Impossible_Beach_552 5 mo. So I wanted to take a minute to process all that before writing my first ride impressions of the new groups. You can assign the groupset to work in one of two semi-automated ways. Get Shimano within a few clicks on the barrel adjuster and its good to go. Save 30% + G-Form Pro X3 Knee Pads when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. Lever shape is largely unchanged from the original eTap. Another smart move SRAM made was ensuring launch day delivery of parts, with a number of brands ready to go with new AXS-equipped models for road, gravel, monstercross and triathlon. The upside is that all new products moving forward (at least for the next couple years) will be built on this platform and be cross compatible. By signing up for email newsletters, you agree to BikeRumor's, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). Complete the kit with a matching helmet from Lazer. Cycling Expert; . SRAMs solution comes from its innovation in mountain biking and single ring 1x drivetrain used on road and gravel bikes in recent years. Its already an option on all of Zipps wheels and as most wheel brands already offer an XD option we cant see much of an issue with compatibility. Each shifter operates on a CR2032 coin cell which should last for around two years. Features: AXS electronic integration platform And it certainly looks bulky and clunky even compared to Ultegra di2. Plus the cost of consumable parts like the chainrings? Were a year on and availability is still sketchy, and theyve had to go back to the drawing board one hubs and cranks, after releasing them a year ago. SRAM Rival eTap AXS brings all the benefits of the earlier (and much more expensive) releases - at a fraction of the outlay. Rival AXS derailleurs feature the same shifting precision and reliability as their Force and Red AXS siblings. After experimenting with both automation settings, I was impressed with the sequential operation, where you can forget about front mech operations and just let the bike take care of it. I ride mile after mile on 50/34 chain rings, and the best part is that I dont have to throw away my power meter if I want a change. Newly formed Denver Disruptors NCL team to make its debut at Tucson Bicycle Classic and tackle a full season of NCL and domestic racing, By Anne-Marije Rook Short for 10-26 up to 10-33T / Medium for 10-28 up to 10-36T Weight without battery 36T Version Rear derailleur max. It uses the same batteries as the eTap but the design looks more robust and angular, and is also running on larger X-Sync pulleys and ceramic bearings under the surface. DOT fluid is more resistant to boiling than mineral oil and SRAM says the DOT 5.1 fluid it recommends has a boiling point of 270C when dry. It's worth noting though that this means that once a chainring is worn you need to replace both. Even the current RED E-Tap is a pretty rare thing to find on a shop floor so its difficult for an interested rider to experience. With the exception of a brake warranty issue (albeit a pretty big one), this is hardly the truth. Shimano doesnt release duds and sram does? Whereas SRAM brakes use DOT fluid, Shimano's use mineral oil. By far my favourite, however, is the compensation shifting. Is there even a pro world tour team riding Sram anymore? SRAM says that it's engineered its chainrings to up their longevity by 50% over its older 11-speed groupsets. Highlights. It is compatible with 1x and 2x eTap AXS drivetrains. He has covered all the major innovations in cycling this century, and reported from launches, trade shows and industry events in Europe, Asia, Australia, North American and Africa. Once you dial it in, I can see it being a cool thing for beginners or triathletes who dont want to have to think about doing too many things while riding. Weight difference negligible. Clicking on the right-hand button moves the rear derailleur to larger sprockets, while a click on the left-hand button takes you to smaller sprockets. 2023 Merida ONE-SIXTY 6000 Gives a Reassuring, Responsive Ride | Review, Lezyne Digital Travel Floor Drive Pump Brings Big Features to Miniature Design, Suplest Edge+ 2.0 Cancellara Edition Road Shoe Brings Brand to North America, Granite Designs Quiver Tool Roll Stores, Stashes, and Straps Anywhere, GoFundMe Supports Two Cyclists Killed, 17 Injured in AZ Car Accident, Podcast #077 First Endurance dives deep on sports nutrition, Paragon Machine Works Celebrates 40 Years With Limited-Edition Multitool & Bottle Opener, Shimano Special Editions: Tropical Leaves With Lazer & Champagne for Spring Classics, Road 2x (48/35 combo) 419g with powermeter, Road 1x (48t X-Sync) 395g with powermeter, Shifters 233g/234g with coin cell batteries installed, Rear brake caliper 158g (with spacer, so subtract a couple grams). Works like a charm and IMHO shifts better now than it did with the force chainring. That doesnt