Goodbye Sram AXS, I'm going back to cables.

[@the_boonies]

As a RF/wireless systems engineer I'm still madly in love with cable shifters. 32yrs of being able to repair my bike in the wild. No batteries or apps needed 🙌🍻🥳

[@dtibor5903]

The irony of the current trends: electronics and software engineers usually avoid smart and wireless stuff :))

[@realshaoran4514]

​@@dtibor5903 that's true, I'm a software engineer, I avoid everything branded with "smart" or "cloud" like it was infected with the rabies.

[@freemandrew]

People who work on wifi use ethernet cables at home.

[@realshaoran4514]

@@freemandrew funny you mention that because at home my desktop is connected to the router via a CAT5 cable. 😀

[@TenaciousPandilla]

Ironic to hear y’all talk negative about IT considering I’m in INFOSEC and embrace at personal level… and as for subject at hand, AXS works great for me and I average 5-6 rides per week. 🤓🚵🏽‍♂️💪🏼

[@Simon1279.]

My all time favorite shifting system is Shimano XT it's durable, affordable, reliable and super fast and super precise, while on my current bike i have all GX including cranks with an AXS derailleur and i must say i love it except for chain slaps at any single jump, but my all time favorite it's the Shimano XT.

[@knott4me561]

You mean reliable ;)

[@SemiSendy]

XT is definitely rock solid.

[@Simon1279.]

@@knott4me561 Yes sorry english it's not my main language

[@alexmalone1642]

Of course shimano XT it's gorgeous 😇it's resistant working very precision 😇

[@SemiSendy]

@@Jacob99174 Sramano!

[@Schalla-MTB]

Went to axs a year ago and love it. No cable stretch or any of the associated issues. Changing gears is also lightning fast for me. Not everyone would agree but it works for me. I suppose we all have our preferences.

[@Hardcaslte]

I went with AXS GX because it was on a crazy sale for Black Friday. I do a mix of up/down rolling trails and somewhat flat trails here in Central Florida, and I figured it would really pay off more up in North Carolina on my trips up there. Come to find out that even on flat trails it's a big improvement over my GX cable mech. I explain it like the difference between having a regular automatic transmission in a car and then getting into a sports car with paddle shifters. The automatic transmission works fine, but once you feel how fast a nice transmission can shift it's totally different.

[@bertfransman9864]

​@@Hardcaslte I reluctantly went with a Rival AXS on my gravel bike, from using 4700 Tiagra coming up 8 years. I truly do not understand why people online say that it's "so fast" and "you can never go back". I've also ridden on Force last week, it's not noticably faster either. What kind of shifting are you guys doing? The speed difference is barely noticeable and the feeling of what gear you are shifting in is gone. I'm not bashing on AXS, it's a good system, but all the comparisons online make 0 sense to me after using it for a while now. It's just a shifter that works well, like almost every groupset from the big brands in the past decade.

[@Hardcaslte]

@@bertfransman9864 Maybe road is different, I've only used it on my mountain bike and its 100% noticeable. For me I wouldn't bother with my road bike since I don't shift enough on there to warrant a wireless system, but on a mountain bike you're constantly shifting gears, up hills, down hills, roots, rocks, etc., so there's a bigger need for it. Road is smooth enough to where you probably won't feel it as much.

[@bertfransman9864]

@@Hardcaslte Fair enough! Mtb trails around here are very tame singletrack, with no real mountains anywhere close, so my mtb experience probably differs a lot from someone living in the alps eg.

[@Hardcaslte]

@@bertfransman9864 I'm in Central Florida where there aren't any mountains. You can definitely still tell a difference even on single track unless your single track is literally a straight line where you just keep pedaling and don't slow down anywhere. It sounds like you're on a gravel bike since you're talking about road bike group sets

[@flgfish]

I like the tactile feeling of shifting too. There’s a beauty and functionality in mechanical things that gets hidden by electronics.

[@nathanjack9359]

I've been running AXS for 12 months now and I can honestly say this is the first time I've considered that the feeling wouldn't be for everyone , as for me it's one of the things I love the most about the setup .

[@bradwilson3611]

There’s a human bike connection with mechanical that gets lost with electronic

[@garethrobinson2275]

@@bradwilson3611 You don't lose anything, except all that crappy missed shifting. I admit to being biased by the crappy weather in the UK rusting up cables and the old style chocolate mech hangers which were invariably bent up by sticks and rocks. I guess if I'd changed my hanger and cable once a month the issues would have gone away, Oh, except for cable stretch!

[@brighamyates]

Such quality videos. You can tell the time you are putting into these.

[@SemiSendy]

Thank you 🙏

[@dougrodriguez4977]

I have a mountain bike with AXS and one with cable xx1. I love the cable drivetrain but AXS has a slight shifting performance edge from my perspective. I’m a bike shop owner and bicycle mechanic, for a very long time. Bike Junkie. I also struggled with ergonomics and finding the correct gear for some time with AXS. I’ve slowly gotten better at it but I still sometimes make mistakes shifting AXS. I get back on my cable gear bike and it is a more relaxing experience, no mistakes, no need to think about it so much. The other issue I’ve had is that I didn’t look at my battery charge one day before going for a a ride and that was the day my battery ran out of charge in the middle of a 14 mile loop. Last Sunday I made the mistake of not checking my battery charge ahead of time only to realize my battery was low on charge at the trail head just as I was ready to head in to the woods. Lucky I was by myself, sat in the car 45 min with the battery on the charger. It’s only a matter of time before the controller battery dies and I’m in the middle of a ride or getting ready to go. Yet, I will not remove the AXS from my one bike nor will I convert my other mountain bike to AXS. My world is perfectly imperfectly balanced.

