When SRAM's one-by-twelve Eagle drivetrain was initially released, it marked an evolutionary step in the company's determination towards ditching the front derailleur for good. However, this massive range of usable gears came with a price tag that's out of reach for the vast majority of trail riders. Determined to give these riders the 500% gear range of pricier Eagle XO1 and XX1 Cassettes at an upgrade-friendly price, SRAM engineered the XG-1275 GX Eagle 12-Speed Cassette to be reliable and smooth shifting, albeit with a 93 gram weight penalty over the XO1 Eagle Cassette. To keep production costs down, SRAM employs Full Pin technology for the first 11 cogs. This production method places stamped steel cogs together with stainless steel pins, instead of the CNC-machined chromoly cluster of the XO1 Eagle Cassette. It still retains the aluminum 50-tooth cog of the XO1 Eagle Cassette for weight savings, seeing it's the largest cog on the cassette. Ultimately, this production method creates a cassette that's relatively lightweight and incredibly tough--all while saving hard-earned loot for future bike upgrades and trips to riding destinations. SRAM incorporates X-Glide 2 architecture into the XG Eagle Cassette for improved inboard and outboard shifting, as well as better chain retention, seeing it's a one-by system. This architecture is especially noticeable when you're spinning up steep climbs in the largest cogs by keeping the chain from flopping off. And because it's designed to seamlessly work with all Eagle 1x12 drivetrains (including XO1 and XX1), this 12-speed cassette is compatible with SRAM's current XD Driver body.