[Closed] How long should AXS mech last?

If it’s not damage, what’s happening that you’re getting through a mech a year?

What are you doing to go through a mech yearly? Apart from wrapping the mech round a tree/rock, I've yet to wear a mech out.

AXS is about 3 years old in MTB kit and as far as I know, the mechs are all still working well (although I think someone here recently posted up saying their mech was 2.5 years old and it was done), so I suspect they should last a decent time.

Probably depends on how often you use the mech and how much of a bashing it gets...

Is the issue play in the mech? There was a bit of noise about that a few years ago with gx but I've not heard of it since.

I don't think Sram are the people to go to for very expensive derailleurs - there was a thread 2 days ago where a crucial part in someone's AXS mech had died after 2.5 years. I've gone through Sram XX1 rear mechs (cable operated ones) in no time compared to Shimano ones - the pivots on the parralellogram go stiff and won't loosen up after being stripped down, while the main pivot goes sloppy. I've since switched to Shimano 12 speed and just had to strip and clean the clutch after 2.5 years and it's like new again. Sram warranty is 2 years - if you're happy with a several hundred pound part lasting only 2 years then you'll be OK.

Until Shimano release Di2 for MTBs again you're best off either sucking up a new cable GX or NX mech a year or switching to Shimano.

I wonder how much a Shimano STX-RC mech was... I've got one still works fine on a loaner bike, well over 20 years old.

Five year old X9 mech here, no issues, other than ditching SRAM jockeys for BBB ones.

My XO1 mech failed after 18 months due to one of the sprung battery contact pins losing its springiness. Replaced under warranty with no questions asked, although I did need to pay a UK shop an admin fee to process the refund to avoid the hassle of sending it back to the European shop I bought it from pre-Brexit.

It was quite scratched up and had survived lots of rock strikes before being replaced.

I’ve gone through Sram XX1 rear mechs (cable operated ones) in no time compared to Shimano ones

By comparison the only mech I ever properly killed was an xt 765 one (had a few shimano clutch failures mind). My X0 11 I've had from release so about 8 years old now and still faultless.

It's all anecdotal.

Taking crashes and accidents with trail objects out of the equation, it starts to depend on what mileage you do,soil conditions you ride in and if it's racing or bimbling. I would be pretty miffed if any of my mechs (other than the odd jockey wheel set) needed replacing in anything less than 5 years. Some of my old cable XTR units just refuse to die/wear out.

I'm guessing you're including rock strikes, smacks off bits and so on with the once a year replacement, i've gone through two mechs this year, one snapped in half and written off, the other through just a load of abuse where it just got too many hits off trail stuff and scuffed up through crashes that had the bike mech side down, which is the reason i haven't switched to anything more expensive than an XT mech, would love the AXS, but every time a rock comes up off the wheel and clatters the bike it reminds me that a 400 or 500 quid mech isn't a good idea for me.

If it's wear and tear without strikes, a mech should last a hell of a long time, it's a basic springs and hinge mechanical item, and if you keep it clean, oil/grease where required and keep an eye on any of the electrical areas, such as the terminals you'll be fine for a long time. The thing about mechs is they are just a range, it's the mech that gives them the tolerance they work in, and AXS sounds like it has tighter, and easier adjustment of these tolerances to make them even more reliable over time.

Five year old X9 mech here, no issues, other than ditching SRAM jockeys for BBB ones.

I had an X9 mech that felt really baggy after a couple of years. It still worked but it was all just a bit vague. That was 10 speed - I changed it got GX 10 speed and that seemed to last a lot better.

I’ve since switched to Shimano 12 speed and just had to strip and clean the clutch after 2.5 years and it’s like new again.

My XT 12 speed mech went really really stiff on the downshift after less than a year. I stripped it and cleaned all the mud / rust out of it and relived all the parts you should and it did get better. Noticeably getting stiffer again now though after not too long since the rebuild. It doesn’t help I have a gx Eagle mech on the other bike which is a lovely light lever push. That’s not old enough yet to see how durable it is in comparison though.

Expensive mechs just seem a risk - I bent a crank arm in a crash a few years back but luckily only gx level. If I had a £300-£400 mech I’d be in constant fear of mashing it up.

I do have Di2 on the road bike and it is a nice thing 110% and wouldn’t go back to mechanical on there (hated front mech upshift and the weird swinging of the shifter if you accidentally caught both levers on my Shimano 105). I just can’t justify / get my head around the cost of AXS.

Thanks all,

I have no idea why I get through so many mechs.
I ride pretty rough trails very often.
The mech usually gets sloppy over time but on two occasions the pivots have disintegrated without warning on tame sections.

I do maintain them and lube the pivots.

cheers

Been running mine for 18 months now, used every weekend and no issues at all.

Would get another in a heart beat.

Friend of mine had the battery pin issue as well, his was swapped for a new one within a week, no question asked.

X7, GX & NX have all been crap for me

seem to develop play in the pivots after about 6 months, flap around and launch themselves into spokes either in the middle of an alps descent or a race run, same bike same riding XT seems to last much longer

SRAM pretty good with warranty, but last time it took 6 weeks for the replacement to arrive

Id really hop AXS is more robust