SRAM GX Eagle Rear Derailleur [Rider Review]

Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for.

SRAM drivetrains continuously get better and better. They offer a variety of levels with different materials and weights to fit every budget. The entire Eagle range is cross-compatible so you can build your groupo to your liking. Our friend, Jose, upgraded his rear derailleur to GX and gives his review below. Check it out!

Introduction

After a few months of riding around with an extremely loud derailleur, I finally decided it was time to upgrade. But of course, everything was sold out everywhere, thanks COVID. Fortunately, I signed up for an email notification from Worldwide Cyclery (and a few other places) and about two weeks later I received the email saying that the derailleur was in stock. Before they sold out again I quickly ordered my new SRAM GX derailleur, the new one that has 520% range. I upgraded from an SX derailleur that came on my bike.

Performance

Out of the box, the quality of materials is very clear, with a solid construction, smooth bearings, and a nice finish to it. As soon as I made my first shift the difference was immediate, crisp, and smoother shifting compared to the SX line. Instead of hearing cracking and loud noises when shifting now, all I hear is a low clicking sound.

Every shift feels solid and reliable. I don’t have to worry about jumping into the wrong gear or making an insane amount of noise every time I shift. With my SX derailleur sometimes I was scared to shift because it felt like I was damaging my drivetrain or like my chain was going to jump off the cassette.

Installation

Installation was a breeze, the included B gap adjustment tool made the set up easy. Setting the upper and lower limit screws was fairly simple and straight forward. No need to take it to the shop in order to dial it in. I was able to set the limit screws and B gap within a matter of minutes after installation, something I was just not able to do with the SX line. Being able to install and adjust it myself gives me the confidence in knowing I can repair it in case anything were to go wrong while out on the trails. I can’t speak for the longevity of the derailleur since I’ve only put about 100 miles on it but so far I have had zero issues with it. It does not feel like I will have any issues with it any time soon.

Final Thoughts

If your bike came with and SX drivetrain, upgrading to a GX derailleur is a no brainer. The fact that the GX is cross compatible with both a 50 tooth chainring as well as the new 52 tooth ring, means I don’t have to upgrade my entire drivetrain at once. I am going to wait until my cassette wears out before I upgrade to the larger gear range. Having that option makes upgrading my components one at a time a bit more affordable. At least it feels like it’s more affordable, now I just want to keep upgrading the rest of the drivetrain. Lol.

Not sure why XX1 is better than NX or GX? Check out our comprehensive overview of the entire Eagle range to learn everything there is to know!