Editor’s notice: This article was initially revealed on BikeRumor.
At first look, the “new” SRAM Force AXS groupset appears shiny and fully new. Fresh graphics with subtle-yet-shiny paint catch the attention, and the one-piece chainrings and slimmer brake hoods give it a sharper, higher-end look. Both are enormous enhancements to the group.
Hiding beneath the hood is a giant assortment of incremental working modifications which have been added to each Red and Force teams through the years and at last get codified right here.
As a fast background, SRAM does a fantastic job of creating steady minor updates and enhancements to its merchandise, however, maybe surprisingly, a very unhealthy job of speaking about them. So most of the “new” issues “introduced” right here formally have truly been on the group for a while.
A number of extra noteworthy issues: SRAM is (lastly) dropping “eTap” from the identify. It’s now simply Force AXS, not Force eTap AXS. And, together with 2x Force AXS street group, the 1x XPLR gravel group turns into a correct “Force” group with the identical updates, graphics, and particulars. Together, they’re a extra cohesive assortment of high-end-yet-approachable drivetrains for drop bar bikes.
2023 SRAM Force AXS Details
If you recall, Red eTap launched as SRAM’s sole 12-speed digital group. Then, when the AXS model got here out, Force AXS debuted alongside it, as the road’s second-tier digital group.
Now, it will get its personal launch, fortunately drops the eTap nomenclature, and reimagines what a second-tier group can supply … whereas attempting actually arduous to eschew any stigma the time period “second-tier” may convey.
To kick that off, it will get a brand new premium end. A little bit of gloss and sparkle within the Unicorn Gray brings it to life within the solar. That’s accented with shiny logos which have a little bit of rainbow flash in daylight too. Fortunately, magnificence is greater than pores and skin deep. Here’s what’s new about every part.
Shifters
The hoods get a refined form … which is definitely the identical as the newest Rival group, with a smaller diameter that tapers down towards the entrance to create extra finger clearance, finger wrap, and simpler grip, significantly for smaller palms.
The brake reservoir hump on the entrance is smaller too, and the levers and pivot level are a number of millimeters nearer to the bar, making it simpler to brake with one or two fingers whereas using within the hoods.
Two foremost issues let SRAM make the hoods smaller and produce the levers nearer: eliminating the pad contact modify (as a result of the corporate discovered many riders by no means used it and even knew it was there) and eradicating the auxiliary Blip port.
Now that it has wi-fi Blips, the port turned pointless, and you may join as much as six Blips if you’d like a number of shift places. Also, it now makes the system 100% wi-fi. With so many Blips appropriate, SRAM jokes it’s “even more wireless” than the competitors.
But, in comparison with Rival, Force has upgraded brake levers (carbon as a substitute of alloy) and a brand new shift paddle profile. The shift paddle is a bit longer but in addition tapered to enhance clearance on the bar once you’re pulling it actually far into its journey.
Brakes
Running modifications to the present SRAM Force over the previous few years have caused a number of enhancements. This group will get all of them. That means a two-piece caliper physique that works higher as a result of it might probably higher machine all of the plumbing inside when it’s accomplished in two items.
Improved pad retraction means much less pad rub even when the rotors get a bit out of true. And the caliper is stiffer for a extra strong braking really feel.
It comes with its Paceline rotors, which carry over unchanged.
Crank Arms & Chainrings
The crank arms are straightforward. They’re the identical as earlier than, simply with a brand new end.
The chainrings are new, although, and SRAM designed them round two targets: enhance shifting efficiency and drop weight.
SRAM achieved this by switching from a typical spider plus chainrings to a one-piece, machined 2x chainring unit (identical as Red), obtainable with or and not using a Quarq energy meter. This design makes it stiffer and lighter. With the facility meter choice, it saves about 85 g versus the prior model.
That energy meter is now built-in, like with Red, which suggests if you have to change your chainrings, you’re additionally changing the facility meter. But, as with Red, SRAM says you’ll get a variety of miles out of the meeting earlier than it wants changing. Plus, the Force chainring is so much cheaper than the Red equal.
For these with “chainring wear anxiety,” SRAM says folks have largely gotten over it as a result of the rings last more than people thought they might. That’s due considerably to the model’s distinctive chainring combos, which suggests persons are shifting the entrance chainring much less usually.
But in case you’re hung up on it, SRAM nonetheless affords the usual four-bolt energy meter spider for eased ring swapping.
It’s a bit heavier, however in case you continuously swap chainrings for various functions, or experience in foul circumstances that grind down enamel extra rapidly, perhaps that’s the higher choice for you. And whether it is, SRAM has eradicated the beauty cowl that got here on the unique Force eTap AXS, which had a popularity for creating working noise.
The Force chainring-plus-power-meter unit now comes with a ten% low cost on replacements. It’s not fairly the 50% low cost it affords on Red, however Force’s chainring is considerably cheaper. Which is shocking as a result of it’s the identical piece of metallic — solely the end differentiates Red from Force chainrings now.
As for sizes, it added the largest 50/37 chainring combo, which was beforehand solely obtainable for Red. Others are 48/35 and 46/33.
For gravel riders who love a 2x group, there’s a single 43/30 choice for the Wide crankset (which has a wider chainline and requires a particular Wide entrance derailleur). It could have the identical new chainring design, nevertheless it’s for bikes constructed round wider tires and wider-range cassettes.
Available crank lengths are 165, 167.5, 170, 172.5, 175, and 177.5 mm.
