Add contacts to an eTap battery block, pogo pins to an eTap battery cover, wire them together, and secure the battery under your bottle cage or somewhere. The two most obvious material differences arefound in the brake levers and crank arms. Shimano's shifting is also faster than SRAM's and significantly faster than the old 11-speed Dura-Ace. The Dura-Ace R9200 chainset carries forward the looks of its 11-speed predecessor. 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. The Durable Unifying bottom bracket (DUB) is SRAMs answer to creaky press-fit bottom brackets. I dont know why this is relevant besides determining where brands want to put their marketing budget. Then again, might it just live up to the hype? The SRAM Red eTap AXS Shift-Brake Levers uses wireless electronic shifting to get the job done. 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. Both brands' disc brakes are designed to work with either 140mm or 160mm rotors. Both Red and Dura-Ace give you the option to adjust brake lever rest position and bite point to suit your hands' reach. The SRAM RED eTap AXS rear derailleur is AXS enabled for easy personalization and designed for both 1x and 2x systems. This number is then doubled to provide total power for the right and left leg. Personally, Id probably not use this option very much, but its fun to experiment with. Force can add one blip per shifter and Red two blips per shifter. You shift one (usually the right one although that's configurable) to move to higher gears and the other to shift to lower gears. 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. Can its new 12-speed eTap AXS repeat the trick? 124K views 1 year ago Is Shimano Ultegra Di2 the best electronic groupset to buy in 2021, and how does it compare to its main rival, SRAM Force eTap AXS? The levers havent really changed in shape, but the finish looks impressive with carbon levers finished with chrome graphics and a new softer and textured grip that feels good and offers a solid connection even in heavy rain wearing winter gloves. Whereas SRAM brakes use DOT fluid, Shimano's use mineral oil. SRAM for innovation, Shimano for execution. Perhaps the most enticing feature of the Rival AXS group is the new, more affordable, spindle-based Quarq power meter. Expect a full test of this new Orca soon, but Ill just say its a bike thats every bit as impressive as the gearing its running. Rival AXS rear derailleurs use a more traditional mechanical clutch. You are a genius! You will not be able to swap between 2x and 1x set-ups like you can with the Force and Red cranksets. 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. If I do go down the AXS path this year, I think an Easton crank might be the way to go. Ive ridden the group and theres no friction to be found. Enter the roll-up tool bag. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? Ive come to expect great ideas with mediocre execution from SRAM. Weight 169g. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Shimano 12-speed cassettes are backward compatible with its 11-speed freehubs. The power meter has a long, 400+ hour battery life and uses a replaceable lithium AAA battery. 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. The difference to Red eTap AXS is 541 grams. I am running SRAM force cranks and the red chainring. Want more? Shifting is actuated by switches on the brake levers, which send a signal to the derailleurs to do their thing. I think lots of the coverage is skipping the cost of this new group set. I love my shimano road group, and when I have sram on one mtb and shimano on the other. These are there to please the pros, who were worried about chain articulation over the smaller sized sprockets in SRAM's standard X-Range configuration. Gear steps: 12. You can slow it down via the app if it's too fast for you. Upon reflection, I wasnt constantly chasing that sweet spot thats so elusive on something like a 50/34 combo. But sometimes people dont have unlimited budgets. Wide cranksets use a longer DUB spindle that will fit either road and mountain bike bottom brackets for maximum frame compatibility. We captured slo-motion film(watch the road video at that link)of the derailleur working its magic, showing off how it managed the chain even over terrain so rough it had the bike skipping off the ground. Why cant shimano be wireless yet? Shimano is total opposite. A Force eTap AXS group with a similar set-up weighs 2,600 grams, a difference of 183 grams. Specifically, the battery. 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. Dura ace is much cheaper. My response was specifically regarding shift speed. SRAMs break with traditional gear ratios has meant some radical design changes chainset included. 