By James Huang
Component manufacturer SRAM has announced a complete new high-end mountain bike groupset to be available mid-year 2009. Dubbed ‘XX’ the new group "will exceed the demands of the cross-country athlete through all-new technologies focused on precision, efficiency, and weight," according to SRAM. Like the Red road group, it will be a true joint development between the SRAM, RockShox, Avid and Truvativ divisions.
Beyond that, SRAM is keeping its cards very close to its chest to prevent a fast response from rival Shimano. Shimano is reliably reported to be developing a ten-speed mountain bike group in response to previous rumours of a new SRAM group.
One reliable rumour, though, concerns comparison between XX and Shimano's current top-end road bike groupset. XX will weigh, we hear, the same as the 2009 Dura-Ace groupset.
While what follows is unofficial, the group's intended use, SRAM's recent road components and documented spy photos provide enough ammunition for us to think we can guess accurately what SRAM's up to.
If you take the group's moniker as Roman numerals, XX looks likely to have not only the first ten-speed off-road transmission, but a dedicated 2x10 system specifically aimed at fit racer-types.
The rear cassette will likely be based on the innovative PowerDome design of the road-going Red group but modified for better performance in muddy conditions with a more open architecture. The 11-34 tooth range is unlikely to change much but the additional ratio in the middle will mean smaller jumps between gears, something racers always like.
Up front, it's logical to expect XX to use a lightweight carbon crankset optimized for a two-ring set up with a narrower pedal stance width and more closely tucked-in chainline.
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