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Forbidden will update their druid very soon.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CrofhjMJQIG/?hl=fr
funny color names. UDH (of course)
New GX cranks on Ben Cathros story - being built up onto Santa Cruz’s going for sale, meaning we can’t be far off the GX launch
I really hope a cable actuated GX gets made.
So XO's without the holes and a matte silver color, probably 600 - 650g's with ring. Main issue with GX is the length coming in at 170 or 175. Wonder if they were smart enough to offer shorter sizes? Probably not anything shorter than 165.
I wish it would, but it looks unlikely. The frame is a normal bike without an engine, but there is a big sticker, that says UN3481, with is a shipping regulation for dangerous goods. So this build will end up with at least one Li-Ion Battery on it. Maybe it's just a reverb axs dropper post, but my guess is GX Transmission AXS. The whole direct mount standard, without limit screws etc. is build around the wireless derailleur. Therefore I don't see a cable accurated version coming any time soon.
That would mean a completely different set of price ranges offered by Sram. And would destroy their complete bike offerings in the lower price ranges. No cable actuation would mean a big chunk of the market would be left to Shimano, TRP, Box, upcoming Chinese manufacturers?
there are no cheap 12x road groups either
I don't think sram will be able to ignore the mass market, most of the money is made there. But I don't see all of the features of transmission trickle down to nx or sx. I don't think the bike manufacturers are willing to change all their bikes to UDH and therefore 12mm through axel. If you compare what shimano did with linkglide, offering really good shift performance and durability at the cost of weight. I think sram can still improve their lower priced groupsets alot without going "full transmission", by offering cable operated shifting, only with improvements in chain /cassette design and better quality control. I don't think lower tier bikes will profit much from direct mount dérailleurs, which is the main selling point of transmission at the moment. I own a bike with the first generation gx Eagle and from day one, I was unable to make all gears work perfectly due to poor quality. So I doubt that a direct mount dérailleur would fix this issue.
Seems like the production Meta V5 will use headset routing (from Camille Balanche's Instagram):
Another shot of the Meta V5 w/ headset routing:
Edit: sniped by @TheShortestCharles
Personally don’t think SRAM’s current cable actuated group sets really need an update. Would much rather have them invest in reducing prices for it than a 1 percent increase in shift quality.
I am pretty sure we aren’t far off the AXS stuff actually being cheaper to manufacture than the legacy stuff. I am sure the shifter is already without needing any of the small mechanical parts. It’s not a complicated system and the components wouldn’t be expensive if the trickle down goes right.
looks like a dt cable port on weitien ho's new meta, so there's still hope? *crosses digits*
https://www.instagram.com/p/CroC9Yfrskh/
Maybe not the top end, but SX/NX Eagle really aren't remotely competitive with even Deore, much less SLX. As far as I know people generally only go for those if they don't have a HG+ hub body or if they prefer the Sram 'feel'. GX could at least use a refresh; I haven't heard of anything particularly 'wrong' with it but it's also been essentially the same for over five years.
Spoken to Commencal Nz and they don’t know a date, but possibly end of the year… hope there’re wrong and it’s earlier!
Seen at the bike festival in riva del garda: nicolai nucleon 16 with classic derailleur, sadly with hadset cable routing...but given the huge customization possibilities of nicolai may an external or internal cable routing will be possible
how’s that gonna work with bikes with headset routed cables?
Have you checked the straightness of the derailleur hanger?
While I don't have much experience with NX or SX (or even GX for that matter), comparing the X01 shifter to an XT shifter is a day and night difference. To me the ergonomics of a Shimano shifter can't get close to what Sram has in this comparison. It's jarring how different the XT shifter feels and shifts.
The cage lock feature is also something I miss every time when I need to take the rear wheel off a shimano equipped bike.
But yeah, shifting performance & Co wise, you can't beat Shimano at the low end.
aside from trade shows and press, have any of their LAL bikes made it into the wild?
GX cranks are currently offered in 165, would be nice to see shorter on the new ones though
Shorter than 165??
I don't see Transmission going below a GX level, I guess that goes without saying given that NX has been neglected for 5 odd years now? If SRAM can deliver current GX quality at an NX/SX price point they pose a serious threat to Shimano's Deore dominance at the lower end.
Xo transmission derailleur had a clutch that actually works. Hopefully sram transfers that to the gx transmission unlike the non existent clutch on the gx axs
Assuming you can unscrew the cage just like X0/XX, even if the clutch is.. sub-optimal you could just replace it with something better, $100ish later.
Interesting idea to try out lots of crank lengths. Crank strike potential only a bit worse than normal 175 arms. Idea is to rent them to figure out what you like.
https://www.applemanbicycles.com/shop/2xr-fit-crankset-rental/
These are really just meant for Bike Fitters who fit customers on stationary bikes. You won't see these or similar designs out in the wild under normal circumstances.
I've met their Enduro Team on the weekend. The bike is heavy but pedals better than anything I've ridden with similar weight (~ 18kg). Had no trail time, only uphill but no more chain drag than my Claymore. Really good pedal platform, even with the sloppy lockout from the DHX2.
https://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewContent_nohf.asp?idpage=120
I'm sure these are made this way to only have one crank cover three lengths. Mold costs and all.