The most recent SRAM RED AXS, which debuted in Might 2024, took all the pieces good concerning the prior Drive & Rival updates, made it higher, then took it additional. Not solely did the hood shapes enhance like its siblings, however the brake levers and performance themselves took an enormous leap ahead in energy and ergonomics.
Its means to pair and arrange improved, too. And like an excellent older brother, it helps guarantee everybody will get alongside, providing backward compatibility with all 12-speed AXS parts.
After about eight months of driving the SRAM RED AXS E1 group, I’m nonetheless stoked on it. The efficiency is nearly as good as you’d count on from a top-level group with a historical past of wonderful efficiency, however the brakes push it excessive for me, making it a bunch that’s merely a pleasure to make use of. Facet notice: In case you desire gravel, there’s additionally a brand new devoted RED AXS 1×13 gravel group only for you, however a lot of this can apply, too.
The brakes justify the improve
The great factor about backward compatibility is that you would be able to improve simply the brakes for now, gaining dramatically extra energy and modulation, extra comfy hoods, and dropping about 83 grams.
The form of the levers makes it simple to hook a finger round them, however the largest enchancment is the lever’s revised pivot location. It’s quite a bit greater, providing you with extra leverage for a a lot lighter really feel.
SRAM claims an 80% discount in braking effort from the hoods, and I’ll verify that. Full braking energy from the very high of the lever. It’s unbelievable.
I additionally like that there’s a touch of outward flare, which strains up properly with fashionable handlebars. That, plus a extra pronounced lip on the backside of the brake lever makes braking from the drops simpler and extra assured, too. That additional little bit of hook gives extra safety below the finger when ripping down descents, and the general form lends extra confidence, even when it’s raining and the carbon blade is moist.
It’s additionally simpler than ever to regulate lever attain because of a front-facing adjustment bolt quite than the hard-to-find bolt beneath prior mannequin’s levers.
As an avowed weight weenie, I’m additionally stoked that they’re lighter, which partly comes from the calipers, too.
However as an early adopter of drop bar disc brakes who paid the value, I’ve begrudgingly accepted having extra mass the place it issues. Bigger rotors and stout calipers are a tradeoff I’m keen to make, particularly since I’m a bigger rider (6’2″, 190lbs nekkid).
So, I used to be a bit of involved concerning the skeletal new caliper design, significantly as I constructed up my Lauf Úthald for a mountainous bikepacking journey in Japan. Me plus a totally loaded bike plus 160mm rotors with brakes designed for highway racing had me contemplating bigger rotors.
However after a couple of conversations and early check rides, I caught with 160s and headed to the Land of the Rising Solar.
After 8 days of loaded touring and exploring with scarily steep, unkempt village roads and screaming quick, completely paved mountain descents (and all the pieces in between), I’ve no considerations.
Severely, if you’re on the lookout for a cause to improve (or simply spend cash), the brakes alone are well worth the worth of admission.
Oh, and people Bonus Buttons…
The opposite killer new characteristic are the bonus buttons. Positive, you’ll be able to program them to do issues on a Karoo biking pc and extra, however one of the best setup for me was having the left button carry out an upshift (tougher) whereas the left paddle downshifted (simpler). And vice versa on the suitable facet.
By reversing what the usual shift paddle does, I’m capable of shift each instructions one-handed. It’s superb, particularly when driving undulating terrain whereas additionally attempting to eat a snack.
Strive it, it’ll change your life.
All the things else is nice, too.
All through the journey and again house after, the group carried out flawlessly.
Shifting is clean and quiet. And it shifts very well below energy, making it simple to downshift on a tough climb with out letting off the gasoline.
The brand new, narrower entrance derailleur cage didn’t enhance chain rub or rasp because of its auto-trim characteristic, and it executes entrance shifts in addition to any.
The hoods line up properly with handlebars, with new embossed grip texture to assist in pointing them in the suitable path. Additionally they sit very stage with the handlebar (examined on Lauf’s Smoothie Highway bar, which can also be glorious).
Hammerhead time
In case you purchase a brand new SRAM RED AXS group, you’ll get the new Hammerhead Karoo with it, and that’s an excellent factor. Not solely is it one in every of my favourite biking computer systems (a built-in keyboard to pre-name every experience earlier than importing to the cloud? I imply, c’mon…that’s superior), it’s an enchancment on the prior mannequin, and it integrates seamlessly with the brand new RED AXS group.
Which means, you’ll be able to customise the shifters’ bonus buttons setup, zero your Quarq energy meter, and much extra from the menu straight on the system. Routing, re-routing, and navigation have been spot on, the climbing graphics are brilliant and daring, and the screens are simple to customise to get the information factors you need.
Lastly, it lastly pairs with iOS, and I used to be capable of replace our routes and locations utilizing it even whereas in Japan, which proved very useful. Plus, it reveals battery ranges for all related parts, additionally very useful whenever you’re deciding what to cost from an influence financial institution you’ll want for a couple of days of off-grid driving.
Precise Weights & Set up Notes
Precise weights for the brand new SRAM RED AXS E1 parts are:
- Crankset: 468g (172.5mm arms, 46/33 chainrings w/ Quarq powermeter)
- Brake levers: 202g every, 404g set*
- Brake calipers: 151g entrance, 164g rear*
- Entrance derailleur: 144g
- Rear derailleur: 260g
- Brake rotors: 131g every, 262g set (160mm, Heart Lock)
- Cassette: 232g (10-36)
- TOTAL: 2,085g**
*Brake calipers had the spacers in them throughout weigh-in as a result of it’s clamped in there and might’t be eliminated till the hose is opened for set up. Brake levers had small plug in port to forestall fluid from leaking. Each levers and calipers/hoses come prefilled with brake fluid, making set up simpler, typically with out the necessity for an entire bleed.
**Add the next to this complete:
- +236g for the chain (claimed, uncut)
- +48g for 2 AXS batteries (24g ea.)
- + a couple of grams for Heart Lock mounting lock rings
- – few grams for the brake spacers/plugs that get eliminated upon set up.
The group contains set up guides that make derailleur alignment and positioning very simple.
Particularly, the entrance derailleur’s information not solely positions its top on the body, giving it excellent clearance over the large chainring…
…but in addition making its yaw alignment simple by lining up the information marks on the device and the cage. This takes the entire guesswork out of it, and I solely needed to make small, fast tweaks to dial it in.
Moreover, the reinforcement wedge, which sits between the derailleur and the seat tube to bolster it when pushing the chain outward to the large ring, is now fixed from the surface of the derailleur. It’s a small factor, however can save loads of time and frustration throughout setup.
Ultimate ideas
Total, even mid-tier highway teams from the entire main manufacturers are actually darn good. Drive and Ultegra, Rival and 105. They depart little to be desired, actually.
The place SRAM justifies the expense to go up a stage is with ease of possession and extremely gentle weight, plus a deal with the braking efficiency and ergonomics. For me, that is what units the group aside and makes each experience on it a pleasure.
Additionally, Japan, significantly. Simply do it.