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Sram XX1

al-irl

Turbo Monkey
Dec 9, 2004
1,086
0
A, A
all the fuss about 11 speed and not one mention of trusting there front chainring and no guide setup. I for one am very dubious of it. Not mad on the 42t on the rear cassette but I do like the look of the 10t at the other end. I run a 32t on a 1x10 with a 11-36 and its perfect for doing big mountain rides on the way up but I find on the way back down I've only about 3 usable gears.
 

captainspauldin

intrigued by a pole
May 14, 2007
1,263
177
Jersey Shore
all the fuss about 11 speed and not one mention of trusting there front chainring and no guide setup. I for one am very dubious of it. Not mad on the 42t on the rear cassette but I do like the look of the 10t at the other end. I run a 32t on a 1x10 with a 11-36 and its perfect for doing big mountain rides on the way up but I find on the way back down I've only about 3 usable gears.
Yeah, I run the same exact setup, only recently I've really been running out of gears on the way down. I would love to run a 34T up front, but don't really want to punish myself on the climbs(is it really going to be that big of a difference?). 10T on the bottom and maybe a 38T up top would be a nice compromise and probably not mean you would have to invent a new derailleur?
 

OGRipper

back alley ripper
Feb 3, 2004
10,647
1,116
NORCAL is the hizzle
More info over on NSMB:

http://nsmb.com/5494-sram-xx1-on-trail/

Seb's points about tension on the chain and chain ring design make sense in theory but so do his questions about longevity. I've sworn off SRAM because I find the rear derailleurs to be too fragile but there is some cool stuff going on here.

I'm curious to compare gear inches between existing 1X10 and 2X10 setups and these new bits, but I can't seem to find a gear chart that shows gear inches for a 42 tooth rear cog. Anyone good the maths?
 

davetrump

Turbo Monkey
Jul 29, 2003
1,270
0
I took this out for a thrashing at Whistler, and have to say was pretty blown away... some info/video to add to seb's awesome write up

http://www.vitalmtb.com/photos/features/Ridden-SRAMs-XX1-Drivetrain-Simply-Incredible,4220/Slideshow,0/bturman,109

I think a lot of the comments earlier in this thread base on speculation are pretty off the mark. SRAM did their homework here.

Living in the CO mountains I am definitely looking to put this on my bike. When climbing up and over huge mountains at altitude and down the other side it is nice to have all the extra gears and the simplicity.

Cheers
 
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mtg

Green with Envy
Sep 21, 2009
1,862
1,604
Denver, CO
...But in the Colorado Front Range there are more than a few climbs that when I switch to a 22t small ring I say "oh thank god" out loud. I immediately think of one in particular that is 1,500' vert in 2.5 miles. I do have one friend who loves his 1x9. I have another friend who is actually faster uphill than all but CAT 1 XC racers who says "fu#k that, sometimes I spin fast".
I keep wanting to like the idea of 1x11, but then I remember that I agree with the above. I love simplicity in designs, but I think there are still a lot of people that will be sticking with 2x.

When the reviewers say things like "you'll never need more range than 1x11"....it's kind of ignorant in a way. They have to recall that not everybody is super fit, and there are places with climbs where you simply need low gearing. I would consider myself pretty fit, and can hold my own on CO Front Range climbs, but I still use my granny climbing gear all the time (especially on the climb that gains over 1500' in 2.5 miles).

My current lowest gearing ratio (22/34) is 0.65, which I use a LOT. Switching to a 2x10 with a 26/36 lowest gearing gives me 0.72, which is approximately 2 upshifts from my current lowest. That would be unpleasant on a lot of climbs.
1x11 with a 32T would be about the same on the top end, but gives 0.76 ratio (32/42) for climbing. That's about like 4 upshifts from my current lowest climbing gear. That would most likely lead to walking sections that I currently ride. And, using a 30T ring up front would then limit the top end too much. It simply doesn't have enough range for my riding.

