SRAM Eagle Transmission is a family of drivetrains all utilising SRAM’s Full-Mount mounting system, requiring a frame with a Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH).
The range spans budget-conscious mechanical drivetrains up to top-tier electronic drivetrains using exotic materials.
So whether you’re into cross-country (XC), enduro or downhill, we’ll show you how to navigate the SRAM nomenclature and get the Transmission that best suits your needs.
SRAM also makes a gravel groupset, called Red XPLR, which uses its Full Mount technology. However, it’s 13-speed and not compatible with the Transmission family.
Gravel riders have also been incorporating SRAM Transmission components into their drivetrains because they can be paired with AXS drop-bar shifters to create a ‘mullet’ drivetrain.
All the Transmission groupsets use a SRAM XD cassette and XD driver/freehub body.
If you don’t have a UDH-compatible frame or you need an HG (Shimano Hyper-Glide) compatible cassette, you’ll want to buy something from SRAM’s S-Series.
SRAM Eagle Transmission drivetrain family
| Groupset | Mechanical/Electronic | Materials | Cassette | Price Eur | Price USD | Price GBP | Intended use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XX SL | Electronic | Carbon cage and crank | 12spd 10-52t | €2,650 - €3,250 | $2,399 - $2,999 | £2,890 | XC |
| XX | Electronic | Carbon crank | 12spd 10-52t | €2,450 - €2,750 | $2,299 - $2,499 | £2,195 | Trail/Enduro |
| XX DH | Electronic | Aluminium | 7spd 10-24t | € 2,145 | $2,160 | £2,035 | DH |
| Eagle 1987 | Electronic | Aluminium | 12spd 10-52t | € 3,799 | $3,499 | £3,399 | XC/Trail |
| X0 | Electronic | Aluminium | 12spd 10-52t | € 1,900 | $1,759 | £1,715 | Trail/Enduro |
| GX | Electronic | Aluminium | 12spd 10-52t | € 1,300 | $1,199 | £1,180 | Trail/Enduro |
| S-1000 | Electronic | Steel cage and chainring | 12spd 10-52t | N/A | N/A | N/A | Trail/Enduro |
| Eagle 90 | Mechanical | Aluminium cage and steel chainring | 12spd 10-52t | € 730 | $735 | £655 | Trail/Enduro |
| Eagle 70 | Mechanical | Steel cage and chainring | 12spd 10-52t | € 545 | $535 | £485 | Trail/Enduro |
SRAM XX SL Eagle Transmission
XX SL uses exotic components and clever engineering to create SRAM's lightest electronic groupset. It’s aimed at serious XC riders who want to minimise weight while taking advantage of electronic shifting.
The derailleur uses a carbon cage and aluminium parts, which are extensively machined to save weight. The lower Magic Wheel jockey wheel has an aluminium centre and spinning plastic outer, which can keep moving even if the centre jams.
The carbon crankset has a 3-bolt pattern, with the option of an integrated power-meter spider or direct-mount chainring, and the SL chain has hollow links and pins to save weight. The 350g (claimed) cassette is all aluminium with a hard-chrome coating.
Tom Marvin reviewed the XX SL groupset after extensive testing.
- Target rider: XC racer seeking premium electronic shifting.
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SRAM XX Eagle Transmission
XX is designed to be more robust than XX SL, with SRAM stating XX offers “the perfect balance of robustness and weight savings”.
The derailleur utilises an aluminium cage, SRAM Magic Wheel jockey wheel and SRAM’s AXS Overload clutch, which disengages the derailleur’s motor and gearbox in an impact, enabling it to move out of the way, reducing the potential for damage.
The cranks are carbon with a 3-bolt chainring pattern, which can fit an optional power meter and single or twin bash guards.
When we tested the XX Transmission, the total weight (including 170mm DUB-PWR power meter cranks with a 32t chainring, twin bash guards, rear derailleur with battery, 126-link chain with Power Lock, 10-52t cassette and Pod Controller Ultimate shifter) was 1,785g.
- Target rider: trail or enduro rider who wants top-notch electronic shifting.
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SRAM Eagle 1987 Transmission
This no-expense-spared, limited-edition silver groupset uses a custom mix of XX and XX SL parts. It was created to celebrate 38 years of SRAM, in a limited run of only 1,987 worldwide. Each Eagle 1987 groupset is individually numbered.
The 'SL SL' cassette is 25g lighter than the already XC-focused XX SL cassette and features more silver-coloured parts. The silver chain has hollow links and pins, and is individually numbered.
The bling polished aluminium cranks and aluminium derailleur cage are heavier than XX SL’s carbon items, aimed at attractive looks and reliability rather than weight savings.