[@theohiggins9120]

Interesting take on the battery discharge issue. I have a road bike with axs and one thing that was outlined in the manual is to not store the bike with the batteries installed, to prevent battery drain. My bike is stored on a wall when not in use but anytime I am transporting my bike I install the covers included with the groupset for two reasons. 1 to avoid discharge 2. To decrease the risk of loosing a battery en route.

[@bradbsmusicchannel1323]

You can get the AXS shifter in a more inboard position by using a left side Matchmaker mount. Or just use a bar clamp instead of Matchmaker.

[@crownfence1509]

That’s what I did

[@topspot4834]

I just like the purity of a mechanical setup. The thing I like most about MTB is it's an escape, and AXS to me represents what I'm trying to take a break from. I don't want to have to charge my bike or use my phone, even though it's quick and easy.

[@fabianleguel2960]

Old ways sometimes is better .

[@TomFynn]

When do batteries go flat? When you need them.

[@JubeProductions]

😅 don't fight the technology, go with the flow. It's not that hard to charge a battery every couple weeks. Do you change your shifter cable?

[@seitenryu6844]

​@@JubeProductionsCables last ages. Can easily get a season out of them. A single cable is painless to replace.

[@JubeProductions]

@@seitenryu6844 my point was, you said that one of the reasons you like mechanical is because you don't want to charge your drivetrain, you want to keep it simple. You still have to change your cables with mechanical, which you don't do with AXS. Before I had electrical shifting I was feeling worried about having to keep a charge on my shifting, but I've found it's very easy, and after 6 months I still haven't had a situation where I don't have a charge.

[@joebikes]

Great video! I personally love manually actuated machines. No batteries. No motors. It's one of the main things that attracted me to biking. There's just something about a machine that outputs whatever you input. Just me and my donut fueled machine on the trails! 😂

[@SemiSendy]

It really is an awesome mechanism! I realized just how much I would miss it during that time it was gone.

[@kpkstation381]

Totally agree! Same here ✌🏻

[@Agusisonline]

100%

[@JubeProductions]

Have you ever tried electronic shifting on a ride?

[@joebikes]

@@JubeProductions yes I have👍

[@bucky6391]

I'm with you on the battery thing. I don't ride MTB often and I want to be able to grab my bike, check tire pressure and go without having to worry about charge level. Also, we always tell our customers to remove the batteries when driving long distances because the components will be awake the whole time and it will drop the charge levels.

[@JubeProductions]

Wow, that's what happened to me. I just got an EMTB with AXS. We took a drive 4 hours to some ride spot and when I got there, I was getting low battery warning. It was pretty new and I couldn't figure it out. But I guess it was active the whole time.

[@hatetoblamelag]

that is the solution I go with too but I am still not sure what is draining their batteries so bad. I charge mine maybe once a month and I ride daily. SRAM claims 60 hours of ride time on a charge and around that time frame i usually get the red light so I charge it, never even got to the flashing red. I find it pretty easy to maintain once a month or so you charge your Garmin bike computer and SRAM battery and then ride worry free. Also you can grab a spare battery and put it in your repair kit. Two things I will never go back from ETAP shifting and Tubeless tires makes everything about biking more carefree and convenient.

[@JoshuaTootell]

I put it on my XC bike to replace the XTR after hearing stories of the XTR shifter failing mid ride without warning, and I had a few big races planned with big travel where I would be pissed that I burned $1000 gallons of fuel to drive cross country to race only to have the race ruined by a defective shifter (I can accept trailside, but defects just annoy me). XX1 was perfect for that bike as a race bike. It shifts the same at the end of a 100 mile endurance race as it did at the beginning, something that isn't true as the cables slowly gunk up during a race. I couldn't resist the urge to buy GX AXS when SRAM dropped the price in November, and it sat in the closet for a month after that. Then my nearly new shifter broke (last shifter lasted 4 years) so I figured it was time to toss it on. In the past couple of weeks I have been happy with how it works, that's on my coil sprung 170mm bike, that I beat hard. Time will tell if it can handle the abuse though, I'll see how that goes over the next year. I really wanted to keep this bike analog and am willing to return if I'm not happy, but so far it's great. Did a 50 mile/7000' ride the other day and it just worked like it's supposed to. I can never tell what gear I am in on mechanical just by shifter feel, so I'm not sure about that part. I can't tell you how many times I've tried looking for another gear to downshift into with mechanical, but on AXS I can tell when I am in my 10 or 50 gear as the Garmin beeps at me. At that point I know I need to HTFU and climb, or I'm in full sprint mode and I know I'm out of gears (also handy knowing I have the speed I need for bigger gap jumps). Cable routing isn't easiest on that bike, but the outer cable lasts so long that that is a non issue for me. I can suffer through replacing a shifter hose when needed. Housing on my XC bike makes the job SUPER easy, so that's not motivation for electronic either. Losing a cable looks better, but, meh. I don't care about looks when I'm riding. Battery management has been an issue twice total, and neither time ruined a ride. Once when the system was new and I drove from SoCal to Oregon to race, and arrived with a dead battery. An overnight charge solved that. I also recognized that the derailleur "wakes up" with the SLIGHTEST movement, so just the truck idling is probably enough to keep it awake, let alone driving. I leave the battery in most of the time, I'm just aware that I should charge it before a big ride. The second dead battery was the other day after I had done several rides AND transported it. I had a green light at the beginning of the ride...but I rode for 7 hours that day and it didn't make it. But as I knew I could return to my van pretty easily on the ride I didn't panic at the low battery warning on my Garmin. It died 10 minutes from my van. I charged it up for about 15 minutes while I had a snack and drink, then went out for another lap with a green light on the derailleur. Low battery warning gave me about 40 minutes of riding before failure. Shift lever, that's a personal thing I guess. The XX1 and GX shifters have different paddles (I learned after buying it) and I am easily adaptable. While I thought the double up shift on XTR was semi gimmicky, I still used it a lot. AXS has a better gimmick with being able to program a double or triple shift in both directions. Still a gimmick, but I certainly use that. The one huge selling point for me, which may seem silly, is fatigue. On big rides or cold rides, my thumbs get fatigued from shifting. On a recent ride in Utah in below freezing temperatures it hurt to shift, AXS doesn't suffer with that problem. GX AXS is nearly the same weight as XO1. I don't remember what the XX1 weighed, but I think it was like a 5 gram penalty over XTR (but it was heavier). I've never broken a derailleur. Not sure how some people go through so many, but that's a non issue for me. The X01 mechanical is totally gouged up, and the GX it replaced was the same way, but both shifted fine. The XX1 and GX AXS derailleurs are already marked up too, but I actually heard a hard impact on my Oregon race and heard the clutch disengage/re-engage so I know that works. I've only ever snapped one cable on a MTB ride (road is a different story, damn Dura Ace). I replace cables annually and haven't broken a cable since (Dura Ace is every couple thousand, or every couple months!). It is handy that I can swap the parts between my two bikes in an emergency. I travel with both as I don't enjoy riding my XC bike (but I enjoy racing) but I can't race my 35 pound enduro. If the GX derailleur can't handle my abuse, I'll put XO1 back on. Time will tell on that. If the XX1 fails, I'll put the XTR back on and replace the shifter that has a bad rep. At some point I'll probably install an AXS dropper on my trail bike, but not today. I need to check to be sure there isn't a clearance issue at full travel, I bottom out a lot.

