SRAM has clearly been busy. Less than two months after launching the new RED eTap AXS group to the world, they\u2019re already onto the next. That of course being the new SRAM Force eTap AXS group. As is often the case, the group is extremely similar to RED, but with some key differences that will be significant to many consumers \u2013 particularly when it comes to price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The newest member of the AXS (access) wireless family, SRAM Force \neTap AXS is an electronic drivetrain with wireless shifting and options \nfor either hydraulic disc or mechanical rim brakes. Other than a few \nvery small details, Force is nearly identical in performance to the new \nRED AXS, with the main differences being materials, construction, and \ntherefore weight. That means that the batteries are the same between the\n two groups (and older eTap groups as well) which is good news for teams\n or individuals with multiple bikes. Even the motors and chipsets are \nthe same meaning the shift speed is identical between the two groups. \nUltimately, Force ends up about 300g heavier than RED, but it\u2019s also \nover $1000 less expensive which seems like a worthy trade off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Force also has a completely different look which comes down to a \ndifference in finishes. While forged aluminum parts can be polished to a\n beautiful shine, cast pieces can\u2019t be polished \u2013 which requires a coat \nof paint. Overall, the finish on Force is less sophisticated which is \nwhere SRAM was able to drop some of the price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like RED, Force is able to take advantage of the AXS app and \ncomponent integration system which allows you to monitor and customize \nthe performance of individual components. From checking each battery\u2019s \npower level to customizing your shift patterns, updating firmware, and \nmore, Force is joining the way of the app-based world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also like RED, this is a completely <\/em>new group, so other than\n the mechanical rim brakes, none of the new parts will be compatible \nwith older SRAM components \u2013 except of course the new SRAM RED eTap AXS.\n These two groups are completely interchangeable \u2013 which is good news \nfor those who were upset by SRAM\u2019s choice to integrate the power meter \nand chain ring on RED (but for a good reason, more on that below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Following right along, gearing is also one of the biggest changes for\n SRAM Force. Yeah, they\u2019ve gone to 12 speed in the rear, but as usual, \nit\u2019s about more than just adding another gear. The new X-Range gearing \nends up wider on both ends while the added cog results in better gear \nprogression. The addition of the 10t cog allows for an increase in gear \nrange without an increase in overall size of the drivetrain package with\n SRAM pointing out that smaller drivetrains will be lighter, less \ncostly, and simpler overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In\n terms of chainring options, Force will see 48\/35 and 46\/33t double \ncombinations with the largest 50\/37t combination only available in RED. \nBy moving to a 13t jump between chainrings, SRAM says this 20% reduction\n in jump size results in better shift quality and better front shifting \noverall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To keep the overall range, the rear cassettes move to a 10t at the \nsmall end, and up to 26, 28, or 33t as the largest cog with 260, 280, \nand 330% range respectively. Even the smallest cassette at 10-26 offers a\n wider range than an 11-28t. Moving the range from the front of the bike\n to the rear should mean you can stay in that current front chainring \nlonger without having to shift. Obviously, if you\u2019re running 1x, wider \nrange in the rear is also a very good thing. The new cassettes also \noffer more single-tooth jumps between cogs for better shift progression \nwhen you\u2019re moving through the gears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In terms of construction, the XG-1270 cassette uses a \nMini-cluster\/Pin-Dome configuration with the first four cogs machined \nfrom a steel billet, and the remainder of the cassette using their \nPin-Dome technology similar to their GX mountain bike cassettes. Looking\n at the cassette in profile, Pin-Dome makes more sense as you can see \nthe pins that hold all of the steel cogs together after the first four \ncogs. The largest cog is aluminum which cuts down on weight and allows \nfor a secure connection between the cassette and the freehub body that \nwon\u2019t dig into the new XDR drivers. The Mini-cluster\/Pin-Dome cassette \nends up about 50g heavier than a comparable RED cassette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\n addition of a 12 speed cassette meant that SRAM had to move to the XDR \nfreehub standard like RED, which is just like XD, just 1.85mm longer. \nThe added width is needed for the road since the largest cogs aren\u2019t \nnearly as big as those on a MTB cassette and can\u2019t be dished over the \nspokes. It also now matches up with the width of HG 11 speed freehub \nbodies for road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Importantly, you can still run cassettes meant for XD freehubs on XDR\n freehubs with the addition of a 1.85mm spacer. You can\u2019t however run \ncassettes meant for XDR freehubs on XD freehubs. SRAM points out that \nany Zipp wheels post April 2015 (176, 177, Super 9, and Cognition hubs) \nare XDR ready meaning you can add an XDR freehub. Also, the SRAM 900 \nhubset has included an XDR drive for awhile now \u2013 before you really \nneeded it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to choosing your drivetrain, you can run any cassette \nwith any chainring combination all with the same