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Home / Mountain Bikes and Gear / Components / Drivetrain / Survey

Why aren’t you running electronic shifters on your mountain bike?

More than 50% of Singletracks readers say they have electronic shifting on one of their mountain bikes. For the holdouts, we want to know why you haven't switched.

By Jeff Barber
January 12, 2025

85 comments

Singletracks may receive compensation for purchases made through any affiliate links in this article.

In August, we asked if you were running electronic shifting on any of your mountain bikes, and about 50% of readers said they are not. (It’s actually 48%, a little less than half; we’re honestly surprised the majority of riders [well, survey respondents] have already switched.)

For those who aren’t running electronic shifting on a mountain bike, we want to know why. Choose the main reason you’re sticking with mechanical from the list below.

If you do have electronic shifting on one of your mountain bikes and don’t like it, tell us why in the comments below!

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Jeff Barber

Jeff Barber has been mountain biking since 1992 and has tested hundreds of mountain bikes and components. He is the co-founder of Singletracks and serves as Editor in Chief. Contact him at [email protected].

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85 Comments

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landrew04 Utah // 2018
Jan 12, 2025

I would rather put the money into carbon wheels, upgraded suspension, or a lighter frame. The mechanical shifters work great. Derailers and shifters are too easy to destroy on a rock or in a crash. I don't want to worry about batteries or carrying them. I like tinkering with things as a mechanic in the garage. I don't want yet another standard. I don't want vendor lock. I want interchangeable components. Water, mud and electronics don't mix. Electronics are on or off there is no in between. My 25 year old xtr components on my gravel bike still work flawlessly. I don't have any functioning useable electronics that are 25 years old. I can't afford to upgrade for 5 people....I want one supply of maintenance parts for all of us.

32 reply

Rickysee Michigan // 2024
3 weeks ago

This^

0 reply

Rocket88R Virginia // 2021
3 weeks ago

^This.

1 reply

gilmergreen Texas // 2022
Jan 14, 2025

"...and don't ask me again, damnit."

1 reply

jake.maki 2019
Jan 13, 2025

This says it all. I have bikes for four to maintain. So I stick with all shimano Deore/slx so I have to only keep one set of replacement parts for all the family bikes.

3 reply

Mick-e 2017
Jan 12, 2025

This reply covers everything.

9 reply

singletraksnob Nevada // 2024
Jan 12, 2025

I ride to get away from the electronics.

23 reply

TK34 Minnesota // 2018
Jan 13, 2025

Bingo!

1 reply

Vermountain Biker Vermont // 2024
Jan 12, 2025

This

5 reply

frank191 Georgia // 2022
Jan 12, 2025

I don’t want to have to think or worry about a battery on my bike.

18 reply

shaertzen Arizona // 2015
3 weeks ago

Ditto

1 reply

UberV Connecticut // 2023
3 weeks ago

Exactly!

1 reply

Svteam 2015
Jan 12, 2025

I like that bikes are mechanical ans I love mechanical feel of a shifter/derailleur

14 reply

JBeauDuckCamo Louisiana // 2023
Jan 12, 2025

I don’t want to charge batteries for a bicycle it just seems kinda silly

13 reply

Nick England Western Australia // 2022
Jan 12, 2025

I don't want to buy into planned obsolescence with any of my bikes. In 15 years you will still be able to buy gear cables. Will you be able to buy parts for a AXS derailleur? Or are we expected to just bin them and buy new stuff again when they stop working? Is that what they (the industry) want us to do?

There is no reason move on from cables. They work fine, are reliable, and are affordable.

9 reply

Get-a-Ride Madeira Mountain Biking Portugal // 2024
Jan 12, 2025

I just want my bike to work.

9 reply

Bontrager fan 1972 New South Wales // 2023
Jan 12, 2025

They can stop functioning unexpectedly when looking for firmware updates .

9 reply

Jason Crabtree California // 2025
Jan 13, 2025

I'm with you. They'll
start working as long as those servers are still up and providing firmware, but sure will suck when that update is no longer available and you have a dead paperweight.