[@bigbird2451]

Here's a little trick I figured out for fishing lines through bikes without tube in frame routing. Take a spare piece of hydro hose and attach one of those little silver bullet things that come with new SRAM brakes on one end and the little red threading attachment pieces on the other. Then, since I worked in a warehouse, I carefully threaded one of those little plastic peel off strips that cover adhesives through the little hole on the bullet end. Push that through the frame until you can see it at the opening on the other end and fish it out using a small hook made on the end of a spoke. Once you have that end out, you can use the red threaded attachment to pull your housing easily through.

[@mrwhiteshorts]

Well done with getting the message out! Im on 1x SLX 12v, with a cable running uninterupted from the pod to the mech. i put chain lube in there which reduces friction further around the tightest corners. IMO i dont see how/why elect shifting is really really needed.

[@jdmtb]

I love my AXS. After struggling to get my derailleur to work properly, it was a joy to just screw in the new derailleur and it worked! No adjustments needed. Not something I think is needed for everyone but I really enjoy it! I'm also running it with Shimano drivetrain with no issues so far.

[@SuperTacticalcom]

Same!

[@kevinnielsen1356]

Cable derailleur adjustment is totally basic tuning. It is super ez once one learns how. Learning how to master frustrating tasks is a wonderful way to increase ones mental capacity. You are actually missing out.

[@everettkincaid3388]

I'm doing the same. SRAM Force Etap AXS with Ultegra. Very happy with the results.

[@chrispobanz5058]

I use cables for my "bike park" bike everything else is wireless. I'm so used to it, I don't think I could ever go back. I don't have any ergonomic problems, but I do notice more chain slap.

[@kevinnielsen1356]

@@everettkincaid3388 I ride campy racing triple from 2000

[@GokkunGuru]

You can remove the battery when you're transporting your bike to avoid draining the battery. The battery lasts hella long in between charges.

[@SourPatchPuss]

Yup 100%! I switched back to Shimano XT from a XS, but I absolutely never had a problem with the battery’s dying unexpectedly. They lasted super long. I always kept a spare battery in my bike gear bag, but I almost never needed it.

[@JoshuaTootell]

I just did a 6 hour ride on mine, AFTER transporting it and doing several other rides. Battery life isn't a problem.

[@stokedmtb333]

It’s an added step to try and remember to charge or to take out the battery or to carry a spare which means BUYING a spare…not to mention the $1000 smartphone to set it up and adjust. That’s the part that means it’s simply less viable

[@GokkunGuru]

@@stokedmtb333 I thought everyone already has $2,000 smartphones that they charge daily along with their $1,000 ipads? Aren't we in 2023?

[@deanemberley2333]

@@stokedmtb333 you need to grow up dude. People charge things daily

[@steve9502]

I love my AXS system but I do agree with your assessment on not really knowing what gear you’re in:)! The number one advantage to this system, is us people who are not as mechanically inclined can always have great shifting without bringing it to the shop!!

[@shaunschneeberger6301]

The new lolipop shifter provides you with that tactile feel and its backwards compatible

[@escamunicha4276]

I can't imagine having more batteries to charge prior to riding. I already charge 3 devices (HR monitor, Bike comp, Tail lights). Even if they say it needs charging every 3 months. I don't want to constantly keep thinking if I have enough battery for every ride.

[@endurodoctor]

I am a shimano guy since my first mtb bike equipped with 300LX ( scott sawtooth ). A year ago went with axs ( tallboy ) and got back with cables the same reason You did after a few months. Couldnt get on with the system.

[@XCBen]

Great video, Rich. One day I might be cable free on my shifting. I'll just chuckle a few times when I see my friend saying his battery is dead on his AXS. That's happened three times already.

[@trailpimp6369]

Good old fashioned cable shifting is the way to go. Great video and Happy New Year.

[@SemiSendy]

Happy new year!

[@trailpimp6369]

@@SemiSendy 🔥🔥🔥🔥🙏🤘

[@josephperez7015]

I haven't had any of those problems... even battery life is very long on my GX AXS, which is a few weeks before needing a battery charge. My Rival AXS drains the battery in a week though. I press the button until the pedals have the resistance I want. I'm not concerned with the actual gear, but how the pedals feels. It happens really fasts too. I can go through the entire cassette in no time with just one press. I shift a lot keeping it at a comfortable cadence the entire time.

