SRAM X0 Review

[Scott]

SRAM – The acronym stuck like a knife in Shimano’s side. Of course these days, knives come in many flavours; most notably the X-7, X-9 and deadly-ninja-stealth X-0. In the past we’ve checked out the X-7 and X-9, so to complete the lineup I’m reviewing SRAM’s X-0 setup including the new ‘06 trigger shifter.

Check it out here (http://www.farkin.net/page.php?zp=505601).

[Snowy]

Great work guys.

I also have recently bolted an X.0 on to my rig and man o man is it sweet. I'm also still in the paranoid stage, didn't help I nearly lost it on my first run, nail biting stuff :eek:

keep up the good work guys ;)

[Daver]

Just before everyone rushes out to get the 06 Rear mech (mmm Carbon cage) you should know that the cage is available aftermarket for pre 06 mechs, in both medium and super short cages. The shifter is sex though.

[DEMONATION]

that shifter seems pretty sweet but i cant see any display to tell u which gear ur on? is there some other way that it tells u what gear ur on or does it just not have any indication like some of the top of the range shimano shifters.

[Daver]

that shifter seems pretty sweet but i cant see any display to tell u which gear ur on? ppl r going out paying up too $550 for a set of shifters and it cant tell u what gear ur on? maybe some people dont care but i think that i would buy a x9 instead of a xo just becuase of this.

hahahaha.

You actually look at your shifter when you ride? Maybe you should try looking where you are riding?

[DEMONATION]

yes i do look at my shifter while im riding to see what gear im in :confused: but whats the problem with that? its not like im going down a steep decent and decide i might just check out what gear im in for the sake of it. and as for keeping my eyes on the track could u imagine the results of me having to look at the cassete to see what gear im sitting on while riding down a track.

[scblack]

yes i do look at my shifter while im riding to see what gear im in :confused: but whats the problem with that? its not like im going down a steep decent and decide i might just check out what gear im in for the sake of it. and as for keeping my eyes on the track could u imagine the results of me having to look at the cassete to see what gear im sitting on while riding down a track.

Well, you either need a harder gear or a easier gear. Thus you change up or down. You really don't need to look at the cassette for that.:D

[Daver]

yes i do look at my shifter while im riding to see what gear im in :confused: but whats the problem with that? its not like im going down a steep decent and decide i might just check out what gear im in for the sake of it. and as for keeping my eyes on the track could u imagine the results of me having to look at the cassete to see what gear im sitting on while riding down a track.

How do you look at your shifter when you ride though? I'd try and cover up the indicator to get used to not being able to look at it maybe? When you ride, you put yourself in a gear that suits the terrain, you don't go change into the easiest gear becuase you're riding up a hill, you go in one that suits the hill. If you can ride DH without looking where you are going, then imagine how fast you could go if you looked ahead!

[DEMONATION]

i dont look at my gear when im racing. i look at it on different sections of tracks so that i can put myself in a gear that i know suits me for that section.

[Fatman]

Back on the subject at hand.
I must admit to being a SRAM convert, I love X.0. I can't think of when I was so happy with my drivetrain. Old XTR was great but this stuff is so much more positive in it's shifting and you can replace individual parts not just replace the whole mech. And you don't have those stupid paddle shifters.

P.S. I don't look at the gear indicator either:)

[kevpun]

I'm running X.0 triggers and they do look very nice - shame they're mostly hidden under the levers. The long trigger gives you heaps of leverage, feeling positive, crisp and sharp.

My entire drive train is very new and it currently has a bit of a campy feel (solid and reliable, but a bit tractor like). It'll probably feel more "fluid" as it all meshes in.

Apart from a tiny window of having X.9 triggers on the new rig, I've only got SRAM twist and XTR/XT rapid fire to compare the X.0 triggers against. Early impressions are that the X.0's are pretty special - I need to stop swapping mounts and focus of give the new stuff some abuse!

[pullsy]

have been looking at getting some stuff from Erik at Balle Racing and he sent me this in regards to the 06 x.o rear derrailleur
"The 2006 X.0 long cage are lower cost because they have a aluminum cage assembly, I don't know if that is what you got or some shop was trying to move out thier 2005 models. I am not sure if the 2006 X.0 short and medium cage carbon fiber cages are as strong as the 2005 aluminum cages, I just saw a picture in Mountain Bike Action magazine December issue, a 2006 X.0 with the carbon fiber cage broke off, they said they hit a rock while testing it out and the cage broke off."

