Is Wireless Shifting For You? - My Thoughts on SRAM AXS GX Eagle Upgrade

[@joshuarebennack68]

+1000 For doing a sponsor that is local (to you) vs. SquareSpace or League of Legends or something.

[@William.N]

Or Raid Shadow Legends...

[@hardtailparty]

I love this shop. It's been a dream come true to partner with them. I was blown away by their online inventory, since I usually only shop local.

[@Descenter1976]

Would be a long drive.... 🤣🇩🇰

[@MrSchattka]

"Bikes are a great way to spend money..." I concur 100%. My wife's opinion may differ, however. Thanks for posting this informative video!

[@jasonbarber5834]

Ok, here's my dumbest justification for spending $4200 on an Ibis Ripmo AF. "MOTIVATION" 2 months ago the wind caught me midair and long story short i broke 6 rips, AC seperation (which i get surgery for in 2 weeks) and a punctured lung. Many asked, "Will you stop riding your bike now?" So when they found out i had bought another bike that i couldn't even ride for at least 6 months they were dumbfounded. I told them it was my "motivation" for getting better so i could ride again. Can't stop, won't stop!!

[@hardtailparty]

I love it!

[@luisbarber86]

I’m on the same boat!😂I had surgery for a broken l3 and l4. Punctured kidney. I’ve been on bed rest for a week and I bought a yeti sb150

[@jasonbarber5834]

@@luisbarber86 Wow, I thought I was the only one. And you are also a Barber, how crazy! It must be in the blood.

[@tomhawk733]

"Single speed is the best drive train, and also the worst drive train" I completely agree with this statement!!!

[@JasonScottCarter]

My only bike with AXS on it is my Pivot Vault gravel bike. Reason being, you can mix and match AXS road/gravel shifters and mountain bike rear derailleurs. This allows me to have a big rear cassette for better climbing gears. On my mountain bike I haven't seen a need "yet" because I can already get bigger gears with a mechanical setup.

[@politan83]

Steve, I really appreciate your even-handed assessment of bikes and components. You understand those of us who are on budget without sneering at people who want the latest and greatest.

[@hardtailparty]

Thanks for understanding Nico.

[@reggiefuentes4599]

I run the gx axis on my Yeti ARC and have no issues with it. Very smooth and clean shifting aso far. I do agree with electronics and Apps. I don't use any of that stuff. Im out there to disconnect like you mentioned. I don't care about how much elevation I gain or lost or how fast anybody else rides the trails. BTW I rode the ARC last season and loved it. I was convinced to sell it with much regret to buy a FS. I recently sold the FS and back on an ARC🙂. Such a great bike for me. I won't be selling this one any time soon .

[@Plex128]

Great video! Some points from my experience with AXS: - I got mechanical GX on my old bike and AXS GX on my new one. I am really happy with the mechanical version - it shifts amazing. However, AXS shifts even better and it always puts a smile on my face when I use it after I haven't ridden the bike for a while. Do I need it? No. Is it worth it? Maybe. Am I happy that I have it? Yes. - Have you activated multi-shift? IMHO that's one of the best features. So much fun to just keep the button pressed until its in the perfect gear - Battery: Definitely a disadvantage. The battery holds for a long time, but it is still something you always have to keep in you mind. However, I solved this issue by just carrying a spare battery in my backpack/hip pack. But for a dedicated bike-packing bike I would still prefer mechanical. - I installed the AXS Rocker Paddle to make it more similar to the mechanical shifter. But the default one is also fine.

[@hardtailparty]

Your experience is definitely mirroring mine. I haven't tried the new paddle yet. The stock one is fine for me, but I'd love to try one sometime.

[@GokkunGuru]

@@hardtailparty The stock paddle is good enough. The rocker paddle has a bit of play in it. I think SRAM needs to redesign it.

[@mechpade]

I'm here waiting for SRAM to make a battery that has a built-in usb-c port to charge. No need for a charging cradle.

[@hardtailparty]

@@mechpade that'd be nice. It would probably need to be bigger, or smaller capacity to make room for circuitry to control charging.

[@mechpade]

@@hardtailparty I feel like quick charge would make up for a smaller battery. Charge it alongside your phone. Good for a day’s ride

[@ianfurqueron5850]

I have GX AXS kits on two of my bikes (Megatower and Chameleon) and full XTR 12 spd on a 3rd (Spot Ryve 115). All run 12 spd Shimano cassettes. AXS and XTR are comparable, performance-wise. I haven't installed the phone app to adjust settings, so I also live with the 1-push/1-gear setting. I generally don't notice it much when going between the XTR and the AXS with being able to dump more gears with a single push. Perhaps because so little effort is needed to shift with AXS. One comment you didn't mention - AXS is so incredibly easy to set up. You do have to follow the instructions to make sure the chain length and the B-tension and right, but otherwise, you pair the shifter to the derailleur and it just works. No fiddling with cable tension or anything else. It's pretty amazing. Especially as I am in the process of doing cable maintenance/replacement on the Spot. I also have a Reverb AXS dropper post for the two Santa Cruz bikes (the Spot came with a Bike Yoke that works fine). My thought being there I can just swap the post from one bike to the other. My one complaint there is a wish they made a post with more drop than 170mm. I wouldn't mind a 200mm drop post on the Megatower.