[@donavinnezar]

i upgraded from deore 3x9 to deore 1x12 with raceface chainring and 11-51 sunrace casette , looking at the parts its obvious it was for budget reasons and then i still have ppl asking me why didnt i just go with gx wireless , the gx wireless deraileur alone costs about as much as my entire drivetrain setup wich is absolutely wild (sram component pricing in south africa is insane)

[@lichray]

The trick to use the original flat bar shifter (to me) is to press the lower edge with thumb, and to "knock" the shifter on the other side of the bar grip with the middle finger. By knocking it down, it rotates up. You can do this easily because electronic shifter so light. The feeling is very nice. Forget about the rocker pad.

[@FreshYoungDude]

Where did you get the Fox fork sticker from? It matches perfectly with the Kashima(at least in the video)!

[@gvnrchmnd]

AXS is perfect. Changing gear under load without forcing a cable to drag the chain up a cassette is a game changer.

[@M-attc1626]

Just switched back from gen 1 axs to shimano xt best decision ever

[@abaddon29100]

I have both systems on two bikes and by far my favorite's system is the AXS. I love the fact that with a slight press of a button the gear changes. I have never run into any battery issues and I put quite a few miles per charge, but just in case I always have a spare battery in my pack. I don't think this is a big deal. As for the issue of not knowing what gear you are in, I just added the gear to the display on my Garmin.

[@matthewlramsey]

The new AXS system coming out next year has my eye… no hanger, direct mount to the frame, and looks to use a hydraulic damper on the clutch… it’s more compact, rigid, lighter, and seems to have addressed the chain slap. Can’t wait to try it! (My AXS has taken some licks, and is a pain now to adjust… has some slop in the axles, had to add a bolt to secure one part where a bushing is lifting…)

[@SemiSendy]

Definitely curious to see it in action 🤘

[@Andy-co6pn]

The direct mount rear mech will only work on bikes equipped for udh

[@matthewlramsey]

@@Andy-co6pn yeah, good point. I’m building a new bike now and that’s on my frame requirements list just to be ready!

[@mtbboy1993]

If you need electronic shifting I reccomend Archer D1xtrail. Wherether it's due to ergonomics, or pain, joint issues, go for it. But if its not an problem stick with mechanical. Why I need it: I can't handle mechanical due to the issues I have. I can until I ride for too many hours and my thumb midaligns which can be very painful. But the ergonomics of mechanical shifters don't work for me, Sram does not fit, Shimano does not fit, but Shimano requires too much movement for my liking, I know XT has 4 down shifts bu ti can really one use 1. I've not tried the 12 speed shifters, but they don't look like they would fit me. D1xtrail It can be used with any speed, any mechanical rear derailleur, you can adjust each shift point, so even when then rear derailleur got sloppy and does not shift properly at certain gears, you can keep it for longer. The remote is connected wireressly to yo the shifter, which pulls a regular wire. I have the shifter mounted on the chainstay. Paddle remote: Zero thumb fatigue. No thumb pain during shifts despite thumb misalignment. The paddle remote had great ergonomics, for it's perfect, I doubt you will have the same issue as with AXS, with that you need a lower mount and possibly custom or different paddles, and is offered in left and right handed version. You can adjust each shift point via the power button. Cons: The USB cover is easy to pop open by riding trough overgrown trails. The paddle remote might have different sensitivity between up and down, but it will even out once used for a a while. Not a big deal, just some vagueness one sensitive one not as sensitive, but now they are equal. Shifter issues: Only issue I have are the shifter died after long term use think it was two years or something, but before that the newer unit died but they repaired it under warranty, but need to send the firsy unitin for repair as it had dead motor, the unit is dead, but turns on while putting batteries in but once I have the cover screwed in it's dead, so might be a loose connection. Both have survived deep puddles, snow, rain, washing the bike,ubyil they eventually gave out. Verdict: a great system, but needs to be more reliable, but I need it, and there is no other product that does exactly what this product does. So I will keep using them despite the short comings.

[@Leo-gt1bx]

XT for life!

[@louiefriesen]

I just like having fun and not worrying about anything. I really like XT, as well as SLX and Deore. They are cheap, shift super well, reliable, and nothing to worry about. I think AXS is great and I'd love to use it on a rental or something, but it's not something I'd want to live with. I know a guy who has it in fact but we only rode together once on a group ride.

[@SemiSendy]

The current Deore is really really good! Best bang for the buck out there out of everything I’ve ridden this past year.

[@kubiceekmtb]

As I’m reading comments here,I’m wondering. Is there so big difference between classic axs and axs transmission? I’ve never tried classic axs but I already had an XO and GX transmission and both were absolutely amazing. No rattling noise or any other problem. Everything was without any problems. On the other way with my cable gx and xo1 I had I needed every month to do some repairs with cable tension and the most of the time the derailleur wasn’t running smoothly. It was skipping gears and etc. It can be just bad experience but I can’t tell.

[@SemiSendy]

I’ve had a lot of time on XX and GX transmission as well, and they are extremely different. XX has been the most quiet of all of the sram drivetrains I’ve ran to date. Shifting is very different, and the pod controller is quite different as well. It’s not without its pitfalls, but I definitely rank transmission as a big leap forward for Sram.

[@bikingwithmykids7358]

Thanks for your thoughts on this video and the open mind to the future, as I’m sure we have all been there. Question: what is the bike rack system that you have in your garage that you have at the end of your video?

[@razorree]

what about massive size of that rear mech? not only massive, but also pertruding a lot outside bike silhouette (comparing to 11s Shimano) for aggressive mtb/enduro, only M7000 SLX/M8000 XT. I've removed SRAM 12s from 2 of my bikes, in favour of Shimano 11s - way smaller, durable, without stupid price and I don't hit rocks or stumps on my rides anymore

[@SalsaAmigoMG]

I’m with you, man… I’m actually going to a 12-speed Shimano XTR drivetrain for 2023. I know Shimano is probably coming out with electronic MTB drivetrains soon, but for me, I like the fact that an analog XTR drivetrain is closer to the setups of my other bikes. I agree that wireless electronic drivetrains are the future, but today I’m feeling the love for analog tech. Cheers!