EDIT- Posted to give provide an opinion of the possible strengths of the new carbon fibre cages. As with any opinion it can be accepted or dismissed by the reader in accordance with their personal views.
CHeers,
Pullsy

[scblack]

have been looking at getting some stuff from Erik at Balle Racing and he sent me this in regards to the 06 x.o rear derrailleur
"The 2006 X.0 long cage are lower cost because they have a aluminum cage assembly, I don't know if that is what you got or some shop was trying to move out thier 2005 models. I am not sure if the 2006 X.0 short and medium cage carbon fiber cages are as strong as the 2005 aluminum cages, I just saw a picture in Mountain Bike Action magazine December issue, a 2006 X.0 with the carbon fiber cage broke off, they said they hit a rock while testing it out and the cage broke off."

Excuse me, but what's the point of that post?

Are you buying? Is it a question? Are you querying the strength of carbon XO?


***Edit - by the way I have X0, had for 18months or so, and not had a single issue with it. The positive feeling of the shifts really gives confidence, and in that time I have had less than a handful of bad shifts.***

[MrPlow]

have been looking at getting some stuff from Erik at Balle Racing and he sent me this in regards to the 06 x.o rear derrailleur
"The 2006 X.0 long cage are lower cost because they have a aluminum cage assembly, I don't know if that is what you got or some shop was trying to move out thier 2005 models. I am not sure if the 2006 X.0 short and medium cage carbon fiber cages are as strong as the 2005 aluminum cages, I just saw a picture in Mountain Bike Action magazine December issue, a 2006 X.0 with the carbon fiber cage broke off, they said they hit a rock while testing it out and the cage broke off."

I had 05 & 06 X0 off the bike in my hands, flexing the 06. I would say it is stronger. The carbon cage flexes nicely, I think it would take a hit and flex back?
I have been running X0 for 12 months now. never broke. Shifts the best you can expect on a YetiDH9 :(

[udi]

Excuse me, but what's the point of that post?

I believe he is just providing some more information on the product. Isn't that what internet forums are for? Erik at Balle Racing is a reputable source and obviously a broken cage is a broken cage.

As for my opinion on the new X0 - well I believe it is a sure step in the right direction - shorter derailleur cages for dh, adjustable shifters with sealed casings and ball bearings, and striving for lighter weight. Unlike Shimano they are heading forward rather than backward!

However, the prices are just plain too high. For what is a disposable item, $300-400 is pushing it. And $300 for a shifter, come on, there is overpriced and then there's plain stupid.

From what i've seen, X9 just doesn't cut it in the durability stakes (at least for the rougher riders out there), so if you want solid SRAM kit, you just have to shoot for the X0. It's not like Shimano where you can opt for an XT and get the same performance/durability out of it. And if we are seeing broken carbon cages already, well that doesn't say much about their durability. Sure, he hit a rock. But that's what DH is. :)

Scott also conveniently compares the X0's weight to Shimano's Saint, not quite a fair comparison if you ask me. Saint obviously has more material to direct-mount on the axle, and the product line was never out to win any weightweenie awards. I'm currently running an XTR M952 midcage derailleur which weighs 205g and cost me all of $110. AFAIK they are still available, and might have been a fairer comparison. Coupled with say a new Saint shifter (which matches most of the X0's features at a lot less cost) you have a comparable setup, that is likely more durable, for a lot less cash.

Like I said, the new X0 stuff looks brilliant, but for it to be a sure winner they'll have to price them at a little less than "money-is-no-object". I realise that R&D as well as different manufacturing processes cost money; but at the end of the day, all that matters to the consumer is the raw performance/weight/features-to-cost ratio. And in that regard, I think we'll have to wait.

[scblack]

Isn't that what internet forums are for?

Yep, interent forums are for asking questions, discussing stuff and general chatting.

Thats what I've just done, funny enough, on this forum - asked a question.:rolleyes:

No offense pullsy, but it's an ambiguous post - have you been sold a aluminium cage X0, and questioning whether it's '06? And having info about a broken carbon cage does not really add any info for us - it hit a rock, and no derailleur would withstand that.

Scott also conveniently compares the X0's weight to Shimano's Saint, not quite a fair comparison if you ask me.
I think thats a fair comparison - Saint is their FR/DH groupset, and this is a comparison on a MTB forum. Sounds fine to me, and entirely appropriate. Someone looking to spend the amount for X0 or Saint, would like to know comparative weights, esp. the weight weenies.