-2 reply

thebadpixel Delaware // 2022
Jan 12, 2025

"All of the above" - Too expensive, not reliable enough, not a big performance bump. There's a big list of things I would upgrade if I suddenly had money to burn and that one is waaaaay near the bottom near those fancy derailleur pulleys and light weight titanium bolts. Given what I've seen with a friend bricking his bike during a firmware update, I'd also steer clear of a new bike with electronic shifting.

8 reply

Get-a-Ride Madeira Mountain Biking Portugal // 2024
Jan 12, 2025

Electronic shifters like all electronic devices are rarely repaired, more often just replaced if damaged, and usually go directly to the dustbin. I do not expect these to last longer than a few years.
In turn I do have mechanical shifters that are ten to fifteen years old. And I still use them on my kids or my everyday bikes. With some effort I will likely still get spare parts and I will be very likely be able to repair them on my own.

8 reply

thebadpixel Delaware // 2022
3 weeks ago

Absolutely! I just got a vintage 1996 Trek road bike for my basement trainer, and it shifts perfectly after a tune-up with parts that are almost *30 years old* (8 speed 105). Electronics just don't have that kind of longevity.

1 reply

CycleKrieg Minnesota // 2017
Jan 12, 2025

^^^ The E-waste aspect of electronic derailleurs are a dirty secret that isn't being discussed.

6 reply

Arman2Dito Wisconsin // 2024
Jan 12, 2025

I don't want to have to deal with one battery more.

8 reply

Ottsville Virginia // 2022
Jan 12, 2025

Something else to worry about charging? No thank you!

8 reply

TK34 Minnesota // 2018
Jan 13, 2025

1) e-shifting is not necessary
2) I don't want another thing in my life to plug in. I bike to unplug.

6 reply

ericthompson2 Virginia // 2018
Jan 12, 2025

After destroying my 1st gen gx axs derailleur in a rock strike, I went back to mechanical. Too damn expensive for an easily breakable component

6 reply

jimiznhb Washington // 2016
Jan 13, 2025

Because I have Way To Many 'batteries' to charge and it all looks like another problem.

6 reply

Get-a-Ride Madeira Mountain Biking Portugal // 2024
Jan 13, 2025

Bikes shouldn't have batteries to do mechanical things - eBikes excepted.

I know I'm in the minority, but I want complete control over my bike, and electronics remove that.

They're also expensive, still less reliable than mechanical with battery issues still commonplace, and my gearing of choice (internal gear hub) doesn't have any major advantages with electronic shifting.

6 reply

marvinmartian 2009
Jan 12, 2025

I saw on my Strava feed a few days ago that a friend had his battery die on a road ride. Mechanical shifting works fine, why bother

6 reply

silvbullit 2013
Jan 13, 2025

Riding, wrenching, and racing since 1996 here. As a mechanic for years, I've worked on everything. My only indulgence is my bikes, and I get most at cost. My builds since 2015 can be seen on Vital, same username. So I am a purely high end component buyer and the industry would assume I want electronic shifting. But I don't, whether its Shimano or SRAM. Its inferior: Heavier unsprung weight (more important for rear suspension action) than comparable mechanical, can't dump as many gears at once, massively more expensive, adds failure modes to an already vulnerable component. There is zero performance advantage especially if you or your mechanic know how to properly set up a derailleur (there are many overseen details to make it better) and I would argue it has inferior performance metrics than mechanical due to weight, and the fixed, indexed speed of the shifting. This is excluding the sacrilege of adding an additional energy source and motor to an analogue bike. Frankly, I am surprised that doesn't bother more customers. I still have yet to see a compelling argument for electronic shifting aside from the aesthetics of no cables. Function comes first. MTB is not a fashion show and all fashion is subjective anyway. The sheer amount of additional complexity to the rear derailleur, and the "unservicable little black box" factor should torpedo interest. I have heard one rep say, at least for the 2023 season, their "T-Type" bikes were outselling all others so it is purely sales figures they are chasing, disregarding economic factors of the customer base at large. This was during the time he couldn't move mid-priced bikes. This is the dentist-effect and not purists buying for performance. These were spec-sheet buyers in high income brackets wanting candy for their Kuat racks.