[@travelthenarrowtrail8660]

Hey Matt, I like you did similar. I used Sram cables in X01, loved it. Then went to 12sp Shimano XTR and its next level over X01 cable. Then went to AXS X01 with XX1 rear cassette. After giving it a good season and trying different things with it, I'll be going back to XTR. XTR is so much more silent too, Sram has a really soft clutch and in the chunk, it moves a lot. The only thing I don't like about XTR, and it's a nit pick, is the shifter lever is not as adjustable as the Sram X01 cable shifter is. The X01 cable shifter can be adjusted in several ways for that perfect fit. By the way, Shimano does have a new wireless MTB system, I saw some pics on instagram, I'm sure it will drop in the coming months. Looks good.

[@beforedawn]

late to this party ); Do any of your newer posts have a n+1 sram discount code? Because I *finally* got my first MTB and it has etap and I definitely will need a backup battery or two O.O

[@B1KER]

Great job on moving around in your shots. Definitely made the video feel very calm and inviting. I know the battery used to drain when driving. I heard they fixed that, but if I'm going on a big road trip, I take mine out. I also have a spare in my bike bag and have made it part of getting ready to leave the truck to give it a shift and see what color the light is. I don't carry a spare with me, I'm sure that will bite me someday. However, with as many people that have AXS nowadays one of my friend will have a battery I could at least put it into an ideal gear with. We've limped some friends through a day like this before. Overall, I thought it was interesting to hear why you switched back over. Good on you for giving it a fair shot. Maybe there will be a better rev in the future. Until then, let's get those AXS developers to make the 200mm dropper first!

[@prophetzarquon]

I love _electronic_ shifting, but I don't need _wireless_ shifting: it's attached to the bike! Extra batteries, extra weight, extra parts complexity, potential for interference & pairing issues, having to pair in the first place; these are all reasons why wired is superior to wireless. Routing cables is a very rare inconvenience, only experienced when building/rebuilding a bike. Wireless is an inconvenience every few rides. No benefit, no thanks

[@christenrten]

I bought GX AXS when it went on sale for my new build. Reading all the reviews on chain slap has me worried, and you make a good point on the tactile feel of cable shifting. You instinctively know where you are on the cassette based on shift lever feel. I fully anticipate switching back to cable, but I wanted to give AXS a shot at least initially.

[@SemiSendy]

Since you’re already running it, definitely give it some time, you never know!

[@peterfreeman3317]

I would never go back to cables! XX1 AXS rules.

[@peterfreeman3317]

Battery life is great! Driving 4 hours did not effect the charge…take it off if worried. From Mar-Dec I ride 2x a week…rarely charge the battery. It is a non issue. Still have no clue why you’d go backwards…..

[@Cassienope]

It's fine. All these complaints are over-blown. You will like it.

[@bencumby9132]

I have several bikes but Ive been thinking of upgrading a Bianchi road bike to 105 or Ultegra. The bike shop mentioned this AXS with a price for it and installation. I've never seen any videos with it on road bikes, just MTB 's which i dont do. Just wondering.

[@MnaDothe]

Thank you so much for this amazing video! Just a quick off-topic question: My OKX wallet holds some USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (air carpet target dish off jeans toilet sweet piano spoil fruit essay). How should I go about transferring them to Binance?

[@mikecarter6758]

Having just installed AXS during our pre-Christmas snow storm, I'm wondering if I will feel the same as you by June of next year. Thanks for sharing your experience. Appreciate your channel and thoughtful content.

[@SemiSendy]

Well, I think the odds are in your favor. Most people tend to love it, and I think that if it came down to a poll amongst people who have used AXS, the majority would favor it overall. I hope these are mostly non-issues for you!

[@jerryspeedbumps512]

Until there's a weight savings ill stick with something I need to tinker with! Also that's one 🔥 bike! I'd look at tan sidewalls personally as they'd match that green so well!

[@SemiSendy]

Thank you! Been loving this new Ripmo ❤️

[@Evanturar]

I am surprised how few people have captured the issues he’s mentioning. 1. The cassette ratios feel way too wide for steep climbing. 2. Battery will die on a long road trip. Take it out for the drive. 3. Awful CLUNK when changing gears. 4. Chain slap. I have been pondering going to Shimano on my Supercaliber.

[@DerNetteFette]

This outdoor research jacket is soo good, i bought the same one in 2017 and wear it nearly everyday. Works so damn well climatically :D

[@myrtlekenazjanairo9411]

I've never have any experience with electronic shifters because it's like 3x more expensive. I've never even used a XT shimano nor even a SLX. I've been stuck with Deore ever since I've started biking 4 years ago. I've been using the m4100 version of Deore for 2 years and still doing a good job when i shift. It suffered swimming on deep mud, bashed on rocks, tangled by vines, etc. and still works fine. The derailleur cage was bent but i just twisted it back and it's working fine.

[@IIISentorIII]

Not sure if you gonna see this but: I would highly recommend just upgrading the shifter to Deore XT (watch KZbin todo videos, super easy). I have everything SLX and love it, recently updated the SLX Shifter to XT (40 Bucks) and it night and day. The shifting is so much crisper and faster and i can now upshift 2x times with one click which is awesome.

[@IthacaDon]

I was 4 hours from home and riding on a trail that wasn't ridden much. A 1 inch diameter foot long stick flipped up into spokes and jammed into my derailleur. My Sram XX moved but wasn't bent. I was still able to ride once I put the derailleur back in the right place. And the lack of a hanger was a plus. My ride would have been over with a regular cage.

[@daveharris39]

I've heard about the extra chain slap a few times now - all from GX Axs users. Does the xo1 axs not have the same issue, or does it? I'm still running regular gx on both my bikes. I thought about switching when the gx axs went on sale, but I'd rather upgrade wheels...I can cut over two pounds off the bike with a wheel and tire change.

