SRAM Isn't Done With Cables

A few years ago, the rumor mill was in overdrive: SRAM was done with cables.

Word on the trail was that everything would go wireless, and future frames wouldn’t even have ports for derailleur housing. Some brands even started designing frames around that idea.

Turns out, those rumors were only half-right.

Yes, SRAM's wireless Transmission system took over the spotlight for a while. But now, with the release of the Eagle 90 and Eagle 70 drivetrains, SRAM has made it official: mechanical shifting is still very much alive—and it's better than ever.

Mechanical Is Back—But Reimagined

The Eagle 90 is not just a rehash of older tech. It’s a cable-actuated drivetrain that uses the same Full Mount interface found on Transmission—clamping the derailleur directly around both sides of the dropout for a stiffer, hanger-free design. That means more durability, less alignment issues, and compatibility with any UDH-equipped frame.

In short: SRAM kept the best parts of Transmission, skipped the batteries, and gave us a mechanical system that’s easier to service, more affordable, and still packed with performance.

Eagle 90 Groupset Key Details

• 12-speed (10-52T) cassette

• Cable-actuated

• Full Mount design

• Compatible with T-Type cassettes and chains

• Groupset weight: 2085g

• MSRP: $670 USD (cassette, derailleur, cranks, shifter, chain)

What About Eagle 70? SRAM also launched Eagle 70—a more affordable spec likely to appear on complete builds in the near future. It uses the same wide-range 10-52T gearing but works with traditional HG driver bodies, making it ideal for riders who want to upgrade shifting without overhauling their wheels.

🙋‍♂️ RECON’s Take

With Eagle 90 and Eagle 70, SRAM isn’t just keeping cables around—they’re elevating them. These drivetrains borrow the stiffness and interface design of Transmission, deliver clean, no-fuss performance, and come in at a fraction of the cost of their wireless counterparts.

More importantly, they prove that the future of mountain biking doesn’t have to be wireless-only. SRAM’s mechanical comeback is thoughtful, refined, and—for many riders—a welcome return to simplicity.