After years of rumors and Instagram teasers, SRAM's wireless Eagle AXS mountain bike drivetrain is finally a real, live thing that will be on the shelves this coming April. 12-speeds, a few batteries and circuit boards, and most notably, no cables or wires to be seen. Instead, you push a button and the shifter tells the derailleur what to do via an encrypted wireless network. An impressive amount of work and technology went into moving the chain from cog to cog, but all you'll hear is a soft '
vvvvt' sound as it all happens between your feet.
It's as neat as it sounds, and also just as expensive as you'd expect; the XX1-level group goes for $2,000 USD and includes titanium bits and a carbon fiber derailleur cage. For reference, that's $500 more than mechanical XX1, around $500 less than an XTR Di2 group, and $100 more than the X01 Eagle AXS that skips the fancy materials used for the top-tier drivetrain.
The wireless Reverb dropper uses the same technology, and it goes for a whopping $800 USD or more than twice as much as the Stealth version.
Want to know all the other details and specs? They're covered
ad nauseam in my 'First Ride' article, but below are some of the stranger Eagle AXS facts.
#1 -
AXS might have debuted a few years ago if Eagle didn't happen. It was only a decade ago that 2x10 drivetrains were supposed to be the way to go, and just six years since SRAM did the 1X thing... which, I'm told, is actually around the same time that they had a prototype 11-speed electronic drivetrain up and running. It was still very early days and the decision was made to put resources towards the mechanical 12-speed Eagle group rather than a wireless system.
SRAM says that they kept a small team beavering away on it, but who knows what we'd be riding right now if they had decided to go electronic five or six years ago?
#2 -
Like all electronic devices, SRAM has to have each and every battery-powered component certified in every country they want to sell AXS parts in. The certifications vary depending on the country and the device's specifics, too. What are there, circuit board police, or something? Not quite, but you may have heard of the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) in the United States that test things like electromagnetic emissions and other science-type stuff.
SRAM has a guy whose only job is to certify electronic components in different countries, which often requires ten samples and a six-digit budget. It's also why SRAM went out of their way to make sure the AXS electronics were future-proof and versatile - they don't want to have to re-certify anything.
#3 -
No, you can't "hack" into your friend's derailleur to lock everything out but the 10-tooth cog, as amusing as that would be. SRAM has built-in some security features to keep your ''buddy'' or pesky Russian hackers from forcing you to high-post down Deadman's hill. To control the derailleur or seatpost's action, you need to have it paired to the shifter, and in order to do that you have to press and hold a button down on the derailleur or post - you need physical contact in order to pair the devices, and the serial number, too.
#4 -
The rear derailleur has a built-in gearbox, and I'm not even trying to stir the pot with this one. The tiny electric motor hidden inside the derailleur spins at something like 80,000 RPM, which is neat but also completely useless when it comes to shifting gears because SRAM needed torque, not RPM. So that's where the even tinier gearbox comes in by gearing it down and converting it to torque.
The "gearbox" is really just a few very small, very precisely cut gear wheels that SRAM says will last the lifetime of the derailleur.
#5 - The AXS derailleur has TWO different clutches. There's the now-normal one-way clutch that helps keep the chain on, of course, but there's also something called the "Overload clutch." That important-sounding device isolates the tiny gearbox from the forces of you smashing the derailleur into a rock. Internally, it's basically a one-way bearing, a friction device, and a little cylinder that slides in and out to release the gearbox from the derailleur.
It's also worth noting that the AXS derailleur is shorter than the mechanical version, so there's more ground clearance, and it offers more chain wrap to boot.
1) An article can be an advertisement, it's not mutually exclusive.
2) Nobody here is under any illusions that this is a test or breaking ground on how well this will preform, it's a first look at the product.
3) Why are you even on this article if you resent it existing so much? For drama? Go away.
1) no, it can't.
3) yes, for the drama. or maybe because i would like better out of PB
Looking at most of your comments in your profile, you seem to have shit stirring as your prime objecting. Have some self reflection dude!
i'm not trolling, but apparently i've accidentally succeeded at trolling you...
Sorry to anyone reading through us nattering. I'll stop now.
Worth noting; Sram makes a lot of products, from suspension to brakes, so it's normal they'll turn up more often.
It is therefore a meaningless statement.
