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Will SRAM making their next-gen mountain bike derailleur modular alleviate all of these direct-mount fears? We’ve been sneaking peeks left & proper on the subsequent evolution of SRAM’s top-tier direct mount XX1 Eagle AXS derailleur, ever since Nino Schurter rode it to a report tenth XC MTB World Championship final summer time. However we’ve really been discussing the SRAM direct mount resolution for greater than 4 years already. Will a modular development resolution deal with the most important longevity concern that each our readers and our personal editors have voiced since then, whereas serving to save the planet a bit on the similar time?
SRAM Eagle modular direct mount derailleur
Primarily based on Nino’s prototype, bikemaker leaks, World Cup podium pictures, and not-so-secret occasion pictures… the general particulars of SRAM’s upcoming Eagle mountain bike derailleur overhaul are fairly clear. The standout characteristic after all, has been the absence of a derailleur hanger interface, as an alternative mounting on to the bike body on the rear axle, due to the UDH interface that has rapidly grow to be an precise common commonplace throughout many bikemakers.
However whereas guarantees of improved shifting sound good, many cyclists (together with each our readers AND our editors) have been apprehensive in regards to the rough-and-tumble lifetime of their derailleur. The low-cost replaceable & sacrificial derailleur hanger has protected your costly rear derailleur for many years. Bear in mind a SRAM UDH prices $16 / 18€ and an XX1 AXS derailleur sells $753 /831€. So if you crash or just hit a trailside rock, that may very well be an extremely costly downside. I do know many have the philosophy or by no means using a derailleur which you could’t afford to exchange, when it can invariably be broken.
SRAM’s newest patent revealed December 29, 2022 describes a modular derailleur development that’s comprised of a number of completely different modules that ought to be capable of every get replaced individually: “base ingredient module”, “swivel formation module”, “shifting ingredient module”, and “chain guiding module”. It’s not revolutionary in any respect {that a} derailleur may very well be rebuildable, however SRAM typically has restricted actual serviceability in all however their prime tier, and this assertion from the patent is particularly attention-grabbing:
“Removable connection interfaces of the members of the family to adjoining sub-assemblies of the module throughout the sub-assembly are configured uniformly throughout members of the family for the respective sub-assembly in such a means {that a} member of the family of the sub-assembly household module is exchangeable for an additional member of the family of the identical sub-assembly household that, is for instance, of various materials, of various design, of various performance, of has completely different floor properties, whereas retaining the remaining sub-assemblies of the module.”
That sounds so much to me like in case you break some a part of your XX1 derailleur, a common or lower-cost GX half could get you again on the path.
Replaceable Modular Components
SRAM’s revealed patent reveals plenty of broken-down part assemblies, that may very well be individually changed. You’ve received replaceable cages, what appears like a replaceable clutch, a replaceable center shifting meeting within the case of AXS derailleurs, and within the center a replaceable hanger meeting.
In actual fact, SRAM’s direct mount derailleur could also be eliminating the traditional derailleur hanger, but it surely appears like a replaceable hanger of types is right here to remain. Merely talking it appears like two hanger parts that sandwich the body’s dropout (ABi & ABo), and a decrease plate (HG) that holds them collectively and serves as the idea to hold the precise derailleur under.
Curiously, that inboard ABi facet of the hanger has multiple variant proven in Fig. 7 suggesting compatibility past the UDH commonplace interface. Maybe that can assist convey backwards compatibility to non-UDH bikes?
What do we all know, now?
The revealed US & DE patents are fairly lengthy & detailed for merely speaking a few rebuildable modular rear derailleur. However SRAM additionally goes deep into why they’ve gone down this direct-mount route. Primarily they break it down into enhancing shift efficiency throughout fashionable wide-range 12-speed drivetrains (that are extra delicate to derailleur hanger misalignment than ever) and to an environmental profit, as properly.
Cynics may name it greenwashing, but it surely actually is foolish what number of completely different derailleur hangers are on the market lately. UDH has already performed so much to enhance that difficulty. However SRAM takes it additional suggesting this new modular resolution is an much more accountable use of consumed assets. No extra “throwaway mentality” and a transfer towards “rising calls for on the service life and reparability of technical merchandise“. Bringing again the concept which you could merely substitute the a part of a derailleur that’s broken seems like an awesome concept to me (us).
Lastly, whereas we don’t know precisely when this shall be launched, we do know that there’s a lot of element on the market at this level on this derailleur. And we actually anticipate this whole new drivetrain to return very quickly. We’ve received our eyes peeled for when SRAM make official their launch schedule for this next-gen Eagle mountain bike drivetrain