[@csn583]

Note XX1 carbon cage is non-replaceable if damaged. Even on my road bike where I burn $ for grams that'd be seriously off-putting if not disqualifying. GX is the way.

[@mbandstuff4688]

Bought GX AXS from my local shop… dude, IM NEVER EVER GOING BACK TO CABLE SHIFTING AGAIN!!!, this thing, as you over and over mentioned on this video, its as crisp, and precise as it gets!!. My excuse was…. Right, i forgot what it was, I have a whole bag filled with excuses to buy stuff for my bike.. This is a great and objective video! Best regards!

[@ThunderStruckMTB]

For me, I'll never go back to cable again and it's mainly for one reason. At 54, I don't have great thumb dexterity and with a cable shifter I have to really roll my hand down on the grip and twist it inward when sweeping 3 gears for a downshift, and that 4th shift is basically impossible for me. With GX AXS, my thumb is literally in the same space (stock rocker) and I can bang through as many gears as I want and do so with lightning speed and my hand doesn't move at all on the grip. Game changing for me and making my riding better. The GX RD clutch is weak, and I get way more chain slap on my Chameleon than with cable GX. People complaining about batteries are watching this on a device they charge all the time and some can't live without looking at it for more than 11 minutes.... irony at its best.

[@hardtailparty]

I've heard people mention the weak clutch. I haven't experience it yet, but mine is brand new. I'll post back after 6 months of riding it.

[@chiefsilverback]

On a similar theme I was reading an article about Lael Wilcox's bike build, she runs AXS and the main reason she cited is that over a multi day/week race she's actually lost thumbnails from the damage pressing on a mechanical shifter thousands of times causes...

[@yoramchen54]

16:57 hi Steve , can you share what bottle cages your are using on the Maniak? I’m currently building main 😃 @hardtail party

[@CaptainShiny5000]

I don't know if I could get used to not being able to shift through several gears at once. I run Deore 12 speed, atm and it's perfectly fine - I really don't see a benefit of going to electronic shifting.

[@titoton]

I use to ignore the release of AXS GX as I was really not interested with the wireless shifting. Few of my buddies switch to it and got intrigued by the performance as they really liked it. Coming from someone who do their own bike maintenance, switching to AXS was a game changer for me. From installation up to tuning makes my life way easier. I'm now running shramano drive train and shifting is still flawless even compared to full shimano drivetrain.

[@kylecomstock2426]

Awesome commuter bike!! My first real MTB was a 95 GT Zaskar with a Judy SL hand welded in the USA. 20 years later converted it to a drop bar, racked out, full fender commuter. Love keeping old bikes rolling!!

[@marcdemichele2689]

Damn.... Takin me back!! I still remember the day my Zaskar frame the store ordered for me finally showed up. Don't know if there was a happier day in my life.

[@thomaskuhn6541]

I rented from Thunder Mountain back in 2016 when they were still called Over the Edge. Jason and Mike are great.

[@hardtailparty]

Indeed. Same local owners, just a new name.

[@scottclark-mo3hy]

I just love it.I am instantly always in the best gear now without having to change my hand position at all. And that is with an 11-52/ 12 cog range. I just move my thumb to an up or down button and as many quick taps as I think I want and I'm instantly there. DSC

[@LEGENDofBEANY]

Dude I demo’d a bike from Thunder mountain when I was there last winter. So fun. Nice vid dude!!

[@marktechsci]

I’ve used Thunder Mountain Bike for a while. Found them on the new with a search for something I was looking for. Been very satisfied with their service so your highlight of their company was cool. Nice review. Going to sub. My first video of yours. Thanks!

[@hardtailparty]

Thanks for watching

[@GokkunGuru]

I have GX mechanical and GX AXS. Been using it for a year now. I will choose AXS everytime. It shifts the best really. Each shift is smooth, silent and fast. I only need to charge the battery once a month. I charge my phone, iPad, car way more than AXS. For someone who swaps components from frame to frame over, AXS is the way. Never have to deal with cable stretch. If $ is not an issue, go AXS all day, everyday. The only downside is finding a controller mount that pairs with ISPEC-EV for those who run Shimano brakes. I find the discrete clamp that comes with AXS provides the best range of motion for mounting the controller. The app is awesome. You can program how many gears AXS shifts with one button press.