rear derailleur \u2013 1x or\n 2x. The new rear derailleur has been optimized to work with all of the \ncassette options in either chainring configuration and includes larger \nX-Sync pulleys with steel bearings, and the Orbit fluid damper in place \nof a mechanical clutch. Note that there is no longer a Cage Lock \nfeature, but the Orbit damper works a bit differently and doesn\u2019t really\n affect wheel changes. Compared to RED, the Force rear derailleur uses \nan aluminum derailleur cage instead of carbon, and steel hardware in \nplace of titanium and aluminum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Up front, the new Force front derailleur is very similar to RED, but \nit swaps in a stamped steel derailleur cage for the CNC machined \naluminum cage on RED. Riders who are pushing larger tires will be happy \nto hear that the derailleur has been streamlined to offer better tire \nclearance at the rear as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Completing the gearing is the new FRC-D1 Flattop chain. This new \nchain style is required for the group with SRAM stating that this chain \nrepresents their biggest investment in tooling on their part when it \ncame to the new group. While it did get narrower to fit another cog, \nthere is more to the story as usual. The shape of the chain is purely \ndriven by their strength testing \u2013 the top of the chain never rides on a\n gear, so it can be shaped differently to provide increased strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Proportionately, the chain is also narrower to the cog spacing than a\n comparative 11 speed group which SRAM claims results in a quieter ride \noverall. The FRC-D1 chain is interchangeable with the SRAM RED chain, \nwith the Force chain using solid pins as the only noticeable difference.\n Note that Flattop chains require a specific Flattop PowerLock. Also \nnote that you definitely don\u2019t want to run the new chain on 11 speed \ncassettes (think putting your bike on a direct drive trainer with an 11 \nspeed cassette mounted). Apparently, the new chain will destroy the \ncassette, which is why companies like Wahoo are quickly working to add \nXDR driver capabilities to their trainers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you haven\u2019t already picked it up from RED, the new SRAM Force group comes with its own lingo, so here\u2019s the breakdown:<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the launch of RED AXS, one of the things that seemed to catch everybody\u2019s<\/em>\n attention was the decision to integrate the power meter into the \nchainring. Yes, this means that when the chainring is dead, so is your \npower meter. But SRAM stands by the design, and here\u2019s why: SRAM RED is \nmeant to be the highest tier group for pro racers and consumers willing \nto pay top dollar in exchange for the lightest system possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\n integration of the power meter into the chainring meant that SRAM could\n add power to the same crankset at a weight penalty of just 36g. It also\n ends up with a more accurate power reading because you\u2019ve eliminated \none of the connections at the spider\/chainring interface. SRAM also \nclaims that the new drivetrain offers much longer chainring and \ncomponent life than previous groups, with field testing showing a \nwhopping 2-4x increase in longevity \u2013 so it should take you much longer \nto wear out those rings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is it wasteful to create a one-time use power meter\/chainring? Sort \nof. But that all depends if you take advantage of the SRAM support \nprogram where they take your old power meter\/chainring back and recycle \nit while providing a new one to you supposedly at or near the cost of \nstandard chainrings. That integrated power meter\/chainring is starting \nto sound a lot better all of a sudden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BUT\u2026<\/strong> what if none of that matters and you simply \nwant to run power on your SRAM AXS crank without an integrated power \nmeter\/chainring?<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re in luck. The Force chainrings and DZero power meter are not<\/em>\n one piece, and the Force DZero power meter spider is compatible with \nSRAM RED crank arms using the same 8 bolt direct mount interface. That \nmeans if you buy a SRAM RED AXS crank with power and wear out the \nchainrings super fast (or just want to upgrade a non-power model), you \ncan purchase a Force power meter spider and the Force AXS asymmetric 107\n BCD (same as RED 1x) chainrings to go with it. This also allows for \nmixing and matching 1x chainrings from the RED group or their aero 1x \nchainring for TT\/Tri bikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SRAM Force cranks will be available with or without power meters in \n1x or 2x configurations, both of which separate the chainring from the \npower meter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keeping in line with all of the new cranks from SRAM, the Force \ncranks will include a DUB spindle option, but they will still offer a \nGXP version for Trek\u2019s BB90 frames, Pinarellos with Italian threaded \nBBs, and other frames that require it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the controls, Force eTap AXS is all about wireless shifting \u2013 \nthough not necessarily about hydraulic brakes. For those keeping the rim\n brakes alive, the Force eTap AXS group will be available in two \nversions; wireless shifting with mechanical rim brakes, or wireless \nshifting with hydraulic disc brakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hydraulic option uses their Hydro HC platform specifically \ndeveloped for eTap which means these brake calipers are different than \nthose found on Force 1. The Force group uses a two piece caliper design \nwith steel hardware, and the same