6 reply

Get-a-Ride Madeira Mountain Biking Portugal // 2024
Jan 12, 2025

I run a Saint derailleur on my DH and enduro bikes, and soon to be hardtail as well. The amount of rocks those things have been slapped off, crashes, and general poor ownership reinforces my love for them. I'm happy to grin and bare the 34t cassette uphill rides for that quality and durability.
Secondly, quality and speed of shifting. Being able to reliably multi shift the entire cassette both up and down in about 2 seconds, compared to the slow "optimal" shift pattern of the electronics.
Thirdly, a mate had his electronic gears run out of battery halfway up a climb and I laughed at him.
Fourthly, it's unnecessary. Mech over tech, people running electronics are they same ones who will usher in our annihilation welcoming Skynet.

You do you on your bike, but I will use mechanicals until I'm not riding anymore.

5 reply

Lee Lau 2018
Jan 12, 2025

I want reliability

5 reply

CycleKrieg Minnesota // 2017
Jan 13, 2025

I have serious questions about who is reading Singletracks if nearly half of your readers have electronic groupsets. Electronic groupsets are so expensive and such an aficionado's choice that having a half your audience use them suggests a massive skewing of the demographics of Singletracks.

One of the issues affect MTBing, as a sport, is bring in newer and less affluent persons. If half your audience is purchasing (arguably) luxury bike goods, that is going to give a false impression of who MTBers are and what they want.

4 reply

MagRunner New York // 2022
Jan 13, 2025

My bikes are used as a way to get away from (most) electronics and take satisfaction in knowing that all the "power" needed to run my bike is coming from me. I enjoy electronic accessories like bike computers and lights; but, I want the the bike itself and anything required to keep it running to be mechanical.

4 reply

SDtraildog California // 2025
Jan 12, 2025

The #1 complaint on my sram electronic transmission is way too slow to upshift, can take several seconds to upshift 6 gears. My mechanical equivalent can bang out the same thing is a fraction of the time. On technical trails with lots of transitions, it's annoying, you have to plan much further ahead to upshift and occasionally get stuck not on a low enough gear due to the lag. Everything else is flawless. I do agree with landrew04 comments below.

4 reply

JSTootell 2017
Jan 13, 2025

I bought GX AXS when they had a good deal on the "Upgrade kit" several years ago. At the same time I bought XX1 AXS for my XC bike because of reasons too long to explain, to replace the mechanical XTR. I also have 12 speed Dura Ace which is electronic only.

I already removed the GX AXS and went back to X01. I hoping to get the time to put mechanical XTR back on (I saved the parts for both). And I'm dreaming that Shimano makes a mechanical Dura Ace, but I know they won't.

I tried them, for tens of thousands of miles (I rode A LOT), and I don't like them. I like the feel of mechanical, Sram or Shimano.

3 reply

Get-a-Ride Madeira Mountain Biking Portugal // 2024
Jan 12, 2025

Single Speed. That's why. I don't have none of them shifty bits

3 reply

VYBEKAT District of Columbia // 2025
Jan 13, 2025

The main reason electronic shifting exists is the excessive cable friction from full length internally routed shifting.

Combined with tightly spaced cassettes, the precision requirements are difficult to attain if there is any drag in the system.

I have been a mechanic and frame builder for decades

I like my mechanical bikes with external routing. I enjoy the simplicity and ease of maintenance. I hate trouble shooting electronics and just want to enjoy riding

3 reply

Marcel Petrin Alberta // 2024
Jan 13, 2025

Bought 2 bikes late 2023: Yeti SB140 LR-T2, and a Fuel EXe 9.5. I'd decided to hand my old-ish Anthem off to my nephew and had intended on just buying a high end acoustic, but impulse purchased the EXe while waiting for the Yeti to arrive. It's been interesting to compare the high end components on the Yeti to the low/mid-range ones on the 9.5. I'm a strong intermediate or decent expert rider I'd say, but have never been one to notice big differences in equipment. I prefer the adjustability of the Code brakes over the 420-series Shimano's, but they both stop fine. The Deore shifting on the EXe has been pretty flawless, although I did blow through a chain in about 1000km which was disappointing. The AXS shifting has been kind of mediocre right from the start. I've fiddled around with micro-adjust settings and improved things a bit, but it's frustrating that things still improve in the lower gears when I go further but then it causes issues with higher gears, so I've had to compromise. I'd like to give T-Type a try to see how it compares to AXS, but to this point I'm not super impressed with AXS. But nor do I get the extremely strong hatred of wireless drivetrains.