2.Brook Shields is not among the pictures of aged celebrities, even though she was featured on the thumbnail
3.They never show you the "how to get rich" youtube video that millionaires don't want you to see.
4.The method the single mother uses to make 3500 dollars a week working from her home, doesn't work for you
5.The video of elephant carrying a lion cub to the water supply is fake.
I've been told he had a standing order with Park Tool. Anything new, he wanted it.
I also knew a guy when I lived in Seattle who worked at the hotel where RW was staying during a comedy tour about ten years ago. (RW was registered as Armand Goldman - very clever. Google it.) So when registering at the front desk, this guy got to talking with RW about cycling as it was known that Robin was into bikes. RW asked if there were any bike shops worth visiting, and was guided to nearby Elliott Bay Bicycles (RIP) so he could see the Davidson frame shop, as well as Gregg's Greenlake Cycles. RW returned to the hotel later in the day with two new bikes and a heap of new cycling garb.
1) Regardless of what sort of IP rating it has passed, what salt spray testing and standards did it pass?
2) For the battery life, how long will it run for in sub 30F weather when the battery is new. How about after a hundred charge cycles? I assume the mech battery is Lipo.
3) Are the external power contacts gold plated as opposed to nickel?
4) Aside from a small gasket on plastic parts, are there any other moisture protection provisions a la membranes or conformal coating to ensure protection from moisture when some gets in, but can't get out?
What are the shake 'n' bake tests ? Thermal / Vibration / Drop etc.
Also EMC tests including ESD (that's electromagnetic compliance and electrostatic discharge).
Water submersion tests as well would be good.
Throw in an earthquake test too. Oh wait that's for Telecom equipment !
www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=cE_36Er2B1Q
I expect SRAM does at least subject their components to similar tests. Being a German company though, I expect SRAM to be a bit more scientific .
I've never heard of Azor bikes, but they should totally make one called the Azor Ahai, but then HBO would probably sue them.
And will your shifter need to update 3x a week like adobe acrobat?
And like my car can i buy an aftermarket chip to mod my shift times to happen even faster?
Will I get sued if I use this on a road bike?
After offering the app for free to build the user base, SRAM introduces a monthly subscription program.
In five years, AXS parts are dirt cheap on Ebay because the Android app won't run on the current Facebook OS phones, and Android has gone the way of Windows Phone.
While not life threatening, in a XC race, in tight quarters with other riders, or on a technical section, it could have safety implications. While I doubt anyone is going to die, it could change the outcome of a race or cause someone to fall over unexpectedly onto other riders or trail features.
It'd be more likely to have implications for the standings of an event, I could see someone meddling with it during an elite competition, but not much else.
The slipping was just an example of what it might feel like if the above happened, not exactly what would happen if it was messed with.
Maybe we should treat a bike like someone treats a guitar.
A cheap guitar, you'll be able to play, the Fret board won't be perfect the tuners won't always keep tune, the pickups may not be of choice but the basic qualities of the guitar will be there, and anyone who can shred will be able to shred.
Gibson has made guitars for years with electric auto-tuners and they are expensive too, and the sound beautiful, but do you need to have one?
Most people would settle for something in the $1000 - $2000 range and be perfectly happy.
For bikes new technology comes along like this and they tout it as the next evolution and step in bike drivetrains, but in reality it isn't. It's too antiquated, it's too complex to be of basic necessities to most people.
It's just going to one of those things, the pros will use it on stage and the collectors will have it locked away, shined and look at with admiration.
Meanwhile will all just keep playing the same tune as we did before.
(Hopefully this makes sense to someone other then myself)
A similarly priced PRS has 10x better QC and build quality.
First article: "There are five things you might not know"
Second article: "Thing one"
Third article: "Thing two"
By the time the sixth article is being released, they've already been through production issues, canceled part of the project and released a temporary black crank.
Just be glad that you now already know what you might not know.
Release a product. Want to make a change... EMC legislation just changed. Oh the joys. So much fun being an EE. 95% paperwork and compliance. 5% design.
Question is: Is the derailleur being defiant or is there a great big hulking robot overlord taking names for latter?
Sramspeak translation : about six rides before you need a new 500$ derailleur.
Last summer I was at Canmore and I saw a sign on the trail "No Fatbiking" - I at first thought they were discriminating against me because I had gotten so out of shape
I mean sure. Almost anything wireless can be hacked or jammed if you try hard enough or brute Force secure keys.
