Novatech Hubs XX1 Compatibility

According to this video and this facebook status, Novatech will be releasing a freehub that will be compatible with the SRAM XX1 drivetrain.

Unfortunately, January 2013 has come and gone with no freehub in sight. I have reached out to Novatech to ask them about the availability, but have not received a reply yet. This post will be updated as soon as I have more information.

Spiders for SRAM XX1 76mm BCD Chainrings

In my mind, these sorts of products are only a stopgap. Their usefulness will be relatively short lived. After other major manufacturers see the need and start to produce XX1 style chainrings, these products will be expensive paperweights. Why purchase a conversion spider and a separate OEM XX1 chainring when you can just buy an XX1 style chainring that fits your current crankset without an adapter?

Anyways, for now, North Shore Billet has a 76mm BCD spider for $70 that you can use to mount an OEM XX1 chainring.

According to their website:

The NSB 1×11 Spider replaces the removable chain ring spider so that you can run a SRAM XX1 chain ring on Truvativ X0, X9, S2210, and S1400 cranks. There are no mounting holes for the granny ring and the single ring’s position is designed to give a better chain line throughout the entire gear range. The chain ring tabs accept an optional NSB rock ring for All Mountain or Enduro riding.

Why Do We Need or Want Aftermarket XX1 Chain Rings?

After publishing this article about the current and coming aftermarket XX1 chain rings, I was asked: "Why!?!"

OK, so maybe it didn't have all the exclamation points, but it's still an important question. Why do we need aftermarket XX1 chain rings?

The simple answer for the manufacturers is that people will buy it, but let's dig a little deeper. Why will people buy them? What problems do they solve that other solutions don't?

One comment put it this way:

SRAM sells the chain rings by itself why not just get the real one?

Price -
We don't know the price of all the coming aftermarket chainrings, but from those that we have seen thus far, their prices aren't out of line compared to the OEM XX1 chainrings from SRAM. An ebay search for new XX1 chain rings shows us a range of prices starting at $90. Reputable and known online cycle component shops like JensonUSA are selling them for $100-$115.

Wolf Tooth Components has offerings starting at $79 for a 104mm BCD chain ring on up to $120 for a custom blue snowflake chain ring. These prices seem to fit nicely into the current pricing hierarchy.

Compatibility -
I think this is the primary reason that these aftermarket XX1 chain rings are being offered. SRAM decided to manufacture the XX1 chain rings and crank sets with a 76mm BCD(bolt circle diameter). This is a new "standard" and these chain rings are not compatible with any crank sets or spiders currently on the market.

Some riders may have bikes with bottom brackets not compatible with SRAM XX1 crankset current offerings. Other riders may have cranksets with power meters that they want to keep. Maybe they just have a crankset that they are happy with and don't want to lay out the money to upgrade. In each of these aforementioned situations, these riders are not able to use the OEM XX1 chainrings without a spider adapter  that adds cost and complexity.

None of the aftermarket rings that we know about so far are made in SRAM's 76mm BCD. They are all being made to retrofit existing cranksets.

Style -
Personally, I like the styling of SRAM's OEM XX1 chainrings, but a quick look at the aftermarket mountain bike component market should tell the obvious tale that mountain bikers have varied and eclectic tastes.

People like to have different options when it comes to design and style. The polished metal look of the OEM chainrings isn't for everyone. Personally, I'm looking forward to the e*thirteen chainrings:

If you are looking for something different in the style department, you should definitely check out the colorful Race Face narrow wide chainrings they showed at the Sea Otter Classic.

What reasons can you see for these aftermarket XX1 chainring offerings?

Sram XX1 Aftermarket Chain Rings

Many mountain bikers have been carefully watching the roll-out of the SRAM XX1 drivetrain system. There are several key innovations wrapped up in the new drivetrain. The unique chain ring tooth profiles seemingly negate the need for a chain guide. The wide range 10-42 tooth cassette negates the need for multiple front chain rings and a front derailleur.

Because of these different innovations, the set appeals to several classes of riders. The downhillers love the simplicity and inherent chain retention. The cross country crowd likes the weight savings. And what's not to love? OK, there is the price. And the whole special hub. And the funky 76 bcd chain ring!

What if you just want to take advantage of the unique chain ring tooth profiles for chain retention? What if you didn't care about the 10-42 tooth cassette? Or SRAM's super fly crankset?

If that's the case, you are in luck, or at least you should be soon. There are already at least three companies making aftermarket SRAM XX1 chain rings.

Wolf Tooth Components - Available Now!

Wolf Tooth Components makes several different versions of XX1 profiled chainrings for 88, 104, and 120 BCD cranksets as well as for SRAM GXP direct mount cranks.

Raceface

According to this article from Bike Rumor, Raceface is developing XX1 style 104 bcd chain rings that will be announced any day now (Sea Otter Classic). UPDATE: They were announced at Sea Otter Classic and look great: See them in this video

e*thirteen

e*thirteen is also jumping into the mix according to this article from Bike Rumor. There aren't many details yet other than the fact that they will be compatible with current e*thirteen cranksets.

Absolute Black

According to this article, they expect their offerings to start at $60 and be among the lightest available.

Works Components

Currently out of stock, but their price is 35 GBP. This picture was on their facebook page:

If you don't want to wait on the aftermarket chain rings, you can always spring for a custom spider for your current crankset that will match the odd 76 bcd of the original SRAM XX1 chain rings.

Hopefully we will continue to see others ramp up production of this innovative tooth profiled type of chain ring.