The premium price includes a chainring-removal tool, four-gang battery charger and two AXS batteries.
- Target rider: XC and trail riders who want to stand out from the crowd – with deep pockets and an eye for bling.
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SRAM XX DH Eagle Transmission
The world’s first electronic downhill groupset, XX DH Eagle is designed for downhillers looking for the fastest shifting in a package robust enough to withstand the rigours of downhill racing.
The short-cage Full-Mount (UDH-compatible) rear derailleur is designed to be narrow and compact, with the chainline optimised for a Boost (148mm) rear axle but compatible with 157mm (Super Boost) too.
Like the top-level Transmission derailleurs, XX DH uses the same Type 4 roller-bearing clutch damper.
A specific 7-speed cassette is available to suit both standard XD driver and new DH-specific XD Slim-compatible designs. This narrower freehub body enables a wider hub flange width for extra wheel strength.
The XX DH crank is aluminium (no carbon option is available) with compatibility for an Ochain spider or direct-mount XX DH chainring and comes in 150, 155, 160 and 165mm lengths.
- Target rider: DH racers looking to save every possible nano-second.
SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission
SRAM’s “ruggedly dependable” transmission for enduro riders, X0 Eagle is the brand's most robust high-performance Transmission.
The derailleur has replaceable skid plates and SRAM’s Overload clutch system to protect the derailleur in case of impact.
The crank is aluminium and SRAM boldly claims it is the “lightest aluminium crankset in the market”. It has the same 3-bolt pattern – and therefore power-meter and single or double bash-guard compatibility – as the XX crank.
- Target rider: enduro or hardcore trail rider.
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SRAM GX Eagle Transmission
GX Eagle Transmission is a budget electronically shifted drivetrain, with “no compromise” according to SRAM. There are removable skid plates on the derailleur for protection and individually replaceable parts for serviceability.
SRAM has used cheaper materials and less machining than on its more expensive offerings, so it’s around 215g heavier than the more expensive XX Eagle Transmission.
The aluminium cranks are available with 165, 170 and 175mm lengths, and a 32T chainring.
- Target rider: Enduro rider or hardcore trail rider.
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SRAM S-1000 Eagle Transmission
SRAM calls the S-1000 Eagle drivetrain the “wireless entry point" and it's a budget-friendly version of GX Transmission.
It’s compatible with all other AXS Transmission components and it’s rebuildable, so if the derailleur gets damaged, the skid plates, links and cage can be replaced individually.
The budget-friendly rear derailleur uses SRAM's Drag Spring Cage Damper clutch to keep costs lower than the Type 4 roller-bearing clutch damper from more expensive Transmission derailleurs.
S-1000 uses an XS-1270 cassette (shared with mechanical Eagle 70), which is 10-52t (520% range) and uses an XD driver. However, it is constructed more simply and from cheaper materials than SRAM's more expensive cassettes.
S-1000 is not available as a complete groupset to consumers, only to bike brands who spec SRAM Eagle mechanical as Original Equipment (OE) on their bikes.
- Target rider: trail/enduro rider looking for electronic shifting on a tight budget.
SRAM Eagle 90 Mechanical Transmission
SRAM's Mechanical Transmission uses its Full-Mount direct mount, but with a mechanical gear cable instead of electronic shifting. It's designed to provide a budget alternative to riders who still want to use the Full-Mount system.
Eagle 90 is SRAM’s top-spec mechanical-shifting Transmission, using more expensive materials and production processes than the cheaper (OE-targeted) Eagle 70.
The derailleur, shifter and cranks are predominantly aluminium construction and branded as Eagle 90 products, with the XS-1275 cassette and GX Transmission Flattop chain shared with GX Transmission.
A wide range of crank lengths are available from 155-170mm in 5mm increments.
The silver Eagle 90 steel chainrings are available in 30, 32 and 34t sizes, and can be run with either single or twin half bash guards, which are specific to each chainring size. Lighter but less durable alloy chainrings are also available.
- Target rider: XC, trail or enduro riders looking for mechanical shifting and Full-Mount technology.
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SRAM Eagle 70 Mechanical Transmission
A budget version of SRAM’s Eagle 90 featuring cheaper materials to keep the cost down, Eagle 70 is only available to bike brands as Original Equipment (OE) on complete bikes.
The black Eagle 70 chainring is made from steel for longevity and can be run with single or twin half bash guards.
The XS-1270 cassette is still 10-52t (520% range) and uses an XD driver, but is constructed from cheaper materials and in a simpler way than SRAM's more expensive cassettes.
Although not sold as a complete groupset, components and parts are available individually.
- Target rider: OE equipment on trail and enduro bikes.
