Where did these Sram steel chainrings go?

[Croglet]

Hi, 
I have a SRAM GX 1x12 drivetrain and it's almost worn out, again 😢
The last time I replaced it I used one of these steel chainrings but I can't seem to find them anywhere now.  Anyone know where they're available in SA? 

I know they're "old" and a couple grams heavier but well worth it imo. A lot more affordable than the new aluminium chainrings and bulletproof. Surely I can't be the only guy who still uses them to milk as much mileage as possible out of a new drivetrain?




  

[Nuffy]

I use the Race Face steel chainrings for the same reasons as you. I have looked for these Sram ones too and haven’t ever seen them in stock at Cape Cycles (the Sram distributor). It looks like the only steel chainrings they do stock are 104 BCD T-type, probably aimed at e-bikers. The NX cranksets come with the steel chainrings, but I’m not sure why they aren’t also sold separately. You might get lucky by asking around at a few bike shops in the hope that one has a take-off from a bike or crankset, or is willing to split a NX crankset.

[Naidy]

17 hours ago, Croglet said:

Hi, 
I have a SRAM GX 1x12 drivetrain and it's almost worn out, again 😢
The last time I replaced it I used one of these steel chainrings but I can't seem to find them anywhere now.  Anyone know where they're available in SA? 

I know they're "old" and a couple grams heavier but well worth it imo. A lot more affordable than the new aluminium chainrings and bulletproof. Surely I can't be the only guy who still uses them to milk as much mileage as possible out of a new drivetrain?




  

I have a Csixx 32T chainring with a 0 offset for R600. They are extremely durable. 

[Ruben101]

4 hours ago, Nuffy said:

I use the Race Face steel chainrings for the same reasons as you. I have looked for these Sram ones too and haven’t ever seen them in stock at Cape Cycles (the Sram distributor). It looks like the only steel chainrings they do stock are 104 BCD T-type, probably aimed at e-bikers. The NX cranksets come with the steel chainrings, but I’m not sure why they aren’t also sold separately. You might get lucky by asking around at a few bike shops in the hope that one has a take-off from a bike or crankset, or is willing to split a NX crankset.

I also run Race Face cranks and recently had to replace the chainring.

Unfortunately, the race face steel chainrings only comes in 3 sizes- 28t,30t and 32t according to their website. I run 34t or 36t so I had to go the race face alu chainring route.

Personally, I think this is another persuasive tactic from a few brands in the cycling industry. Ex. They don't want to sell you a steel chainring that is affordable and long lasting. Instead, they want to sell you more expensive products like alu chainrings that don't last that long. Then a few months later your back at buying an alu chainring that is twice the price of an alu one. More sales = more money 

[Nuffy]

I seem to remember Lyne was offering steel chainrings a while back. I can’t remember what mounting spec, but I think it was the Sram 3-bolt type, and in limited configurations. I don’t see them on their site now, though.

[DieselnDust]

6 hours ago, Nuffy said:

I use the Race Face steel chainrings for the same reasons as you. I have looked for these Sram ones too and haven’t ever seen them in stock at Cape Cycles (the Sram distributor). It looks like the only steel chainrings they do stock are 104 BCD T-type, probably aimed at e-bikers. The NX cranksets come with the steel chainrings, but I’m not sure why they aren’t also sold separately. You might get lucky by asking around at a few bike shops in the hope that one has a take-off from a bike or crankset, or is willing to split a NX crankset.

They never sold so CCS stopped bringing them in. It was a cheap and easy place to save weight so most people would replace the steel ring with an alloy lyne components or csixx ring which lasted long enough for most people’s needs

[Croglet]

Very interesting. So it's not just my imagination then.
I thought there would be loads of riders who would opt for the cheaper, longer lasting option over something a bit lighter and triple the price but apparently we don't get that option anymore. 😕 

It's not just about the chainring itself. Every worn out part of the drivetrain obviously wears out every other part so your faster wearing chainring starts wearing out your expensive cassettes and chains. 
Maybe I'm overthinking it and just being overly Scottish but 8k for a new GX drivetrain isn't nothing.   

 

[DieselnDust]

15 minutes ago, Croglet said:

Very interesting. So it's not just my imagination then.
I thought there would be loads of riders who would opt for the cheaper, longer lasting option over something a bit lighter and triple the price but apparently we don't get that option anymore. 😕 

It's not just about the chainring itself. Every worn out part of the drivetrain obviously wears out every other part so your faster wearing chainring starts wearing out your expensive cassettes and chains. 
Maybe I'm overthinking it and just being overly Scottish but 8k for a new GX drivetrain isn't nothing.   

