SRAM Eagle AXS XX1 vs. X01 - Real World Weight Comparison

Wireless shifting is finally here in the form of SRAM Eagle AXS. We’ve all seen the press releases, but even we still had some questions.

Why is the price so similar between XX1 and X01? What’s the difference? Is there even a difference aside from the finish? To address all these questions, let’s go over the two groupsets piece by piece.

The shifter

Yes, the shifter is exactly the same between the two groupsets. There is no specific branding so it matches well with either. The buttons are easy to push and give you even more shifting options than a standard trigger shifter. The way the buttons work are almost reminiscent of a Shimano shifter, where can access the upshift from either side of the bar.

The derailleur

At first glance, the main difference is the finish. XX1 has a darker grey accent color, while X01 has a lighter grey. Throw them on the scale and you notice a small 12 gram weight difference that comes from materials used. The outer cage on an XX1 derailleur is carbon, while X01 uses aluminum. The inner cages on both derailleurs are aluminum and all other pieces are the same.

The chain

Yes, the rainbow chain is amazing, and we’ve been hoping for it ever since we saw the rainbow anodized quick links that come with standard X01 and XX1 Eagle chains. It is labeled XX1 and is included in both groupsets. We can’t wait until this becomes a standalone product!

The cassette

Like the other X01 and XX1 cassettes, the only difference between the two is the finish. The rainbow cassette looks even better in person that we thought it would! Every tooth has practically the whole color spectrum. One detail that we were happy to see is the removal of “500% gear range” that has been normally printed on the large cog. It may be minor and doesn’t affect performance, but it definitely looks nicer that way.

The cranks

The cranks are the biggest difference in weight between the two groupsets, but that difference is still small at 36 grams. This is due to the same foam core used on other X01 cranks (vs. the hallow core in XX1). Like the derailleur, X01 uses a light grey chainring and decals, while XX1 is a very dark grey. I had thought the ring was black in photos, but it definitely not. XX1 cranks come with a 34t chainring while X01 has a 32t.

In total, there is a difference of 48 grams between XX1 and X01. They are functionally identical, but if you’re really counting grams go for XX1. Otherwise, our recommendation is just to pick whichever one matches your bike better! What else do you want to know about Eagle AXS? Let us know in the comments below!

Links:

SRAM EAGLE XX1 AXS ELECTRONIC 12-SPEED GROUPSET

SRAM EAGLE X01 AXS ELECTRONIC 12-SPEED GROUPSET