SRAM XPLR vs EAGLE Cassette Breakdown | Tighter Gears?

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Be sure to visit my website at www.blackwaterbicycles.com Subscribe: tinyurl.com/yyd6vb6k Follow me on: Instagram: instagram.com/blackwater.bicycles Facebook: facebook.com/blackwaterbicycles1/ Strava: www.strava.com/athletes/179615

[@xaviermelendez2639]

Hi, really great review and very insightful. I do have one small, but considerable suggestion. Although the modern metric of using ratios/percentages is helpful, it would be just as important to also list gear inches or meters. As an example of the why you'd want that could simply be to see the difference in the high gear and low gear in inches between drivetrains. This would help to take into the account that the SRAM XPLR 10-44 cassette when paired with a 40T chainring would have a lower top gear (40x10=110.5in at 700x40m tire) vs. the Eagle 10-50 cassette when paired with a 44T (44x10=121.6 at 700x40m tire). 11 gear inches is a very BIG difference in gearing and also speed at the same RPM, and more to the point, a 121.6in gear while riding off-road/gravel is HUGE. Also, for reference, here are the lowest gears in inches for both the XPLR (40x44=25.1in) and Eagle (44x50=24.3in). As a long time cyclist and former shop mechanic, I continue to see folks like SRAM touting ratios when thats really not the complete picture of drivetrain set ups. Instead, it seems like clever marketing. Talk to any of the old timers and they almost exclusively talk gear inches (or meters). So far, strictly in terms of gearing steps and set-up, it looks like Campagnolo Ekar 1x or the SRAM Force 10-36 2x drivetrains are pretty close to spot on. www.bikecalc.com/gear_inches

[@christianverry4878]

This is a great review. I would reiterate what has already been stated: it depends on where you want your tight jumps. XPLR is tighter in the mid-cassette, where you could argue tighter jumps are more important. It has bigger jumps at the taller end of the cassette where you also want bigger jumps. The areas where XPLR has bigger jumps is, on average, 1% larger than Eagle. This is negligible, equating to 1 RPM. IMO it doesn't get impactful until you get above 2% difference in jump size. I think if you like a tight mid cassette, XPLR makes more sense than Eagle. Eagle has a larger range, by a bit, but you pay the price with larger mid range jumps. Thanks for the effort of this review.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Thanks Christian! I appreciate the feedback and really agree with your assessment here.

[@ysarn]

Old thread, but interesting, I think that the newer HG compatible SRAM Apex AXS 12 speed 11-44 is probably preferable to the previous 10-44 on the XDR freehub. It starts with 11-12-13, so nice small jumps where you need them, as pushing a larger gear is hard. You can then match this up to a 44 tooth chainring, 44 x 11 gives you exactly the same 111.4 gear inch top gear as a 40 x 10 setup, and a 1:1 lowest gear of 44 x 44. If you need lower, you need Eagle anyway probably. And it will be more efficient as well (bigger chainrings and cassette sprockets are more efficient than smaller ones). I do think on both 10-44 and 11-44 they missed a trick at the lower end, going 28-32-38-44, the gear inch changes don't increase as they should by having 4,6,6 tooth gaps, giving 5.0, 5.5 and 4.0 fewer gear inches. 28-32-37-44 would be much more logical and 4,5,7 tooth gaps giving 5.0, 4.7 and 4.8 fewer gear inches.

[@Liplip40]

Mullet is the way. This video was one of the data points I used to make the jump from GRX 810 to a Force / X01 rear der setup. Couldn’t be more satisfied. Went GX for the cassette in a attempt to keep costs in check; very pricey (GX cassette) to extreme (XX1 cassette) . Biggest drawback is weight increase across the board if that matters to you. The range is great; good mid and top range for cadence riding with the added benefit of a granny gear. GRX calipers are better, but super stoked outside of that.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

So glad that the video was beneficial for you. You can always upgrade your calipers to some nice Hope RX4. I have them on my Sram equipped bike and they are sick!

