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SRAM NX brings a complete 1×11 drivetrain group under $400, with a non-XD Cassette!

SRAM NX 1x11 entry level mountain bike narrow wide crankset
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SRAM NX 1x11 entry level mountain bike drivetrain group

First it was XX1, then X01, then the very budget friendly X1.

They also created a complete GX lineup, letting you switch a few parts around to make a wide range 1x or 2x group, using a crankset that worked with single or double chainrings and a collection of cassettes to choose from. We reviewed that here.

Now, the new SRAM NX group brings 1×11 to everyone with a complete, dedicated single chainring drivetrain for an even lower price – as little as $310. That includes crankset with chainring, shifter, rear derailleur and cassette…even the chain!

SRAM NX 1x11 entry level mountain bike drivetrain group
All photos courtesy of SRAM

The NX group takes virtually all of the technologies developed for XX1 and its siblings, save for the X-dome machined cassettes. And it has a full range of chainring sizes, from 26 to 40 teeth in even counts. Perhaps the best part is that they’re now offering a wide range 11-speed cassette that’ll fit on a standard freehub body, no XD Driver required!

SRAM NX 1x11 entry level mountain bike narrow wide crankset

The cranks come in GXP and BB30 spindles in widths for everything from standard 68/73 to fat bike’s 100/121 for threaded and pressfit applications. They use a one-piece crank arm with a spider made from 6000-series alloy. The X-Sync narrow-wide chainrings (28/30/32/34/36/38/40) use a 94mm BCD, with chain lines of 49mm (standard), 52mm (boost) and 66.5mm (fat bike).

Arm length options are 155, 165, 170 and 175mm. That’s an awfully short arm on the small side, teeing this up for kids bikes, too.

SRAM NX 1x11 entry level mountain bike rear derailleur and cassette

Other than materials, the NX rear derailleur is functionally the same as XX1. It has the offset 12t pulley, Cage Lock and clutch equipped X-Horizon movement.

The pinned steel NX cassette fits a standard freehub body by upping the lower tooth count from 10 to 11, but keeps the 42-tooth upper cog. Full tooth counts are 11-13-15-17-19-22-25-28-32-36-42.

SRAM NX 1x11 entry level mountain bike trigger shifter

The NX trigger shifter has the X-Actuation like the others, but with a fixed attachment clamp. That means no Matchmaker mounting, so you’ll need to make room on your bar for both this and your brake lever’s clamp.

SRAM NX 1x11 entry level mountain bike grip shift twist shifter

Or you can opt for the NX Gripshift instead, which has the same Speed Metal and Rolling Thunder design (metal click indents and ball bearing rotation) as the others.

Here’s how it stacks up against the higher end groups:

XX1 X01 X1 NX NX $/€
Crankset 562g 655g 680g 680g $116/€120
Trigger shifter 110g 91g 121g 141g $27/€28
Gripshift 140g 143g n/a $33/€35
Rear Derailleur 241g 252g 256g 322g $74/€76
Cassette 265g 275g 315g 538g $79/€89
Chain 252g 258g 258g 273g $14/€14
TOTAL (w/trigger) 1430g 1,531g 1,630g 1,954g $310/€327

*lowest weights for each part listed. Compare this to $970 (X1), $1,247 (X01) and $1,375 (XX1).

SRAM NX 1x11 entry level mountain bike drivetrain group

Considering the cost, we’re guessing this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll see a rash of aftermarket upgrades to NX. Where we think you will see it is on a lot of 2017 model bikes, giving entry level models a proper 1x drivetrain while keeping the complete bike price low. And, since all of the parts are interchangeable, it’s likely you’ll see some brands mixing the NX cranks, shifter and cassette with an upgraded rear mech to improve showroom appeal.

SRAM’s goal with NX is to get more first time riders on a 1x system. Thanks to its simplicity and wide range, that makes a lot of sense. And at this price, it makes the cents, too.

SRAM.com

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Duzzi
Duzzi
8 years ago

Wow what news! An 1142 cassette at 540 grams!!!!!!!

john
john
8 years ago

Boom! SRAM does it again.

rideifbikes
rideifbikes
8 years ago

great budget option, but holy heck that cassette, thing is heavy!

what about GX, is that more like X1 or NX?

Andrew
Andrew
8 years ago

See people. Stop complaining about prices because the tech always trickles down! Bravo Sram.

Ck
Ck
8 years ago

I can’t complain about even more affordable options for 1x. That cassette is a brick compared to the M8000 11-42 though. But no matter, you save so much money elsewhere that an X1/X01 cassette is an attainable choice to save over half a pound.

Ck
Ck
8 years ago
Reply to  Ck

Remembering about the freehub change would help too. Meh just go XT for the cassette if you’re stuck on a 10 speed freehub.

JMUSuperman
JMUSuperman
8 years ago
Reply to  Ck

The NX cassette is a brick compared to XT… which is a brick compared to GX or any of the other SRAM cassettes. Heck, according to Bike Rumors own real world weights, the GX cassette is lighter than the new XTR.

If stuck with a non-XD driver, XT cassette would be the way to go.

Mark W
Mark W
8 years ago

Your table is wrong on the XX1 total weight. You forgot to add in the crank for a total of 1430g.

