1X vs 2X and 3X Drivetrains for Mountain Bikes Explained

Don't forget to like and subscribe! Hit the bell icon for notifications of new content!

I’ve introduced a few people to the world of mountain biking over the last year or so and as you probably know, there is a lot to explain when it comes to bike features and mechanisms. One of the first and most important things that always comes up is the drivetrain. The drivetrain includes the derailleur, chain, shifters and gearing: also known as chainrings and cassette.
Most people coming into mountain biking have had some experience with a cheap department store bike like a low end Huffy, Mongoose or Schwinn. These bikes are almost always equipped with a 21 or 27 speed drivetrain system. And it’s almost like they use that higher number of speeds as a marketing technique. More speeds is better right? Well, the short answer is no. If you think about a car, most have either 5 or 6 gears in the transmission. And that will get them from 0 to over 100mph pretty efficiently. So why does a bike need 20+ gears? If you really were to use all of them you would be doing more shifting than anything.

So let’s outline the physical differences you will see between a 1x and a 2 or 3x
-the main difference with a 1x is the single chainring. So it is 1 gear in the front and 9 to 12 in the rear, typically.
-This means only one derailleur and one trigger shifter on the right hand side of the bars.
-Aside from looking better, you clear up some handlebar space, a cable, and shave some weight from not having a front derailleur.
-The 2x or 3x will have multiple chainrings(front gears) and a derailleur and shifter to switch between them. There are usually less gears in the rear on the cassette as a result. Typically anywhere from 6 to 10 depending on the configuration.
It may go without saying but the number of speeds is determined by the total number of possible gearing configurations. So 3 in the front and 7 in the rear is 21 speeds and not 10 because you multiply the two.
Over the last 4 or 5 years, 10,11 and 12 speed 1x drivetrains have become the standard in the mountain biking world. At least on mid to high end model bikes. Yet we are still seeing 3xs on pretty much every bike under the 500-800 dollar price point. Why is this?
You would think that less moving parts would be cheaper to manufacture and easier for a beginner to learn on. But since they are still a relatively new concept and made with a lot more precision to target the higher level riders, a 1x drivetrain will cost you quite a bit more money.

So, is it worth it to pay the extra money for it? In my opinion, yes. A thousand times yes and I personally wouldn’t buy a bike without a 1x.
So lets take a look at the advantages. First let me clarify that while you do have less gears, you typically have as much range, or more as a multi chain ring setup. This means that your gearing goes from a very low ‘granny gear’ which is great for climbing and low speed control, all the way up to a 10 or 11 tooth high gear that will let you go faster even when you’re already flying downhill.
The lack of extra components like the front derailleur, cable and shifter also eliminate possible mechanical failures which could leave you unable to ride or at the very least, frustrated with a bike that won’t shift properly.
The biggest and most important advantage in my opinion is only having one shifter. This means that you always know that if you want to go faster, you shift up and slower, shift down. With multiple chainrings, the gearing doesn’t work in a linear way like that. For example, which gear would be higher on a 3x? 6th gear in the rear and 2nd on the front or 2nd gear in the rear and 3rd on the front? You can eventually figure it out but the fact that you have to think about it or just try to feel it out as you are riding, is not a very intuitive mechanism. This creates even more difficulty for newer riders who likely can’t justify dropping 1-2 thousand dollars on a bike. Newer riders typically struggle with shifting to begin with. So to add a sloppy system to the equation is just not helping anyone.
For these reasons I believe we will start to see lower grade 1xs on entry level bikes in the next few years which will be a win for everyone. But for now, if you are just getting into mountain biking, I would highly recommend picking up a bike with a 1x drivetrain system. I have been able to find new and used bikes equipped with a 1x for around $600. Which is really the absolute minimum I think you can spend on a decent mountain bike if you are wanting to do any kind of riding on singletrack.
So what do you think? Was this video helpful? Let me know your thoughts or questions in the comments and be sure to like and subscribe!

[aaaaaa]

More gears ARE better IF you want a drive train that LASTS LONGER because this setup includes a thicker, more durable chain, more gears are used for the same duration of riding which means that the individual gears wear less and last longer.
Say you're commuting on a mtb, you ride on bike paths, paved roads, gravel roads, single tracks. For this a 3x drive train is the best choice.

[loicbrunich]

And in 2022 I'm rolling 3x12, 44-32-22 and 9-52, 1155% range, I think it's impossible to beat.

