SRAM GX Eagle AXS Drivetrain Upgrade Kit [Rider Review]

Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for.

Let's be honest here, wireless shifting is really cool and shifts just as good as it sounds. Another rad thing is that SRAM offers the AXS ecosystem that doesn't break the bank with the GX AXS. Our customer has been running the kit. See what they think! 

Overview

After every season I have my LBS do an overhaul service, that is, a down-to-the-frame disassembly and replacement of all the usual bits that get worn over countless miles throughout a season. I always provide my shop with an exhaustive list of things to work on and check before the service and this always includes a derailleur adjustment. The after-action report on my most recent service was different, and to quote my mechanic on the receipt, "RD still has some shifting inconsistencies, likely from impact damage on RD body".

I was STUNNED. Me? Breaking mountain bike parts? This was unheard of. I have never bent a rim, sliced a sidewall, broken a wrist, exploded a master link, or accidentally let my bike drag on the highway with sparks flying behind me. NEVER

It was time, and I knew it. The standard GX derailleur that came on my Yeti SB140 has finally called it quits. After three hard seasons on it and countless adjustments, it was time for an upgrade. When the GX version of the upgrade kit was released I was immediately intrigued. The thought of shifting electronically was very cool but had previously seemed unattainable as the higher-end AXS kits seemed like an unnecessary upgrade considering the price (and the fact that I wasn't a hardcore XCer).

Whether it's my propensity to smash my derailleur on rocks or just bad luck, out of necessity I have become quite adept at eagle derailleur adjustments so installation was a breeze. Contrary to boomer's beliefs, an app usually makes things easier. The ability to program upshifts and downshifts with the 'multi-shift' control is a very sweet feature, i.e. holding down the switch allows for 2, 3, or continuous gear shifting. I love metrics and the ability to see how much time I spend in each gear is awesome too.

While writing this, I was trying to think of which action we as mountain bikers perform most often while out on a ride. Is it applying our brakes? Is it pedal revolutions? After 30 seconds I stopped thinking about it because smoke was coming out of my ears. My assessment though was that we shift hundreds of times every ride (unless you're taking a chairlift). With that being said, the ability to shift faster and under load is important and makes those endless switchbacks much easier.

The one thing I would do is splurge for the upgraded paddle shifter, or confirm your kit comes with the option. For an extra $20 you can mimic the normal over/under thumb action that any standard shifter provides. The stock paddle (first gen?) was a little unnatural for me.

Final Thoughts

This upgrade also seems less frivolous than others I've fallen victim to (looking at you, carbon cockpit!). That's because on day one you have better shifting than anything a cable can provide. And that's why I recommend the GX upgrade kit for serious mountain bikers who want to take their ride to the next level.

Make sure to keep those batteries charged!