The solution is obviously 1x13.
 

Zark

Hey little girl, do you want some candy?
Oct 18, 2001
6,254
7
Reno 911
i am suprised no one isn't talking about the dh drivetrain that they were working on that spawned xx1. it was mentioned in the first article on bikeradar.
 

tabletop84

Monkey
Nov 12, 2011
891
15
i am suprised no one isn't talking about the dh drivetrain that they were working on that spawned xx1. it was mentioned in the first article on bikeradar.
Oh praise the lord! I would love 11 gears on my dh rig. Can't get anywhere with the 10 I have.
 

HardtailHack

used an iron once
Jan 20, 2009
6,628
5,443
How can you trademark "Roller Bearing Clutch"? That's a description for an item that has been around forever.

Nine speed 11-40 would be awesome for me.
 

manhattanprjkt83

Rusty Trombone
Jul 10, 2003
9,644
1,214
Nilbog
I would love to think that they have some sort of gearbox in the pipeline, but probably the internal drivetrain division is working on things like this, which was just released:

http://www.sram.com/sram/urban/products/g8#/path/term-id/261
You know one of the big guys or both are currently working on it. Will begin in DH/Fr and slide down to the AM/Trail categories after the first couple years.

god i hope i'm correct on this one.
 
How can you trademark "Roller Bearing Clutch"? That's a description for an item that has been around forever.

Nine speed 11-40 would be awesome for me.
Speaking of the SRAM type derailleurs, I put one on my AM bike yesterday. So far so good, chain slap/noise is certainly quieter, and there is noticeablely more chain tension. Should pair up well with a xc style direct mount chain guide where there is only the upper cage.
 

davec113

Monkey
May 24, 2009
419
0
This is awesome... I am running 1x10 w/ 32x11-36 gears and I do run out of gears on both ends sometimes, but a 2x w/ FD isn't a good compromise for me either. One huge benefit of the new XX1 is the fact you won't need a chainguide... this is a really big deal IMO since every cg I've ever owned has been a PITA. MRP lg guides are too flimsy and my Straitline Silent Guide gets bunched up (extra chain in front of the chainring) which requires removing the top or bottom guide to fix, and is a huge PITA. I'd love to have a drivetrain where the chain stays where it's supposed to, all the time, and without a chainguide!

Does anyone know if you can run a bashguard? Those chainrings probably aren't cheap...
 

Zark

Hey little girl, do you want some candy?
Oct 18, 2001
6,254
7
Reno 911
Oh praise the lord! I would love 11 gears on my dh rig. Can't get anywhere with the 10 I have.
No dillhole, I Was thinking of a derrailler that can handle more than gentle rock kiss. Sram's current offerings are fragile trash. A short cage der with the vertical linkage of the XX1 might be better than the one hit wonder that is the XO dh.
 

tabletop84

Monkey
Nov 12, 2011
891
15
guess what: a pinion-dh specific gearbox would be way better. A deraillleur in dh is always an one hit wonder and as soon as my x0 dh gets ripped to pieces I will ride a zee and then hopefully sometime a gearbox.
 

mtg

Green with Envy
Sep 21, 2009
1,862
1,604
Denver, CO
The 9 speed X0 derailleur on my DH bike has been in use for 3 years, seen a number of ground smashings and it still works great. Fwiw
 

OGRipper

back alley ripper
Feb 3, 2004
10,647
1,116
NORCAL is the hizzle
I'd love to have a drivetrain where the chain stays where it's supposed to, all the time, and without a chainguide!
I have those - doubles and triples with front derailleurs (and singles with e.13 guides).

If you can't keep your chain on with a guide, I have a hard time believing this xx1 stuff will solve your problems. Maybe I'm wrong.
 

davec113

Monkey
May 24, 2009
419
0
I'm seeing a lot of comments about dh bikes, I don't think that's what XX1 is intended for... it's for xc/am bikes. I wouldn't consider putting it on a dh bike, I run road gears on the dh bike...

edit: not to mention the crankset probably won't come in 83mm...
 
