no exception. Due to its good price-performance ratio, it is often referred to as the "people's gear system". Its function is flawless. Only the high manual force of the gear lever is not to everyone's liking.
Freewheel standard Micro-Spline
Weight of shifting group¹ 1798 grammes
Crank weight 641 grammes
Bandwidth 450 % / 510 % / 623 % (2x)
Price Upgrade Kit² 267 Euro
Price for shift group³ 412 Euro
Sram GX Eagle
In terms of weight, price and shifting feel, the GX is slightly superior to the Shimano XT. However, it has a ten per cent lower bandwidth. The bottom line is that both groupsets perform at a similar level. The GX Eagle from Sram therefore also has what it takes to become a popular groupset. In terms of function, there is hardly any difference to the X01 or XX1 Eagle.
Freewheel standard XD
Weight of shifting group¹ 1711 grammes
Crank weight 612 grammes
Bandwidth 500 %
Price Upgrade Kit² 260 Euro
Price for shift group³ 377 Euro
Shimano XTR - M9100
After a fire at the Shimano factory, we had to wait a long time for the new XTR crank wait. The top Japanese groupset is now available in its entirety. The shift lever has a sporty, firm feel, but the Chain the sprockets at lightning speed and quietly. There is currently no electronic Di2 version of the 12-speed XTR drivetrain.
Freewheel standard Micro-Spline
Weight of shifting group¹ 1497 grammes
Crank weight 531 grammes
Bandwidth 450 % / 510 % / 623 % (2x)
Price Upgrade Kit² 552 Euro
Price for shift group³ 999 Euro
Sram XX1 Eagle / XX1 Eagle AXS
The XX1 Eagle is the lightest twelve-speed groupset on the market. In addition to the normal version with shift cable, there is also a more expensive, electronic AXS version completely without cable. The X01 Eagle is of a similarly high quality, but is somewhat more robust for enduro use. The shift lever has a defined but soft feel. A dream of a gearstick!
Freewheel standard XD
Weight of shifting group¹ 1434 grammes
Crank weight 469 grammes
Bandwidth 500 %
Price Upgrade Kit² 744 Euro / 1089 Euro
Price for shift group³ 1199 Euro / 1525 Euro for AXS
The complete shifting group consists of rear derailleur, cassette, chain, chainring, crank and shift lever. The bottom bracket was not included due to different standards.
²An upgrade kit consists of rear derailleur, cassette, chain and shift lever.
³Average price from three major online shops January 2020.