But what's the point? It's not like there's enough money in this stuff and you can just reset to your paired phone. You could do it during racing I suppose to hurt your competitors but everyone would know really quickly if that was going on.
Most "hacking" of things happens for one of 2 reasons: 1. For fun to explore protocols and systems or 2. For profit. (For example get password and then access bank account).
I don't see any profit in hacking someone else's rear derailleur so if someone takes the time/effort to break into this its probably because they want to customize it.
"The big news though is SRAM stepping up its sponsorship by adding Trek to its existing support of Katusha. There are strong rumours of a new Red eTap groupset coming possibly this year, and it might also be 12-speed..."
I would not equate changing sponsorship with dropping because they are hackable. In fact, I'll do you one better by pointing to another article on that site on the topic of SRAM eTap being safe. road.cc/content/news/119275-srams-wireless-shifting%E2%80%94-saboteurs-dream
I'm not going to quote my resume but I assure you I know the difference . But for the purposes of "screw up someone's shifting" there is no difference.
Maybe I'm slightly less conspiratorially minded and dont seeing someone being that hostile to do something like this purposefully. Maybe in the road scene but there's not that much money in Mt bike racing. And if you're caught...
As Type 2 and 2.1 clutches seem to lose their strength without retightening them and Type 3 doesn't seem to be adjustable as older versions this would be another useful upgrade.
Gateway drug?
Other than that- if it works cool, way too expensive for me.
That also really doesn’t address someone that can send messages directly to the mech, they seem real focused on preventing someone from messing with this system via their phone over the Bluetooth interface but haven’t really talked at all about the security around the communications between the shifter and mech. The fact they are proprietary and encrypted doesn’t really mean much on it’s own.
"No? that didn't help? well I've done all I can do....
I'll tell you: we would be riding cable actuated derialleurs, like we will in 5 years from now.
This is simply stupid; shimano's was (is) stupid, and this even more (because wireless). Seems more like a cold war/showcase thing than a real world project.
1 - There is nothing that can't be hacked. Nothing.
2 - Wireless is an absolutely terrible idea on a machine which you entrust with your life.
And re #2 I am interested to know if you own and operate any motorized transportation. Just how far do you take this assertion?
Point 1: Even if the system is hackable. Honestly who would really take all that time just to hack into some guys drivetrain on a bicycle (aside from a computer savy friend who might just want to mess with you). Maybe, just maybe in a high level race event someone might try and cheat by hacking the other teams drivetrain(s) but thats still the side of highly unlikely and for not much benefit.
2. I think entrusting your life with a drivetrain is a bit of an exaggeration because a mechanical drivetrain can and will fail in the exact same basic way; not let you shift gears. You can still snap a cable while in the middle of nowhere and be left stuck in a specific gear. Same result from a drained battery or failure on an electronic system.
Personally the scariest drivetrain failures I could imagine happening to me that would result in the possibility of a big crash would be; 1. Derailleur breaking off and being sucked into my wheel and destroying alot of spokes. 2. Chain snapping while mashing the pedals into a high speed jump. Both of these scenarios can happen whether or not the system is electronic or mechanical.
Long story short:
Terrorists don’t want to hack it & it won’t explode and kill you if it fails.
All that being said I’m sticking with my mechanical system for the time being, or for multi-day rides where the 20hr charge isn’t enough.
Maybe when the price trickles down in the following years will I consider it.
More likely is jamming during the tour. It would be easy to jamb the shifting of a break-away group during a climb, or perhaps the remaining peloton. No hacking is needed, just a simple jammer.
Whoa, you must not be a scuba diver as wireless (ultrasound) dive computers are common and is this case you DO really entrust your life with it (air left, time for decompression). A bike derailer is a joke... saves on cables to make easier to pedal. big deal...
On the second point - chains can break and derailleurs can be broken by sudden multi-gear downshifts under extreme power (like the power necessary to climb very steep technical terrain). Again, not a likely scenario, but again, far less likely to happen on mechanical drivetrains which are also cheaper, lighter, and do not need to be recharged.
The bottom line here is that a wireless drivetrain is a solution in search of a problem. Furthermore, it creates new problems where we absolutely do not need any more problems.