[florinstandoff]

1x12 replace the chain every year. 3x7/8 replace chain every 10 years. Less cost for 3x7/8 so they are more reliable.

[digitalreject]

My bikes are so old, like me, they all have 3x on the crank. I didn't even know 1x was the latest thing. Great information and explanation.

[elmerreyes]

3x9 for me. I know how to use the complicated system and it fits my riding style. 1x is more simple but really expensive. Really depends on the riding style of the rider. Lol.

[MLFranklin]

I like this a lot. I see lots of videos showing how to convert from a 3x to a 1x, but their logic was more like "hey, this is what the cool kids are doing and here's how to do it." If we're lucky they explain that we have fewer parts and save weight. But you added the additional facts of reliability and intuitive shifting. I converted because it was easy and my front chainrings and derailleur were already janked up and I love simplicity. BTW, great cinematography, editing, music, and noir film narration.

[DIL]

2 x 9. Best of both worlds.. looks neater than the 3 x and less prone to chain slipping.
Also better than the 1 x as you can quick shift if you going up and down hills instead of going through all the gears one by one.

[stevestanley]

you didnt mention the fact that 1x on the crank is usually smaller so it makes it easier to jump trees and rocks. I had a higher end bike that had a 3x on the crank and had to replace it 3 times from it getting smashed on rocks..

[katkatCSI]

Thank you for the information provided. In addition, I would like to thank you for speaking like a normal person!

[romanbeletsky]

Riding a 2008 Gary Fisher hi-fi carbon with 3x setup. On 1x setup chain is thinner to fit 11 or 12 speed cassette thus less durable. Besides if you shift gears from 1 to 12 with a single chainring in front, the chain bents more then on 3x9 drivetrain. On 3x9 I can drop or gain 9 speed in a click of a button using front derailleur. You can’t do it with 1x setup. Both have pros and cons. But I like 3x more.

[diegovillacrez]

Appreciate the video and agree that beginners are probably better off on 1x. Still love my 2x10 tho.

[pedrodkuhn]

3x9 is for people with brain 😎 No one can beat 3x9 in all terrain conditions, performance and durability 💪 Is the best off all worlds 🤜
I have Truvativ FireX crank (q factor 150mm) 44-32-22 🤤with k7 11-34 SRAM X9 package 🥱

[lawrencesally]

I have a 3x9 and I love it!!! I ridden a 1x12 and did not like well into the ride. Not my cup of tea!!!

[sal]

Like others have said, it depends on what type of riding you're doing. I've converted old MTBs to 1x7 with a one piece crank. works fine for casual riding around town or trail and looks a lot cleaner with less parts to maintain.

[SSchithFoo]

1x has the disadvantage of rear cassette cogs and chain wearing out faster due to not being aligned straight with front cog all the time. Also, Shifting takes longer from a lower to a higher gear. You also probably need to maintain a higher cadence to go faster.

[mikeclohesy]

Thanks for the info .Im pretty new to mtb and my first bike i bought was a HARO DOUBLE PEEK HARD TAIL 29 er 24 SPEED .If i wouldve watched this i might not have bought it .Thanks for the info again now i know better for next purchase

[themeatnpotatoes]

I think my biggest pet peeve is all the chain slap and chain off with a 2x or 3x seeing as how it was no clutch

[bikdav]

I need some serious low gears. That’s why I like the idea of a 2x. 3x was helpful in its days, but also more prone to problems.

[VinOnline]

Oh hell yeah, thank you so much for making this video!

[myfrequencies]

"6 in the rear & 2nd on the front or 2nd in the rear & 3rd on the front, which is higher?" That is a tough one.... I'd have to look up the ratios & do a sum, or try it out on my bike (I have a 3x10 system).

Thing is, if you respect the chain line (small chain ring - large cassette cogs / large chain ring - small cassette cogs) you'll never be in 2nd in the rear & 3rd on the front! lol

The way I look at it, change at the front for block shifting (you've just moved from tarmac to rough trail or vice versa, or you've just hit a steep climb or descent), or change at the back for small increments, matching cadence to road speed. It's not intuitive, at all, as you pointed out, but once you get it it makes all the sense in the world. It's like the difference between the guitarist who thrives on power chord punk music, & the guy who gets off playing classical scales.

There's no one correct answer & the best thing to do is watch as many videos like this as possible & try to figure out what set up matches your chosen application before you buy. I reckon the current 1x trend is going to mis-serve just as many uneducated new bike buyers as the old 3x trend.