mean they cant be easily anticipated or quickly deduced. The higher boiling point should make a DOT fluid-based system more stable, says SRAM, leading to longer periods between brake system bleeds. At 181g for a 10-28 its light; by comparison, the existing 11-28 is 185g and a Dura-Ace 11-28 is 193g. With the same chainrings, the aluminum Rival crankset weighs 100 grams more than the carbon Force crankset. Liam Cahill / Our Media Continue with Recommended Cookies, At the official SRAM AXS launch, there was a LOT to learn. And, hes totally gone down the NFT rabbit hole. Winning my award for Most Improved Front Derailleur category isdrum roll pleasethe front derailleur! Basically, when you change gear at either the front or the back, the auto shift moves the other derailleur if necessary to ensure you are always shifting to the next available gear (in either direction) to keep changes as smooth as possible. No crank, no cassette, no chain. It's worth noting though that Shimano's rear mechs also come packed full of tech, including the brand's Shadow design which is borrowed from its mountain bike groupsets. The Red eTap AXS 10-33 cassette weighs 215g. There's an indicator light on the rear mech that indicates charge level and, like SRAM, you can also check battery status in the Shimano E-Tube app. You can also run a 10-36 cassette with a specific, compatible wider-range Red derailleur. This also means that, unlike SRAM Red eTap AXS, you can swap the chainrings on a Dura-Ace power meter chainset without needing to replace the power meter. The Rival AXS wide front derailleur is designed for smaller 43/30t X-Range chainrings on wide cranks and provides clearance for 700x45c and 27.5x2.1 tires. GRX Groupset total weight does not include cassette and chain. I dont mind it until Im at race wattage and then its a first world problem because the shifting is noticeably slower than di2 of any gen. Ive got 7970 still and it shifts faster than AXS. What is the shift speed like? A lot to process. To work out the range of a cassette divide the largest sprocket by the smallest and multiply by 100, and looking at the range of AXS the ranges are broader than traditional gearing. All rights reserved. Whats the weight for the entire crankset? SRAM Red chainrings come in 46/33t, 48/35t and 50/37t options as standard, so you can have a lowest ratio below 1:1 if you use a 10-36 cassette with a 46/33t or 48/35t chainset, without losing top end ratios. I rode Force 22 for years before switching to a bike with DA 9150, and Id swap back to Force in a second. That Trek Checkpoint is now in our offices for long term review, too, so Ill report on long-term durability and function after many, many more miles. Because the Rival power meter is spindle-based, it only reads power from the left crank arm. I dont know why this is relevant besides determining where brands want to put their marketing budget. For one, you could put ETAP 11 on basically any frame and an 11 speed wheel set. Today SRAM announces their latest RED groupset lineup, SRAM RED eTAP AXS for road and off-road. SRAM Red eTap AXS brake/shift levers have a large single paddle each. Beyond these changes, little things like improved texture on the shift paddles and visual refinements add up to a group that offers a drastically improved experience. Anyone willing to spend thousands on this mess will soon discover that SRAM completely missed any opportunity to develop/refine the many awesome features of ETAP 11. SRAM Red eTap AXS 12-speed Wireless electronic shifting Rim brake and disc brake options 10-tooth smallest sprocket requires XDR driver freehub body Orbit Fluid damper rear derailleur Power. It's a beauty! Keep in mind that no one makes a Red AXS chain compatible chainring yet except SRAM, and only for their proprietary BCDs and direct-mount 8-bolt arms. Note: Mechanical weights do not include cabling. As mentioned above, both SRAM and Shimano offer either rim or disc brake options. Shop now RED ETAP AXS HRD SHIFT-BRAKE SYSTEM SRAM competitor Campagnolo might well have got to 12-speed first, but with the wireless, electronic RED eTap getting a wider revamp, which goes far beyond the fabled 12th sprocket, its taken aim at nothing less than a complete rethink of road bike gearing. Rival and Force chains also use solid pins while Red uses lighter, hollow pins. Compatible with all other AXS components. While the electronics and all that have been improved to be faster, my experience was that the shifting itself felt the same as prior eTap. Compatibility freewheel: SRAM-XDR freewheel. Its only when all of the improvements come together that it all starts to make sense. Gear percentages, as seen in the above chart, refer to the gear range of the cassette, or the difference between highest and lowest available gears. Sure, its all clean and new, but still, it was noticeable. Enjoyed your comments Tyler. That makes them more agile but less capable. The group offers 33/46 and 35/48 chainrings but not the 37/50 option. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The Force eTap AXS group is slated for April 2019, and while we dont have tech details on yet, its a good bet it, too, will use the revised gearing. SRAM has a history of making products that consumers love but mechanics hate. The AXS technology allows you to make your shifters do what you want them to, and the brake levers have a customizable reach. SO many people ride and love to ride the 1st gen etap. Prices . Electronic drivetrains are the future of cycling, and for the last two years, SRAMs wireless Red eTap AXS and Force eTap AXS groups have been at the top of the food chain. I really appreciate the push pull on the trigger for shimano. The shift speed feels very close to existing eTap, but the real plus is just how quietly it carries out those shifts. It's geared to flat time trials as well as gravel, with larger rings designed to be aero. > Ive ridden the group and theres no friction to be found. Just dont pretend that either have been hitting the others nail on the head. SRAM Red eTap AXS and Shimano Dura-Ace are both now 12-speed and electronic only and both have wireless comms between the shifters and the derailleurs. SRAMs RED eTap AXS will also be available on a whole host of 2019 bikes with brands such as Specialized, Trek, Canyon, Orbea, BMC, Giant, Liv, Scott, Cannondale, Cervelo, 3T, Open, Rose, Parlee and Koga all confirmed. The Rival AXS rear derailleur uses a spring clutch rather than the Orbit Fluid Damper found on the Force and Red AXS rear derailleurs. The brake levers are aluminum, and the lever reach is adjustable so you can personalize your fit. Allow Necessary Cookies & Continue Based on SRAM's claimed weights for 2x disc brake groups without a power meter, the Rival AXS is 653 grams heavier than Red AXS, and 223 grams heavier than Force AXS. This consistency means they only need one rear derailleur cage length, and chainring pairs are all machined as a single piece, so theyre easy to swap in and out thanks to their direct-mount design. The derailleurs and shifters each contain their own battery, and the connection between them happens over an encrypted, wireless protocol. Front shifts are more positive and completely accurate, even when shifting over broken surfaces as the rear mechs damper increases the chain tension and prevents any chatter and bounce. Ummmm no, they just downsized things. You can choose to shift at the front should you want to, like when youre coasting up to traffic stops. Shimano Dura-Ace vs SRAM Red eTap AXS: The two leading groupsets head to head. eTap is the next generation, electronic shifting system from SRAM, replacing their famous mechanical shifting, the Double Tap. SRAM's eTap AXS components, in contrast, are wireless. Di2 is faster and better in my opinion and from a performance standpoint, that matters. If it helps, Ill try real hard to find something wrong with it during my long term test! In its place is a design that has both chainrings machined out of one block of material that mounts directly to the crank arms on a spline, which is a design mountain bikers have had for a few years now. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Both are programmable with built-in Bluetooth, both are focused on disc brakes but also offer a rim brake option and both let you add an in-series power meter. Shimano Dura-Ace brakes come paired with XTR MTB brake rotors, Shimano's E-Tube app can be used to fine tune shifting. Its smart stuff, and once youve assigned your system to one of these automations you can switch it either on or off while riding by pressing the small LED button on the back of the shifter lever. SRAM expects Rival eTap AXS to be spec'd on complete bikes in the $3,500 to $4,000 range. Its based on Quarqs top of the range D-Zero unit and offers plenty of metrics, including left-right balance. A quiet, secure and smooth ride, whatever the terrain. Force uses 11-26 cassette. According to srams website, when that happens, they will discount it by 50% but its still seems like added complexity when a spider based system works fine. You could have mentioned something to that affect. Gravel and adventure riders might prefer the Rival 43/30t wide crankset, with its lower gearing and wider stance (150.5mm q-factor vs. 145.5mm) to match gravel bike chainlines and clear tires up to 700x45c or 27.5x2.1. