Lately, Unbound has change into the world’s greatest and most prestigious gravel race. Together with launching rider careers, it has additionally change into a testing and proving floor for the newest cutting-edge gravel tech. For the eagle-eyed amongst us, there is a good likelihood you might spot one thing new or unreleased. At this yr’s occasion, I acquired fortunate early on when, on a shake-out experience, I noticed one thing new aboard the bikes of professional riders Haley Smith, Keegan Swenson and Russel Finsterwald, amongst others.
What at first look seemed like a SRAM mullet construct, which encompasses a 12-speed mountain bike transmission rear derailleur, was, actually, a brand new gravel drivetrain altogether. A better take a look at the UDH-mounted derailleur, the variety of rings on the cassette, and the tooth on the most important cog confirmed it: this was the unreleased 13-speed SRAM Crimson XPLR AXS we would heard rumours about.
Right now, with the official launch of the SRAM Crimson XPLR AXS merchandise, we’re lastly in a position to dive into the weeds of this top-tier gravel racing drivetrain, and there is rather a lot to speak about.
I will offer you an summary of what is new, the way it rides and whether or not I am able to put my present bike in the marketplace so I can change over to this new UDH-only groupset.
Introducing: SRAM’s 13-speed Crimson XPLR AXS gravel drivetrain
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
Crimson XPLR AXS is SRAM’s most superior digital and wi-fi gravel groupset but. Weighing simply 2,476 grams with an influence meter (2,398g with out), it is the lightest gravel groupset SRAM has ever produced, whereas additionally being strong and including a thirteenth cog. It additionally options SRAM’s finest brake callipers and controls but, however the hanger-less interface comes with its personal set of advantages…and downsides.
SRAM’s 13-speed Crimson XPLR AXS groupset: what’s new
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
13 speeds
That is SRAM’s first 13-speed pace drivetrain. Whereas Campagnolo was the primary to supply a 13-speed, superlight gravel groupset, the Ekar groupset is, as of but, mechanical solely.
G gear vary
The XPLR cassette now goes as much as a 46t, in comparison with the earlier 44t, for a gear vary of 460%.
The newest race content material, interviews, options, opinions and professional shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
The XG-1391 XPLR E1 13-speed cassette has the next gear development: 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 24, 28, 32, 38, and 46. Notice that solely the 12 and 46 are new.
For comparability, the present 10-44t XPLR cassette provides a 440% vary and the next cogs: 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 24, 28, 32, 38, 44.
The Eagle cassette, in style with these wanting the most important (climbing) gears, provides a 500% vary with the next gear jumps: 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 24, 28, 32, 36, 42, 50
The cassette stays XDR appropriate.
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
Weight reductions
The brand new groupset is no less than 100 grams lighter than its predecessor and even lighter than the brand new SRAM Crimson AXS highway groupset.
Hanger-less, UDH-only rear derailleur
Taken from the world of mountain biking, the derailleur is hooked up on to either side of the rear dropout to create a rock-solid connection and get rid of derailleur hangers altogether. Due to the exact alignment of the derailleur and the cassette, restrict screws and B-link adjustment are not wanted both. Whether or not knocked about in journey or crashed throughout a race, the derailleur will proceed to carry out and even sports activities a neat reset operate. Extra on that beneath.
There’s additionally a MTB-inspired clutch spring for superior chain administration and retention.
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
An influence meter with replaceable chainrings
Up till now, SRAM Crimson energy meters had one main downside: totally built-in chainrings. Designed to acquire the bottom attainable weight and the very best degree of accuracy, the entire unit needs to be changed at any time when the rings put on out. You can also’t simply swap chainrings for most popular gear ratios on totally different terrains. The brand new Crimson XPLR AXS 1x Energy Meter solves this expensive downside with a redesigned spider-based energy meter with detachable and replaceable Thread Mount chainrings.
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
SRAM’s 13-speed Crimson XPLR AXS groupset: what’s not new
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
Sure parts had been carried over from present product traces, together with:
Brake calipers and shift-brake levers
I used to be very excited to see that the brand new brake calipers and shift-brake levers from the lately launched Crimson AXS highway groupset had been carried over to this groupset. These of us right here at Biking Weekly who’ve had the pleasure of utilizing all of them agree: they’re merely improbable.
The shift-brake controls and hoods underwent a complete aesthetic and ergonomic redesign, full with the repositioning of the hydraulic brake grasp cylinder, improved hood angle, and the addition of hood-based bonus buttons. Lean and elongated, the highest of the hoods are about half as tall as its predecessors – a most welcomed change.
