A Modular & Rebuildable SRAM Eagle DM derailleur

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 file tenth XC MTB World Championship final summer season. However we’ve truly been discussing the SRAM direct mount resolution for greater than 4 years already. Will a modular building resolution handle 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 identical time?

SRAM Eagle modular direct mount derailleur

Based mostly on Nino’s prototype, bikemaker leaks, World Cup podium images, and not-so-secret occasion images… the general particulars of SRAM’s upcoming Eagle mountain bike derailleur overhaul are fairly clear. The standout characteristic in fact, has been the absence of a derailleur hanger interface, as a substitute mounting on to the bike body on the rear axle, due to the UDH interface that has shortly develop into an precise common customary 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 while 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 driving a derailleur that you would be able to’t afford to interchange, when it’ll invariably be broken.

SRAM’s newest patent revealed December 29, 2022 describes a modular derailleur building that’s comprised of a number of completely different modules that ought to have the ability to every get replaced individually: “base component module”, “swivel formation module”, “shifting component 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 very attention-grabbing:

“Removable connection interfaces of the relations to adjoining sub-assemblies of the module inside the sub-assembly are configured uniformly throughout relations for the respective sub-assembly in such a approach {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 loads 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 exhibits quite a lot of broken-down part assemblies, that may very well be individually changed. You’ve bought 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 standard derailleur hanger, but it surely appears like a replaceable hanger of types is right here to remain. Merely talking it appears like two hanger components 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 a couple of variant proven in Fig. 7 suggesting compatibility past the UDH customary interface. Maybe that may assist deliver 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 couple of 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 effectively.

Cynics would possibly name it greenwashing, but it surely actually is foolish what number of completely different derailleur hangers are on the market as of late. UDH has already finished loads to enhance that challenge. However SRAM takes it additional suggesting this new modular resolution is an much more accountable use of consumed sources. No extra “throwaway mentality” and a transfer towards “growing calls for on the service life and reparability of technical merchandise“. Bringing again the thought that you would be able to merely exchange the a part of a derailleur that’s broken feels like an ideal thought to me (us).

Lastly, whereas we don’t know precisely when this can 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 entire new drivetrain to come back very quickly. We’ve bought our eyes peeled for when SRAM make official their launch schedule for this next-gen Eagle mountain bike drivetrain

SRAM.com