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. ago. Launched in 2015, RED eTap was SRAMs first foray into electronic groupsets. I agree, the mechanical group will really help usher in their new gearing concept to the masses. The Orbit Fluid Damper provides chain retention using fluid resistance. There's also the option to have a wired connection between the shifters and the derailleurs. The Rival rear derailleur, for example, has steel bearings, steel hardware, and an aluminum pulley cage. That said, when it comes to replacing my current bike or investing in another road machine then, without a shadow of a doubt, I would be wanting the radical new eTap AXS. The SRAM Red eTap AXS Shift-Brake Levers uses wireless electronic shifting to get the job done. The difference to Red eTap AXS is 541 grams. In Shimano's case these are wired to the levers while SRAM has both wired and wireless options. If youve been itching to ride AXS technology, Rival eTap AXS might be the group youve been waiting for. Hes been cycling for a lot longer than that though and his travels by bike have taken him all around Europe and to California. Note: SRAM eTap component weights includes batteries because batteries all weigh the same. Quarqs crank-based power meters have become legendary for their accuracy and reliability. The * means that its not actually checking your power and efficiency to optimize cadence for you, personally. AXS might be the perfectly executed product to change my mind. Sponsoring teams IS marketing. Clockwise from left, XX1 weighs 373 grams, X01 weighs 390 grams, and GX weighs 454 grams (battery cover not included). Then theyll be cooking with gas. . If you want to ditch the front derailleur altogether or fit even wider tires, there is also a single-ring Rival 1 wide crankset. Visit our corporate site. SRAM's top-tier RED AXS drivetrain offers fully wireless shifting that's precise, programmable, and lightweight 800 Series OCLV Carbon is intensely light and meticulously crafted for next-level performance The Aeolus RSL 37 wheels are designed for climbing, and were developed alongside monda For most riders, left-only power meters accurate enough for training and tracking their progress. Rival AXS provides a more affordable alternative to the Force eTap AXS group and the top-of-the-line Red eTap AXS group. Front derailleur cable routing wireless. SRAM has always majored on gravel bike riding and now bundles this functionality into its XPLR range, which is available at Red eTap AXS spec level. they executed that new xtr real well. Compare them to DA or Ult di2 and Sram should be embarrassed. Three teams are on Campy, two are on Sram. Is there anything worse than fumbling around for bits and bobs that just wont be found? The 48/35 and an 11-28 is the equivalent of a 52/36 with an 11-28 cassette. Msrp $764 Model ID RD-RED-E-D1 Features Specifically, the battery. At first glance, the "new" SRAM Force AXS groupset looks shiny and completely new. After three years riding the original eTap in its various rim and disc brake guises Ive been very impressed. Thats all they had available at the launch, but Ive pulled the left arm and cassette off our demo bike and added those weights to the post. The rear mech will work with either a 1x or 2x system and to get around the need for a clutch on a 1x system, used to retain chain tension on rough terrain, SRAMs come up with a clever alternative, called Orbit. Theyve addressed what few issues the first group had, made it faster and more capable, and its better looking than ever. This increases the tension in the lower segment of chain and stops it falling off the chainring. Once you've paired all the connecting parts to the apps over Bluetooth you can then choose to make either groupset work in two different ways. It's not a lightweight choice, but it compares extremely well with. I added the left crank arm weights, and the cassette, its all here now. Turn them on in the app, and the derailleurs will dance together to keep you at either an optimal cadence* or optimize gear steps. 2021 Road & Gravel Groupset Weight Comparison Updated Apr-2021 (added Rival AXS 12-speed) Crankset weights will vary depending on size and length. The weight differences come down to materials and construction. Which leads me to the last big change: Gearing. Agreed. SRAM RED eTap AXS Actual Weights Road 2x (48/35 combo) - 419g with powermeter Road 1x (48t X-Sync) - 395g with powermeter Left crank - 156g Front derailleur - 165g with battery Rear derailleur - 247g with battery 10-33 Cassette - 211g Shifters - 233g/234g with coin cell batteries installed Updated Blip Box - 24g Both of those features make the best fit possible for any rider. SRAM Red eTap AXS This is the option for you if you want no wires Specifications Speeds: 1x12, 2x12 Chainrings: 46/33T, 48/35T, 50/37T, 36T, 38T, 40T, 42T, 44T, 46T, 48T, 50T Cassettes:. The optional power meter by Quarq is solid and the numbers its providing match those I get from the Quarq meter I run on my own bike. Rival takes advantage of X-Range gearing, which uses tighter jumps between the chainrings and 12-speed cassettes to give riders more gear range and smoother gear progression. I guess the big question is this: would I change my existing eTap RED 22-speed for this new model? SRAM launched Red eTap in 2015 and followed up in 2019 with 12-speed Red eTap AXS. The difference between Shimano and Sram is that SRAM accepts compromise in order to innovate. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Most of the downsides with AXS clearly arent going to be present with a brand new drivetrain. Published 1 March 23. We've got full reviews of our experience of riding both SRAM Red eTap AXS and Shimano Dura-Ace R9200, but if you're not sure which is for you and want a more direct comparison read on. Yes, I might have to learn a whole new set of gear ratios, but it opens up so much potential for experimenting with gear ranges a road 1x setup with a 10-51 rear block is a real option for those mad enough to try! The glaring bias in this review is palpable, I had to check that it wasnt a sponsored post. Also looks pretty much like the red from far so IMHO a nice upgrade. Rim brake fans arent being left out in the cold either as SRAM will be offering eTap AXS in that format. There is something to be said for just being the best out there and sometimes that requires breaking changes that screw up compatibility. Within the AXS app you can also customise what each lever does, and because the SRAM Eagle AXS mountain bike groupset shares the same protocol you can mix and match if you like. Rival eTap AXS 2x cranksets use an integrated spider, while Rival 1x cranksets have a single direct mount chainring. Who has the answer? It developed a new type of freehub body the XD Driver for the dirt, which introduced 12-speed gearing to its flagship Eagle groupset, and has cleared the path for use on the road too. Check out the charts and graphs on the new ratios in our launch coverage for the full story, but heres the nutshell: Three different front chainring combos all share 13-tooth jumps between small and large rings. Im actually pretty open minded. Shimano's E-Tube app provides similar lever customisation, but you can also alter the speed of shifts. Newer Post , Get early access to sales and new products, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands (GS $). Colour: rainbow. Since top end mountain bikes have been 12-speed for several years, the XTR chain has been proven to be robust. Specifications : Feature 1 Wide: tire clearance up to 700x45c and 27.5 x 2.1". Warren Rossiter is BikeRadar and Cycling Plus magazines senior technical editor for road and gravel. Gears 2x12SP. The pics show only the drive side arm crank weightedso not sure if 395g with powermeter refers to the whole crank or to only one arm (this latter case would make no sense). New 10-36 cassette and crank with 30/46 rings make Force eTap AXS more gravel and fondo friendly. But of course the reduction in weight and improvement in aerodynamics comes at the penalty of increased friction, wear, and incompatibility out the wazoo. SRAM's hoods house the hydraulic brake reservoirs as well as the shifter electronics. Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 2403g / RRP 3,701. Package Quantity: 1. It can absorb water from the atmosphere, but even with 4% water still boils at 155C. Firstly, theres sequential; when you activate the next available gear it will automatically actuate the front derailleur to keep the ratio change even between shifts, and therefore keep your cadence steady. Similarly, aftermarket groups should be shipping now, too, and you will need the complete groupsadly, nothing from the original eTap group will work here. Integration for the sake of integration isnt smart, its self indulgent and doesnt actually serve the end user. I just wish a little devils advocacy were present in your review. Shimano rarely releases duds while Sram constantly does. Rival AXS shifters pair with any other component in the AXS line-up, including Eagle AXS rear derailleurs, for riders interested in a wide-range mullet set-up a 10-50T cassette with a single chainring. If I do go down the AXS path this year, I think an Easton crank might be the way to go. In comparison to Shimano's traditional gearing, the 50/37 and a 10-26 cassette is the equivalent of the 53/39 with an 11-25 cassette. How often do people wear out the big ring and small ring at the exact same rate? SRAM Force eTap AXS groupset options, weights, and pricing are as follows; Force eTap AXS 1X Electronic Road Groupset Rim (1,983g): RRP AU$2099 Force eTap AXS 2X Electronic Road Groupset Rim (2,453g): RRP AU$2,779 Force eTap AXS 1X Electronic HRD Groupset (2,572g): RRP AU$2,779 Force eTap AXS 2X Electronic HRD Groupset (2,812g): RRP AU$3,399 X-Range gearing compatible with 10-36t cassette. SRAM RED eTap AXS 1X D1 Electronic HDR Flatmount Groupset $2,654.00 Was $3,792.00 SRAM Force eTap AXS 1X D1 Electronic HRD Flat Mount Groupset $2,218.99 Sram X01 Eagle AXS Upgrade Kit Red $1,450.99 Sram XX1 Eagle AXS Upgrade Kit Carbon $1,812.99 Sram X01 Eagle AXS Upgrade Kit Lunar $1,449.99 SRAM GX Eagle AXS Upgrade Kit Lunar Grey