SRAM Eagle hatches genuine X-Sync 2 Oval chainrings

Written by Zach Overholt Jul 01, 2017 10:00 a.m. ET

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You’re about to have even more options when it comes to your 1x drivetrain from SRAM. Likely inspired by the multitude of 1x oval chainrings that have flooded the market recently, SRAM is throwing their hat in the ring with an oblong ring of their own. Meant for Eagle 1×12 drivetrains, the rings blend the performance benefits of oval designs with SRAM X-Sync 2 tooth profile technology, all of which optimized for SRAM drivetrains…

Available initially in 32-38t SRAM direct mount configurations, the rings use the pointier X-Sync 2 tooth profile that was unveiled with Eagle drivetrains. The only difference of course, is that the ring are oval instead of round. Designed with a fixed ovality, the rings will sell for $119 each. Available now

MSRP PRICE

$119 | €126 | £107

Zach Overholt

5,633 articles

Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

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26 Comments

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Rowan

6 years ago

$120 for a Chainring?

RaA

6 years ago

Reply to Rowan

I agree, it’s ridiculous.

xcracer

6 years ago

Reply to RaA

This is the same company that thinks $400 for a cassette is acceptable, so yeah, doesn’t surprise me that they want $120 for a chainring.

Scott Carlile

6 years ago

Stoked! Nice work, SRAM.

michael robinson

6 years ago

Why not have a look at the price of Dura Ace rings, it will make your jaw hit the floor. One Up Components are doing oval rings you can change without removing your BB for way less.

Steve

6 years ago

Why on earth are you ‘stoked’ scott?

You can get an oval from ab, wt, works, Oneup etc all from 1/4 that price. What on earth is there to be happy about?

James Fryer

6 years ago

Reply to Steve

Yeah, but those other brands don’t have eagles on them!

blah blah blah

6 years ago

Reply to Steve

eagle hater!

sad

6 years ago

“genuine” lol.
Because others aren’t genuine!

Either an English issues or SRAM propaganda with BR ;P

DaddyDave

6 years ago

Reply to sad

Please point me to another X-Sync 2 Oval ring?

It appears the English issues lie elsewhere…

Mecanico do paladar

6 years ago

I want to see the wind tunnel data, please! I am sure this is the most aero btt chainring! When you see that data you will want one of this, even if you don’t have a bike yet.

Eggs Benedict a.k.a Darth Baller

6 years ago

Reply to Mecanico do paladar

Good point. I better order one, pronto. I’ll build my next bike around this chainring.

Werewolf

6 years ago

Why cant i use a non Eagle chainring with the Eagle system ?

absoluteblack

6 years ago

Reply to Werewolf

Of course you can. Sram plays misinformation game to convince customers that only their own products will fit.
Reality is any well designed modern chainring will fit and work perfectly fine with Eagle.

It’s actually funny, After Sram purchased dozens of our absoluteBLACK oval rings to test late last year, they suddenly release their own version.

We have always believed absoluteBLACK Oval chainrings will become a mainstream drivetrain choice – for all riders – because of their demonstrable performance advantage.

However, not all oval chainrings share the same performance characteritstics as absoluteBLACK. The ‘clocking’ (timing) and shape of the oval are the most crucial parts of any oval chainring design, absoluteBLACK spent three years in design development and have perfected both timing and shape design elements – ensuring the ride quality of absoluteBLACK oval ring will be different and superior to ovals from other brands (as many abosluteBLACK customers already realised).

DaddyDave

6 years ago

Reply to absoluteblack

Interesting use of the word ‘fine’ when it comes to compatibility.

Fine as in equal levels of durability and chain retention as an X-Sync 2 ring? Or just fine as in it will functional operate? There is a huge void between the two?

I could remove bolts fine with a pair of vice grips.

I could remove a 10mm allen bolt using two 5mm keys just fine.

Heck a T25 torx wrench works just fine in a 4mm allen bolt.

But i don’t do any of these things when the proper, non-compromised tool for the job is available…

absoluteBLACK

6 years ago

Reply to DaddyDave

I actually wrote “perfectly fine” to be specific – in relation to many narrow/wide rings out there.
I can only speak for absoluteBlack products regards full compatibility. In this case it means 100% compatible and “optimized” for Eagle; works as original if not better. From our customers we also know that AB rings last much longer as well.

Long story short Sram has released new “eagle” tooth design because their original concept was not working correctly from the start.They realized it quickly when chainrings last only 3-5 months in most cases and after this time they started hooking the chain on release forcing user to replace. Reason was a very tall right side of the tooth acting as retention mechanism.
We knew from the start that this will lead to problems along the road. Our design looks different because we solved retention and durability challenges in completely different way years ago with no need to make any changes now.