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davec113

Monkey
May 24, 2009
419
0
I have those - doubles and triples with front derailleurs (and singles with e.13 guides).

If you can't keep your chain on with a guide, I have a hard time believing this xx1 stuff will solve your problems. Maybe I'm wrong.
Doubles and triples with fd don't even come close to retaining the chain properly and all single chainguides seem to pretty much suck for one reason or another. They work to keep the chain in place (most of the time), but have other problems like durability.
 

OGRipper

back alley ripper
Feb 3, 2004
10,647
1,116
NORCAL is the hizzle
Doubles and triples with fd don't even come close to retaining the chain properly and all single chainguides seem to pretty much suck for one reason or another. They work to keep the chain in place (most of the time), but have other problems like durability.
Doubles and triples work fine for me (and a lot of other people) for all but the roughest trail riding, and for that stuff I run a multi-ring guide. I don't lose my chain in places like Downieville or Ashland with a triple without a guide. Maybe I'm not riding hard enough.

Like I said, if you have a problem keeping your chain on with current technology I don't see how some fancy chain ring teeth will solve your problems. But really, give it a shot and let us know. Seriously, I am curious.
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
This is awesome... I am running 1x10 w/ 32x11-36 gears and I do run out of gears on both ends sometimes, but a 2x w/ FD isn't a good compromise for me either. One huge benefit of the new XX1 is the fact you won't need a chainguide... this is a really big deal IMO since every cg I've ever owned has been a PITA. MRP lg guides are too flimsy and my Straitline Silent Guide gets bunched up (extra chain in front of the chainring) which requires removing the top or bottom guide to fix, and is a huge PITA. I'd love to have a drivetrain where the chain stays where it's supposed to, all the time, and without a chainguide!

Does anyone know if you can run a bashguard? Those chainrings probably aren't cheap...
You set it up wrong. I have no idea how but I run a lot of spare chain due to the rearward nature of my dh bike so I don't get how it can happen.
 

davec113

Monkey
May 24, 2009
419
0
You set it up wrong. I have no idea how but I run a lot of spare chain due to the rearward nature of my dh bike so I don't get how it can happen.
I doubt it... it's a 32t guide, there are no adjustments and the front-back spacing is good. It might be the 10 speed chain, IDK. And I'm not the only one with this issue on silent guides.
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
I doubt it... it's a 32t guide, there are no adjustments and the front-back spacing is good. It might be the 10 speed chain, IDK. And I'm not the only one with this issue on silent guides.
On the 32T ones? Are you sure your chain isn't just waay to long or your lower slider isn't tensioning the chain properly? I use 2 wheelsets with 2 very different cassetes and it still didn't happen on mine, that's why I'm surprised.
 

davec113

Monkey
May 24, 2009
419
0
On the 32T ones? Are you sure your chain isn't just waay to long or your lower slider isn't tensioning the chain properly? I use 2 wheelsets with 2 very different cassetes and it still didn't happen on mine, that's why I'm surprised.
Yeah... there aren't any setup options beyond ft-back spacing. Chain is good... this only happens about twice a year, so it is rare, but the times it happens, it really, really sucks.
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
There aren't really setup option on the 36-40T I run either. I wonder what causes that since I ran my to the ground. I'm testing a shaman for a local mag but after this season I'm going back to the silent guide, that's how happy I was with it.
 

davec113

Monkey
May 24, 2009
419
0
I'm not assuming it's the guide... while i have heard of this happening to a couple other people from searching the net for reviews, it's not normal and could be related to an error in setup or other factors I haven't thought of. It could be the 10 speed chain is narrower than the 9 speed that I assume the guide was designed for. I definitely prefer the silent guide over the mrp g2 mini I had before it. I'm going to try spacing the guide a little closer to the chainring.

Anyway, I think XX1 will be worth it on my trailbike for the increased gearing range and for not needing a chainguide. I hope a bash can be used.
 

