Ask MBA: Wireless MTB Drivetrain – Is It Worth the Upgrade? 

Q: Hey, guys! The GX Eagle drivetrain on my Santa Cruz Hightower has been abused over the last couple of years, and I think it’s time for some fresh components. Is it worth it to go wireless, or should I save my money and stick with a wired drivetrain?
Jeff Simpson
Reno, Nevada

A: Whether or not a wireless drivetrain is “worth it” is going to vary based off a few factors, and each person may have a different view. Some of us here are totally content with our tried-and-true wired drivetrains, hate dealing with batteries, and currently, don’t see a necessary reason to upgrade. You may think differently, though.

Wireless shifting groups such as the SRAM Eagle Transmission And Shimano’s latest Di2 work extremely well, are easy to install (because there are no cables) and require very little maintenance. You do have to be mindful of remembering to charge your battery or be sure to always carry a spare along on a ride, though, because a derailleur that stops working mid-ride is no fun.

The experience of using wireless transmission is nice, considering the low effort required to shift and how clean each shift is. However, SRAM’s Eagle Transmission is not very fast to shift multiple gears when you need to. Shimano’s Di2 however, is as fast as you want it to be and a better choice if shift speed is a priority.

Overall, there isn’t a massive performance advantage for a rider versus a quality dialed in cable group set. The wireless components do shift a bit cleaner because you remove any human error and is a lot more consistent for a longer period of time since there’s no cable wear.

If the simple installation, clean shifting with minimal maintenance and a clean cockpit setup are important to you, then the price difference could be worth it. If you’ve been happy with your current setup, then maybe not.