Eagle, T-Type and Flattop — three chains that are not the same
SRAM's naming rewards a careful read, because several of their chains look alike and none of them are interchangeable.
Eagle is the 12-speed mountain bike family — PC-NX, PC-GX and the S100. These run on the familiar Eagle cassettes and derailleurs.
T-Type is SRAM's newer Transmission standard. The PC-70 T-Type chain is built for a Transmission drivetrain and its flat-top profile is specific to it.
Flattop is the road equivalent, used by Rival and the rest of SRAM's 12 and 13-speed road groupsets. A Flattop chain will not work on an Eagle setup.
If you are unsure which family your bike is, the rear derailleur is the giveaway — bring a photo of it.
AXS, and what electronic shifting actually changes
An AXS derailleur has no cable. The shifter pod sends a radio signal, the derailleur moves, and it lands in the same place every time regardless of housing friction, dirt or cable stretch. On a mountain bike ridden through Cape dust, that consistency is the real argument for it.
What you take on is a battery to keep charged and paired. The batteries and chargers are interchangeable across the AXS range, so a spare in a jersey pocket covers you.
The unglamorous parts that matter
The Powerlock quick link is the one to keep in a saddle pack. It is the difference between a broken chain ending a ride and costing you five minutes. They are speed specific, and SRAM specify theirs as single use — worth knowing before you reuse one on a long ride.
Pulley wheels are the other quiet wear item: worn jockey wheels make a drivetrain noisy and lazy long before anything actually fails. See pulley wheels, and chainrings when the teeth finally hook over.
Common questions
Will SRAM parts work with my Shimano drivetrain?
Chains, largely yes within the same speed count. Shifters and derailleurs, no — the cable pull ratios differ. The Shimano chains are the place to look if the rest of the bike is Shimano.
Can I upgrade to AXS piecemeal?
You need at least the derailleur, a pod and a battery. Come and talk it through at the cycle shop in Hout Bay before you buy anything.
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