 

South African Mtb consumer behaviour is different to the rest of the world. Were weight and bling viskrik. Steel rings aren’t bling so they bye bye first. Next “upgrade” is carbon rims and a carbon handle bar even both make the bike less comfortable.

[Borrie131]

I have a 30T steel Sram Chainring. Only done 20km on it.

[Ruben101]

Race Face is now also doing a new chainring called Race Face Era ,which is made from three different materials. Teeth are steel, alu interface and carbon spider. Light and durable, but not affordable. $149 for a blade. Looks very cool though

 

https://www.raceface.com/products/era-chainring?srsltid=AfmBOoq0Nr2xggxxZvrZPknRzlO7si0aDxPHRw6HOE6L-d6Ljh4o3pt9&variant=40835808854098

[Croglet]

42 minutes ago, Borrie131 said:

I have a 30T steel Sram Chainring. Only done 20km on it.

 

Thanks, think I may have tracked a 32T down on the classifieds 👍
 

31 minutes ago, Ruben101 said:

Race Face is now also doing a new chainring called Race Face Era ,which is made from three different materials. Teeth are steel, alu interface and carbon spider. Light and durable, but not affordable. $149 for a blade. Looks very cool though

Awesome! That's what I thought the new Sram X-sync 2's were - aluminium with steel teeth. 
It's all a bit confusing, Sram has 3 or 4 different chainrings all called 'x-sync 2'. One of which is steel and the others aren't. I have no idea what makes the new aluminium ones different to the older ones, aside from the cost.  🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[nick_the_wheelbuilder]

How many km's are you guys getting out of the chainrings?

I've been on the same alloy chainring on my own bike for over 20 000km and it's almost like new.
(Absolute Black 34t oval)

I am however hyper-pedantic about replacing chains as soon as they reach 0.75%.

For even better wear over time, use 3 chains and rotate them every 250km.
This will extend the life of your cassette and chainrings 3x.

[Nuffy]

1 hour ago, Ruben101 said:

Race Face is now also doing a new chainring called Race Face Era ,which is made from three different materials. Teeth are steel, alu interface and carbon spider. Light and durable, but not affordable. $149 for a blade. Looks very cool though

 

https://www.raceface.com/products/era-chainring?srsltid=AfmBOoq0Nr2xggxxZvrZPknRzlO7si0aDxPHRw6HOE6L-d6Ljh4o3pt9&variant=40835808854098

Shimano also has some nice ones with steel teeth and composite and aluminium bodies (like the SM-CRM81 (11-speed) and SM-CRM85 (12-speed)) that are a bit cheaper than this, and their cheap all-steel ones are nice too. It’s not going to help @Croglet unfortunately, but I think it’s another good selling point for Shimano cranksets.

Edited February 14 by Nuffy

[DieselnDust]

1 hour ago, Croglet said:

Thanks, think I may have tracked a 32T down on the classifieds 👍
 

Awesome! That's what I thought the new Sram X-sync 2's were - aluminium with steel teeth. 
It's all a bit confusing, Sram has 3 or 4 different chainrings all called 'x-sync 2'. One of which is steel and the others aren't. I have no idea what makes the new aluminium ones different to the older ones, aside from the cost.  🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️

The new aluminium X-sync II chainrings have a hard anodising on the teeth to further improve longevity and this ano is grey so the scuffing doesn't make it look fugly after 40km.

The steel rings are stamped so they're complete steel, no aluminium in sight on those.

[DieselnDust]

1 hour ago, nick_the_wheelbuilder said:

How many km's are you guys getting out of the chainrings?

I've been on the same alloy chainring on my own bike for over 20 000km and it's almost like new.
(Absolute Black 34t oval)

I am however hyper-pedantic about replacing chains as soon as they reach 0.75%.

For even better wear over time, use 3 chains and rotate them every 250km.
This will extend the life of your cassette and chainrings 3x.

20000km ???!!!!!

I get 6000km out of an Xsync II so it gets replaced with the XX1 chain that gives me roughly similar mileage to 0.45% wear. My cassettes have lasted 26000km (XO1 XG1295) and the 2nd unit is on roughly 8000km (XG1299 Gold) now

[Croglet]

3 hours ago, nick_the_wheelbuilder said:

How many km's are you guys getting out of the chainrings?

I've been on the same alloy chainring on my own bike for over 20 000km and it's almost like new.
(Absolute Black 34t oval)

Wait, what?? 
You're not talking about a road bike are you?

I thought I was doing quite well 😕 I'm currently on about 10500km and I doubt my cassette will take a new chain after this one. Almost at the point of recycling chains and riding the whole thing into oblivion until it implodes.  
I'm on my 7th atm, careful about swapping them out at 0.5%. Chains and Cassette are GX and I started with the steel chainring in the OP, 9000km later I'm onto an aluminium one.