Market: A few months ago, the first 12-speed group was presented with the SRAM Eagle. While the new drive group from the US manufacturer is still rather exotic to date, it can be found on almost all top mountain bike models in the 2017 model year. But what is the Eagle all about? What's special? Who is it suitable for? We answer the most important questions.
What?
SRAM Eagle - never heard of it? No problem, we'll help: This is the new 12-speed groupset from US manufacturer SRAM, which was introduced in spring. A few years ago they dared to venture there and embarked on a new path with 11-speed drives and cassettes with a large bandwidth and only one chain ring, which they are now consistently continuing with the new Eagle. As well as the 11-speed drives worked, the bandwidth did not quite reach that of conventional 2- or even 3-speed drives. Even if that is not particularly important, depending on the area of application and the fitness of the driver, it is the biggest counter-argument.
SRAM responded to this criticism and the result is the new Eagle group. Instead of 10-42 as before, the cassettes now offer an incredible range of 10-50 - in other words: 500% translation range - comparable to classic 2-speed drives - but without a front derailleur and without a second chainring.
Transmission range of common circuits in numbers:
SRAM Eagle: 500%
Modern 2x drivetrain with 34/24 and 11-40 (2×11): 515%
Classic 2x drivetrain with 36/26 and 11-36 (2×10): 453%
SRAM X01 (1×11): 420%
The Eagle is currently available in the variants XX1 and X01. While the XX1 with a gold-colored cassette and chain is the top model, the X01, which is equal in terms of function, only weighs a gram or two more and comes in plain black for a significant price saving.
Why?
1x newcomers often ask the (understandable) question why you should replace your actually well-functioning 2x drive and possibly have to do without one or two gears.
Reason 1: shifting comfort
A real eye-opening experience during the first attempts to walk or drive with 1-speed drives is the shifting comfort. Sure, admittedly: We have all gotten used to two or three chainrings over the years, counter-shifting is usually a reflex. But still: If you don't have to change the chainring on steep climbs and with it the counter-shifting, you get used to this comfort very quickly and very gladly.
Reason 2: weight
The weight of the drive itself is often cited as one of the main reasons for the switch. Of course, by doing away with the second chainring, front derailleur, cable and shifter, the overall weight is noticeably reduced – even if the wide-staggered cassettes weigh a few grams more than their narrower-staggered counterparts with smaller sprockets.
Reason 3: Tidy cockpit
By doing without a second shift lever, you get significantly more space on the handlebars and one less shift cover spoils the look. The space that has become free is perfect for attaching a remote for the dropper support, for example.
Reason 4: background noise
Even if chain clatter is no longer such a big and loud issue in times of dampened rear derailleurs as it was a few years ago, the banging of the chain on the derailleur plate on longer and rough descents can definitely get on your nerves. It runs much quieter with a 1-speed drive.
How?
Anyone who has now felt like switching should now be asking themselves how complex it is to switch to the new SRAM Eagle. The assembly and adjustment of the drive is basically even easier than with classic counterparts due to the omission of the front derailleur. When installing the cassette, however, the freewheel must be replaced, the XD standard is mandatory here - but now almost all hub manufacturers offer corresponding freewheels for retrofitting.
As usual from SRAM, there is also a helpful and extremely clear assembly video for the Eagle, which we don't want to withhold from you at this point.
How much?
Last but not least, of course, the price should not be missing. This is probably the biggest criticism of the SRAM Eagle for many. With street prices of around €950 (X01) or €1150 (XX1), the group is currently still clearly in the high-price segment. Above all, the price of over 300 € for a cassette should hurt frequent drivers.