This video is a perfect example of what's wrong with youtube. I appreciate the effort and the reasons behind the video, but this is no different than having a patient make a video recommending what type of surgery one should have and what instrumentality the surgeon should use. As background, I've been working on my own bikes for over 25 years. Have my own little home bike repair center with every tool you need to build, tear down, and maintain any bike. I have built dozens of bikes from the ground up, etc. Among my stable of bikes, I currently have a bike with this SX derailleur and another one with the GX Eagle AXS, so I can talk about this from actual experience. These two derailleurs are on opposite ends of the spectrum in the SRAM lineup. However, if set them up correctly, with the right chain length, most beginning to midlevel riders will notice little to no difference unless you're hitting high/long jumps at a bike park or going down double-diamond DH rides in BC. Bent derailleur hangers are more often at fault for shifting issues after a dump/impact. It's important to understand how the rear hanger on the frame and the derailleur work. The rear hanger is designed to bend and break in order to save your rear mech. Oftentimes, when you suffer impact to the rear derailleur, it will be the hanger that causes the misalignment, resulting in poor shifting. Properly aligning the hanger will typically resolve the issue. Sometimes you need to replace it, but that's cheaper than buying a new derailleur. But guess what, If you dump your bike on a rock on the drive side or smash the crap out of your rear derailleur cause you're hugging the turn next to a huge root or rock, you're going to mess up your derailleur regardless of the quality. Most of what you're describing sounds like alignment issues after impact. A decent mechanic would start there (but many don't). Instead, they'll blame the component and will upsell you to a derailleur you don't really need. You will be heartbroken and surprised to find out, that under most circumstances, your $250+ rear derailleur will bend and break just as easily as your $90 one. As for performance (especially with SRAM), if you ride flowy mid-level trails, you will be hard-pressed to notice the difference between the two. Sure, you may hear your chain rattle a little more going through a rock garden, but I doubt you would be focusing on that while riding through it. First and foremost, find yourself an honest and knowledgeable mechanic who doesn't care about selling your products or services. Even better, take the time to learn bike maintenance yourself, and cut out the middleman. I know I do the best work on my bikes, not because I'm the best mechanic, but because I care about my client. 😁

You helped me a lot! I looked at a Specialized at my bike shop I wanted to get then started hearing bad opinions. The one thing I hate about my GT aggresor is the deraileur.

Same SX set came on my bike and after less than 100 miles, I realized that had to be swapped ASAP. Experienced all sorts of shifting issues and after a couple trips back to LBS I decided to upgrade to X01 shifter and derailleur along with XX1 gold chain for the bling. Still running SX cassette and crankset but what a difference already. Bike shifts super smooth and crisp! Eventually will upgrade rest of drivetrain but for now its good enough for me.

Well I’m a bit older (66) and perhaps a bit more crazy. I race competitively most recently; Gravel bikes, I ride a Diverge with the 105 group and was about to upgrade to SRAM, however, because of this video I will take a look at both Shimano and SRAM so thanks for your review. I might add that I learned decades ago; “SBSB” or sacrifice body, save bike. You will get there!

My deore has been bullet proof if the slx is anything like it you can throw it off a brudge driver side down and wont have any issues. Interesting insight on the protrusion of the derralliuers in comparison!

Someone is feeding you a line of bull, you could have went right to a GX rear Mech with all the other sx/nx equipment. Done it many times.

My buddy owns a bike shop and he said as much as he hates working on the SX there always coming into the shop to be fixed. Love hate relationship for him 😆

I have had a Shimano deore 1x10 derailleur for 5 years. It's bulletproof.

I haven't had any issues with mine, I think what your describing is just the overall issues caused by damage on any derailleur. Don't matter if you have an entry-level or premium model, both will suffer from wear and tear in the same way.

I just put a gx on my sx system. Works fine. Didnt have to chamge anything else. Its just a derailleur.

I am buying a Tallboy D build, which has the SX. I am concerned. I wanted the R build, w/ NX but supply constraints have no availability. I will upgrade the derailleur soon. Thx for the review.

having chronic issue with the SX this really sucks but the looks is sick but i will give up with this GS and will go to deore 1x11 m5100...i thought im the only one having this problem with my SX 😓. Im going to Shimano this time but ill leave my SX crankset.