[@pbskater3]

I recently purchased some brake stuff from then online (replacement Shimano lever, brake pads, and chain lube) and they were great. Fair prices and shipped very quickly. I forgot to leave a comment for the order that I found them through you but hopefully they see this comment! Thanks Steve for providing great videos and also for partnering with legit shops and brands!

[@buckroger6456]

I don't know I missed this video, but dang is it so good. All I use are my bikes and I use them for everything. Nothing beats a great local bike shop. My local shop asked me since I'm planning on this custom build hardtail over the winter if I've thought of going wireless. I said nope, I just love how simple a cable is and I'm super old school and for me mountain biking is all about getting away from the digital world.

[@scottmcpeek4132]

LBSs, good LBSs, are an absolute treasure. I've been lucky enough to have a phenomenal one down the way from where I live for the last 16 years and I'd never go anywhere else. Cheers, Steve!

[@dkamish1258]

Couldn't agree more with Thunder Mountain Bikes. I did a 4 day visit and rented some great mountain bikes from them. This was my first time in Sedona. Had a blast, it even snowed. Great shop and great people and great bikes.

[@bartmullin8018]

Your point re. shifting as a skill by itself is quite true. I'll occasionally joke about one's thumb knowing what to do... It's really an instinct after a while.

[@donalejandro4516]

Absolutely agree 100% with finding excuses for the new bike part purchase 🤣. My fav excuse is: these parts are sold out everywhere and this shop happens to have it stock.

[@hardtailparty]

I like it!

[@chameleonpogono]

I've had the XO1 AXS for a year and a half. With my RA, mechanical shifter was getting hard to use. I'm loving the shifting on the controller and how great the derailleur works. I have the AXS dropper, as well, for the same reason. Battery life is great. If, for some reason, I don't have a spare battery, I can take the battery off of the dropper and put it on the derailleur or vise versa.

[@udanphalcon]

Thunder Mountain is my favorite bike shop too, and I don't even live in Arizona! I've rented from them multiple times and also buy all my parts from their web store. I always check if they have it first.

[@krymsix574]

I stretched the budget for my wife's bike because I stumbled a** backwards into finding a ridiculous deal on a used Cannondale Scarlet 1 that someone or the shop I bought it from had installed GX AXS. My wife's reaction to the shifting was "I didn't know I needed wireless shifting, but now I'd never go back" it's really sweet shifting kit.

[@certainperfectratio]

I've been curious what you think of axs for a while. Thanks for sharing. Another thought related to the advantage of easing bike builds: it should make it faster to switch between single speed and geared

[@ssmtb]

What ever gets you reviewing more bikes sounds like a solid investment to me 🙂 Ps. The dumbest justification for me was to get a new frame, since it had sliding dropouts for SS (didn't turn out to be such a big deal) - ended swapping back to my old frame cause I liked the geo better

[@kylepatton3346]

I can only assume how crazy busy you are with these reviews Steve, so this is unquestionably worth it for you. As someone else said below, the AXS Reverb may also be a huge investment, but could be potentially worth it, but that one's definitely harder as fitment can become an issue real fast and you've also stated how big a fan of 9point8 you are. As for my senseless purchase...well I'm on a (seemingly) limitless path of building a ~90% Made in the USA bike. I've spent ridiculous amounts of time figuring out where parts are made and comparing so many different MUSA components that I've definitely given up things just to try to find the best stuff. And there are still some parts, like tires and drivetrains, that I'll never be able to buy MUSA. But it's not senseless to me because I want to support people making rad stuff, I want to support American jobs that pay good wages, and I want to cut out as many penny counting middlemen as possible when I buy something, ensuring the money goes straight to the amazing people making the rad stuff.

[@hardtailparty]

I applaud your quest. I can't wait to see your bike when it's done.

[@andrewsteavpack9079]

Have been to this shop before because I needed a hydration bladder that I forgot to bring when up in Sedona ride on a hot day up from ASU Tempe. Super authentic and honest staff, not an intimidating vibe at all.

[@JeffreySmith1967]

Once you go AXS it is almost impossible to go back to mechanical. I have AXS XO1 on my Rascal and AXS GX on my Sherpa and Sirius. Been running AXS for over a year and battery is never an issue, just look at the indicator light from time to time. Shifting is amazing. No difference between GX and XO1 except weight. AXS is legit. I also pair these with the E13 Helix cassettes, they weigh less then the XX1 cassette but cost a lot less.

[@7dragongames]

Thunder Mountain Bikes was a huge resource during my trip to Sedona. We did 2 days of guided riding through them and rented bikes. The guides were incredible! The only disappointment was the dropper on my bike the 2nd day wasn't working, but overall great experience.

