SRAM XX Grip Shifter

Product Description

The XX designation is reserved for SRAM's top-line offerings and the XX Grip Shifters stays true to that. Using carbon fiber in place of the aluminum found on the X0 twisters, these 10-speed shifters are insanely light and pack the performance demanded by top riders. In fact, the XX Grip Shifters already have a World Championship under their belt. Developed for use in the BlackBox racing program, the first XX 10-Speed Grip Shifters were successfully campaigned under Jaroslav Kulhavy to a 2011 World Championship win. But, twist shifters aren?t new to the podium. Early Grip Shift blindsided the mountain bike market in the early 90's because it offered a much simpler, faster, and lighter weight way of changing gears. The original Grip Shift got the job done with few moving parts, compared to trigger shifters, which used as many as thirty individual components. Racers were quick to take advantage of the faster gear changes and lower weight. Soon Grip Shift was enjoying both downhill and cross country podiums under notable racers like Greg Herbold and Ned Overend.Famous for their low weight, ability to shift multiple gears at once, and dependability, SRAM's twist shifters created a stir when first introduced, and were essential to the company's early success. Those positive traits and vibrant history continue with the introduction of the XX Grip Shifter Set, and are helped along by a large dose of BlackBox tweaking.What SRAM learned from putting prototypes under Jaroslav Kulhavy has directly enhanced the production versions. The shifting mechanism rolls on ball bearings ? a first for SRAM twist shifters. This provides longer life than bushings, smooth operation, and reduces the effort needed to change gears. Speaking of action, these shifters use SRAM's 1:1 Actuation ratio.For every unit of cable pulled, the derailleur moves the same amount. Wide tolerances ensure consistency in every condition from dry and dusty, to sloppy mud, to frozen fat-bike adventures. 1:1 Actuation also eases setup, with simple adjustment from the shifters' barrel adjusters. Another key upgrade are the integrated lock on grips, which help prevent dreaded throttle grip, something that cursed the small rubber grips of early Grip Shift. The integrated lock on grips hide the clamp to provide a seamless ergonomic transition from grip to shifter.The XX Grip Shifters is only available as 2x10 and is compatible with SRAM's 10-Speed mountain and road rear derailleurs, opening up possibilities for touring or commuting applications. However, it's only compatible with dedicated SRAM 2x10 front derailleurs. The shifter set comes with a sealed Gore Ride-on low-friction cable system to provide long lasting performance.