Inside Line: New SRAM GX group offers 1×11, 2×11 or 2×10 versions

SRAM’s latest drivetrain component set not only offers an even lower price barrier to 1×11 shifting, it’s available in a new 2×11 shifting option for the first time, as well as a 2×10 version. The GX components are largely designed with trickle-down technologies pioneered in the XX1, XO1 and X1 groupsets and it slots in between X1 and X5 on the price scale.

2×11

While the 1×11 option is plenty of gear range for most riders, the new 2×11 GX series will take things a step further. The 36/24 crankset is paired with the same 10-42 cassette that mounts to the XD driver body found on the 1×11 groups. The key difference is in the derailleurs, which are design specifically for the huge gear range—wider than any other two-chainring groupset on the market.

Crankset features:

• Open Core Technology AL (GX 1400 Crankset)
• 6000 series AL (GX 1000 Crankset)
• X-GLIDE™ 2×11 shifting technology
• Chainring option: 36-24
• Bottom bracket configurations: PressFit 30, BB30, GXP, and PressFit GXP
• Chainring guard option
• Crank lengths: 175, 170
• Colors: Black, Red
• 24 and 30mm options
• Boost™ 148 compatible
• Technologies: X-GLIDE™
• Weight: 727g (GX-1400, GXP, 175mm); 774g (GX-1000, GXP, 175mm)

The GX front derailleur was designed specifically to work in conjunction with the wide range cassette, and will be available in all the different mounting standards.

Front derailleur features:

• Wide range 2×11 systems with X-GLIDE™ front shifting technology
• High Clamp, Low Clamp, High Direct Mount, Mid Direct Mount, Low Direct Mount
• Dedicated top and bottom pull
• Technologies: X-ACTUATION™, X-GLIDE™
• Weight: 123-153g

The rear derailleur is unique in that it is tuned for 11 gears and can still accommodate the difference in chain wrap from two different front chainrings. Unlike the 1×11 derailleurs, it uses a more traditional slant parallelogram design. It also features the clutch mechanism and cage lock now found in nearly all SRAM rear derailleurs.

Rear derailleur features:

• X-ACTUATION™ for precise and dependable 11-speed performance
• Focused chassis design for all conditions and usage
• 10-42 wide range cassette compatible
• Colors: Black, Red
• Technologies: X- ACTUATION™, ROLLER BEARING CLUTCH™, CAGE LOCK™
• Weight: 289g (long cage), 286g (medium cage)

Both the 2×11 and 1×11 GX groups will also be available with either trigger shifters or Grip Shift. The trigger shifters use a new aluminum pull lever for more precise shifting.

Shifter features:

• SRAM 1x™ X-ACTUATION™ for precise and dependable 11-speed performance
• Multi-position mounting
• MatchMaker™ compatible
• Aluminum pull lever
• Discrete clamp
• Colors: Black, Red
• Full metal, 11-speed indexing keeps shifting crisp and precise with Grip Shift
• Three rows of ball bearings provide zero friction or play—reducing the force needed to shift and promoting long-term performance under all weather conditions with Grip Shift
• Once the Grip Shift shifter and grip interlock securely, forged aluminum clamps on either end reinforce the assembly by locking tightly to handlebar
• Technologies (trigger shifters): X-ACTUATION™, MatchMaker™ Integrated
• Technologies (Grip Shift): X-ACTUATION™, SPEED METAL™, ROLLING THUNDER™, JAWS™
• Weight (trigger shifters): 122g
• Weight (Grip Shift): 144g

The costliest piece of the 11-speed puzzle has always been the cassette. In the case of XX1 it is milled from a solid block of aluminum—an expensive, time-consuming process. For the new XG-1150 cassette, costs have been saved by using 11 stamped, steel cogs held together with 123 stainless steel pins. The result is a durable cassette that also sheds mud well due to its open design. If you’re looking for a lower-price replacement for your 11-speed cassette, the new XG-1150 should fit the bill. It will retail for $144, which is still a lot, but about half the street price of an XX1 cassette.

Cassette features:

• 10-42T range
• XD™ driver body compatible
• Technologies: FULL PIN™, XD™ driver body, JET™
• Weight: 394g

1×11

The GX 1×11 group shares many components with the 2×11 group, including the chain, cassette and shifters—well, one fewer shifter anyway. However the rear derailleur uses the X-Horizon design found on the other 1×11 speed groups and is not compatible with a front derailleur.

Rear derailleur features:

• X-HORIZON™ design reduces shift force, ghost shifting and chain slap
• 12-tooth X-SYNC™ pulley wheels
• Large upper pulley offset automatically adjusts chain gap
• Sealed cartridge bearings
• Aluminum cage
• Colors: Black, Red
• Technologies: X-HORIZON™, X-ACTUATION™, X-SYNC™, ROLLER BEARING CLUTCH™, CAGE LOCK™
• Weight: 265g

The 1×11 crankset uses bolt-on chainrings with the now familiar X-Sync design that holds the chain in place without a chain guide. There are two versions the GX-1400 with a hollow core crankarm and the GX-1000 with solid 6000-series aluminum arms.

Crankset features:

• Open Core Technology AL (GX-1400 Crankset)
• 6000 series AL (GX-1000 Crankset)
• CNC machined 7075, two-tone anodized X-SYNC™ chainring (30-32-34-36-38)
• Bottom bracket configurations: PressFit 30, BB30, GXP, and PressFit GXP
• Chainring guard option
• Crank lengths: 175, 170
• Colors: Black, Red
• 24 and 30mm options
• Boost™ 148 compatible
• Technologies: X-SYNC™
• Weight: 680g (GX-1400, GXP, 175mm, 32t); 720g (GX-1000, GXP, 175mm, 32t)

2×10

The final GX group is the 2×10 system, which essentially replaces the current x9 and x7 groups. It is available with various crankset and chainring options and works with the existing PG-1050 and PG-1030 cassettes that mount on traditional 10-speed freehub bodies.

Crankset features:

• 6000 series AL (GX 1000 Crankset)
• X-GLIDE™ 2×10 shifting technology
• Bottom bracket configurations: PressFit 30, BB30, GXP, and PressFit GXP
• Chainring options: 38-24, 36-22
• Chainring guard option
• Crank lengths: 175, 170
• Color: Black
• 24 and 30mm options
• Boost™ 148 compatible
• Technologies: X-GLIDE™
• Weight: 799g (GXP, 175mm, 36/22)

The GX 10-speed rear derailleur inherits many of the features found on the higher end SRAM derailleurs, including the clutch and cage lock.

Gear ranges

SRAM 2×11

 

SRAM 1X11

SRAM 2×10

Pricing and availability

• GX 1400 2×11 Grip Shift  – $677 – August 2015
• GX 1400 2×11 Trigger shifters – $661 – August 2015
• GX 1400 1×11 Grip Shift – $573 – July 2015
• GX 1400 1×11 Trigger Shifters – $564 – July 2015
• GX 1000 2×10 Trigger Shifters – $511 – June 2015