[@stephendenagy3396]

I agree, this is the best drivetrain ever. Not a super rider, on a Turbo Levo. The best thing is ultra fast shifting. Cable is ok…but all cables have a little friction and stretch. When I am in a pickle, in traffic, on a hill I misjudged, I am instantly in the game. Also…I find my ability to maintain a spinning cadence is amazing. The shifts are so fast I am just flying along. I can see why racers are all over it. Game changer.

[@shaunroach7829]

Single speed drivetrain is the best or maybe the worst drivetrain 🤣🤣. Great job breaking down the pro’s and con’s of wireless shifting Steve 👍👍!!!

[@dirtyboxr]

I always shop thunder mountain online, great shop! When i cant find what I want here in St. George, I order online with them! Nice to see you trust them aswell

[@hardtailparty]

Fantastic shop. Glad to hear you've discovered them.

[@tommyr95]

I had no plans for AXS.....until I hopped onto my buddy's bike and I nearly instantly feel in love with the feel. I opted for the GX AXS over a year ago and have been so happy with it! I also opted for one for the hardtail. Incidentally, I have mine set up to shift 3 gears if I hold the shifter and that's worked like a dream for dumping some gears. I'll also speak highly of Thunder Mountain. I've ordered from them and they were great!

[@rottieshepcalibre9156]

i remember the video when your friends SRAM gear lever had problems with the wiring inside it. and later on down the trail you met a woman with the exact same problem. that made me think long and hard about wireless shifting. i want to do some epic bikepacking tours so reliability is super important. another great video... thanks.

[@hardtailparty]

That must have been someone else. At a bike demo event, the specialized guys had set the paddles up backwards, so the top button shifted down and the bottom shifted up. It was funky. But that's easy to swap in the app

[@markkreisberg360]

Not sure if this has been mentioned but some of us older riders are beginning to develop arthritis in our hands and after a long day in the saddle the thumb can get pretty sore. After days of consecutive long rides I can feel it in my thumb for up to 2 weeks. AXS has been wonderful and has alleviated the discomfort due to the effortless shifting it provides.

[@hardtailparty]

Yeah, I mention that in the video. Glad to hear it helps you.

[@Biking_with_Akiva]

Great shifting tips , I didn't notice I wasn't following through on the shift ups . Made the adjustments on the trail and perfect shift... Thank you 🤙🏾💯

[@denniskane9651]

Have to give kudos to Thunder Mountain- needed a crank set and supply chain being what it is I had a hard time finding what I wanted. With the exception of Thunder Mountain! I was shocked- I used these guys during my last Sedona trip. Gotta say part was shipped and I was back in business in 2-3 days! Great, great shop!

[@Jinedan]

For as much as you build and rebuild and swap components I am surprised you haven’t gotten AXS sooner. Perfect for your use-case!

[@controller2152]

Steve I love the reviews and I’m sold on the GX model. I’m saving up for it and now I want the Wireless dropper. Keep the videos coming and keep shredding… 🚴🏻🚴🏻🚴🏻🚴🏻🤙🤙🤙💥💥💥💥💥 Dave

[@wildman9364]

another great video man! my buddy at the local shop here gave me a bike to demo yesterday which had GX AXS was my 1st time riding it. its cool and super nice shifting. its cool but not $600 cool at least to me. going to keep rocking GX cable and GX with XO1 shifter on my other bike. Cheers

[@ronniekaftal1729]

You can program axs to shift continuously or just one or two gears at once. its setup on the app BTW if that Yellow Bronson is XL than I hired few months ago from them. I crashed it on the trail that goes down from the school... I hope it's fixed by now

[@ronniekaftal1729]

They are a great shop. Super friendly. I will definitely be back and rent a bike from them.

[@hardtailparty]

8:12

[@notree666]

Those Rocky Moutain Growler 40's outfront Thunder mountain bikes looks sweet. I have the the 22 Growler 20 after watching your review for the 2021 model.

[@normegaskins]

Hi Steve, you can dump gears with AXS. There's a setting that allows you to press and hold both up and down. Takes about the same time to "dump" gears as when you press a cable actuated system. Plus you won't stretch a cable with AXS...;-)

[@hardtailparty]

8:12 It's not quite the same, and it feels slower to me.

[@andyeunson270]

My two bikes have XO1 Eagle drivetrains. The Chameleon shifts a lot better than the Trek Remedy. The reason is the cable routing. The Chameleon has an almost straight shot to the derailleur as it’s a small frame. The Trek has extra bends and that’s all it takes to add friction. They both work well but the Chameleon is so much lighter shifting. AXS is good for bikes with poor cable routing. I’ve had a DI2 cross bike and mechanical Dura Ace road bike. They both worked really well. I wouldn’t chose electric over mechanical unless the cable routing demanded it.

