Posts
17
Joined
5/1/2023
Location
Wollongong, NSW
AU
I'm seriously confused, here in Aus, XX T-Type cassette will set you back, $945, X0 on the other hand is $688, the construction appears to be the same (X-dome, with two stamped steel pinned larger cogs, and finally one alloy granny gear) and the weight is the exact same 385g!! All the "features" listed on SRAM's website appear to be the same. So what is the deal with that price difference, If there is any tangible advantage (like longevity) I'd love to know!
Sidenote: 350g (25g lighter) XX SL Cassette for $1031 Aussie dollars is outrageous
A little searching turned this up:
"The X0 version of the cassette uses essentially the same construction as the XX version, but with a less sophisticated grade of steel used throughout, which SRAM says makes for improved durability on the XX cassette as compared to the X0 version. The X0 cassette gets a black electroless nickel finish for wear and corrosion resistance and gets the same shift ramps and shifting features as its higher-end brethren. There’s actually no weight penalty for the X0 cassette over the XX one — SRAM says that the differences in material show up when it comes to long-term durability. "
Source: https://blisterreview.com/gear-reviews/sram-eagle-transmission
In essence they are saying the XX will last longer, but this will become apparent once you've clocked some decent miles on the cassette already. Ingenius! :D
Interesting! Shame SRAM doesn't make note of this themselves, I really wonder what the difference in longevity really is, the hardened "tool steel" they claim to be using on the XX (check SRAM website) sounds.. good? And I assume this is what they are referring to by "sophisticated grade of steel". In fairness though, previous eagle cassettes didn't advertise this feature either, and so I'd assume X0 would perform as well as those, whilst XX provides a marginal improvement. Last-gen longevity was "fine" although that's certainly subjective.
The price difference is large for an improvement we don't have figures on, I suspect X0 would be the better deal but time shall tell!
I suspect the same. If the XX clocks 3x or 4x more miles than a XO, then the price difference is OK. But XO isn't a low class group and i somehow doubt such a big difference...
Omg those cassette prices are insane.
I can't find it anymore, but some website had a lovely graph of total mileage for all shimano and SRAM cassettes, it might have been 11s as this goes back a couple of years. Basically XO was clearly the best bang for buck all things considered, virtually identical to XX but cheaper, similar miles/$ as GX but less frequent changes + lighter.
from sram's transmission material - the differences between xx and xo
The amazing part is there are people lining up to buy those $1000 cassettes. Helpful for me to remember that I'm not the target demographic, because if replacing a cassette cost me $1000 I would probably quit mountain biking.
Side note about SRAM cassette materials- I'm the third owner of a SRAM 11-speed XX1 cassette with thousands of miles on it, and it still shifts better (and quieter) than a brand new GX 1150 pinned cassette. So whatever steel they used for those old super high-end X-Dome cassettes, it was worth it. Funny part is, those old XX1 cassettes were $375 and I thought that price was insane. Compared to $688/$945/$1031 for the new cassettes, $375 sounds like a steal.
Those prices ARE insane but maybe worth noting that AUD945 is USD631 (and US MSRP for XX is USD550). Dunno why the Aussies are being asked to pony up the additional USD81 tho...
Oh, exchange rate. Ouch.
Same experience here concerning the older 11-speed XX1. Got one "lightly" used on PB buy/sell for $100 about two years ago and its performance remains excellent - super light too, can't recall the figure but I feel like it's around 300g. I have no interest or need in 12-speed/$1000 cassettes and a well-tuned GX derailleur w/xx1 provides fast and silky shifts.
Still on a XX 10-speed 11-36 cassette i got as a free bonus with some Easton Haven wheels. Trouble-free ever since, not regularly cleaned. Will change it soon with a 11-speed cassette from another brand i got for 50euro only cause i have a bug in my head and wanna try something different and out of the ordinary. Can’t really understand people wanting to spend 600-700$ US on a cassette…
They say steal is real! :D
I'm running a 9 speed 11-46 Advent X on my Chromag around everyone else's $$$ drivetrains, its on season 3 without anything but cleaning and lubing, chain isnt even stretched out yet. $150 for the whole group and works almost as well as my XT on my slayer other than some bigger than ideal jumps in cog sizes. It would have to be pretty dang special to get me to spend that much on anything that's over SLX or XT
Is the 1st or 12th gear made out of aluminium now? I'm confused SRAM
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