I purchased the new rainbow colored option to replace my XG-1290 silver one that was at the end of it's life. The rainbow and black looks great with my matte black bike frame and of course the shifting is excellent. As a side note I also love the very low weight, build quality and easy install. Of course all this comes at a cost to the pocket book but if properly cared for these cassettes last a really long time and are a good value overall IMO. I would highly recommend purchasing one if you are a total bike nerd like me and love running the best!
I have a red 11 speed cassette on another bike with 1st gen eTap, so I had some idea of what to expect. First, the cassette is an engineering marvel, given that most of the cassette is machined as a single piece of steel. It�s incredibly light. Finally the rubber elastomeric bands between the cogs do an amazing job of quieting the drivetrain. I have a force axs cassette on my gravel bike. I can�t discern any difference in shift quality, which is excellent for both; however the red cassette is noticeably quieter (and lighter), making the whole drivetrain silky smooth.
The price is high, but the quality is worth it, super solid and light cassette and the gear ranges are perfect. I run the 11-26 for fast flat lands and the 11-33 for hilly areas. The 10 tooth cog is worthless until screaming down the backside of a mountain at full speed, then you learn to appreciate the 10 tooth cog. Its creak free unlike some of the dura-ace cassettes I have used in the past, Sram has nailed their cassette design!