[@reggieringgoldjr68]

That's what I'm interested in, is Decluttering.

[@pauls3616]

Great video. Just the savings in time building up new frames to review would be reason enough to have wireless shifting. You might need to have a wireless dropper post too. No more fishing cables or dealing with crappy cable management and routing which means more time riding. 👍

[@hardtailparty]

Yeah, I'd only the axs reverbs posts weren't backordered for 9 months!

[@ripmandirt6344]

Definitely going to check your local shop next time I’m looking for parts

[@streetbeast7078]

My justification is Steve from hardtail party has it

[@hardtailparty]

Lol.

[@awshupe5705]

I was in Sedona this week and rented a bike from Thunder Mountain and had a great experience - even got a hardtail party sticker. I rented the Rocky Mountain Growler and have some thoughts, so I plan to rewatch your review of the Growler to compare.

[@nathanbailey6668]

Great video! I have used Thunder Mountain many times from PA. Great people. I always tell myself that if I want to do my best, I need the best! lol! not true of course but it lets me sleep at night.

[@billmcknight7633]

This may not be relevant to many, but thought I'd chime in on a specific application. My wife and I ride a mountain tandem, and I think it would make a lot of sense in this niche for two reasons. First is getting rid of a very long cable which I would imagine increases the propensity for cable stretch, and the need for adjustment. Second the back wheel doesn't always track there you plan, making derailer strikes more common. We currently run a Rohloff, which is robust and enables us to shift while stationary, but it also has some disadvantages like weight, drag, and challenging shifting under load. The only big disagvatage other than stationary shifting changing to AXS for us would be that I've been told that transporting the bike on a vehicle can turn on the AXS and drain the battery, so you need to pull it off for travel, which we do a lot of. Even though Steve didn't intend his review for this application, I find his revews to be among the most practical out there. Thanks for his hard work on this and his other vidios. By the way, the tandem is a hardtail🤙

[@hardtailparty]

Thanks for chiming in! So far I'm on the same charge 2 weeks in, including 17 hours on a bike rack behind a car

[@acfella100]

Steve, in the app you can set up AXS to dump the cassette. It works really well…wait you just mentioned it in your vid. I love my GX AXS with Shimano XT cassette, chain and chainring.

[@marcodeoliveira3562]

ma Man from just watching your videos here in Mozambique i have made some positive upgrades with cheap parts and i have to say i am amazed at your content you are the best and have made me love the Hardtails even more i have a dream of building an aggressive hardtail that can take on a Downhill fork.

[@bdubs1967]

You can dump up to 3 gears. Set up in app and designate what happens if u hold the paddle down or up.

[@hardtailparty]

8:12

[@JuggernautMTB]

You’re killing me Steve 😉 A twenty minute video in which you ride the production Maniak and I get 5 words on it?!?!?! I’m dying here 😊. Love ya brother, keep killing it.

[@hardtailparty]

I'll be reviewing the Maniak very soon, it I couldn't release a review video of it with axs on it, without talking about axs first. The axs comments would hijack the conversation

[@vernalmaloy3992]

It sure would have worked great for somebody on my ride yesterday. His broken derailleur cable and trail side repair meant that he couldn’t use his hardest gears down the epic descent. But now I was able to keep up most of the ride. So his broken derailleur cable worked out well for me. 😂

[@hardtailparty]

Hah!

[@danieljones6824]

I want the extra range on my gravel bike and using this wirh AXS dropbar shifters gives me just that.

[@tomhawk733]

Great video on AXS. I've got an AXS GX upgrade kit and I wouldn't go back. When I get my Maniak I will switch between single speed and geared and on my Lithium the same (uplift bikepark days I really don't need a 600 buck derailleur breaking!) So this way, I have great shifting and ease of switching between the 2 bikes. Ironicall, its because of AXS that I felt comfortable to run this 2 bike stable and really lean into single speed. When rising buddies ask me what I think I never recommend they get AXS, I just tell them that: 1. It's probably not worth the cost and 2. I'm not going back to cables, ever!

[@erickaracsonyi4415]

Love that bike shop when I visit my parents in Sedona!

[@shrubjr893]

I'm not genrally sensible or practical about bikes, I just enjoy really nice ones. For me its just the battery thing. XO1 is soo good, and I dont have to charge it. AXS is super intriguing though. I love what you said about riding bikes to unwind, no computers, no timers no strava. Thats me fer sure, I'm just a fat kid on a fast bike 👍😎

[@SplatteredWRX]

After going AXS I’ll never go back to the traditional way of shifting.

[@hambo76]

The combination of SRAM wireless shifting and a Shimano Hyperglide+ and chain sounds like an amazing combination. Out of my price range but I'd love to see smoothest combination, especially for slower technical terrain like yours where shifting sympathy isn't always possible.

