Sram continues to make its mark in the mountain bike history book: In 2012, the US component company launched the first single-chainring XX1 groupset, with a then revolutionary 10-42 cassette and eleven gears. This was followed in March 2016 by the next big bang, with Eagle technology: the front derailleur was systematically consigned to the afterlife, while the cassette with 10-50 teeth provided a range that came close to or even surpassed conventional 2x drivetrains. Sram launches the Eagle technology with twelve gears at top end level, meaning that these parts or complete bikes with this drivetrain are reserved for an extremely affluent clientele.

The end of expensive

But that's over now. With the GX Eagle, Sram is bringing the wide-range single-chainring shifting experience down to a lower price point. And here, in particular, there is a lower price: With Sram's GX Eagle groupset, the cassette doesn't mainly originate from a machined block of aluminum like its X01 or XX1-level counterparts. The XG-1275 Eagle cassette with its 10-50 teeth uses full pin technology made of high-strength stainless steel pins to hold the lightweight, stamped steel sprockets together. For the entire groupset, Sram's GX Eagle now comes in at around 500 euros, which is almost a third of the price of the top XX1 Eagle groupset. In terms of weight, the GX Eagle adds around 300 grams.

Sram's marketing department was also able to reduce the price, as the engineers have given the GX Eagle a new crank. This is not made of carbon as before, but of forged aluminum and relies as usual on the Direct Mount standard to attach the chainrings. The crank is now available in a 165 millimeter version, which was available on
X01 or XX1 Eagle level until now.

Everything compatible

A thumb shifter or twist shifter are available for the gearshift, while the chain does not have hollow pins like its expensive counterpart, but also has specially shaped links to ensure good running performance and a firm fit on the chainring. The rear derailleur incorporates the technology of the top models, the rollers ensure that the chain runs quietly and the pretension of the derailleur cage ensures that the chain stays securely in place, even when the going gets rough. As before, the XD version is required for the freewheel in order to fit the Sram cassettes with their small 10-tooth sprocket.

According to the manufacturer, the groupset will be available for the first time from August 2017. Another piece of good news: the parts of the three Eagle groupsets are compatible with each other. This means that one of the main points of criticism, the high price of the machined cassette, could definitely be resolved.

www.sram.com