[pullsy]

IT was just posted to show some info from Erik who I thought was considered a reliable source on this forum. Maybe I shouldn't have included the first couple of sentences and need to proof read a bit better but it was the snapping carbon fibre cage that was of interest to me and I thought maybe to other forum members. Maybe it was ambiguous or maybe we are just not allowed to write anything negative about the all holy x.o. CHeers,
Pullsy

[scblack]

IT was just posted to show some info from Erik who I thought was considered a reliable source on this forum. Maybe I shouldn't have included the first couple of sentences and need to proof read a bit better but it was the snapping carbon fibre cage that was of interest to me and I thought maybe to other forum members. Maybe it was ambiguous or maybe we are just not allowed to write anything negative about the all holy x.o. CHeers,
Pullsy

Fair enough, you put up what you thought was of interest. I just couldn't work out what you were getting at. And I have never heard of Erik before - should I have?

Cheers,
scblack.

PS, probably a little bit of "Don't bloody slag my X0!" hehe

[pullsy]

Fair enough, maybe getting confused with mtbdirt website where they have some pretty good wraps for Erik at Balle Racing (US) for knowledge and good prices and mail order service to Australian customers. I didn't know if the magazine he talked about had made it to Australia yet and just wanted to offer a different opinion. Cheers,
Pullsy

[udi]

I think thats a fair comparison - Saint is their FR/DH groupset, and this is a comparison on a MTB forum. Sounds fine to me, and entirely appropriate. Someone looking to spend the amount for X0 or Saint, would like to know comparative weights, esp. the weight weenies.

Not quite.

While SRAM only have one product lineup to cover all genre's of riding, shimano have many. Whether it be the road products (durace, ultegra, tiagra, etc), the mountain products (say deore through to xtr), or the 'extreme' mountain products.. (saint.)

Saint is, as i'm sure most of us know, quite different from the regular stuff. The RD mounts via a 10mm or 12mm hub axle and will require a specific hub (and axle) to suit - saint, hugi, etc. The hub will require a specific rotor, the list goes on..

The Saint RD setup would be pretty well unbreakable, and overkill for most purposes. The rapid-rise obviously puts it in the useless box anyway for some of us, so i'm not even defending it. I'm just saying it was an apples-to-oranges comparison, to point out the superiority of the reviewed product.

The XTR products are as light as X0 is, currently cost much less, and I will bet my bottom dollar that it is at least as durable as X0 (likely more). That would have been the fair comparison (X7 to LX, X9 to XT, X0 to XTR). But if you want to go all the way, how about comparing a shortcage Durace to the new X0? Lighter, cheaper, easily as durable, and will still run on a 32t cassette... but see that's not really fair, is it?

I too have a little weightweenie in me, and that is the only reason I picked this out. Hope that explains what I meant a little better.

BTW - Erik is the owner of balle racing (not dropnzone pullsy), you can check out the site at www.balleracing.com - small shop, small site, incredible service. :)

[pullsy]

Sorry uDi- edit has been made to my post- Erik at Balle Racing and Allen at Dropnzone

[Fatman]

Quote
"The XTR products are as light as X0 is, currently cost much less, and I will bet my bottom dollar that it is at least as durable as X0 (likely more)."

Go and ask Shimano for individual replacement parts for your XTR and see what answer you get. XTR works fantastic, until you get it dirty.
I love old XTR for cross country, I even still have it on my DH bike. But for reliability and ease of repair and adjustment I would never go past Sram. I'm not trying to offend as for years as many of my mates will tell you I never touched the stuff, but I have now seen the brighter lights. I would rather pay more for a rear mech that you can repair than for one you must replace when you get dust on it.

[bhipsley]

The XTR products are as light as X0 is, currently cost much less, and I will bet my bottom dollar that it is at least as durable as X0 (likely more). That would have been the fair comparison (X7 to LX, X9 to XT, X0 to XTR). But if you want to go all the way, how about comparing a shortcage Durace to the new X0? Lighter, cheaper, easily as durable, and will still run on a 32t cassette... but see that's not really fair, is it?



Sram x0 has all replacable parts. If you brake a part you are paying minimal money to get it replaced. You brake some parts in an XTR and you are paying full price for a new set. I think its worth the money becuase repairs are an innevitable part of MTBing that you cant really stop