[@ParzivalHB]

I agree w most of this, but the 11-44 cassette has a tighter range on the high end. 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 24, 28, 32, 38, 44 and that makes plenty of sense w a 40 or 42T front chain ring.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

I agree completely. I love their low end 11-44. When I made this video, they didn't have it yet since it was released with Apex AXS.

[@ktbikefun]

A good review... exactly what I want to learn :) as now in process of picking up a gravel bike and deciding between Eagle vs XPLR... so looks like if I have 2 wheelsets 10-36 and 10-44 XPLR would have some advantage?

[@fredwentz5745]

I see XPLR as a better cost option vs Eagle. The RD and Cassette like for like are cheaper in the XPLR range than they are in the Eagle range. i.e. an XO1 Eagle cassette is $378, the Force XPLR cassette is $250. The Force XPLR RD is about $350, the XO1 Eagle is $510 . Chains are similar in cost. That said, I like the gearing available in the Campy 10-44. I want those 1 tooth jumps at the small end of the cassette. And when I get to the big end, I don't care too much about the size of the jumps, but I want the range. That 10-44 with a 40T front will do it for me. Wish I could get that in a wireless drivetrain.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Great points Fred! I agree with you on the cost points but they do have the Sram GX AXS now which is more competitive as far as cost but I am sure it is heavier than the Force Stuff. I actually like more options from companies but feel like sram is just cashing in on the "gravel" marketing here more so than actually innovating. I have made a wireless 1x14 setup with a campy cassette. A fun little project. Check out that video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGPWYqanrcuZrck

[@johnlschmidt1117]

Ekar has it nailed for 1x options

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Yeah they really have set the standard for what a 1x should be. Really expected Sram to do this before Campy ever would have. I was looking forward to a legit wireless 1x system but will have to wait.

[@KruiserIV]

Where are you riding that you’d want it such tight grouping at 12-13-14-15 on a gravel bike?

[@johnlschmidt1117]

@@KruiserIV in a group on the road

[@virginiascurti5036]

It's also way too fing expensive.

[@edfungus]

Idk, I rarely touch 10-13 and when I do, its going down a big hill so 1 tooth jumps is nice but not critical. Having 15-28 range tighter than eagle seems reasonable at least for my riding

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Yeah it really depends on where you are riding but I just feel it is not enough difference from the Eagle cassette or other offerings out there like GRX. GRX has even tighter gearing in the middle and end of the cassette.

[@ivanobulo]

Don't forget that XPLR is a 1x system only. There is no "big" ring. 10-13 a sweet spot on tarmac with 40T crankset. 40t-10t at 90rpm is a 28.2 ml/h and 40t-13t is 21.7ml/h. On a 38t crankset it is even more important.

[@portland675]

Fantastic video! I’m excited to see how well this will work in a road one by setup compared to other options. We will have to see what the new XTR di2 looks like to compare shimano’s offering.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Thanks! I am actually interested in the XPLR cassette for riding gravel on my MTB. Shimano XTR 12 speed looks good but they are not showing any 1x options. Sram and Shimano are just milking their 12 speed systems when they could easily make a 1x13 system.

[@nategibson7330]

@@BlackWaterCyclist that 1x14 patent has been around for a decade now! The coolest thing I am waiting for is the floating 1x chainring with perfect chain line

[@papleh09]

Very informative video, thanks for sharing! I'm exploring gearing options for my first grave bike purchase - I mountain bike in Vermont using a SRAM GX Eagle 32t crank & 10/50 cassette, I am trying to gauge how different a 40t crank with the same cassette would feel on a gravel bike - would love any insight. I'd be using the bike for general commuting occasionally as well as rides on varied terrain with steeper climbs ~30% of riding time. And won't be pedaling fast downhill and not cadence focused.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

I think a 40T would work well for you. When you go with smaller tires on a gravel bike, it is like gearing down to a smaller gear up front so you have to put a larger ring up front to equal what you were doing with your MTB. The Shelton Brown website has a great gear inches calculator which includes all components of a bike to figure out how far it will travel per revolution of pedal stroke. I would check that out.

[@davidcrews6170]

Can you run the E13 cassette with the xplr rd and flat top chain? Also, if I currently have a full xplr set up, and I want to do a mullet, do I just put on an eagle cassette + eagle rd + 12sp MTB chain? Is that it?