2 reply

Scotty-123 Rhode Island // 2025
Jan 13, 2025

I run XO-11 because it's still the lightest thing around. The shifts happen quicker than electronic. I can still put a reasonable amount of power down while shifting. And the tuning has a much wider range than 12sp that I've tried.

2 reply

silvbullit 2013
Jan 14, 2025

I should have written a shorter version. Here it is: There is no performance benefit, there are only drawbacks unless you are mechanically inept and would rather mess with batteries, bluetooth, and firmware. There are no advantages compared to XT or GX and above. Anyone saying otherwise is gaslighting themselves (and wallet) and might have also based their most recent car purchase on the size of the screen. The current problem seems to be the lack of high end bikes without AXS. The only consolation is that you can sell it and buy XTR or X01 and save money and weight in the process.

2 reply

Geelloo California // 2025
Jan 12, 2025

I'm on the "if it ain't broke what fix it" crowd

2 reply

CloudKing Pennsylvania // 2025
Jan 12, 2025

The cost to performance benefit is far too high right now. Plus you have to worry about keeping it charged, which can be a draw back.

2 reply

rooharris California // 2022
Jan 12, 2025

WTF! Electronic shifting? What next do I need? It is all about just getting out and riding a "BIKE". Not some supersonic battery controlled whatevers. If you want to learn single speed biking you'll find out sooner than later with electronic shifting. Argh!

2 reply

Jason Crabtree California // 2025
Jan 13, 2025

For me it's two main things, one is not enough of a bump in performance over mechanical, especially on a 1 by drivetrain. Although, I have ridden electronic and I do like it.

The second is the battery management, I don't want more stuff to worry about needing to be charged especially when I'm grabbing a bike that's been sitting for a few months unused (I have too many) but also as the bikes age I don't want to have to worry about replacing batteries or technology becoming obsolete and needing to change over drivetrains just because I can't get certain parts or batteries.

My first real road bike is a giant TCR from 2019, and I don't use it very frequently but it's nice that I can grab it after about a year throw some air in the tires and take off without worrying about whether the batteries are good or not. If that bike had something like di2 I would have to worry about making sure that I keep some sort of charge in those batteries as the lithium batteries we use today will die if you let them completely discharge.

1 reply

dwrigley Virginia // 2012
Jan 12, 2025

Hoping shimano will release wireless XT shifting

1 reply

Boas New Jersey // 2025
Jan 12, 2025

I am on my 3rd derailleur this year... would love e-shifting but it would be too expensive to replace

1 reply

reghubbard Alabama // 2011
3 weeks ago

I aspire to never have to "plug in" my bicycle.

1 reply

Sun Hester 2019
Jan 13, 2025

I bought the original AXS the day it was released. It's been sitting on the shelf now for 3+ years. Although, generally speaking it's a reliable product, I've been burned 3x by aged failing batteries. I don't find it shifts better, and AXS/ Transmission weighs a solid 300 grams (it's a 400 gram difference off the rear wheel from GX-T to XO1 11 speed!) more than the X01 11 speeds I prefer these days, right on the rear wheel with no appreciable advantages for all that weight. The 11 speed also has an all-steel cassette, has better ground clearance & frankly shifts really well. I also have a very rare HG+ 11 speed Shimano on 1 bike (of 3) and it's the best shifting drivetrain I've ever ridden. Mechanical definitely shifts better in the sense that you blend how much you push the lever to alter the number of shifts. With AXS, I never stopped thinking about my shifts.
On my next bike, which will likely be a full power e-bike, as long as Transmission is hard wired to the main battery, I'd probably get that but just can't imagine needing that range with a motor.
Really, a wide ratio 11 speed trans, like a 10-45 or 46 with a cable shifter, would do everything really well at less weight and money.
Also, this entire article is in direct contradiction to your editorial about the bikes getting too heavy. The widespread use of Transmission is a large contributor to that weight gain, in the worst place possible.