[@hardtailparty]

I must be crazy, but I don't feel like hyperglide is noticably better. But admittedly i haven't tried it with axs yet. Sounds like an experiment for later.

[@hambo76]

@@hardtailparty That's interesting, most reviewers mentioned better shifting under load. Perhaps you're naturally sympathetic with your gears!

[@hardtailparty]

@@hambo76 I don't typically shift under load. Years and years of learning to let up for a split second as I shift has kept my shifts smooth. I'm not very hard on my drivetrains, except for when they smash against rocks.

[@hambo76]

@@hardtailparty Clearly you're not an amateur like me :D

[@machyne82]

I like feeling I’m at the end of the cassette with the shift lever. AXS just keeps clicking away.

[@andrewsteavpack9079]

The GX, XO1, and XX1 Eagle definitely go through cables quicker than any other derailleurs with the cable going at such a sharp angle.

[@hardtailparty]

Interesting... I haven't experienced that yet.

[@3crowsfarm16]

Steve! Please answer this question for me! What is the range of the system and how quick to reconnect? My son is quite autistic but loves riding. However, in 13 years of riding i can't get him to use gears or brakes. I'd love to put axs on his bike and shift for him from my cockpit. Can u test that for me please?

[@chameleonpogono]

That would be interesting on the range. I have the AXS setup, but have never tried to see how far apart they will work. The connection is basically bluetooth.

[@hardtailparty]

I will definitely test it. What an excellent application for this! Without testing, I'd guess 20-25 feet no problem. It uses Bluetooth. As soon as I'm home I'll test it. If you don't hear from me in a few days, ping me again. Excellent question

[@michaelurich7749]

Dustin Klein just did a video on this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYjShoeqe52DoqM

[@chriskimber7179]

@@hardtailparty Very cool! Looking forward to it!

[@clipless03]

Dustin Klein did a video on that this week. Might want to ask him too.

[@hardtailparty]

Looking for parts for your build? Hit up Thunder Mountain bikes, my local bike shop. They have amazing inventory, fast shipping, and if you mention hardtail party send you, they'll hook you up with some HP stickers. Check out their inventory here: bit.ly/3v43FSA While I've ridden AXS on a handful of bikes now, I've never owned it myself for the long-term. I'll be posting my long-term review once I have more time on it. I will say one thing about having run it for 2 weeks now... I'm hooked. It's going to be tough to go back to traditional cable derailleurs. It's spoiling me big time.

[@RowdyHonzo]

Thunder mountain has been great to me every time I've been in Sedona, either renting for friends or picking up a derailleur when I smashed mine. Looks like they've really ramped up their internet sales recently too, definitely happy to support them.

[@falllinemaniac]

LOL That's where I bought my AXS upgrade kit. I love those guys and I'm sad to miss them in Durango this weekend.

[@Jacob99174]

Dude, your advertisement for that bike shop, it felt so soothing and chill. Awesome

[@DanSeim1]

Just bought a replacement brake lever from Thunder Mountain last week, one of the few places online I could find one, great to see a tour of the store and their support for the channel!

[@z383tpi]

So that's what Thunder mountain bikes looks like. Haha. I'm in California, and ordered from them in April. They were the ONLY place that had a set of Lockjaw Deity grips in Mint. Everywhere else was sold out, with no eta on stock replenishment. So, needless to say, I was Skeptical if "in stock", was genuine and not just a way to sucker me into a wait list. I created a online chat via their website, and they assured me it was in stock. So, I gave them a shot, and it was legit. Shipping was fast! Ordered it April 19th, and was delivered on the 22nd. 😎 Glad to see my (albeit small $$) business went to a neat shop you support. Really enjoy the content. 🤘 HTP.

[@1DJTheMessenger]

The more dope my bike is the more I ride it. I know it's ridiculous but it is facts.

[@WhiteLycanthrope]

Loved the review. I've been considering going wireless but wasn't sure, this has me convinced it's the way to go. Cannot justify the cost currently as I only just built a new bike with a new GX groupset but it's definitely my number one most wanted upgrade for the future.

[@JimmyBeanz13]

I'll watch it, but be forewarned. Beer budget and is fine with me. 11sp on my new Ragley build with XT on new Stans M-pulse hub/wheels was a huge upgrade for me.

[@ricodvorsky3844]

I bought a 2019 Santa Cruz Bronson and got the carbon version with the justification of saving weight. It weighs about 14,5 kg...

[@Fearkillzone7506]

Here'my 2 cents. I run axs on both my HT and full sus (and I love it). IMO it's a better system on a full suspension bike. Because you have that rear pivot which can cause slack and added tension on a cable when under load. Also you said it too it's all a flex. Now try a reverb axs in your case I would recommend that over the DT all day being able to swap a dropper to a new frame is such a piece of cake I can't go back to cable droppers

[@hardtailparty]

I can't wait to get a couple axs droppers. Sadly they're sold out till March 2023.