John
John
8 years ago

You might want to redo the math on the weights of the XX1 system, looks WAY off to me.

bob
bob
8 years ago
Reply to  John

yep its way off

Robert
Robert
8 years ago

According to your chart XX1 total is 1430gr. NOT 758gr.

cheneyphotography
8 years ago

I know they mention this will be great for stock bikes, and it will. There is also a market for conversion though. I myself have a single speed Kona Unit and would love to grab this with a decent wheel set to build that thing into a beefy XC bike. I doubt I’m alone in the desire to convert to 1X and that I’m the only one doing so on a budget. Kudos Sram.

scrubby
scrubby
8 years ago

Buy the cheaper chain and derailleur, spend the savings on one of the nicer shifters and cassette. Since many riders are going to swap this onto an existing setup and already have a crank/ring, that gives more leeway to upgrade other bits as well.

GX rear mech, cheap chain, X1 shifter, XT cassette perhaps? Yeah you lose the 10t cog, but you then don’t have to buy an XD driver either.

Christian
Christian
8 years ago

Where does the GX group come in in all this?

stark
stark
8 years ago

Also, you left out the GX form the table – it would be nice how the NX is compared to the GX.

Antoine
Antoine
8 years ago

Interesting take. That’s a lot of options on very close prices when one consider online prices. When one consider X01 even has an alloy AND a carbon crank to chose from you can easily get lost. Many parts are the same save the printed logo. More options is never bad for us but i guess 3 1x gruppo would be enough with the cheapest gruppo having 2 cassette to chose from 11-42 cheap brick or 10-42 pinned bling.

Shauno
8 years ago
Reply to  Antoine

X01 doesn’t have an alloy crank. There are two alloy X1 cranks, the 1400 which is like the old X9 and the 1000 which is like the Stylo.

JMUSuperman
JMUSuperman
8 years ago

I wonder what the difference is this new roller bearing clutch. It says “Type 3” on it. What’s the improvement?

Alb
Alb
8 years ago

Sunrace’s cheapest 11sp 11-42T cassette comes in at ‘only’ 507g so probably a cheaper option still than an XT cassette.

Smokestack
Smokestack
8 years ago

The kink in the SRAM 1x armor is now actualized by them- the cassette cannot be made cost effectively in a 10t configuration. Given that a SunRace MS8 11sp 11-42 cassette can be had at lower weight and price, this doesn’t seem to be that great of a deal. I think the XD driver set up just may fade away in time. An interesting take on interface, but just too problematic for wide spread adoption, even for them.

KAW
KAW
8 years ago
Reply to  Smokestack

The 10 vs. 11 tooth is actually a sizable difference in range: 420% versus 382%. I think there is a market for both, considering most mid and high-end hubs now have XD options available. I built up a Vaya to be my “everything” bike, and a 42t ring up front gave me a great overall range, but only because of the XG cassette. I’m just really glad to see the ability to mix and match up and down the lineup based on budget, and whatever you feel is worth the money.

Now I’d wish they’d even out the pull ratios and make it so that road and mountain are completely cross-compatible. I know the Force/Rival 1 rears are made to fix that, but it would be cool if it were totally interchangeable like it is with 10 speed.

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 years ago
Reply to  KAW

A standard long cage SRAM mountain derailleur works plenty good

satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
8 years ago

weight conscious on a budget offering. (deleted)

sbrdude1
sbrdude1
8 years ago

The weights for the XX1 and XO1 cranks are the same because the only difference is screen printing. The weight for the GXP 175mm x 167.5mm crank less chainring and spyder is 470g.

Padrote
Padrote
8 years ago

but if all this 11 speed stuff is so cheap how will everyone hack up their drivetrains under the guise of “improvement”?

goran
goran
8 years ago
Reply to  Padrote

Well, Absalon races with 11-40, so here you go.

jeb
jeb
8 years ago

For those that race 1x a cassette with a 10 and a 42 is mandatory.

Goran
Goran
8 years ago
Reply to  jeb

Well, Absalon races with 11-40, so here you go.

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 years ago

Honestly, I don’t know why a cheaper, 2-3 piece XD compatible cassette can’t be produced. Put on the first parts, add pins yourself, thread on the rest. It’ll be spendier than $80 but I bet $120-130 or less isn’t out of the question

Eric
Eric
8 years ago

@Veganpotter
Excellent point: the GX cassette is exactly that: I paIred my xx1 trigger with an X1 chain and a GX cassette. Retail on the GX cassette was like $140 at my LBS. A tad heavier (who cares?, see Weenies, Weight above) and functionally indistinguishable from my riding buddies full xx1 or XO1 set ups.
: )

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 years ago
Reply to  Eric

I still think there’s a cheaper route that can even get you close to $100. Only the two smallest cogs and the biggest need any special treatment

Loki
Loki
8 years ago

On the weight debate: its only 90g heavier than an XT cassette, you could get that back by cutting 1 1/2″ off the bottom of you seat post (and if you’re worried by 100g you wouldn’t have a dropper post)

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 years ago
Reply to  Loki

It’s cumulative. I don’t think many people who pay for droppers won’t just get the cheaper 10-42. This is for people on a small budget. Even they may want light but they won’t get 90g from trimming their seapost since most of the weight is in the head anyway

Goran
Goran
8 years ago

I don’t see this any cheaper than XT honestly. All prices are there in the ballpark – but the crank, and the solid DX vs hollow XT is a no comparison affair.
I would take any old hollowtech shimano crank and a NW chainring anytime over a solid crank.

Maza
Maza
8 years ago

I would just go for the XT, which is Shimano’s mid-to-high end stuff, whereas this NX is the very cheapest of what SRAM has to offer. And the price for those two is very similar too.

poopster
poopster
8 years ago

shimano XT 11s , case closed.

adrian
8 years ago

If these are pinned but individual steel cogs, any aluminum freehub is going to cry for mercy.

Have fun taking this cassette off, folks.

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