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. The fact that the rings are machined together is a huge issue to me. There's also a 54/40t chainset available. You can also check battery status in the SRAM AXS phone app (see below). So far the only cranks that fit are 24/22mm ones. With SRAM ostensibly leading the way with their fully wireless 12 speed eTap AXS groupsets, Shimano made steps in the same direction with the release of semi-wireless models in 2021.. Shop now RED ETAP AXS HRD SHIFT-BRAKE SYSTEM Dura-Ace levers have grown from the 11-speed version. The hood shape for the Rival eTap AXS shifter has changed to a narrower grip than Force or Red. eTap is the next generation, electronic shifting system from SRAM, replacing their famous mechanical shifting, the Double Tap. Plus detailed bike, kit and accessory reviews from the experts! The rest of it looks great but I find the cranks really unattractive. Which means it could be a complete folly for us to describe SRAMs new eTap AXS shifting system in such terms. The * means that its not actually checking your power and efficiency to optimize cadence for you, personally. The bike suitable for a body size of 163-173 cm. Its the strongest chain SRAMs ever produced, apparently. Full details of the updated 2023 Paris-Nice route have been published and it includes some appetising highlights. Rotor UNO Hydraulic Groupset 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). Small gains in aerodynamics here or weight loss from a bikes chassis there are often breathlessly described as game-changing, when in fact theyre merely reasonable, expected gains brought about through refinement by clever sorts. 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. There is something to be said for just being the best out there and sometimes that requires breaking changes that screw up compatibility. Real weight for the 1x Red eTap AXS full crankset including the 40T chainring is 510g. SRAM unleashed a whole new concept of gearing and gear ratios as part of the new group, and it will almost certainly inform future products as well. Theres also an all-new motor with more power and faster signal transfer, to go along with the groupsets overhauled chipset thats running things. Heres how it works. As traditional freehub bodies are too big to allow anything smaller than an 11, SRAM chose to use a variation on the aforementioned XD Driver it pioneered on its 1x mountain bikes (and which has already been seen on 1x groups on road, cyclocross and gravel bikes). Since top end mountain bikes have been 12-speed for several years, the XTR chain has been proven to be robust. By pairing these to smaller chainrings, SRAM has been able to provide more gear range at the back that exceeds the top and bottom gearing of traditional ratios, as well as seven consecutive one tooth changes. Updated Apr-2021 (added Rival AXS 12-speed), Older Post 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. How is that possible on a decade old groupset? That may be a pro or a con depending on how you look at it. Whereas the previous generation Dura-Ace's levers were a miracle of miniaturisation, the R9200 ones have actually grown a bit so they're just slightly smaller than SRAM's. Fully wireless design with no cables, housing, or wires to manage. SRAM Red eTap AXS changed the way we think about gear ratios. Since then, hes reviewed hundreds of bikes and thousands of other pieces of cycling equipment for the magazine and the Cycling Weekly website. Its rather odd that sluggish shifting was the biggest complaint that a lot of people had about eTap v1, and it seems like SRAM hasnt addressed it to any significant degree. 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 spindle-based unit measures left side power and doubles it to calculate total watts. Hes also a regular presenter on the BikeRadar Podcast and on BikeRadars YouTube channel. Shimano gives you more flexibility with how this is configured, although this does increase the chances of getting a configuration that doesn't work well. As mentioned above, both SRAM and Shimano offer either rim or disc brake options. Sprockets make up the cassette on your rear wheel, which is attached to the freehub and held in place by a lockring. The 48/35 and an 11-28 is the equivalent of a 52/36 with an 11-28 cassette. Shimano meanwhile has a single central battery that's usually mounted in the bike's seat tube and powers both derailleurs via wires. He didnt seem very convinced that it was faster. Heres a full list of everything you can buy as of February 2019, SRAM Eagle AXS Mountain Bike Group Tech Overview, Unboxed! I hope that puts it into perspective. 2023 SRAM Force AXS & XPLR groups updated with lighter, better tech. To some extent this was because of the new chain but also because of the new rear mech's oil-filler damper technology, Orbit, that prevents it from moving on hard, jarring impacts. How has SRAM done it? 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. AXS app allows users to customize shift options. Integration for the sake of integration isnt smart, its self indulgent and doesnt actually serve the end user. Also, maybe Im in the minority here, but Id LOVE to know when I might be able to get my hands on a Force 24 mechanical group. Specifications : Feature 1 Wide: tire clearance up to 700x45c and 27.5 x 2.1". Rival and Force chains also use solid pins while Red uses lighter, hollow pins. Rival uses aluminum brake levers and crank arms, while Force uses composite brake levers and solid carbon crank arms. So I wanted to take a minute to process all that before writing my first ride impressions of the new groups. FYI Heres a full list of everything you can buy as of February 2019, and theres plenty more coming. doesnt actually