[@brendanford4850]

Best upgrade is to just ride it. Nothing is needed. But if you want it, then all good. Sometimes we are worth it. Too true Steve we work hard for our money.

[@arlanhowe91]

My justification, built a new bike to see what gates carbon drive is like... Only issue with it so far is when people want to borrow chain lube, I don't know where it's at 🤔. Question for you though Steve, well two. Your water bottle cages, what kind are those? And the shirts you wear usually are button ups, are these bicycle specific or just regular bottom shirts? P.S. It's really cool watching you ride a bike you are clearly familiar with, as you should be since you designed it (so cool). The confidence you have on the climbs with it are very evident! Keep up the awesome work!

[@yamahschector]

My local go to bike shop is no longer what they use to be. We use to go in all the time buy the things we needed and drool over the stuff we never needed or could not afford. I recently went in to see what I could do for a new build and they did not have the parts stock they use to and they could not touch the online prices and availability. It’s a bummer we need tow shops to stay around.

[@jeff7086]

IMHO: my first component to splurge on for when considering a budget is the suspension- the thing that keeps the bike in control and on the ground. Shocks and forks are not equal and being able to dial in high/low speed rebounds do keep the bike planted. Second on my list is wheel set and high engagement hub . Rotating mass effects the ride quite a bit, heavy rims can make a bike feel like a slug. Dropping grams on light wheels can make a bike more lively and quick. third on my list is the group set - Advent X is fantastic and light weight, its a hard sell to go much more expensive for such a good performing groupset, however GX-Xo1 orXX1 and shimano SLX or XT XTR are better and has smaller gaps per gear for a easier time to get the perfect cadence and with larger gears do climb better as well. GX Axs is something I will consider up grade to one my current derailleur is toast and funds allow for the up grade.

[@hardtailparty]

Agreed on all accounts. Interestingly enough, I prefer the gear ratios of advent x over eagle. There's not enough of a difference between gears for me on eagle.

[@jeff7086]

@@hardtailparty It depends on the trail. with Advent X bike I ride mainly blues and some blacks and for rolling terrain its 98% what I need . I find that in some of the climbs the advent X is either a bit too low or just that touch too hard between gears. Some of my trails are 6-10+ miles up sustained climbing of over 3000k feet of elevation gain. With eagle (on my enduro bike) its much easier to find that perfect cadence even if its just a few RPMs + or - between gears it saves the legs on long climbs.

[@glock19gen3]

Wow, bikes are jumping into tech fast... so cool. Hope you guys are doing well :)

[@Marineboy67]

Great Video! I highly recommend obtaining & trying out the alternative shifter paddle, I think it is way more natural feeling & ergonomically better & only a 5 min swap out. Also liked the remove derailure for shipping tip, I never thought of that, but that’s a great tip.

[@TubaSolotheHiker]

I just picked up GX AXS upgrade kit, $100 off and an additional 15%. I figure it will never be cheaper than what I just got it for so I scooped it up. It arrives tomorrow. My only concern is that there are some complaints about chain slap in the internet peanut galleries. Anyone experience more chain slap noise after getting AXS?

[@mioutdoors426]

I'll wait for a new di2 mtb drivetrain,for now my xtr/garbaruk setup is fantastic.

[@hansonwang2121]

Great review! I’m glad you did it I really value your opinion. I like that you acknowledged how cheaper derailleurs break more often. For now I’ll stick to my XO1 but AXS is definitely a money no object upgrade.

[@ofacefan]

i personally love it for the crisp shifts and the ease of switching my nimble9 from single speed to 12 sp and not have to deal with the cable. (although that bike doesnt have internal routing so its a minor difference) only downside is forgetting to put the battery back on after charging.

[@Talos353]

how is the chain slap noise on GX AXS? i've heard its pretty loud?

[@edwardsamarin]

Been waiting for you to come out with a video like this. All though i primarily ride a full suspension, I highly value your opinion on products. Buying the best products or best that can be afforded is easily justified. Most of us bust our butts during the week and want thee most pleasurable experience when we get out to ride. Can most of us notice the difference of 5% better or the difference of NX to XO1 or Deore to XTR, Kashima coated vs Non, probably not. With that being said I am extremely performance driven and want to know that my equipment is going to be able to handle what i am throwing at it. So if i have to wait a little longer to save up for a particular part than so be it, but there will never be any doubt in my mind that spending the money was not worth it.

[@hardtailparty]

This is one of those products with a noticeable performance upgrade. I'll post a long term review down the road.

