A 12 months on SRAM’s radical AXS T-Sort Transmission – the decision

After 1,200km and one bent derailleur, we give our opinion on SRAM’s hi-tech drivetrain.

In March final 12 months, SRAM unveiled its radical AXS T-Sort Transmission, promising that the brand new drivetrain would deliver unparalleled energy, sturdiness, and precision shifting. It was to be the pinnacle of derailleur drivetrains – with a price-tag to match – meticulously designed to work in excellent concord within the hardest of environments. However it was not with out controversy, with riders bemoaning the excessive value of particular person elements and the lack of the sacrificial half between costly body and rear mech.

I’ve had the high-end XX T-Sort Transmission fitted to a Specialised Turbo Levo since October 2022, and have clocked up 1,200km via two of the wettest and muddiest UK winters on file. So how has T-Sort held up? What’s labored and what hasn’t? What are its strengths and weaknesses? And is upgrading well worth the important monetary funding? These are the questions I’ll reply in our newest video.

SRAM XX Eagle AXS Transmission combines a most strong mech with correct, easy shifts in each state of affairs. However extra strong doesn’t imply infallible.

For those who haven’t learn my first journey overview of SRAM’s XX AXS T-Sort Transmission, or Sean’s first journey overview of the GX AXS T-Sort, let me summarise my early impressions:

• I cherished the actual fact you can bolt it to your bike and be up and working in only a few minutes. No must faff round tuning the gears or threading cables via the body; simply pair the mech and shifters and away you go. The one essential adjustment to make is the B-gap, which is a two-position setting. So that you’re both proper or flawed. No ambiguity.
• In a world the place repairability is more and more necessary, it’s nice to see the AXS derailleur totally rebuildable. As the costliest, and weak a part of the drivetrain, SRAM has put plenty of thought into making it user-friendly to strip-down, service, and restore.
• Neat options just like the Magic Wheel decrease pulley, and Overload Clutch, assist shield the mech from knocks, scrapes, and errant sticks which can be half and parcel of each journey.
• The shift high quality is exceptionally strong, exact, and easy. Regardless of the gradient, nonetheless a lot energy and torque you’re placing via the system, you’re handled to an ideal shift each time. It’s the very best derailleur-based shifting I’ve ever used.
• I didn’t get on that properly with the brand new shifter pods. In comparison with the outdated AXS controller with the Rocker Paddle, I discovered it onerous to search out the best button in a rush, notably on tough floor. My thumb would bounce round on the buttons and infrequently shift extra gears than I wished to.
• Having crashed a number of instances onto the drive-side, it was nice to see the XX mech undamaged in the course of the early take a look at interval. Nevertheless, the mech did get bent afterward, after getting caught on a root in a slim gully. This bent the decrease cages outwards and required a substitute decrease cage meeting – although the clutch and pulleys had been undamaged. The prices of this new half is an eye-watering £181. Which might sting for those who’d simply invested just below £2k in a brand new drivetrain. Repairing the mech is tremendous simple, however the vulnerability of the decrease cage – notably on a mullet bike – is a matter all derailleur drivetrains undergo from, whether or not you have got a burly direct body mount or a smooth, throw-away mech hanger.
• The shifting velocity is way slower than outdated AXS throughout a number of gears. To get from one facet of the block to a different takes round 2-3 seconds with outdated AXS, whereas T-Sort takes round 6-7 seconds. Nevertheless, the result’s much less put on and no mangled shifts, so it’s a value value paying.
• When it comes to sturdiness, my XX T-Sort transmission has lasted extraordinarily properly. With 1,200km on the clock, of principally winter driving, on an e-bike, the chain is registering a put on of lower than 0.5%. On condition that it’s best to substitute the chain at between 0.5% and 0.8% relying on how conscientious you might be, I reckon you’ll be able to count on to get 1,600km (1,000 miles) out of a sequence and three,000km out of a cassette.

The Magic Wheel in motion – a intelligent function given how simply the massive pulley wheels and narrow-wide profile appears to choose up particles.

So a 12 months on T-Sort and it’s truthful to say it’s been a blended bag. I’ve cherished the shifting efficiency, in truth I’d go so far as to say it’s the very best derailleur-based shifting I’ve ever skilled. And it hasn’t missed a beat come rain or shine and thru the worst of winter.

To date it’s confirmed impressively sturdy, and I haven’t but reached a degree the place even the chain wants changing. However I’ve additionally managed to bend the mech, which i believe we’d all be glad to place right down to dangerous luck. Nevertheless, having to exchange the entire cage meeting appears like a stretch when it’s solely the 2 plates which can be bent. And that makes it an costly restore, even when it’s a fraction of the price of a brand new mech.

The rear mech is totally rebuildable, however our bent cage required a whole decrease cage meeting (prime proper), which prices a hefty £181.

To finish this I believe it’s value going again to my authentic first journey from March. I concluded it by saying that, if the primary XX1 Eagle was the ultimate nail within the coffin of the entrance derailleur, then T-Sort Transmission could possibly be the kiss of demise for damaged mechs. Plainly that isn’t the case, and I believe for that to occur mountain bikes will want a extra radical answer, whether or not that’s taking away the derailleur altogether via a gearbox, or tucking it contained in the body just like the Supre Drive. When it comes to derailleur methods although, I do suppose T-Sort Transmission gives the very best efficiency in the marketplace.

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