SRAM X1 Brings 1×11 Mountain Bike Groups to Mainstream Price Levels

A Strava kudos to SRAM. Bravo, bravissimo.

Well, that’s cheaper than before, yes. But an XT cassette costs 70 dollars, and a 42t big cog costs around 90 or 100. So it’s still significantly cheaper to get a knock-off. My guess is that this is the tipping point where people are willing to just spend the extra cash and get the real thing. This also marks the point where the drivetrain wars will get more serious, as SRAM has created a standard that does not work with Shimano and makes people ready to abandon it.

Why is there a chainguide/watcher in the first picture? Didn’t think it was required with a narrow/wide chainring and a clutch der?

Half group for almost 1000 USD?? Still very expensive. Each new launch seems to cost less to be produced but the prices go the opposite direction. I am sure they could be selling it for 700 bucks and would be still a great deal for Sram.
I hope shimano is releasing a cheaper version of their 1×11.
Anyway I do not like the direction bike industry is going, cheaper production products for stupid expensive prices.

Yes, there are other options to get a 40t or 42t cog. But no other way to get one with a 10T as well.

Still more gear range with these cassettes than any aftermarket or Shimano solution.

Definitely a good move for SRAM.

It’s nice that it’s cheaper, but we’re still up there in Mercedes Benz territory. You still gotta be a rich dude to play the 1×11 SRAM game. Those SRAM guys are stubborn as hell – they could’ve made a cassette the normal way and sold it for half what this one goes for. But no, they just don’t want us working class folk touching their precious 11 speed group. It’s class warfare! Where’s the 1×11 group for the 99%?

Yeah, I’m engaging in a little bit of hyperbole, but I just don’t like the way these SRAM guys are playing the game. I used to like SRAM as an alternative to the big beast Shimano, but if I ever veer from my single speed ways, I’m gonna run a 1×10 Shimano system. To heck with SRAM.

Not sure I would call $900+ for a drive train a “budget friendly option”. Eventually this will trickle all the way down to the bottom. Really it’s at the bottom where 1x has the most potential. One of the most common complaints new cyclists have is around the complexity of gears. 1x pretty much eliminates that. In theory it could also reduce costs. In addition to eliminating a shifter, 1-2 chain rings and a front derailleur you’re also eliminating the time at the factory to install those parts and the time in a shop to install/adjust them. Time is money.

I’m actually waiting for 1x to show up on road bikes. If Eddy could win the Tour with a 2×5 drive train and Greg and Bernard could do it with 2×6 drive trains I think it’s safe to say the average rider/racer could get by with 11 unique gear choices. I actually cobbled together a 1×10 bike years ago and it worked fine, even in hilly SF. These new wider range cassettes could easily provide enough gear options for most riders.

p.s. all the complaining I hear about expensive components is getting so old. It’s like complaining about the cost of the new BMW 2 series. Is it expensive? Yeah. Is it as expensive as the M6?? No. But its still a budget BMW. If you cant afford either don’t complain about it, just buy a Nissan. Or in this case a Deore goupset.

11spd 11-40 XTR cassette on the rear (on my existing 10spd rear hub) and a 28t RF Narrow-wide up front. Problem solved.

“But just think how wonderful your life will be with a 10t cog!”

Anyone who needs/wants 400+% gearing range, and that is many, will find the 10T “wonderful”. Without it, you’re looking at 44+T big and that’s much worse.

The 10T *IS* an improvement on the SRAM cassette. Prior to it, SRAM spacing was 11-12-14. That makes the last gear only a lame half step. With the 10T you now have 10-12-14 which is much better. Sure it’s only one tooth, but if that’s your point you’re just showing your ignorance. It’s the gear spacing that matters, and the 10T improves gear spacing.

SRAM can’t win. They make a cheaper option, everyone whines that it isn’t cheap enough.

Also, brakes

The weight difference between the X-ones is too small.
Why would I get the xx1 or x01??

975 a far cry from 1250? Talk about running a commercial for SRAM! Add the cost of the driver and you have To spend 1000 plus for the privilege of having a useless 10 tooth cog with aa set up that does not even come close to aa dual. Insist on a single? Spend $80 a and you can have an identical, to all practical purposes, 1142 cassette!

