It seems there will be some range sacrificed between XPLR and a two-road drivetrain. According to the SRAM website with their x-range two-by system, you can get up to a 512% range. The widest range available with the SRAM XPLR drivetrain is 440%. This is a 16% decrease in range! There will always be a decrease in range when looking at an SRAM two-by system with the greatest range and comparing it with a SRAM XPLR system with the greatest range. I would also like to point out that I did not address the Eagle rear mech in my original response and was only discussing the XPLR rear mech. The Eagle rear mech brings an entirely different discussion to the table that is centered around chain line, drivetrain efficiency, cadence, and chain retention.
Additionally, the comparisons that are used do not give the full picture, as Sram does not offer an 11-32 or a 11-28 cassette for their AXS drivetrains (I am making the assumption that Shamaino is not an option here to simplify matters). It was stated that SRAM’s 10-36 cassette has a 360% range (from context I am making the assumption that a one-by system is being described here), keep in mind that when that same cassette is paired with a 48-35 upfront your range increases to 490%. This is a 36% increase in range! It is inherently unfair to compare the widest standard modern road cassette (offered by SRAM) to one of the narrowest modern road cassettes (offered by Shamaino) and then state that the range between XPLR and a two-by drivetrain is the same.
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There is also an interesting post on weight weenies where someone experiments with a two-by drivetrain that has an XPLR cassette and derailleur in the back (for some reason I can’t find the link right now). He ends up concluding that while it is technically possible, the B-gap has to be perfectly positioned and adjusted each ride. Additionally, he said that it only works with a brand new chain and once there is any wear the shifting deteriorates.
Yeah, this seemed like quite a faff in the end. I think XPLR has a stronger clutch, which doesn’t play well with the big chain-in/chain-out steps shifting a FD.
I have an XPLR bike and a 2x bike. I use XPLR for general gravel riding, and 2x for racing and road riding, especially with groups. I have no issue with the range on the XPLR bike, even on very fast group rides; unless you really need to be pedaling hard while going down hill, he rang on an XPLR with a 40 or 42t up front is fine.
The things I prefer about my 2x bike are smaller jumps between gears, and overall quieter and less frictive drivetrain, especially in very high or very low gears. Shiting the XPLR bike into the 42:44 gear for climbing involves such a noticeable cross-chain, coupled with very high chain tension as the RD is near fully extended (yes, my chain is the right length). It’s a super high-drag setup, which is not such a big deal for just riding (it gets me up a hill) but a bummer when racing. Same for 42:11 and 42:10, big cross-chain plus high articulation is a watt-sucker. Again, works great to move the bike along, but if you’re racing it’s kind of a bummer.
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SRAM offers different rear derailleurs for different cassettes: With a 1x drive train you can get up to 520 %: you need to use a mountain bike rear derailleur. You are correct about the XPLR RD, it just isn’t the only choice you have. The 2x drive train is marketed as gravel-specific. You are right that the XPLR rear derailleur will not work with the 10–50 and 10–52 cassettes. If you want more range, you simply need to get the right RD.
The range of traditional road gearing is much smaller, although you can use gravel gearing on the road just fine.
There is no decrease in range. For some reason you simply focus on two of three rear derailleurs. In fact, with SRAM at every gear range you can pick between 1x and 2x. Technically, the largest range is with a 1x configuration, although 520 % and 512 % is virtually identical.
No, but SRAM offers a 2x gearing option that covers the same gear range (46/33 coupled to a 10–30 or 10–33 cassette, which gives you 418 % or 460 %, respectively, a compact crank with a 11–32 cassette gives you 427 %).
Point being, range is not a differentiator between 1x and 2x, and you have more flexibility where to place that range. You can go for a Swenson mullet setup (48-tooth chainring coupled to a 10–52 cassette) and win Unbound. The top gear is identical to 53:11, so you better have strong legs.
Yes, I have a 1x setup on my aero road bike (42-tooth chainring with a 10–36 cassette). Coupling the same cassette to a front derailleur gives you more range. To get the same or larger range, you would simply have to look at other cassettes.
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