Anyone upgraded SRAM GX to GX-E Eagle drivetrain?

salko

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Aug 29, 2019
1,275
867
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I'm looking for drivetrain upgade for my stock GX drivetrain on Levo Comp 2020, because I would like to have more range on the cassette (11-50T instead of stock 11-42T) for longer & steepest climbs and hopefully also a bit smoother shifting, anyone here upgraded to GX-E Eagle drivetrain? I'm not sure yet about durability of 12-speed drivetrain on emtb, can any one share info in comparision to 11-speed? I found myself skipping several cogs by shifting quickly quite a lot so first idea was to find more durable drivetrain with less speeds (ideally sweet spot will be somewhere around 9 speeds), I encountered emtb specific Sram EX1 drivetrain, but eventually scrapped that idea due to difficulty to set it up correctly and the cassette is expensive as hell. Thank you for your input!
 

Konanige

Active member
Feb 29, 2020
422
336
Mendips
Personally I'd steer clear of any 12 speed groupset on a full fat e'bike they just aren't up to it. They are not designed for the sort of torque and ham fisted gear changing e bikes deliver.
 

Levo-Lon

Active member
Jan 21, 2020
177
202
Uk
I'd just get a smaller front sprocket, 30t

Going eagle will cost and I'm not sure about front sprocket availability?
It uses a specific sprocket,
Also you will have a fast change up shifter, so that wont be good on a ebike
 

salko

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Aug 29, 2019
1,275
867
SLO
Smaller chainring is not an option cause I will then loose my high speed cadence which is now just on my sweet spot. My chainring (not stock one) is already compatible with Eagle chains so no worries there. Shifter on Eagle GX-E set is a single click trigger to avoid fast shifting to bigger cogs ...
My other option for increasing range is to replace only a cassette for Shimano SLX or XT 11-46T, little less range than 11-50T but at least keeping current durability ...
 
Last edited:

elbielasmtb

Member
Oct 7, 2019
10
4
España
I have the eagle x01 in my Levo and it works wonderfully, it is a relief to have 50 for big hills, also I notice battery savings. Think that the rest of the manufacturers mount 12 speeds, that is to say, they hold the torque of the ebikes well
 

Funkeydunk

Well-known member
Subscriber
May 28, 2019
389
297
Uk
I know weight isn’t an issue on an ebike (or is it?) but the PG1230 cassette is 615 gms, and my current 11sp XG-1175 is only 325, so it’s not far off double the weight of the 11sp.
 

Levo-Lon

Active member
Jan 21, 2020
177
202
Uk
Xg 12 speed isnt too bad.
I have xg12 and x0 12 speed cassettes on my specialised epic.
The X0 is very light but very expensive
The gx is half the price and only a little heavier, excellent value, also you can go XD 10-50 with gx and x0
 

salko

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Aug 29, 2019
1,275
867
SLO
I really don't like XD freehub on ebikes as it seems to be a weaker design than Shimano ...
 

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