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

The E13 Cassette spacing is too close for the XPLR RD. I have used a flat top chain on an Ekar Cassette before but it will wear it down quickly due to the larger rollers. Yes, you are correct if you want to do a Mullet set up with the Eagle AXS. Just pair your road shifters to the Eagle AXS RD and use an Eagle 10-50 or 10-52 cassette and the Eagle 12 speed chain. The new Transmission RD, Cassette, chain are different than the previous Eagle AXS.

[@ArjanBBBB]

Hello Form Holland, can i use a xplr cassette with a xx1 derailleur on my mtb ?

[@Roger101Watson]

This explains why my new rival xplr equipped gravel bike feels 'sluggish' against my old GRX-equipped one. It looks like it's the gear ratio in the area I generally ride so I might not be slower it just feels like that. I do wonder why SRAM only offer 2 xplr cassette and does not appear to offer a lightweight XG-1290 version. Maybe Red D2 2024

[@ezclimb1]

So I’m not sure it was specifically answered here so sorry if I’m asking something that was answered- I have a 1x setup with eagle axs RD and it’s corresponding 10-50 cassette. I’m doing Paris Roubaix in a few weeks and there isn’t much climbing so I thought I’d put a smaller cassette on (and a slightly larger chainring- running 42t now and will mount 44t). So- can I install a 10-36 axs cassette and will it work? Or is there another option that I have to get me tighter jumps in the big gears? Thanks!!

[@quincyi4182]

Any intel / confirmation on the actual compatibility of an Eagle RD + chain with an XPLR or 10-36 cassette? I think thats the real crux of the issue as mentioned in the video. If you can run both cassettes, swap between wheels, and hop on your trainer with an old 10-36 cassette, then GX Eagle AXS seems like the best of all worlds. If you really do need the 10-50 dinner plate on each wheelset in order to use the Eagle RD, that kind of sucks for gravel... I understand that officially SRAM says these groupsets / chains / cassettes are not cross-compatible, but more interested in what is actually possible? Wouldn't surprise me if they work fine together while SRAM is just saying they don't... Thanks for the great video!

[@quincyi4182]

One other question - why would the XPLR RD not be compatible with a 2x system? Somehow this doesn't make sense to me (why would an AXS Red RD work with 1x and 2x, but XPLR RD doesn't? Its the same tech with a longer knuckle...) Seems more like a tactic to make the AXS Wide groupset relevant vs. any mechanical limitation with XPLR... To many grupos SRAM, just make them all work together! Side note: Ted King is seen using an XPLR RD on a 2x bike in his recent VT Everesting video (he claims he's using it only in the little ring). Smells fishy. If no-one has any insight, I'll report back if I do go with XPLR to replace my 2x Red grupo.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

I have used Eagle chains with the AXS cassettes and it worked but the shifting was not exact. You could possibly make it work. The rear derailleur is what decides what space the top pulley moves. An Eagle rear derailleur may move too far into that 46t but you could limit that with the limit screws so like I said, it maybe close enough that it would work. The issue with the XPLR rear derailleur is that it is a parallelogram which means the chain length determines how low the top pulley is pulled down. Your normal 2x rear derailleurs, the pulley is lined up with the knuckle while the 1x rear derailleur, the top pulley sits higher than the knuckle when in small cogs and then when the chain pulls the lower pulley down, the upper pulley is pulled below the knuckle to clear the larger cogs. If you had the parallelogram style rear derailleur with a front derailleur, when you shift from small ring to big ring up front, it would pull the upper pulley too far down and change the distance from the pulley to the cogs. I hope that makes sense.

[@quincyi4182]

@@BlackWaterCyclist thanks! Makes total sense

[@neilashton9459]

AXS road (flat top chain) is a totally different chain. It has thinner plates and larger rollers so does not work with SRAM Eagle etc. Check out Zero Friction Cycling’s many video’s for excruciating details. I have learned the hard way if your gravel bike is an Eagle mullet setup, there is now way to have a road option without using the dinner plate Eagle cassette. You can’t micro adjust for road cassette as the B gap difference when set up for a 50t large cog is totally fubar when replaced with a 36 - and again chains are not the same. And no go with XPLR as its a different cassette spacing. Super frustrating as SRAM could have done more for cross compatibility.

