SRAM GX 1×11 Drivetrain

SRAM GX 1×11 Drivetrain

Configuration Tested:

• 175mm Aluminum GX1400 Cranks
• Threaded GXP Bottom bracket
• 32t X-sync chainring
• GX 11 speed trigger shifter
• GX 11 speed X-HORIZON(™) rear derailleur
• GX 1175 11 speed cassette with aluminum 42 tooth cog
• PC-X1 Chain

MSRP: $564 (depending on configuration)

Mounted to: Canfield Yelli Screamy

Days Tested: 20

Test Location: Park City, UT & Jackson, WY

Reviewer: 5’8” 160 lbs

This spring, SRAM released their newest 1X11 drivetrain group: GX.

The $564 GX line is now the least expensive 1×11 offering from SRAM, and comes in well below the X1 system ($970).

This means that it will be spec’d on much less expensive bikes than the X1 group would be, making 1×11 drivetrains accessible to more people. This is a good thing.

If you hadn’t picked up on it before, I’m a big proponent of 1×11 drivetrains. They reduce frustration, increase reliability, and provide sequential shifts, which means that I won’t have to spend my time at the trailhead explaining the problem of cross chaining to new riders I’m taking out.

This is also one of the first kits that is inexpensive enough to tempt riders who have otherwise used add-on cogs with 10 speed cassettes for additional gear range, rather than bumping up to a dedicated 1×11 system.

There’s a 2x Options, Too

The GX drivetrain is also offered in a 2×10 and a 2×11 configuration (with 36/24 rings) for those seeking an extra wide gear range. This configuration includes a 2×11 specific front derailleur, and a more traditional angled body parallelogram configuration rear derailleur instead of the horizontal X-HORIZON(™) used on SRAM’s 1×11 drivetrains.

The 2×11 GX is an option for folks doing mountain bike touring or similar activities that require a wider gear range.

Back to 1×11…

Those of us at Blister have largely agreed that there is little performance lost between X1, XO1, and XX1. For the most part, the only difference is a bit of weight. I was curious to see if the GX line would be able to continue this trend.

Additionally, the GX cassette is the first relatively affordable 11-speed SRAM cassette (X1 costs $315 for a 313g cassette, GX costs $144 for a 394g cassette (the GX 1150)), making it an attractive option for those who have worn out the original cassette on their bike. So I was interested to see if the SRAM GX would be a viable alternative to the X1 cassette, since the cost savings are huge.

The Build

The SRAM GX drivetrain is available with either gripshift or trigger shifters, the 1150 steel 10-42T cassette or the 1175 steel/aluminum 10-42T cog cassette, and GX 1400 hollow aluminum cranks with removable spider or GX 1000 solid aluminum, 4 arm cranks.

SRAM GX Weights:

Cranks: The cranks come it a 688g without a bottom bracket (8g over list weight, not bad) and switching to a direct mount chainring can save 70 grams (32t ring with 94mm BCD spider – 124g, 32t direct mount ring – 54g). These have a great price to weight ratio at $195 (GX 1000 is $149). With the spider the smallest ring you can run is 30t. With an X-SYNC(™) direct mount ring you can go down to 26t. These cranks are available in a wide range of configurations including boost, so you are likely to find a set to match any bike you have.

Shifter: The shifter weighs 122g and looks quite similar to the SRAM X1 shifter. I couldn’t distinguish any differences.

Rear Derailleur: The rear derailleur weighs 264g. It isn’t entirely intuitive, so note when assembling that the cable routing should look like this:

Chain: The chain is the same chain used for the X1 drivetrain. The weight is 266g (uncut).

Cassette: The cassette is a pretty nice looking piece, with tooth sculpting and lots of shaping for weight loss. It weighs 326g on my scale, only ~10g heavier than X1. Most articles and press releases have listed a 394g weight, but I believe that is for the heavier all steel GX 1150 cassette. I have the GX 1175 cassette with the aluminum 42T cog, but SRAM has not published a price for this yet.

Assembly went pretty easily, with no unexpected surprises. Just note the correct cable routing when you install the derailleur.

Adding everything up, I get a total kit weight of 1,772g. That’s pretty solid, just 39g more than X1, and $360 cheaper as configured for our test. (It’s possible that the price difference might be a bit reduced, depending on how SRAM ends up pricing the 1175 cassette).

NEXT: Construction, The Ride, etc.