@chris Keep it off the road bikes. The difference between MTB and road is so huge it’s not funny. We could already use it if we wanted – Rohloff and Alfine are single crank ring solutions, but the requirements for steady cadence at high speeds and low speeds makes the technology incapable. I get 39kmh for 34/10 and 9kmh for 34/42. 30kmh stretch. I need to be pedalling at 70kmh – 53/12, and pedalling at 14kmh – 39/25 in the same ride regularly. I also don’t want to be hauling dual suspension and 2 inch tyres up the hill on the road, but I don’t want 700x23s in the scrub either.
Let the innovations for the disciplines sit where they may. Road just doesn’t have the same challenges as MTB, just like Triathlon doesn’t have the same challenges at either. And that’s a good thing… some of us aren’t so good at turning and braking 😉

I wish they’d released this before the XTR announcement.
I’m running an Absolute Black 34 x 11-36 with X9 type 2 rear mech (peasant style).
Although the cheaper pinned cassette is welcome news when I consider the choice between:
XTR shifter, rear mech, chain & 11-40 cassette
VS
X1 shifter, rear mech, chain & 10-42 cassette & XD driver
I think I’m leaning towards XTR or subsequent XT PROVIDED Shimano has adjusted their clutch because I think SRAM’s always on clutch works better than Shimano’s switch.
(I have Saint and XT clutch mechs with the switch and it feels too stiff switched on compared to the X9 type 2 clutch feel).
Ultimately I think fitting 11sp onto an old free hub and only losing half a gear from top & bottom.. Shimano has countered nicely.
I would LOVE to see 1x road take off but presumably that won’t happen until 12sp plus arrives to retain the necessary range.

or you can stick with 2×10 have all the range with excellent front shifting (shimano) and go 1×11 when they launch their XT version next year at a reasonable price…..

It’s pretty simple. If you have a 10 speed group that works fine and you want to go 1X buy a Wolf Tooth, OneUp, etc and n/w chainring and you are in for under $200. By the end of the year you will be able to get SRAM 1X stuff aftermarket (eBay, re-sellers, etc.) minus a crankset for under $500. The XX1 and XO1 stuff is already floating around for way below MSRP. A new crankset is not necessary as tons of single ring options will fit just about anything you already have. Otherwise, shut up and ride.

@hellbelly, I shat up and rode.

“the cx1 “is” the x1 road. it makes no sense for true road bikes to have an x1 setup. the range is way too wide.”

“True road bikes” don’t have wide range gearing. A compact double with 11-28 is 375%. 130BCD and narrower range cassettes drop that to as little as 260% (39/53, 11-21). Even assuming a “true road bike” had an 11-32 with a double, a 1x with 10-42 matches its range. Road bike range is easy to achieve.

“True road bikes” want fine gear steps and that’s what you give up with a wide range cassette. It’s also what you want with MTB. Double and triple shifting while riding trails sucks. XC racers can ride road cassettes if they want to.

@hitar_potar That’s what I meant. I have the Wolf Tooth ones on my bikes.

@MaLóL – what are you saying. drunk much?

I do totally understand the bitchin about prices, $900 is a lot of money, true but that is only valid if your buying the groupset!
As some people have mentioned already, take your existing bike, buy a clutch rear mech such as SLX @£54.99RRP and a raceface ring @£44.95RRP (other brands available) and you have a 1×10 drivetrain for……um,…..under £100.

(ps I’d recommend the 30t raceface ring, an HG62 cassette @£32.99RRP and the HG54 chain@£14.99RRP, a few hours tinkering and your still coming in for under £150 even if you pay the RRP. I bet some canny people could still do it for under £100…)

Hooray for trickle-down!
But $300+ for a cassette is still ridonculous!

Actually the price for the cassette is not that much, Specialized’s mechanic said you can ride the cassette for like 10000-12000km before you need to change it

X1 groupset is going to be sold at around 500-550 euros I think so it’s not that much. You can already get XX1 groupset for 749 euros and X1/X01 mix for 649 euros. Of course it’s more expensive than a Deore groupset but for us who really have a use for 1×11 groupset this is great news.

If you can’t afford it, you really don’t need it.