Apparently, 38 years is the ‘Mostly Shiny Aluminum’ Anniversary, because SRAM is celebrating with a limited-edition 1987 Eagle Transmission Collection that swaps carbon and dark anodized finishes for shiny alloy. This is what you would get if you took a wireless SRAM XX SL Transmission group, replaced all of the proper carbon with silver anodized aluminum, and left all the black plastic bits still there.
It’s not quite all silver. But it looks pretty good. And even gets an individually-numbered T-Type chain for each of the 1,987 groupsets sold worldwide, plus SRAM’s lightest-ever Eagle Transmission cassette!
SRAM 1987 Eagle Transmission Ltd wireless MTB groupset
SRAM launched in 1987 with the GripShift, but unfortunately, there’s no wireless AXS grip-shifter here. (You’ll have to hit up Zirbel for something closer to that.) Anyway, to celebrate their completely normal 38th anniversary, SRAM decided to launch a special limited edition groupset in shiny silver with a few key tweaks and a lot of unique finishes.
The four primary components of the limited collection come in a set, individually numbered from 1 to 1987 – with the SRAM & 1987 graphics printed in SRAM founder Stan Day’s own handwriting.
What’s kind of new?
From a semi-new perspective, it’s the first time they’ve combined a dual-sided powermeter with their alloy Transmission cranks. SRAM calls it the “most advanced aluminum crankset” they’ve ever made. It combines an X0 T-type set of arms with a road/gravel-style sleek AXS powermeter spider. Of course, that means it’s a thread mount. So it gets special matching chainrings like you find on standard XX & XX SL powermeter cranks.
The 1987 chain is also kind of new. It’s a reworking of the lightest XX SL flattop, hollow-pin T-type chain. It does get a new hard chrome coating before its special limited edition graphics, though, which pushes its “strength-to-weight ratio to an unprecedented level”.
Lastly, the rear derailleur is also sort of new, combining the lightest main full-mount body from the XX SL AXS derailleur with the tougher aluminum cage that you get with a normal XX setup. They are vague on what, if anything else has changed, but say “Over the past two years, we have been working to continuously improve our T-Type derailleurs, resulting in faster and more controlled derailleur shifting speeds“, suggesting there may be some other tweaks hidden inside. In any case, SRAM describes it as their “most updated, robust, and responsive rear derailleur“.
What’s totally new?
The SRAM 1987 Eagle Transmission cassette is totally new. It started life out as the already light XX SL cassette, but gets even more machining to shed an extra 25 grams.
This one is now down to 325g for the 10-52T cassette with the same X-Sync teeth and ability to shift under load – just not on an ebike.
Limited edition SRAM 1987 Eagle Transmission Collection contents:
- 1987 Eagle AXS T-type rear derailleur in silver; individually numbered 1-1987
- 1987 10-52T extra-light T-type cassette in sliver; individually numbered 1-1987
NOT eMTB/eBike compatible
- 1987 T-type flattop chain in silver, 126 links; individually numbered 1-1987
NOT eMTB/eBike compatible - 2x T-Type PowerLock quick chain links in rainbow PVD
- 1987 Eagle alloy spider powermeter crankset with 34T T-type chainring in silver; individually numbered 1-1987
170mm long arms, 174mm Q-factor, 55mm chainline - 1987 32T T-type chainring in silver (spare)
- proprietary tool for removing/installing SRAM threaded chainrings
- 2x 1987 AXS Pod Ultimate controllers – right & left with silver clamp
- 2 SRAM AXS batteries
- 4-port AXS battery charger and USB-C to USB-C cable
- Quality Certificate
SRAM 1987 Eagle Transmission – Pricing, no options & limited edition availability
SRAM’s core concept for the new 1987 Eagle Transmission groupset is it’s a strictly limited edition. And only available as a complete setup.
They produced just 1,987 complete groupsets. They are individually numbered and offer no options or substitutions – you simply get what is listed above, although at least that gives you two chainrings to choose from. Once any of it wears out, you’ll have to replace it with regular T-type components. (But a small quantity of non-numbered silver parts will be available for genuine warranty support.)
A complete SRAM 1987 AXS groupset will cost you $3500 / £3400 / 3800€. Snap yours up quickly, for sale worldwide via your local bikeshop, SRAM dealer, and official online retailers.
You know you want one!