brake pad as RED. Also, the Force \nbrakes are flat mount only. Still running a post mount frame? The RED \nbrakes are available in post mount as well as flat mount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SRAM\u2019s new Centerline XR (CLX-R) rotors are a thing of beauty and are\n the same rotors that you\u2019ll find with SRAM Red. The rotors use an \naluminum carrier and a steel CenterLine braking surface with rounded \nedges to be UCI-Compliant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The new Force group even includes a new mechanical rim brake if you \nare retrofitting an older bike or just don\u2019t want to switch to disc. The\n brakes use a dual pivot design that is updated to fit wider rims and \ntires (up to 28mm), and include Swissstop Platinum Flash Pro pads for \ncarbon or BHP pads for aluminum rims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Offering independent reach and contact point adjustment, the levers \nare nearly identical to RED other than they have just one Blip port \nrather than two on each shifter. You\u2019ll also find a composite lever \nblade rather than true carbon fiber which makes a negligible difference \nin weight. While the derailleurs get their own rechargeable batteries \n(which are the same as all eTap groups), the levers use a CR2032 coin \ncell battery housed in the bottom of the lever. Since these simply have \nto power a single button, the batteries should last quite a while. How \nlong? We aim to find out (maybe) in a long term review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The AXS app offers the same tuneability with this group, letting you \nswitch the way the buttons and levers work the derailleurs, switch shift\n modes between regular, compensating and sequential, and even pair with a\n dropper seatpost or whatever else comes down the pipe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s also a complete 1x TRI HRD group available with hydraulic \naero levers for the hydraulic disc brakes and a new, smaller Blip Box. \nSRAM states that running a 1x drivetrain with a 48t chainring and the \n10-33 cassette would give you the same range as a 53\/39 with 11-26. That\n happens to be the most prevalent Ironman gearing combo they see on \n11-speed bikes, only now you don\u2019t have a front derailleur to shift, you\n have a lighter drivetrain, and you still get six 1-tooth gear steps on \nthe cassette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As much as we love knowing about new products ahead of time, it\u2019s \nmuch better when you can go out and buy a new product as soon as you \nread about it. That\u2019s the case with Force eTap AXS \u2013 groups are shipping\n as of today and you\u2019ll find more than 150 different bike models \nequipped with the group hitting showroom floors. Initially, Force will \nonly be available as a complete groupset, but in a few months you\u2019ll \nhave the ability to purchase individual parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the U.S., complete groups will run from $2,078 to $2,678, well under the price of RED.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We got all of the loose parts we could find on the scale at Road Bike Connection, but because of all the options and things like the fact that the FD and RD didn\u2019t include batteries, SRAM has provided the list of weights above. As mentioned, the group should work out to be about 300g more than SRAM RED eTap AXS.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SRAM has clearly been busy. Less than two months after […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[63,68,100,110],"class_list":["post-2969","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-update","tag-fitnss","tag-gamess","tag-sports","tag-travel"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/millionairemag.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2969","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/millionairemag.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/millionairemag.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/millionairemag.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/millionairemag.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2969"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/millionairemag.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2969\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/millionairemag.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/millionairemag.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2969"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/millionairemag.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2969"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/millionairemag.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2969"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}New gearing options just like RED\u2026 mostly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Cassette options<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
XDR Required<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
One Rear Derailleur to Rule them All<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Front Derailleur is Still There, and Better Than Ever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Force gets a Flattop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Acronym Glossary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
SRAM Force Cranks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Change your rings without changing your power meter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
SRAM Force eTap AXS brake\/shift levers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rim Brakes Still Stop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tri HRD<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Availability, pricing, and actual weights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n