1 reply

harrysandell59 Minnesota // 2025
Jan 13, 2025

I can't even remember to charge my phone. My fear is I would want to ride and would have dead batteries.

1 reply

mtmtb406 Montana // 2023
Jan 13, 2025

I haven't had a beef with shifting since front derailleurs. Modern 1×12 mechanical drivetrains work great, so electronic is simply a non-starter for me.

1 reply

razorjack 2018
Jan 12, 2025

I love Di2 on my road bike (I have Levo also), but those monstrous Sram's mechs won't survive a few months with rocks and stumps (gx axs had life span 3-4 months)

1 reply

Tocs Irodnasset California // 2021
Jan 14, 2025

I see zero upside to justify the cost. I don't have many issues with mechanical drivetrains. When I'm hundred of miles from civilization I don't want to be worrying about batteries any more than I have too.

1 reply

Gmschoen12 Minnesota // 2023
3 weeks ago

I'd be really intrigued to see what percentage of riders with electronic shifting upgraded their mechanical drivetrain to electronic, vs. they purchased a new bike that came stock with electronic, and how much of their purchasing decision came down to electronic vs mechanical. This seems like another one of the industry moves of "oh yea, this is way better, everyone should have this!" I mean, just look at the new stumpjumper frame that will only accept sram axs drivetrain. If everyone is riding it, that means its better, right?

1 reply

AUTHOR

Jeff Barber Georgia // 1998
3 weeks ago

That's a good question!

Almost 5,000 people have answered the survey so far. Among the folks who answered that they have electronic shifting (which is some mix of people who chose to upgrade and those who purchased a bike with it):

1% say they DON'T like it
1% say they it's meh
9% say they DO like it

0 reply

Get-a-Ride Madeira Mountain Biking Portugal // 2024
Jan 13, 2025

One less thing to worry about during a 24H race.

1 reply

wking64 Texas // 2024
Jan 12, 2025

The cost benefit analysis doesn't work for me. Is it cool, yes, will it improve my riding ability, probably not. Been analog shifting for over 20 years and know how to advance shift. Like with other things, I am generally not a huge fan of technology that simply forgives bad habits (like shifting late).

1 reply

Stabone33 2010
Jan 13, 2025

Why would I need this? My 11sp XT mechanical group works just fine. And I'd never remember to recharge batteries before a ride.

1 reply

Brian Grant Washington // 2025
3 weeks ago

Absolutely no reason to switch. I see no upsides to electronic shifting, only downsides. Mechanical shifting is so simple, easy and reliable, why in the world does the industry think we need change? In order to have more of our money perhaps?

0 reply

ed734 New Mexico // 2019
3 weeks ago

As far as shifting goes, I like a good chain line, no crazy angles that beg for components to wear out ASAP. I have nothing against 12 speed spacing, just 12 gears. For short chain stays 8 or 9 cogs with 12 speed spacing is great. So if SRAM won’t let me set up for fewer than 12 cogs, they can keep their electrified bits. Unfortunately they are displacing/crowding out excellent mechanical setups. As HG freehub bodies and cassettes get relegated to cheap bikes our choices are further limited. Also it used to be more dollars spent equaled lighter and/or longer lasting. Only bonus here is that I can count on everyone around me riding bikes 8 to 12 pounds heavier than what I’m riding! Helps as you get older. No problem riding with folks half my age!

0 reply

nibblecuda Minnesota // 2017
Jan 14, 2025

Electronic shifting is not rated for cold temperatures.

0 reply

cjsutterer Missouri // 2006
3 weeks ago

I am not great at remembering to charge or even bring the battery. Multi-day trips you have to remember to charge it and if you are camping that just another hassle. The biggest reason is that my 6 year old XO NEVER misses! Maybe when it starts to, I will...

0 reply

inchmile Colorado // 2012
Jan 13, 2025

I dislike 12 speed.