Burnt-Orange

Monkey
Jan 5, 2013
153
0
I must say you chaps are more civil than the other forum I have frequented
I have just added XX1 to my trail bike
I came off of a 2x10 set up and have lost about 5 teeth off the 39 tooth ring due to rock hits
my drive train needed replacement so I just decided to bite the bullet
with a 30 tooth front ring I only loose a little bit of my range 36/26 = 42/30 , 30/10 = 39/13
I can do without the 39/11 because the hills here are short and I rarely spin out
I have not been able to ride it yet because of snow "its fat bike season"
I am impressed with the quality and am excited to get a leg over it
I went with the grip shift and have modified a left hand grip shift to run my drop post
time will tell how good it is and I will keep you posted
 

Tomasis

Monkey
Feb 26, 2003
681
0
Scotland
i like short pawl/cog system on the hub. I run trail bike too and prefer single ring at front. First I try 36/ 11x36 then 32/ 11x36. I'd rather go with 9-38 casette than new system, suck!

lets see what shimano cooks up! 10spd system is too new and now 11, 12, speeds :p
 
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mtg

Green with Envy
Sep 21, 2009
1,862
1,604
Denver, CO
On the original idea that Sram had of improving divetrains for DH, I wonder if you can use an XX1 chainring with a 10 speed clutch derailleur and ditch the chainguide on a DH bike.
Has anybody tried a 10 speed (or 9speed) chain on an XX1 chairing?
 

ptd

Chimp
Oct 16, 2011
23
15
On the original idea that Sram had of improving divetrains for DH, I wonder if you can use an XX1 chainring with a 10 speed clutch derailleur and ditch the chainguide on a DH bike.
Has anybody tried a 10 speed (or 9speed) chain on an XX1 chairing?
The thread over here has good information:
http://forums.mtbr.com/sram/sram-xx1-cranks-10-speed-818475.html

XX1 chainring with type2/shadow+ and 10spd chain appears ok.
I haven't heard of anyone trying for DH though, only AM.
 
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mtg

Green with Envy
Sep 21, 2009
1,862
1,604
Denver, CO
Awesome. I'll look into it and guinea pig it, or maybe go for the 9sp cassette and chain, Shadow + derailleur and Sram 9sp shifter with XX1 chainring sans guide.
 

BmxConvert

Monkey
Aug 6, 2007
715
0
Longview, Washington
Awesome. I'll look into it and guinea pig it, or maybe go for the 9sp cassette and chain, Shadow + derailleur and Sram 9sp shifter with XX1 chainring sans guide.
I'm not sure what you're after but..
Shadow plus is 10spd only.
Sram and shimano use different ratios and shifter/derailleurs are not happy when paired together.

It should work however if you are looking to drop the xx1 ring and 11spd chain on your existing 9spd system.
 

mtg

Green with Envy
Sep 21, 2009
1,862
1,604
Denver, CO
I'm not sure what you're after but..
Shadow plus is 10spd only.
Sram and shimano use different ratios and shifter/derailleurs are not happy when paired together.

It should work however if you are looking to drop the xx1 ring and 11spd chain on your existing 9spd system.
Elsewhere, some people have figured out that apparently a 9 speed Sram shifter works with a 10 speed Shadow+ derailleur.

Also, it seems to be confirmed that the XX1 chainring can be used with 9 or 10 speed chains.

Thus, my idea is to possibly take my current 9 speed X0 shifter/derailleur/cassette setup and swap the rear d to a Shadow+, add an XX1 chainring, and I may be able to ditch the chainguide on my DH bike. That's the theory, anyway. If it works, it might end up being a PITA, since it would have a lot of parts that aren't necessarily designed to work together.

The whole idea stems from the fact that my 9 speed X0 setup works awesome, except that it doesn't have a clutch on the derailleur, and if there's a way to ditch the chainguide, I'd love to do so.