Front Derailleur
The entrance derailleur’s structure carries over from the earlier SRAM Force groupset with the brand new Unicorn Gray end. But it will get some new setup options to make set up simpler.
A brand new information software allows you to set it on the massive chainring as you tighten it onto the braze-on/clamp, primarily placing it proper the place it must be.
Guide marks are made a bit extra seen in case you have to make tremendous changes or readjust afterward. But you can even simply put the information software again in there in case you’re reinstalling or altering chainring sizes.
Rear Derailleur & Cassette
Running modifications from the previous couple of years are carried out into all 1270 SRAM Force cassettes. These embrace a damper ring between the 2 largest cogs to scale back noise and the swap away from that awesome-looking all-black end to the present nickel chrome end.
SRAM says this end is quieter, smoother, and extra sturdy than prior finishes.
The group has 4 cassette choices: 10/28, 10/30, 10/33, and 10/36. There’s no extra 10/26 cassette provided, primarily as a result of nobody needed it.
The rear derailleur has the identical structure as earlier than, however now there’s a single mannequin to deal with all 4 of these cassettes. It’s appropriate with something as much as a 36-tooth cog in case you’re working a special model cassette for some cause, however remember the fact that SRAM’s Flat Top chains are optimized particularly for its cassettes.
There’s no new tech and even shapes right here, simply beauty modifications. It nonetheless has carbon outer/aluminum internal pulley cage plates, with metal bearings contained in the pulleys, and the Orbit damper for chain administration on bumpy roads.
2023 SRAM Force Pricing
Perhaps the perfect information? All of those updates and the a lot lighter new chainrings include no worth enhance. The new SRAM Force AXS parts are the identical worth because the prior variations.
- Shifter/Brake Caliper, Front – $350
- Shifter/Brake Caliper, Rear – $350
- Rear Derailleur AXS – $377
- Rear Derailleur XPLR – $369
- Front Derailleur – $243
- 1x Crankset w/ spindle PM – $585
- 1x Crankset – $275
- 2x Wide Crankset w/ spindle PM – $585
- 2x Road Crankset w/ PM – $800
- 2x Crankset – $275
- 2x Power Meter Chainring – $410
- 2x Chainring – $245
- Cassette – $195
- XPLR Cassette – $222
- Chain – $50
The excellent news is you’ll be able to improve these one-piece chainrings onto any crankset that accepts SRAM’s eight-bolt mounting customary. It’s not appropriate with its three-bolt DM customary, usually discovered on its MTB cranksets.
Force eTap vs. Force AXS Weight Comparison
Compared to the prior Force eTap group (D1), the brand new 2x Force AXS (D2) street group with energy meter saves about 94 g. The new 1x Force XPLR AXS group saves 101 g with an influence meter. Exact financial savings will rely on chosen chainring measurement/combo.
Weight financial savings come primarily from the brand new one-piece, direct-mount chainrings, and new shifter lever our bodies are considerably lighter.
2023 SRAM Force XPLR Gravel Group
Taking many of the street group’s options onto gravel roads, the SRAM Force XPLR group exhibits a number of key variations.
It will get its personal new carbon crank arm, which has a left-side, spindle-based energy meter choice. It’s the identical energy meter as Rival, however with a lighter carbon crank arm.
This saves 45 g over a spider-based energy meter and seeks to let riders swap by means of the brand new direct-mount chainrings simply. And that’s good as a result of most gravel riders usually tend to change a chainring measurement between rides.
And, it will get new one-piece direct-mount chainrings, which save a variety of weight. Standard and Wide cranksets and chainrings can be found.
Standard chainring sizes are 38/40/42/44/46 tooth. There are additionally 48T and 50T aero chainrings for these utilizing an ordinary 1x crankset.
Brake levers and shifter paddles are the identical because the street group’s. I extremely appreciated the textured shift paddles and simpler attain on rougher terrain.
The derailleur differs from the street variant however carries the identical shapes and supplies as the prior XPLR group I reviewed, however with new finishes.
It’s appropriate with the XPLR 10/44 cassette and in addition the most important 10/36 street cassette however is particularly designed for 1x use solely; you’ll be able to’t pair it with a 2x chainring.
Here are a number of photographs to indicate the important thing variations, illustrating why you’ll be able to’t run the street and gravel derailleurs interchangeably:
The street derailleur is on the left, and XPLR is on the fitting. Note the taller B-knuckle on the XPLR, whose mounting bolt can be positioned additional again.
The cages are completely different, with the XPLR getting an offset higher pulley that enables for the elevated rotation and motion required to maneuver throughout a wider vary of gears.
The street derailleurs have “MAX 36T” etched on the again of the B-knuckle, and the XPLR is branded as such, to make them straightforward to establish.
The Takeaway
Don’t sweat this launch when you’ve got a present SRAM Force or XPLR group. It appears nice, however probably the most important replace is the one-piece chainrings, and you may retrofit these to your present Force group. Heck, you’ll be able to even save a number of hundred {dollars} in your Red group when it’s time to interchange these rings by getting these new Force ones.
Same for XPLR. The new one-pieces are backward appropriate, and you may improve simply the arms if you wish to add the single-sided, spindle-based energy meter.
The brake levers do represent a extra significant improve. I discovered them noticeably extra comfy than the earlier era, with higher ergonomics for each shifting and braking. But mechanically, there’s no change from the previous levers, so in case you’re proud of what you’ve obtained, nice. If you have to change your complete group, additionally nice; you’ll in all probability like these a bit higher.