[@edwardsamarin]

@@hardtailparty it is definitely on the list of upgrades to come. Would love to see your thoughts on e-bikes in video form. No topic is more controversial than that.

[@wesleywermuth9545]

Thanks for the info Steve!

[@tacosuave558]

What cassette are you using? I have the gx axs and love it but I decided to get the e13 cassette and have not been too happy with the shifting quality. Seems like x01 is the way to go for quality and longevity but they are not cheap!! And I agree with you on only needing 10 speeds. Wish the 12spd was only a fad

[@hardtailparty]

I have used GX, x01, and xx1. I hate the e13 cassettes. They bend easily and don't shift great.

[@tacosuave558]

@@hardtailparty Yeah, e13 was a mistake! I think I wll try a xt casette next. Seems like guys are having great results with that!

[@rayr268]

You are supposed to long press and it will shift 3 gears automatically. set it up in the app I think .

[@mediaburn2]

"Bikes aways work" You have not my fleet of 5 MTB that need constant love to keep rolling.

[@amhtxc2960]

If this kills internal routing through the headset before it becomes mainstream, so be it. Another great video, thanks!

[@hardtailparty]

100% agree. That garbage needs to stop.

[@richardwebb3013]

Have you done a video on 2.6 vs 2.8 tires on your hardtail? The ride? Benefits? I ordered AXS.

[@hardtailparty]

Yes see my vids.

[@UKMitchy]

I was interested more in the compatibility with Shimano 12 speed as I run that on my bikes. (Not anti SRAM, just easier to get in the UK). XT Di2 is available, sometime soon, but seems to be designed for e bikes. I have various 27.5 and 29 wheelsets that I swap between full sus and hardtail. I use an NX cassette on 1 wheel as it was cheaper and easier than buying a Microspline hub. Works fine with an XT shifter. I assume the end points and B tension are set by screws still? Would be a good idea if you could show the set up process if that's possible.

[@Calfa2x]

I use the SLX 12-speed cassette, everything else SRAM with a X01 AXS shifter, no issues whatsoever, just adjust the b screw following Shimano's set up.

[@antoinep9733]

@@Calfa2x So do you use a Shimano chain on that set-up? (I have an SLX 12sp Kona with an XT shifter currently)

[@Calfa2x]

@@antoinep9733 I use the GX chain, I think the chain doesn't matter too much. I use GX since over here the GX chain is cheaper than the SLX chain.

[@TahoeRick]

Hello Hardtail Family - This is a great video. Its now a year old. How is the SRAM electric shifter holding up. I'd love to know. Please comment. TahoeRick.

[@William.N]

Definitely going to need a follow up video or two. I'm really curious about how this works out long term.

[@hardtailparty]

I promise I will.

[@chameleonpogono]

I've had the XO1 AXS for a year and a half with no issues. I imagine the Gx would be similar.

[@Fearkillzone7506]

@@chameleonpogono same here I sold the bike I had the XO1 axs on and the new bikes have gx and they are exactly the same. Only difference is it's slightly heavier but not enough to warrant spending $150-250 more on a derailleur.

[@chameleonpogono]

@@Fearkillzone7506 Great that you have been able to ride both and see the difference between the two.

[@greensleeves8095]

My justification?? I saw the GX AXS derailleur at a Trek store for 200 bucks and bought it immediately. And now I’m here. Do I have a 12 speed cassette? Nope. Do I have the batteries and remote? Nope.

[@GokkunGuru]

One more cool feature about AXS is you don’t need to worry about the H and L limits. The electronics shifts exactly the same distance each time, everytime whereas with cables, there’s too many variables.

[@hardtailparty]

Are you certain about that?

[@GokkunGuru]

@@hardtailparty Yeah it would be impossible for the system to shift beyond the biggest and smallest cogs. The shifts are electronically determined. There’s no cable or tension variables involved unlike cable actuated derailleurs. With AXS, you just set the H and L limits as a safety measure just in case there’s some sort of catastrophic failure causing the system to shift beyond its limits. SRAM confirmed this and they sent me some cool videos of scenarios where the derailleur broke and caused the system to overshift, in which case the limit screws kicked in as a backup measure to prevent the chain from going into the spokes or into the frame.

[@hardtailparty]

@@GokkunGuru very interesting. I wonder if this would still work if I had other cassettes or wheels on it. It sounds like it. Thanks for sharing that, I learned something new!

[@GokkunGuru]

@@hardtailparty SRAM of course advises consumers to stick with SRAM components. BUT I’ve seen many KZbinrs successfully use AXS with off brand cassettes and chains, namely Shimano. I’m sure you can try any 12 Speed cassette and use the micro adjustments on AXS to tune it. Micro adjust has 30 different points to choose from. You can tell by looking at the app when making adjustments. But of course, going off brand runs the risk of compromising performance.