0 reply

Gregwm6 British Columbia // 2014
3 weeks ago

I don’t like having something to charge. The added weight and small increase in performance don’t justify the inconvenience and extra thing to think about.

0 reply

razorjack 2018
3 weeks ago

I love Di2 on my road bike, but >400eur rear mech (especially Sram's gargantuan) is a mistake. Expensive and so easy to destroy. AXS survived on my mates mates bikes 4 months only.

0 reply

Surlymongre California // 2025
3 weeks ago

I never upgrade. I'll buy something new if it does something different that seems like it might be fun: longer travel 26", 29er SS, 29+ rigid, 27+ suspended, 26 x 4 rigid fat, mullet class 1 150/170, mullet enduro 170/170, 20" folding. I have never worn out or broken a derailleur in thirty-six or seven years of riding off road. The campy derailleur on my road bike probably works as well as it ever did, but I don't know because I haven't ridden it in at least fifteen years. As a mechanic, I am shifter agnostic, and I haven't found a drive train that I like better than my twenty-one year old Rohloff. As for weight, the Ebike weighs considerably more than twice as much as my mid-eighties road bike, but who cares? Besides, sliding the Ebike around corners and riding off of rocks is way more fun than suffering in a paceline or being dropped and lapped in a crit. Thanks to all for making me think! And when is the Pinion MGU coming to the US?

0 reply

Vincent_e Arkansas // 2023
Jan 14, 2025

I remember when SRAM released the first XX1 group set… that was a meaningful innovation that has really shifted MTB development. While I couldn’t afford XX1 at the time I knew I wanted a bike with 1x. I did the wolf-tooth XT 10-speed thing for a year before I finally got a bike with XO1.

Flash forward, and I think there’s some real innovation with UDH. But AXS and electronic shifting in general doesn’t give me the same aspirational feeling. It just looks big, expensive, complex, and unnecessary. Like most other folks here, I don’t want my bike to require a battery to operate, and I especially don’t want my MTB to need ‘firmware’…

I’ve had really good luck with 11 and 12 speed mechanical groups. I suppose there’s something stubborn and romanticized at play. I drive a manual transmission car, and I own a titanium SS that I build (including the TIG welding) myself. I plan to be one of the mechanical hold-outs for a long time, even if I have to hoard 12-speed XT parts.
(But looking at Madrone Labs and others, I think the niche will be large enough to support some ongoing innovation in mechanical drivetrains… it just might not come from either ‘Big S’)

0 reply

Ranjo California // 2020
3 weeks ago

Just not interested.

0 reply

Dr Sweets Georgia // 2016
3 weeks ago

My lack of interest in electric shifting comes from a couple points. First, I've ridden every major electric drivetrain (Di2, OG AXS and Transmission) drivetrain. None of them provided me with a shifting, predictability or durability experience that was notably superior to the XO1 Eagle drivetrains I have. Those drivetrains have been bulletproof, easy to work on/set up/maintain and do not need to be charged...ever. That later point is also a big one for me. I already plug in my phone and laptop. I have no desire to charge my drivetrain. Yes, I have an eBike however my rides with it account for maybe 1 in 10 vs my "Amish" bikes. I do not run bar mounted cyclo-computers of any sort either despite receiving a super nice Wahoo who are one of are GCA team sponsors. I am looking into a gravel/commuter rig in the form of a Creo 2 or Skitch, so maybe I'll throw the Wahoo on that. We'll see. Look, I still daily drive a ICE manual transmission car so maybe I am Luddite. However, it comes down to the experience as I like my driving to be an entertaining adventure vs just a conveyance.

0 reply

Kirk Kirk Texas // 2022
3 weeks ago

No poll option for "don't want to have batteries to charge for everything"? Why would I want to change an entirely mechanical thing into something I have to charge. It's fine for ebikes though, since you already need a charge, assuming they run off the main battery.

0 reply

astralzombie Minnesota // 2021
Jan 14, 2025

Running GX mechanical now, but new bike with GX Transmission is coming today or tomorrow, so I guess I’ll see how the two stack up against each other soon!

I do find all the hate a little interesting tho, kinda like the anti e-bike vibes…don’t really get it other than the higher cost.