[@SemiSendy]

From what I’ve heard it’s the same. It’s likely the same clutch, and the mount point in the same.

[@garyeanes4747]

There's a simple solution to the battery drain when traveling. Yes, the vibration of the road while on a rack WILL activate the system and drain battery. SRAM provides both a "cover" for the removed battery as well a "block" that snaps in place of the removed battery to protect the contacts on the derailleur. I use this on mine and see zero battery depletion on long drives.

[@FanatikBikeCo]

Great video. Although Rich will disagree with us, I was in the same boat on all the points you made. Particularly the thumb/mounting location thing. - Dan at Fanatik

[@SemiSendy]

We should do a battle of the Rich’s 🤓 We’ll go toe to toe on all the hot topics 😂

[@petrusmorsch]

My thumb is having osteoarthritis. I really have pain while shifting. I hope axs will help.

[@saturupiah5940]

Love AXS XX1, but then love my old XTR 11 speed, then again the sweetest shifting comes from my vintage Campy Record. End of the day all quality drive trains are terrific, just enjoy the ride.

[@silverfox0072]

I actually switched back to manual shifting due to the derailleur spring being weak. It was acknowledged by SRAM and replaced under warranty. It would drop the chain when I took jumps. Requiring me to adjust the B screw. At one point the B screw fell out. I was done at that point.

[@davehause8571]

Really good points to think about before going to electronic shifting.

[@andrewsteavpack9079]

I have Shimano Ultegra Di2 2x on my cyclocross bike and really enjoy it, but the vagueness of what gear I’m in is exactly why I don’t want to get electronic shifting on my MTB. I’ll occasionally look down at my front or rear derailleur if I’m trying to know what gear I’m in before an abrupt climb or feature, not much of an issue on the trails a CX bike is going on or when I’m using it as a road bike but on a MTB I only see it making my end up in too high or low of a gear more often, or looking at the rear instead of the trail.

[@blurglide]

I'm having a hell of a time getting fresh cable housing through my Ibis Ripmo! Any tips? I'm considering going AXS just to avoid these tight bends

[@in2gravitylife]

My biggest concern with wireless is the cost. I usually go through at least 2 to 3 XO derailleurs a season at an average cost of $200 each. When I looked it up SRAM wireless derailleurs go for $500 to $750 each. It's a no brainer for me, but some people aren't as hard on their bikes as I am.

[@SemiSendy]

Definitely, for the price you can have an X01, back-up and cash left over 🤌

[@Cassienope]

The axs derailleurs are better at not breaking. Mine have taken some truly heinous bashes and kept on trucking. They tuck themselves when hit.

[@user-nu5fx6en9h]

@@Cassienopesame here build like a tank , mine got some scratches but working fine like day 1 been using for 2 years

[@SkiRidesMTB]

Summed up my complaints about AXS very well. It's nice, but it's a luxury at the end of the day that's a small upgrade from GX/X01/XX1. The chainslap is mind-numbingly bad though. It basically cancels out any good AXS brings to the table.

[@DiegoLopez-oi8gt]

Great review. I've had AXS on 2 bikes and will never go back but I understand if it's not your thing. It only took me a couple of ride to get used to the feel and I love the paddle. Only thing I'm surprised at is the battery issue you mentioned. I ride 3-4 times a week and have to travel an hour each way per ride and only charge the battery once a month. It's been a non-issue for me and have been using it for almost 2 years. Almost feel dumb for having spent money on an extra battery but you know how it goes....if you don't have it you need it!

[@TristanRosier]

Do you run the AXS dropper as well? I suppose that could serve as the extra battery out on the trail?

[@jbw5485]

Same experience I’ve had as well. AXS is incredibly awesome. I absolutely love mine. Zero issues or complaints. Had to tinker with the position on the bars a bit. But got it right.

[@brentyancich]

First time I've watched your channel. I'm in love with the Root Beer colored Fox 38s.

[@SemiSendy]

It’s a 36, from the limited 2021 release. They did do a limited color for the 38 as well though, which was pistachio. Pretty cool as well!

[@timyoung338]

Yup ! After 2 riding seasons on my 1X12 Force AXS SC stigmata gravel b. on trails in the Purcell Mtns. I have 2nd thoughts on e-shifting. The bluetooth means 3 separate battery powered components each of which can & will fail . All require firmware updates or the sync with the phone app and each other will distort & you have to figure out why. When the system is all configured properly etc. it is very plush, precise, pleasent etc. But there is a lot to check on before you go for a ride or you will be riding on a fixie on the way home. I am the kind of old school rider that appreciates simple dependable mechanical stuff. There are hassles with all technologies of course so which hassles are you willing to put up with? & how closely do want to work with your local bike shop?

[@TheVic256]

Love my asx gear - set and forget - gear stays the same regardless of temp or cable wear - its just soooo free of trouble - I loved my xt groupset but when the cable got older or there was large changes in temp (I live in scandinavia), the gear change got so infuriating imprecise and required constant barrel adjustment - none of that with asx, it just works every time… Only thing I would change would if I could have wireless power as well, remembering to check battery level and recharging is, I admit, less than set and forget 😊

[@everettkincaid3388]

That's why I switched to AXS. I was so tired of making cable adjustments, bike violently and unexpectantly dropping into another gear up steep climbs when out of adjustment, and frayed cables inside the shifter. I guess if I changed the cable more often that could be prevented. I really like Shimano Ultegra cable shifting when it works and it's been pretty dependable. I finally got fed up when I couldn't get the cable adjusted on a ride, found out the cable was frayed, and the head was stuck in the shifter really bad. After spending a lot of time I got it out. Usually I can easily remove a frayed cable but that time it was very difficult.

[@The.JZA.]