With “New Eagle” tooth shape, basically Sram just cut off the part of the tooth that caused an issue (with original design) and called them the only compatible chainring for Eagle groupset. On the side note new chain only required to narrow down the teeth by 0.05mm to be fully compatible. It is what many companies did long time ago.

This is why I wrote they will work “perfectly fine” because there is nothing special in Eagle chain to warrant “special” tooth shape. Some rings will work better than others of course because same situation was with 11 or 10 spd chain. Hope this helps .

Kovas

6 years ago

Reply to absoluteBLACK

Confirmed. I use an Abslutely Black oval boost 32 ring with Eagle for weeks now. Works just fine.

Joel Bello

6 years ago

Reply to absoluteblack

+1 to absoluteblack. I’m running their 34 tooth oval ring on my ultegra setup. I can’t “commit” to the 50 tooth larger ring just yet but I might some day.

OvalGuy

6 years ago

Reply to absoluteblack

Hey, I’ve got one of your oval chainrings on my singlespeed and its great. I’m curious about the ‘clocking’ of the oval and for what position did you design it? When I’m standing and forward how does that affect things? Cheers -OvalGuy

Jimbo

6 years ago

These look nice. I hope they put out a 40 tooth one for CX.

Big C

6 years ago

“Steve” the 1 company offering a ring near 1/4 that price is one up. And from 1 distributor. Most others are 1/2 that at best. Don’t be a drama queen. Its Sram’s first oval so they’ll come down in price. Nobody likes a hater. Get out from behind the computer desk and ride your bike!

Pablo Carrasco (@pcarrasco_rotor)

6 years ago

These SRAM X-Sync 2 Oval rings are quite similar in shape, elongation and orientation (clocking) to the original, multi world champion ROTOR oval Q-Rings. Of course, the Absolute Black, OneUp, WT… are all in this same page. But still ROTOR Q-Rings are the only ones you can adjust the orientation thanks to the patented OCP and OCP Mount technologies

Rosa de las Heras from ROTOR

6 years ago

Reply to Pablo Carrasco (@pcarrasco_rotor)

ROTOR was one of the first manufacturers to apply the concept of “clocking” (or “timing”) to oval chainrings and has maintained its position as pioneer in this category. We have continually overcome challenges to chainring compatibility by constantly innovating and introducing new oval chainring models — like our Eagle™-compatible direct mount QX1 rings — as the market demanded.
Last year we added an Olympic medal in mountain biking when Carlos Coloma scored bronze using QX1 rings in Rio de Janeiro. This is in addition to the numerous victories that have been won with Q’s, which speak louder than words about the design and technology behind Q-Rings.

Doug Brown Jr

6 years ago

Reply to Rosa de las Heras from ROTOR

Rosa, I’ve been trying to reach you regarding a patent for a new chain ring design. Could you please forward your e-mail address to me @: dbrown1784@carolina.rr.com

H. Munster

6 years ago

Back in 1893 at POPE MFG.CO. we had oval rings that looked pretty similar on the Columbia bike. I once mounted one inside out and the timing looked pretty much like what you guys have here. I told the Colonel it felt much better but he wouldn’t have it, talking about “leverage” all the time. In the 1920’s in Europe we had the same thing at WEISS FAHRRADBAU in Stuttgart and at MESTRE ET BLATGÉ in Paris with the Lucifer bike and their ÉLAN chainring. Back in the US in the 1970’s there was another try with DURHAM bicycles in LA but again they didn’t get the timing right. Then I sent a ring to Shimano but probably my Japanese wasn’t good enough and Keizo mounted it in the wrong position and went biopace instead: On his 5-arm cranks he would have needed to rotate the ring just one hole further to get the correct timing that you guys have on your rings right now. So after 115 years of oval chainring development oval rings have a timing position that feels good on long steep climbs! Hooray!

iErnest85

6 years ago

On my previous bike (2015 StumJumper Expert) with a 1×11 x01 drivetrain I used to ride with an absoluteBLACK 32T Oval chainring and I liked it much better than the 34T Round SRAM Chainring.
Now on my new bike (2016 Yeti SB6c) I’ve been running with 1×12 XX1 Eagle drivetrain with a 38T chainring since I built it in April 2017. So far it’s been great, but I’m starting to think that I should go with an oval chainring again.
Now I’m considering to install ether the absoluteBLACK 36T Oval Boost 74g ($80 Out The Door) chainring or the new SRAM X-SYNC™ 2 Oval 36T Boost ($83 Out The Door).
From my experience I have the trust in both companies. The price is very close. The thing is that I don’t know anyone that ever used any of this oval chainrings with the SRAM Eagle 1×12 drivetrain, so I can’t tell which one would be better. There’s not enough info about both of this oval rings online and I can’t figure out what’s the weight of the SRAM X-SYNC™ 2 Oval 36T boost chainring.

Any Tips, Suggestions, Info will be highly appreciated

Thank You!!!