I have less than 1000 km with my sx derailleur and it seems to have a lot of play on its moving parts, still working decent, but I don't give it much more km to start failing. I have to say that it haven't received any hit so far. But the whole group is so far good. So replacing only the rear derailleur with a GX will be the next step.

thank you, you just save me from disaster, I bought Shimano work like a dream. you are the champ!!!

I bought a used SRAM SX groupset and it had issues shifting from 50 to 42t. I think i have narrowed it down to the derailleur.

The 12-speed Shimano cassettes use a different standard. Did you keep the SRAM cassette?

Sx/Nx cassette it 's fully compatible with all eagle derailleur more expensive..

hi,i have a sx gropset but i want to change the shifter with a gx shifter.the sx shift lever is compatible with gx shifter? thank you!

GX is good very but I've never had ant spills. Which could damage any rear mech but SX especially vulnerable protrudes too far out

You do realise you need to maintain your mech. No matter how cheap or expensive any derailleur can shift and be set up well. But maintaining it thats what people dont realise is the part people dont do. New /adjusted cable, lube. Etc usually will fix it

was about to buy fezzari bike but they all come with sram sx eagle saved my day i'm not wanting to buy entire new drive train

Great review

I mean, I want to buy the Grand Canyon 7 which has this derailleur, my current bike is close to the price but offers so much less, Clark hydraulic brakes: they have a pumping issue where I have to squish then like 4 times for them to brake properly, Acolyte drivetrain, which works well but it's very noisy, I know SRAM SX is not the best but I think it's better than the Microshift acolyte, And a 140mm Rabe cero fork, which is why the bike Costs nearly 1k and does not have Shimano components, I did feel a lil scammed but the frame is the most beautiful I have seen from any bike that price, still, canyon has some discounts which is why I'm considering to buy the Grand Canyon 7, is just so much better in every way

SRAM SX looses the budget groupset battle by a mile to SLX and Deore mostly due to the derailleur. It's derivative NX was meant to be an easy 12s upgrade for HG drivers but when the stuff comes on a new bike it's not so fun.

Little late to the party but wanted to give my .02 1. Your information on the group sets are inaccurate. All SRAM eagle components are interchangeable regardless of their level. I run xx1, x01 and gx parts on one bike. The only difference is going from nx to gx cassette which requires an XD driver. But you said in your video that you are running slx. Well, slx requires a microspline so you still need a new hub so what’s the point? You could have gone with an nx cassette and the rest gx components. 2. SRAM derailleurs do not extend further than shimano. They come with a jockey wheel liner and you’re supposed to line it up when installing it to get the correct alignment. 3. SRAM derailleurs-imho-are engineered better than shimano. First, you can lock out the clutch completely and second, every cable runs through a pulley system for smoother cable pulls. 4. Sx is an oem component so it’s supposed to be crap. Hell, even nx is crap as they still use bushings instead of bearings and a steel cage instead of aluminum or carbon. You get what you pay for. This is why everyone runs gx on up. 5. Slx is a great system but I would recommend an xt shifter to get the single pull like all the SRAM shifter. I run 2 SRAM bikes, 2 Shimano bikes and 1 microshift bike and if their one advice I can give to new riders who want to upgrade is to go gx or slx and higher. You will see the biggest jump in quality. Good riding!

Step one: learn how to do all bicycle maintenance yourself.

I have a problem with my SX too.

Non sono d'accordo perchè uso sram sx e mi trovo molto bene, non ha senso paragonare sram sx con Shimano slx perche è di alta gamma 😢

SX is a play on the word "SUCKS". The rear mech is made mainly of plastic. The only good SRAM Eagle is GX and up.

SLX is not on the same level as SX. It seems like someone is giving you a lot of bad advice. There's definitely a lot of things that you are wrong about.

Unless spending 1k+ for something electronic, Shimano slaughters anything Sram makes.

Use Shimano .

SX is complete garbage !! It came on my GT Senor and with in a week it started to ghost shift and come out of alignment. I have Shimano XT on my Pivot 429 for 8 years and never had a problem just replaced it recently because I thought it was time. I'm sure the XO1 & XX1 are great but also cost a lot more for something so delicate and prone to breaking so frequently. I will stick with Shimano.

I have NX groupset and it is rubbish. They build them bad to make us buy the expensive stuff. Marketing....

NX is terrible. buy XT.

Was about to order Canyon Stoic 3 but not anymore lol thanks