have a link connected to it with the list of bikes. In the world of bike tech game-changing is a hyperbolic phrase that gets bandied left, right and centre. Sure, its all clean and new, but still, it was noticeable. All rights reserved. SRAM Red eTAP Groupset Weights Notes on SRAM Groupset Components All weights are taken from SRAM. Shimano's E-Tube app provides similar lever customisation, but you can also alter the speed of shifts. Whats the weight for the entire crankset? Or not being able to use your wheels without swapping out parts on them? After a few months of testing, eTap AXS has surpassed my expectations. Theres a limit as to how fast you can move the chain from one cog to the next and still have it engage the teeth properly, and the multi-shift (holding down the shifter to run up or down multiple cogs at a time) is already pushing that limit. Thanks for the thoughtful response. The Dura-Ace rear mech includes the battery charge port and uses the Shadow design to wrap around the cassette. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. The new chipset and connectivity built into the eTap AXS system has allowed SRAM to build a dedicated app so you can take advantage of its custom features. Heres a full list of everything you can buy as of February 2019, and theres plenty more coming. Is there anything worse than fumbling around for bits and bobs that just wont be found? AXS has real innovations that should be lauded. > Also, Ive already built 3 different bikes with the group Beginners or triathletes pure gold right there! With Rival eTap AXS, the power meter is now entirely contained within the DUB spindle, adding only 40 grams to a complete crankset. 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. 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 Meet Rival eTap AXS. Thats something you could have noted. In comparison, Shimano's crankset is created using the brand's Hollowtech II technology. 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. Shimano R9200 brakes use Servo Wave tech, again ported from its MTB range, that gives you progressive brake action that is more aggressive at the end of the stroke and lighter when you're just feathering the brakes. Once the rear mech reaches a pre-defined point on the cassette the next shift will initiate a front mech shift with the rear mech making a corresponding shift in the opposite direction to give you the next gear ratio up or down the cassette. SRAMs mechanical groupsets have always been an outstanding value (same functional parts across all levels), so why not save the cash for other fun things, right? Theyre all going to select a similar number of riders for product testing. But of course the reduction in weight and improvement in aerodynamics comes at the penalty of increased friction, wear, and incompatibility out the wazoo. 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. That type of publicity is infinitely more effective than being the official drive-train sponsor of some random WT team. Three teams are on Campy, two are on Sram. With AXS I expected some improvement and a wider range of gears, but I wasnt totally convinced about how essential it would be. Especially because coming our way in the near future is a more affordable rival to compete with Shimano Ultegra Di2. 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. The harsher the bump, the more resistance it applies to keep the chain under control. Features: AXS electronic integration platform Let's take a look: Derailleur weight is the only functional difference in SRAM's AXS line. So which other groupsets is SRAM AXS compatible with? Its set to cost 3,349 / $3,648 / 3,618 for the 2x HRD RED version we have tested over the last few months. This set-up has greater capacity than SRAM's and Shimano claims a range of 1000km between charges. So SRAM Red cassettes are offered in four options. > Ive ridden the group and theres no friction to be found. Cassette weight has been added already. Hes been cycling for a lot longer than that though and his travels by bike have taken him all around Europe and to California. Arguably a modular PM is much more elegant. This narrower grip is possible because Rival eTap AXS doesnt have contact point adjustment for the brakes, and also does not allow for blips (auxiliary remote shift buttons). You'll save yourself around 100g by opting for Dura-Ace over Red eTap, although the latest 12-speed Dura-Ace is actually a few grams heavier than the older 11-speed version; it looks as if the quest for ever-lower groupset weights may have peaked. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Hiding under the hood, though, are a big collection of incremental running changes that have been added to both Red and Force groups over the years and finally getting codified here. So what compromises are made to bring down the cost? Visit our corporate site. 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. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Prices . It's also allowed Shimano to separate the upshift and downshift levers a bit more widely, reducing the risk of mis-shifting which was an issue particularly when wearing heavier winter gloves. Suplests 2023 cycling shoe lineup has sleek options for road, gravel, XC, and trail, and they all look amazing. Note: Mechanical weights do not include cabling. See more When comparing identical drivetrain configurations, RED eTap AXS weighs about 300g less than Force eTap AXS depending on the groupset configuration type you've selected. Secondly, theres compensating; this smooths out gear shifts, so when you change the front ring up or down, it compensates at the rear derailleur, moving either one or two cogs to keep your gear progression even and your cadence steady. 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. Rival is only available with hydraulic disc brakes. Adding an extra sprocket reduces space, which means the width of the chain must be reduced. He has been writing about the latest bikes, components, and cycling technology for 14 years. Bath Now theyre just bringing the model to road bikes. You can also buy a power meter upgrade kit (but not a complete groupset) with 52/39t, 54/41t and 56/43t rings. Here they are. Scope of delivery: 1x SRAM RED XG-1290 rainbow 12-speed cassette. The only / or last one I can remember that looks decent are the original XX double MTB cranks. SRAM Red chainrings are machines from one piece of material so are lighter and stronger than before. on the other hand, a spider-based unit reads total power, so it is more accurate. Shimano Dura-Ace brakes come paired with XTR MTB brake rotors, Shimano's E-Tube app can be used to fine tune shifting. Its not just the wider range where AXS seems to have an advantage on the competition, but in smoother progression between gears, with more single tooth jumps across all three cassette blocks (Fig 2). Gone is the two-ring design held in place by bolts on a spider. In Shimano's case these are wired to the levers while SRAM has both wired and wireless options. We review Rival AXS's weight, pricing, and how it compares to Force AXS and Red AXS groups. You can also run a 10-36 cassette with a specific, compatible wider-range Red derailleur. The action is smoother, quieter and arguably quicker than the first generation, and its adaptability, in that you can run it 2x, 1x, or combine it with any of the new AXS mountain bike gearing launching soon, is impressive, making this an electronic groupset you could run on the road, gravel, cross, mountain and downhill. You can also buy a single ring chainset or power meter with chainring sizes from 36t to 50t. Spotted: A New XC Race Bike from Specialized 2023 Epic? SRAM seems to be kicking Shimanos butt across the board- mountain and now road. Complete the kit with a matching helmet from Lazer. SRAM unveils its new Force eTap AXS component group, in a dual chainring, 23-speed option. Purchased as a standalone upgrade, the power meter spindle is $100 less than a Quarq power meter spider (without chainrings) and $470 less than the integrated power meter and one-piece chainrings used on Red AXS. A complete group. Impossible_Beach_552 5 mo. It also has considerable weight savings compared to the NX groupset (about 300 g) and carbon and alloy crank options. A whole new concept? At first glance, the "new" SRAM Force AXS groupset looks shiny and completely new. Battery-to-tire clearance was a known issue with the 1st gen eTap group when running anything larger than a 70040 tire. It's worth noting though that this means that once a chainring is worn you need to replace both. 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. SRAM calls this sequential shifting, Shimano synchronised shifting. Rumor is the Force version will have a removable PM. 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. Shimano Dura-Ace and SRAM Red eTap AXS both have very distinctive designs, but both are very functional. It's not a lightweight choice, but it compares extremely well with. Shimano doesnt release duds and sram does? Get Shimano within a few clicks on the barrel adjuster and its good to go. 2021 Road & Gravel Groupset Weight Comparison Updated Apr-2021 (added Rival AXS 12-speed) Crankset weights will vary depending on size and length. Which I have always noted was lacking with etap as did another commenter. The higher boiling point should make a DOT fluid-based system more stable, says SRAM, leading to longer periods between brake system bleeds. Campagnolos answer was to add a 12th sprocket to fill the gap in the centre of the block, which works to an extent but doesnt entirely solve the problem. Note:SRAM HRD shifter weights include the cables, brake hose and caliper. 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. The Orbit Damper is lightweight, low friction, and speed-sensitive. The intuitive simplicity of SRAM RED eTap with an added performance of hydraulic road disc brakes (HRD). 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. Proven AXS technology at a more affordable price. AXS might be the perfectly executed product to change my mind. Just as the original eTap had plenty of innovative touches, so does the new kid in town. I have a nice spreadsheet analysis, but I cant post attachments here. The frame is made out of carbon and the condition is Brand New. 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. Their mechanical 22 systems are flawless. For one, you could put ETAP 11 on basically any frame and an 11 speed wheel set.
