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First Rides & Actual Weights – SRAM GX Eagle mountain bike group

sram gx eagle 12 speed mountain bike group first ride review
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sram gx eagle 12 speed mountain bike group first ride review

We all knew it was only a matter of time before SRAM Eagle 12-speed technology trickled down, so the real question was could it translate the crisp, quiet shifting to a group costing half as much as the next level up?

For the most part, yes. Which is a remarkable achievement, and one that’s making it harder and harder not to put SRAM on your mountain bike. We had GX Eagle in ahead of the launch for testing, here’s how it went, along with an actual weights comparison between the groups…

SRAM GX EAGLE ACTUAL WEIGHTS

sram gx eagle 12 speed mountain bike group actual weights

The complete GXP crankset with a 32-tooth chainring installed on 175mm arms is 632g. Crank arms alone (with direct mount bolts included) is 555g, and 32-tooth chainring is 78g. (Yes, I left the little rubber bootie on the crank spindle because I didn’t want grease all over my scale, so subtract 2g if you want)

sram gx eagle 12 speed mountain bike group actual weights

Rear derailleur is 290g, cassette is 448g.

sram gx eagle 12 speed mountain bike group actual weights

Trigger shifter is 122g, chain is 262g, and GXP threaded bottom bracket is 107g. Here’s how that compares to our actual weights for all groups:

GX Eagle X01 Eagle XX1 Eagle
Crankset 632g 520g 493g
Rear Derailleur 290g 276g 265g
Cassette 448g 354g 360g
Trigger Shifter 122g 124g 124g
Chain 262g 260g 260g
TOTAL 1,754g 1,534g 1,502g
DIFFERENCE +252g +32g

For pricing comparison, check our launch coverage here.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

sram gx eagle 12 speed mountain bike group first ride review

Starting with installation, the parts are straightforward and easy to install. The XD Driver might have originally meant an annoying standards switch, but there’s no denying how easy it makes cassette swaps and now that it’s available from virtually every wheel and hub brand, we’d actually like to see everything go in that direction.

When I installed XX1 Eagle, it took a little more time to dial in the shifting because everything’s closer together and tolerances are tight. Plan on spending a few extra minutes getting the shifting dialed, and pay attention to chain length and rear derailleur B-Screw adjustments. SRAM includes a tool for getting the rear derailleur’s upper pulley wheel’s position just right, but I found that getting the chain length mattered too.

Originally, I started with a four link overlap when wrapping the chain around the largest cog and chainring, but shifting just wasn’t getting as fast as I wanted. It seemed like it was either off at the top end or the bottom end, but I couldn’t get both ends dialed. I took out two links (one inner, one outer) and that seemed to do the trick.

sram gx eagle 12 speed mountain bike group first ride review

Even on the first ride, it still took a little fine tuning at the shifter’s barrel adjuster. But speed of shifts, quiet operation and general smoothness was good as soon as I hit the dirt. In the workstand, I noticed the increased friction of a narrow wide system with the chain in the 50-tooth cog, which is amplified thanks its massive size. I notice that same friction on any wide range 1x system using narrow/wide tooth profiles, but it feels more noticeable here in the workstand. Oddly, and thankfully, on the trail, it’s less noticeable than some other 1x systems and aftermarket mashups. So, while it’s annoying when you’re trying to set up the bike in the first place, rest assured it’ll feel much better once you’re out riding.

sram gx eagle 12 speed mountain bike group first ride review

Considering how much less this group costs than X01 Eagle, the performance is surprisingly close. Just before this group arrived, I’d been riding a lot of other demo bikes and traveling a ton. I hit the trails on my XX1 Eagle equipped bike and was reminded why I love it so much…it’s crisp, fast, light and just works so damn well. Switching to the GX Eagle group isn’t much different. Shifting is nearly as fast, but it’s slightly (and I do mean slightly) more finicky. I suspect the switch to stamped metal parts and less finishing work leads to a minuscule reduction in tolerances, but again, the word I keep coming back to is slight. As in, if you weren’t riding the groups back to back, you’d never know what you were missing. In other words, if you’re already riding GX level parts, this is a helluva upgrade. To put its performance into perspective, I swapped out the stock XT group (with Race Face crankset) to install the GX group and I have no reason to switch back.

sram gx eagle 12 speed mountain bike group first ride review

All of the Exact Actuation 1:1 shifting performance is here, but I do like the higher groups’ ability to adjust the thumb lever’s position. I normally set mine a few notches closer in. Another installation point worth mentioning is that I still have a few of the Matchmaker mounts left over from 2x systems and use those to mount my rear shifter. If you notice that the shifter’s mounting bolt sits to the left of the clamp, that’s not how they come from SRAM. For someone with bigger hands, I like being able to space the shifter farther inboard so my thumb isn’t constantly knocking into the levers. So, SRAM, please start including both left- and right- offset mounts with your 1x groups.

Overall, first impressions are good. Considering their success with Eagle in general, you are sure to see this spec’d pretty much everywhere. If price was your holdout for switching, that excuse is gone now. And there are no other excuses, it just works so darn good. Freeeeedom!

SRAM.com

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12 Comments
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-S
-S
6 years ago

Why would you leave four links of overlap in a chain?

Matej Korat
6 years ago

It’s SRAMs rule of thumb; you stretch the chain over the big cog and the chainring without pulling it into the derailler and with four links overlap you should have the optimal chain length.

Jonathan van Zuijlekom
Jonathan van Zuijlekom
6 years ago
Reply to  Matej Korat

It’s two for full suspension bikes: https://youtu.be/6wCt9BJRNew?t=6m38s

Llib
Llib
6 years ago

AC Smokin’ Gun wheels, nice

Joe
Joe
6 years ago

I’m still fine with 7 speed Shimano DX.

Jacob
Jacob
6 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Me to and I’m loving it. Lasted ages and will at last once more again. No need for these monkeys which cannot shift right on 3xN on the trails no matter how large front fork travel they’ve got.

Greg
Greg
6 years ago

Bike rumor once again showing that they are one of the most underrated bike sites.

The coverage of the 12 sp GX is unrivaled by anyone.

But anyway it looks like one could make up a lot of weight difference by going with cranks from a third party and I suppose, eventually, a cassette too

TimE
TimE
6 years ago
Reply to  Greg

GX is superb! Absolute game changer. IF you already have a SRAM XO1 or XX1 11Speed group the upgrade to GX will be a smaller weight gain than buying the whole group. I would however opt for a XO1Eagle cassette, GX rear derailleur and XX1 shifter. It runs on bearigns whereas the GX is on Bushes. the longevity of the GX seems to e very good though as two of my pals have over 5000km on the GX Eagle already and happy with the performance

Durianrider
6 years ago

“Increase friction of a narrow wide system” meaning?

Caveman
Caveman
6 years ago
Reply to  Durianrider

ya, click here and you’ll get your answer about friction..http://bfy.tw/DotE

Stephen Johansen
Stephen Johansen
6 years ago
Reply to  Caveman

(deleted). He meant how does “narrow-wide” affect it. Couldn’t resist, could ya?

Volker
Volker
3 years ago

I actually mixed GX with AXS upgrade kit

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