Faster for longer: CeramicSpeed unveils OSPW X System for Eagle

XC and Enduro MTB, Gravel and CX riders can all now benefit from the efficient Oversized Pulley Wheel X System for Eagle AXS and mechanical rear derailleurs.

CeramicSpeed, leading designers and manufacturers of high-quality ceramic bearings and associated premium cycling components, announces today its new Oversized Pulley Wheel X System compatible with SRAM Eagle mechanical and AXS electronic groupsets.The new product introduction means Cross-Country, Trail and Enduro mountain bikers along with Gravel and Cyclocross riders running 12-speed SRAM Eagle – in both its mechanical and new AXS electronic formats – can now benefit from the “free speed” of an OSPW X System, to go faster for longer, ride after ride.From the Danish company’s experience of more than 15 years in creating the highest quality bearings – hand built to exacting standards in Denmark – performance gains have shown to be significant and accurately measurable. Durability of products is also exceptional, with CeramicSpeed Bearings having a lifetime three to five times longer than conventional bearings. And the new OSPW X for SRAM Eagle is backed by either a 4-year or a 6-year guarantee. 

CeramicSpeed OSPW X Technologies and advantages

OSPW X for SRAM Eagle features a pair of oversized pulley wheels to reduce chain drag, with 14 teeth on the upper and 18 teeth on the lower. A single race of highly efficient CeramicSpeed Bearings, handbuilt in Denmark, is installed in each pulley wheel. The pulley wheels feature CeramicSpeed’s unique narrow-wide tooth profile that ensures durable chain retention, positive location and optimum drive with every link of the chain, whether it’s an inner or an outer link: this pattern has been tested to give the best shifting possible without any drag. A custom designed, carbon fiber-reinforced PA (polyamide) pulley cage is durable and lightweight. Its compact design – 2mm shorter than the original SRAM Eagle cage – allows the use of the same length chain as stock pulleys. OSPW X for SRAM Eagle has three spring tension settings to customise performance and maximise chain drag reduction, to suit every rider’s style, weight, power output and various racing and riding conditions – across XC, trail, enduro, gravel and CX. Testing shows efficiency savings of up to 40% over a stock SRAM Eagle derailleur.

“The new OSPW X for SRAM Eagle is a significant move for CeramicSpeed further into the heart of the off-road cycling market and community,” says Martin Banke, CeramicSpeed Executive Vice President. “It’s a new high quality upgrade component made specially to enhance the performance of a major, popular system in XC, trail and enduro as well as CX and the rapidly growing gravel sector.”“For a high-level cross-country team, knowing that the maximum amount of the power our riders create is delivered to the rear tyre is vital. For all our riders across a year’s racing, the small but significant margins that we get from CeramicSpeed OSPW X is an important contribution and one that, now we’ve experienced training and racing with it, we wouldn’t be without.” says Ludovic Dubau, SUNN Factory Racing Team Manager.

Options include Coated or Standard Ceramic Bearings, for both mechanical and AXS electronic SRAM Eagle with a choice of two colours in each configuration: black or gold (the gold offering being available in the coming weeks). The OSPW X Systems for SRAM Eagle Mechanical and AXS Electronic are available now.

Specification highlights of Oversize Pulley Wheel System for SRAM Eagle: 

• Aluminium CeramicSpeed 14-tooth upper and 18-tooth lower pulley wheels

• Cage Material: Carbon reinforced polyamide

• Bearing options: CeramicSpeed Standard or CeramicSpeed Coated

• 3 Spring Tension Settings • Standard Pulley Oil

• System compatibility (12 speed): SRAM Eagle XX1, X01, GX, NX Mechanical SRAM Eagle AXS (Electronic) 

• Cassette compatibility: Standard 10-50 tooth cassette range 

The major principle of a larger pulley wheel systems is that in comparison to a standard size, it decreases the level of articulation in each chain link as the chain engages and disengages the pulley wheels, thereby reducing friction. With the bigger wheel size and increased number of teeth, the pulley wheels have a lower RPM. This, in conjunction with the significantly improved performance from the high-quality CeramicSpeed Bearings, means that mechanical resistance is further decreased. And with the derailleur cage tension reduced, the chain tension of the three lower spans is proportionately decreased, further reducing friction and improving the efficiency of the drivetrain – reducing lost watts and delivering “free speed”.