[@jon.e19]

Great info! Question about a possible hack build.. Using the force wide rear derailleur (currently 10-36 cassette) any way to run the Xplr 10-44 without dishing out more $$ and replacing rear derailleur. So much for cross compatibility. I want to use my 10-36 for roadie wheelset and 10-44 bikecamping wheelset!!

[@BrentChilliwack]

You could probably try a roadlink from Wolftooth?

[@joelespina5686]

Thanks I found this video. I have question, 1 want to run a mullet build mechanical eagle build cassette and rd. Which sram road equivalent (mechanical) will I need to run 12 speed? Tia

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

I am guessing you are wanting to use the Ratio tech 12 speed guts? Sram does not offer 12 speed mechanical but you can get the Ratio tech guts and they have a fin that you can install on a SRAM MTB Rear Derailleur to make it compatible with the Ratio tech guts. I hope that makes since. I can send links if you need them.

[@davidgoco1]

You can now, with Apex Eagle

[@nathancouse3596]

When swapping from a 10-44 cassette on my gravel wheels and a 10-36 on my road wheels how much would i actually have to adjust? Will the chain lenght stay the same? Derailer adjustment needed?

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Because that one is so close, you might get away with the same chain length. The issue is going to be in your small cogs. The extra chain slack will cause the upper pulley to run too close to your gears and possibly hit them. In the past I've always had two master links on my 1x bikes. When I run the smaller cassette, I remove 2 links, and then when I run the larger cassette, I add them back. Get yourself some master link pliers and it will be easy.

[@cyco3285]

I would like to know if with a gx eagle trans I can use a 10-36 , 10-44 cassettes?

[@lukaszhajbos9762]

Me to. I want to put 10-44 cassette to xx1 12 speed setup. Any luck with that setup??

[@BikeLife154]

Can you put a SRAM 10-36 on with the explr groupset? I find the jumps are too big and the 44 etc is too easy!

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Yes that should work. You will probably have to adjust the b limit screw so the pulley is closer to the 36t on the smaller cassette. The spacing is identical. You may or may not have to adjust the chain length. I don't think you honestly.

[@BikeLife154]

@@BlackWaterCyclist thanks for the reply!

[@stefans4562]

How is 10 to 12 a 17% jump?

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

The gearing calculator I was using said 17% but it is actually 18.18%. Sorry about that.

[@joecondron2131]

Hi there from Ireland 🇮🇪, curious about one thing! About the gaps, does the size of the chainring affect the gaps? So would the gaps be bigger or smaller if compared say with a 44 ring or say a 40t crank?? My 1x set up is 44 and a 11 - 42 cassette br Sram. Fastest gear is 108 gear inches. That equates to having to go at least 25mph to drive top gear. Running 650b x 47mm tyres. It's geared too high for me tbh. Best way to measure the gaps between gears is I'm afraid is gear inches, not percentages. Very slow to work out with a calculator but it really works for a matter of fact kinda way.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

I haven't looked into it in enough detail but I'd like to tinker with it and see if it would be different. The jumps between gears are always going to be the same percentage so I would imagine it doesn't matter what size the front chain ring is when it comes to the change in Rpm which is really what everyone has issues with on larger jumps. At 100rpm, a 20 percent change between gears would be a move down to 80rpm which would be the same no matter the size of the front chain ring. I could be missing something here though.

[@MikeRegrexion]

Sorry to revamp an old question... yes different chainring definitely affect the range. With the same cassette a bigger chainring makes you feel the jumps more than a smaller chainring

[@_PATRlCK]

Iam thinking about the XPLR group on a very light and fast Hardtail 🤓

[@drbenjaminalter]

I might be missing something, but it looks like the 12 spd EThirteen gravel cassette is 9-45 and goes from 9 to 11. jumping the 10 cog! If it had a way of getting that 10 in there, then this would be the best one for sure.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Yeah I was referring to their older TRS+ cassette that went from 9,10,12. The new one doesn't have as good of a gearing. You are exactly right, if they had 9,10,11 then that would be amazing.

