SRAM’s XX 10-speed mtb group has had the top World Cup racers testing it, but what happens if you mix components with other manufacturers or different types of bikes. Like say, what would happen if you put XX drivetrain components on a road bike. People want to know.
Seriously, though, what would happen? I’m really hot to know if the new XX derailleur is compatible with a SRAM DoubleTap integrated shift/brake lever for road dropbars. The 11-36 10sp cassette on a compact double crank would be lower than a 1:1 ratio, which could be great for touring. One odd technical quirk of SRAM products is that the road rear derailleurs work a cable pull profile called “Exact Ratio” while all the previous mtb derailleurs worked on a “1:1 ratio” (though some SRAM mtb derailleurs are made to be used with Shimano’s shifters). If you read the company marketing speak, you might at first think that these are the same thing, but you’d be wrong.
However, the new XX group seems to use Exact Ratio, but I don’t know yet if that means that it is compatible with the road shifters. If so, then I have to get me some XX. I’d race cyclocross this season on an XX mtb with dropbar/SRAM Rival shifters and mechanical disc brakes, and then next year maybe I’d tour Japan again on my Sycip with SRAM Red and XX derailleur and cassette.
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