They do say that you should remove the battery during transport to prevent draining the battery. A short trip to a local trail is fine but any more and you should take out the battery. Interesting to hear your experience with the system though. I just ordered my first bike with GX AXS T-Type and I am excited to try it.

[@KotiLaue]

Excellent analysis, thanks! 👌 I’ve got a question: 🤨 I found these words 😅. (behave today finger ski upon boy assault summer exhaust beauty stereo over). Can someone explain what this is? 😅

[@machyne82]

My buddies is always dead, every time we go on a trip. Never fails! I also like to feel the ends of the shifting with a mechanical shifter. I don’t like how the wireless just keeps clicking.

[@freeffree4133]

Your buddy sounds kinda stupid lol. Tell him to carry a back up battery.

[@machyne82]

@@freeffree4133 bro, you sound vaccinated. You ok?

[@freeffree4133]

@@machyne82 I mean how is his battery "always" dead when it lasts months? Also again, tell your "buddy" to get a second battery if he really exists, but I'm pretty sure you're lying...that's what maga trolls specialize in, amiright???🤣

[@machyne82]

@@freeffree4133 I knew you would become unhinged. Thanks bro, I needed a good laugh

[@freeffree4133]

@@machyne82 Maga Unhinged. Sounds like an OAN movie lol. Now stop making up sht.

[@moynge]

yeah, on the battery drain, you gotta remove the batteries when traveling to avoid wasting charge. I finally learned this with my AXS road/gravel setup. Batteries last a very long while if you observe that recommendation. Is it worth the extra hassle? I don't think so, which is why -although I appreciate my two road/gravel AXS bikes- I'm going mechanical mechs for my future bikes. That is, until solar charged wireless systems come onto the scene!

[@TheSpade83]

Xt derailliuer with xtr shifter..... unbeatable

[@andrewmazzer]

Love my AXS ! No issues whatsoever and a huge bonus if you're packing your bike for a trip, it's SO easy to take off the RD and re-install without any cable hassles.

[@sunderhill999]

What's that bike storage / hanging rack system you've got in your workshop?

[@robp3431]

Got AXS stock on my gravel bike and wish it had come higher end mechanical instead. Chain slap and chain drop has been an issue. I see a lot of used AXS on PB for sale, so it needs to get better

[@Hansssxcholo]

What's that standing wall storage rack? Looks awesome

[@SemiSendy]

Velocirax 5x

[@sharpy182]

Great videos and great channel. I have also suffered from knuckle rub but that was using the cable set up. I found a happy ground by using the opposite match maker help with this. As for finding gears, I thought there was a setting in the app where you can configure a gear range jump by holding doing the control!? ie: hold it down and it could shift up three gears at once? And as for the battery usage, could you not just take it off the bike and keep it In your pocket or car when your not using it. Im looking to upgrade to axs.. the less cables are a no brainier for me. keep the videos coming, one of the best mtb channels for sure.

[@SemiSendy]

Thank you! Glad you’re liking the channel. The rub alone was enough, but to answer the follow ups: I did utilize the multi-shift, but it’s not a fix for what I was experiencing. It’s more the tactile response under “stress” for lack of a better way to put it. When you’re at speed, you can have a ton of feedback going on that dominates over the vagueness of the shifter, distracting away from where you think you’re at. As for batteries, the last thing I want to do is constantly remove and reinstall the battery all the time. If I only had a couple of batteries in my life to keep up with, I’m sure it would be much less of a problem for me. Between all of my filming gear alone, I have dozens of batteries to charge and keep track of. Drone, camera, GoPro’s, controllers, microphones, headsets, laptops, lights, phone, etc. The physical act of getting on my bike is where I go to get away from all of those things. 🤌 I’m an analog kind of guy who deals with electronics only out of creative necessity in all aspects of life.

[@andrewperry3448]

I've had issues with GX cable rear mech clutches going floppy and managed to get them replaced under warranty. Did the GX AXS have a weak clutch from day 1 or did it degrade over time? I've heard that the more expensive X01 XX1 mechs have better clutches, but for AXS these would be very expensive.

[@SemiSendy]

The noisy derailleur/slap was from the get go on the AXS setup.

[@ByronWWW]

Not sure I understand having to look what gear you are in, I couldn't tell you on any of my bikes what gear I'm in, just whether it feels right at the time. Have a gx axs on my full sus xc bike which I use for long days out and the ease of shifting on axs and being able to skip multiple gears at a time with no extra effort is really nice.

[@andersun16]

I've had both eTap and DI2 on road/gravel bikes and I was a believer. Later as I began doing more MTB and thinned down the bike herd, I went back to cable ultegra and GRX and have to say - I didn't miss it. I never had the urge to put the AXS or DI2 on an MTB as just didn't see the need - but that's just me. Cable stuff is soooo good now it's not the game changer in performance I once thought....

[@APOCLAG]

AXS all the way! I have them on both my bikes! XX1 and X01 (beautiful red)! No complaints, just happiness!

[@fx_matze]

AXS works well and I have to admire the technology. However I never liked the shifting feeling with SRAM. I went with XTR for my bike and there's nothing more I could get of any derailleur. The no cables look is really cool. I would've gotten the AXS reverb but it only goes up to 170mm. 200mm Fox Factory Transfer does the job.

[@olivierhiers4224]

Thx for sharing, by the way what is your bike rack?

[@SemiSendy]

It’s the Velocirax 5x.

[@thedownunderverse]

Wireless blips change the game on this question, one on right one on left, job done.

[@mtbjer9825]

What garage storage rack do you have? Totally understand about shifter hitting your thumb downhill. I don't use matchmaker in most cases because of that.

[@SemiSendy]

It’s the Velocirax 5x

[@coreyburgess6]

during travel could you not just take the battery out and set it someone close yet separate?

[@urg0nnah8me]

Are you the same guy that said there were no micro-adjustments to fine tune each gear? I can't remember, but the complaints feel on par.