0 reply

dsp4 Quebec // 2025
3 weeks ago

Running an eMTB and I have no desire to have separate devices to keep charged. Reliability is the most important factor to me. Mechanical means the shifters work all the time. I might gove them a try if manufacturers come up with a standardized power supply system that allows electronic accessories to pull juice from the main battery.

0 reply

Rickysee Michigan // 2024
3 weeks ago

Shimano doesn’t offer it yet!

0 reply

bpmaiden 2021
Jan 12, 2025

This isn't a very exciting answer, but I can't afford a new bike right now. My current bike isn't worth upgrading to electronic shifting ... and besides, I haven't tried out this type of equipment yet. When I can afford to buy or build up a new bike, I will certainly consider it. Could go either way.

0 reply

Adub78 British Columbia // 2025
3 weeks ago

Waiting for shimano to come out w new xtr

0 reply

2wheelfun Colorado // 2018
3 weeks ago

We are talking about a derailer that is setting in the open screaming hit me to every rock, boulder and flat flagstone being thrown up from the front wheel where you might be miles from your vehicle. You can always McGuiver a old school derailer to get out. Couple years ago I had a rock kicked from my front wheel and exploded the rear derailer and buying a new XT Shimano online cost less the $100 and back running with things I know how to work on. If I would have had a electronic derailer I'm sure I would have had several hundreds of dollars to invest. Old school derailers easily tuned shift like butter and easy to work on in the field with a little knowledge and very little expense versus electronic shifting. Also don't have to worry if my shift battery is charged or if I forgot the battery in the charger at home. I have seen people get to the trailhead without batteries for dropper seat post too. Things to be said for old school cables.

0 reply

jimmilt 2015
Jan 13, 2025

Why fix something that isn't broken? It's a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

0 reply

bikexcountry California // 2025
3 weeks ago

With stored energy or ECUs with microcontrollers even for convenience features on a bike, to me that is no longer a bike. Next it will be electronic suspension that smooths the terrain for you or stability management that keeps you up even when you should be wiping out. No doubt these innovations will arrive and will make everyone that uses them faster, but is that the point? People are already buying their way to the good downhills with EMTB without putting in the work and basically buying their way to faster lap / segment times and it will just progress. I have the means, but I'm keeping my bike mechanical thanks.

0 reply

Philip Ball 2016
3 weeks ago

You have a lot of comments and some long ones at that. My short answer is that although I answered #3 performance, the cost is a factor too. So really it's bang for the buck. The SRAM system seems well suited to ebikes and shifting under load and those bikes are already expensive anyway. I don't like that the battery is on the derailleur (unsprung mass) when it could be stashed somewhere else like a Di2 seatpost. I don't care about batteries on my bike. I already have a computer and sensors and power meter pedals so that doesn't bother me, it mostly just offers poor "bang for the buck". The money is better spent elsewhere. Also not a fan of flight attendant for the same reason. With an unlimited budget I'd probably dabble

0 reply

hankisawesome Missouri // 2024
3 weeks ago

not a lot of benefits over mechanical and don't really have the money for it, but I'd consider it an option in the future for sure

0 reply

calisav California // 2023
Jan 12, 2025

If I get electronic shifting on my bike I want to be sure my bike has a UDH. Superior system on a bike with a UDH, I have one on an Enduro bike, the performance is outstanding! Just don't want to have to buy new bikes just to put a derailleur on.

-1 reply

JSTootell 2017
Jan 13, 2025

I didn't give the negative vote.

But there is no difference between a UDH and non UDH as far as electronic shifting goes. Unless you specifically mean Sram Transmission.

0 reply

Tyler bobyler Colorado // 2025
Jan 14, 2025

Single speed.

-1 reply

Get-a-Ride Madeira Mountain Biking Portugal // 2024
Jan 12, 2025

Because I'm not retarded or a hipster looking to feed my incredibly empty ball sack!!
Basically it's Gay!!!

-3 reply

Ranjo California // 2020
3 weeks ago

I feel like you're holding something back.

1 reply

Tagged: electronic shifting, survey, gear, drivetrain

First published January 12, 2025 @ 3:37:00