What's up ? - Sram laucnhes the GX Eagle

Just a year ago, Sram was releasing it latest inovation : a 12 speed groupset called XX1 Eagle (the technology was quickly applied to XO1). The massive 10-50t cassette was allowing a huge gear range that some people compared directly to a 2x11 system. Just like anything brand new, this thing was hell of expensive, and thats why a couple days ago, Sram annouced the release of the GX Eagle groupset, a much cheaper version of the XX1 Eagle.

So lets be honnest, only the pro riders or some very rich persons have been able to get their hands on the XX1 Eagle. For a simple reason : you can find it online for around 1200€ or about $1350. The whole GX Eagle groupset is annouced at 550€ or $615 at its highest price configuration (gripshift, BB30 bottom bracket). Yes, its divided by two...

Now for the price you might be wondering... This price reduction must mean a super heavy thing right ? Well, not so much, apparently. The whole GX Eagle groupset comes at around 1800 grams, compared to the 1450 grams of the XX Eagle... Not too bad !
Obviously it will look a bit cheaper : no bearing on the shifter, alluminium cranks (which I find quite odd-looking by the way) steel instead of titanium spring on the rear derailleur, cassette held together with steel pins instead of the one piece design and without the fancy ti nitride coating... But according to the first test rides we can read here and there, it performs just as good as its grand brothers !

           GX Eagle cranckset, annouced from 610 to 662 grams and from 125€ to 175€
Still using the X-Sync thecnology to retain the chain. Crank length from 165 to 175mm, boost compatible and avalaible for GXP and BB30 bottom brackets.

       GX Eagle cassette, annouced at 450grams for 200€. 10-50t range just like the other Eagle groupsets, but without the TI Nitride coating and without the on piece design : cogs are held together by steel pins.

No gold for the GX Eagle chain, and no multicolor quickling neither... The GX eagle chain is annouced at 270 grams for 29€. Still, its basically the same as XX1/X01 Eagle chains, except it has less coating and has not the hollowpin design.

290 grams for 110€. Just like any other Sram derailleur, the GX Eagle rear mech has the well known Roller Bearing Clutch technology (type 3) and the cage lock button. Compared to the other Eagle mech, this one does not have as many bearings, doesnt have carbon bits (it rather uses forged alluminium) and has a steel spring instead of the titanium one.

The shifter comes both as a trigger and a gripshift, old school style. (respectively 122 and 144 grams, both costing 35€). Once again, it uses forged alluminium instead of carbon and the trigger shifter no longer has a bearing at the lever.

All that stuff is announced 100% compatible with the other Eagle groupsets. Note that annouced prices and pratical prices are allways a bit different, so you will probably find it like 490€ rather than 550 :)



Sources : VojoMag (french only)

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