[@h3x0r1984]

What stops you taking out the battery while moving your bike around?

[@jeffjacksonmtb]

I've had AXS for 2 months. I agree with everything. Plus... I tend to bump my knee on the shifter on tight uphill switchbacks and that causes an up-shift when I definitely don't want it. Hoping I get used to that and stop bumping it.

[@shaneridesmtb]

I had that issue too

[@jeffjacksonmtb]

@@shaneridesmtb Did you get used to it?

[@shaneridesmtb]

I took it off. I'm running an old school Amish set up now!

[@ByronWWW]

I had to get ergon grips for my xc bike and the axs setup has also really helped with hand fatigue. I've got mine set to keep dropping gears as long as I hold the shifter down so shifting is all feel and timing which I like a lot more

[@truthbike]

Who makes your brown riding pants and blue riding hoody?

[@benwigginsbikes]

The only thing I don't like about my AXS is the derailleur slapping around....it's pretty significant.

[@SemiSendy]

I’m guessing that will be one of the things addressed in the next gen for sure.

[@awilkinson7]

Hi there, thanks for the great video. I’m new to the channel. Love the ibis (I have a Ripley). What bike storage system / rack are you using in your garage as shown in this video? Thanks

[@SemiSendy]

Welcome to the channel 🤘 The rack is the Velocirax 5x

[@awilkinson7]

Thanks! I take it you’ve mounted it onto the wall or on a dolly parked next to the wall?

[@SemiSendy]

@@awilkinson7 it comes with a bracket for wall mounting it when it’s not on the hitch. Pretty nice package!

[@jayanderson6016]

I have X01 11 sp Grip shift and am never going electric. I guess it has something to do with being able to add or drop 1-11 gears with one fluid motion!

[@Bjoggi308]

I switched to AXS on my MTB hardtail a few years back and I loved it at the start. However, I bought the first AXS used (OE takeoff) and when the derailleur started acting up, it was not covered by warranty as I was not the original owner. So, thinking this was a fluke, I purchased another AXS derailleur to replace it. Unfortunately 2 months out of the 2 year warranty, the new derailleur is now flaking out as well. I was once bitten by the battery drain issue while in transport, and ran out of batteries mid ride. After that I always carried a spare, and frankly, that's just a PITA to manage.. I have switched to the spare, only to find out it's low on power as well just sitting in my backpack. I have found that the battery indicator in the SRAM app is useless. There is no warning until I'm 10 shifts from empty. So there is no way I can count on the SRAM app to accurately determine the battery level before a ride. My first derailleur broke when it started shifting on it's own while in transport in my car, and would then get stuck and only allow 2-3 gears worth of shifting. The second derailleur just dies randomly and requires to take out the battery and re-insert it to get back to life. Now I'm looking at buying a 3rd derailleur or switching back to a cable setup. This is on my hardtail bike that I ride 2-3 times per week, and half the time on pavement (training rides). Then there is the shifting performance. I have SRAM chains and the derailleur adjustment is regularly checked with the provided tool. I have a cabled EAGLE 12 speed setup on my full-suspension bike and the shifting performance is way better on the cable setup, especially when it comes to 1st and 2nd gear. On my AXS setup, I regularly have shifting issues if I try to shift too quickly into lower gears.. I never have this issue on my regular cabled setup. Same cassette, same chain, etc..

[@lionelhernandez34]

Great video admirable how cool and chill you presented it, left me thinking you're very honest about your opinion. I personally love my AXS ,compared to my cable actuated drive trains its just so much more snappy and crisp. I do get a lot of your points and appreciate you sharing your thoughts as it could save someone some time and expense. Thanks for sharing

[@oquefizhoje]

hi. nice jacket. can you post a link to buy one of that? hugs Carlos m.

[@noControl556]

I would be intrested if they could be wired up to the main ebike battery vs. having to keep up with charging seperate batteries. But then I suppose you would need cables to do that kind of defeating the purpose although those cables would be thinner and more flexable.

[@SintraFlowRiders]

I do Mountain bike tours for a Living. I have this new bike since January and the only thing I had to replace so far was one tire one chain and bearings.... I'm glad I have AXS.... Orelse I had to spend much more money in cables and stuff every month.... Oh and its great when shifts never fail even in very muddy conditions....

[@austin3050]

What kind of bike rack do you have in you garage in this video?

[@fdshybgv46twgs5ssrjufhfg-pf7lf]

Having to check 8 batteries on a monthly basis is tiresome. 1. Speed sensor battery, 2. cadence sensor battery, 3. Etap rear derailleur battery, 4. Etap front derailleur battery, 5. left shifter battery, 6. right shifter battery, 7. Power meter battery, 8. Head unit battery Meanwhile on my mechanical bike I just pump up the tyres, oil the chain and if I feel like training I take my head unit.

[@vincentqiao5930]

I’m about to go for a long ride tomorrow with my bud. It took me an entire day to change/recharge all the batteries on my bike and do all the firmware update, while all he needed to do was just pumping his tire… My battery on the derailer died once I was riding. The rear derailer failed on me once as well, and I lose the ability to shift downward on the rear derailer. It’s great while it works, which is about 50% of the time.

[@Lithovatis]

Using Sram Gx on my Anthem for 2 years not a single adjustment only chain replacement. Best combination with XT brakes.

[@saysthetedd]

What a balanced, fair video!

[@stefanwagener]

Your comment about not knowing which gear I am when going downhill and then quickly shifting several gears for going uphill I do have with mechanical shifting as well. Here the big advantage of electronic shifting is that after noticing I am in the wrong gear I am much quicker in correcting my mistake. Otherwise I don't care about quicker shifting with electronic over mechanical but exactly in this situation I see electronic as a big plus. But in my Shimano DI2 the tactile feedback is fine for me ... I know exactly when I shifted and when not ... even with winter gloves on.