[@drbenjaminalter]

@@BlackWaterCyclist and thanks for this great video that is still super relevant. Been on the fence about getting an xplr setup for my gravel bike that came with the mullet eagle, but this affirms that I definitely don't want/need that!

[@nochancecw]

I picked this group set for my upcoming bud because how cheap the etap rival xplr version is - good bang for buck. It will be interesting to see if I hate the top end jumps. Good video perspective, thanks.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Yeah it's hard to beat the price of going with XPLR compared to the other groups. If you run larger tires, it probably won't be an issue. How has it been working for you?

[@RunChaseRun1]

@@BlackWaterCyclist it's been a beauty. Running a 40 front 11-44 rear with 42mm tires. It's good for me so far.

[@thedownunderverse]

@@RunChaseRun1 who makes the 11-44 rear?

[@jorgecoslada89]

Hello I wanted to know if I can install an xplr cassette on my bike on my MTB which currently has a GX 10-50 cassette mounted. I would like to know if it is compatible with my XD core or do I need the XDR core. Thank you very much.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

They only advertise the XPLR to be available with the XDR but they are almost identical except for a few MM more space on the spline of the XDR vs the XD. I can text one of my 12 speed AXS cassettes on a reg XD and see if it works for you. The other issue you will have is that the spacing on the XPLR cassette is different than the 10-50 Eagle cassette. The Eagle cassette is designed for a wider 12 speed Eagle chain while the XPLR uses the narrower flat top chain. So just buying the XPLR cassette and throwing it on the MTB may not work for you because the MTB rear derailleur indentions are for the wider 12 speed Eagle spacing. I hope that makes sense.

[@Peregrino.51]

@@BlackWaterCyclist if on an AXS platform, all he would need is the appropriate pulley wheels, and for the rocker shifter to actuate AXS road pull ratios. Then maybe it would work 🤔

[@thomasbausch2478]

Any update on that?

[@adamkubiak1933]

Thank you!

[@virginiascurti5036]

GRC should be 11-38, 11-40 or 11-42 which it's RD are hackable to get a setup to work for more range.

[@The2808erik]

The XPLR Cassette is better for gravel bikes, because you gonna do a lot of road riding and huge gear ratio jumps are annoying to cadence when you ride fast on tarmac. It makes sense. The smaller cogs from 10-21 on the XPLR only have 1 then 2 tooth jumps all the way from 10-21 teeth the eagle only 2 tooth jumps and only to 18, on a gravel bike the xplr cassette will be most likely paired with a road crank that has 40 teeth or more. It makes sense if you ride a lot of road if you want to have perfect comfortable cadence at all times, this is very important to me when doing a lot of miles.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

The only issue is that the XPLR cassette only has the 10-11 tooth jump being significally closer than the spread of the eagle. The rest are 2 tooth jumps like the eagle. Ekar 10-44 cassette is much better because it has 1 tooth jumps from the 10-11-12-13-14 so you have 5x 1 tooth jumps while the XPLR only has the 10-11 and then it goes 12-14-16. They should have designed it to have a few more 1 tooth jumps and it would have been perfect.

[@The2808erik]

@@BlackWaterCyclist Drastic changes in gear ratio personally only bother me at high speeds on road. Sure Ekar is nice in theory but I heard horrible things from friends about adjustability and shifting performance being very poor.

[@tylerjenicek4652]

Basically, we just need ekar to go wireless and all is well with the world

[@thedownunderverse]

Amen.

[@KruiserIV]

I’m shocked that you would ping SRAM for the 1-tooth jump, and choose Ekar for their six 1-tooth jumps. That Ekar group is much less general purpose than the XPLR group and while I love Campy gear, there’s no way I’d choose it for the reasons given. It’s far too specialized for gravel where I’m from. XPLR gives you fast options, mid-range options, and then about as low a gear as *most* folks will need. I’m basing my XPLR recommendation on experience.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Sorry but it just isn't different enough from Eagle or even just running an e13 9-46 cassette.