Anyone using the SRAM XX1 groupset in their mtb?
Discussion
XX1 definately the way to go. Bottom gear the same as typical XX set up, top gear a bit lower but if you are spinning out in top you may as well get as low as you can on that fire-road descent and freewheel at bit.....
No front mech hassles or weight, easier to clean, chain never comes off.
Look at it this way. You have a single ring for which the chainset is cheaper. There is no front mech to pay for. Shifters are half price.
Why pay a load more cash, bolt a front mech on have all the set up and cleaning hassles - for what?
X7 on price alone, maybe.
NEVER going back.
No front mech hassles or weight, easier to clean, chain never comes off.
Look at it this way. You have a single ring for which the chainset is cheaper. There is no front mech to pay for. Shifters are half price.
Why pay a load more cash, bolt a front mech on have all the set up and cleaning hassles - for what?
X7 on price alone, maybe.
NEVER going back.
Two mates have been running XX1 for a few months now and both are extremely happy. No dropped chains and no reliability problems. XX0 is out now but I don't think it's that much cheaper than XX1.
I quite fancied XX1 myself, but I couldn't stomach spending nearly £900 on a new groupset so I've gone for a cheaper 1x10 home brew version using a 40t General Lee adapter at the back and a 30t WolfTooth narrow/wide chainring at the front. It's working very well in conjunction with a 10sp XT clutch mech. There's also a new 40t cassette due out soon from Trickstuff.
I quite fancied XX1 myself, but I couldn't stomach spending nearly £900 on a new groupset so I've gone for a cheaper 1x10 home brew version using a 40t General Lee adapter at the back and a 30t WolfTooth narrow/wide chainring at the front. It's working very well in conjunction with a 10sp XT clutch mech. There's also a new 40t cassette due out soon from Trickstuff.
As above, they look bloody lovely, but I've gone for a SLX based 10 x 1 set-up.
I struggle a bit sometimes with a 32 x 36 gearing on really steep stuff, but I'm old and fat, the technique seems to be to refuse to 'grind' when the crank gets below a decent rpm it's a real struggle, I 'just' MTFU and push harder, once my legs get back up to speed it's easier - less effort + more speed, it's witchcraft!
If you want to go slightly lower Raceface sell a 30t thick / thin ring which uses more witchcraft to allow a 30t ring fit a standard chainset.
If you've got a thick-thin ring and one of the newer clutch equipped mechs, you won't need to worry about using a device or losing a chain.
I struggle a bit sometimes with a 32 x 36 gearing on really steep stuff, but I'm old and fat, the technique seems to be to refuse to 'grind' when the crank gets below a decent rpm it's a real struggle, I 'just' MTFU and push harder, once my legs get back up to speed it's easier - less effort + more speed, it's witchcraft!
If you want to go slightly lower Raceface sell a 30t thick / thin ring which uses more witchcraft to allow a 30t ring fit a standard chainset.
If you've got a thick-thin ring and one of the newer clutch equipped mechs, you won't need to worry about using a device or losing a chain.
Thanks for the reply's. Didn't realise there's some other single ring options out there. My back hub is EASTON and I can't seem to find a conversion, and they haven't replied to my emails so worried the conversion might become so expensive as to be stupid!
I've got a Kona Kula Watt. Use SRAM 10 speed, with two rings at the front, can anyone recommend a good upgrade path (to single front) other than changing the whole groupset?
I've got a Kona Kula Watt. Use SRAM 10 speed, with two rings at the front, can anyone recommend a good upgrade path (to single front) other than changing the whole groupset?
Yes.
I've been running XX1 on my Epic for about 6 months now and absolutely love it. It's the best upgrade I've made on the bike.
I'm running 32t on the front but was just thinking today about changing it for a 34t as I very rarely use the 42t on the back at the moment. I've had absolutely no problems with it even during a 12h endurance race and never had a single dropped chain. The current set-up with a 32t on the front I've not had any problems with getting up any of the hills where I ride in the North Downs.
It's expensive to buy but if you get it from one of the German online stores it's quite a bit cheaper, my LBS told me that the prices I paid from Germany were pretty much trade price in the UK!
I'm currently running the trigger shifter and want to swap it for the Gripshift to give it a try but I've read some pretty poor write ups about the Gripshift so I'm steering clear of it for now.
I've been running XX1 on my Epic for about 6 months now and absolutely love it. It's the best upgrade I've made on the bike.
I'm running 32t on the front but was just thinking today about changing it for a 34t as I very rarely use the 42t on the back at the moment. I've had absolutely no problems with it even during a 12h endurance race and never had a single dropped chain. The current set-up with a 32t on the front I've not had any problems with getting up any of the hills where I ride in the North Downs.
It's expensive to buy but if you get it from one of the German online stores it's quite a bit cheaper, my LBS told me that the prices I paid from Germany were pretty much trade price in the UK!
I'm currently running the trigger shifter and want to swap it for the Gripshift to give it a try but I've read some pretty poor write ups about the Gripshift so I'm steering clear of it for now.
I got my XX1 groupset from either HiBike or Bike-discount.de
It might also be worth looking at Wiggle or Evans if they've currently got any discount codes running.
One thing I'd probably say is that I'd avoid the Gripshift shifter. I fancied trying it out but having looked into it there's been a lot of failures of the shifter, some with only a few hours use.
It might also be worth looking at Wiggle or Evans if they've currently got any discount codes running.
One thing I'd probably say is that I'd avoid the Gripshift shifter. I fancied trying it out but having looked into it there's been a lot of failures of the shifter, some with only a few hours use.
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