The brake callipers characteristic a lighter, totally aluminium physique and inside, the pistons had been repositioned additional up within the caliper physique to permit pressure to be utilized nearer the sting of the rotor.
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
Magic Wheel
Taken from the Eagle Transmission mountain bike line, the Magic Wheel is an outsized decrease pulley wheel product of two elements. These two elements are designed to spin collectively until one thing lodges within the interior a part of the pulley wheel. At this level, the outer a part of the pulley wheel will proceed to spin even when the center half is clogged up with dust otherwise you’ve caught a stick.
The way it carried out
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
“Deliver on the sticks, stones, and airport baggage abuse. The Crimson XPLR AXS rear derailleur will fortunately take all of it,” SRAM boasts in its advertising and marketing copy. And I positive took that to coronary heart when the primary lengthy outing on my check bike rapidly become a Kind 2 experience. You understand the type—one the place you get your each day step rely in and return trying like your shins had picked a struggle with a feral cat.
Simply 10 miles into the experience, I managed to get a stick caught in my derailleur and the shifting was wonky for the rest of the day. A lot for these claims, I believed till I found the derailleur’s very neat influence reset operate.
Taken from the SRAM Eagle Transmission, the Crimson XPLR AXS derailleur mount is designed to rotate within the occasion of influence, shifting your derailleur away from hazard. It will possibly then be reset to the proper place after influence. To do that, you may must first test to see if the derailleur has certainly rotated. There are hash marks on the again of the derailleur, particularly on the knurled ring and the Full Mount. If these usually are not aligned, then a reset is required. To take action, you merely loosen your rear thru-axle by 1 / 4 to half flip and the derailleur will snap again into place. Retighten the thru-axle, and off you go. Fairly cool.
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
As soon as working because it ought to, the shifting impressed with its crispness and reliability. It feels splendidly clean, even to get throughout the most important hole between the 38t and 46t.
I do know shifting on SRAM’s Transmission groupset reviewed blended opinions, with some lamenting the gradual speeds. The Crimson XPLR AXS performs with ample pace although I’ll word that the multishift down the cassette carried out faster and higher than the multishift up the cassette, which struggled with the larger rings.
After my preliminary stick encounter, no quantity of rocky gravel or rooty singletrack managed to upset the derailleur’s efficiency and the MTB-inspired clutch ensured the chain stayed taught, all the time.
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
The tight gear jumps on the cassette are very nice. With this new 13-speed cassette, SRAM aimed to offer shoppers “the climbing gears you crave on gravel and the tight jumps you want on spicy sprints.” What it is created is a cassette that falls someplace between the present 12-speed 10-44t XPLR cassette and 10-50t Eagle cassette. It is acquired 20% extra vary than its 12-speed sibling and 40% much less vary than its mountain bike cousin. The one actual change over the present cassette is the addition of a 12t cog and the substitute of the 44t with a 46t cog.
Solely the decrease finish of the cassette will get improved gear jumps. On the other finish, the hole really grew from the present 38t to 44t to now a 38t to 46t soar. With that stated, the tight development on the decrease finish of the cassette is noticeable and, certainly, good to have on quick, flat terrain and on pavement. Personally, my gravel rides are typically moderately hilly and tough, and thus, I spend most of my time properly above the 13t cog on the cassette. To that finish, the most important 46t is a welcomed substitute.
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
As talked about above, the brand new drivetrain is paired with the brake callipers and shift-brake levers taken from the most recent Crimson AXS highway groupset, which is an efficient factor. Between the totally redesigned hoods, levers and the calipers themselves, SRAM may have created the perfect brakes on the highway and gravel market. Not solely are the hoods very snug, however the highly effective brakes actually permit for single-finger braking.
I am a giant fan of the bonus buttons as properly. Whereas the buttons are moderately small, the placement of the within of the elongated hoods, simply above the thumbs, works properly. Just like the blips, you may assign the button’s operate, be it managing your dropper publish, shifting gears or scrolling by means of the pages of your pc. I exploit them for shifting, as they work very well should you have a tendency to spend so much of time on prime of the hoods moderately than within the drops.
UDH Compatibility Conundrum
(Picture credit score: SRAM)
The brand new drivetrain is just appropriate with frames which have a UDH (Common Derailleur Hanger) interface. This know-how was launched by SRAM in 2019, initially aimed toward eliminating frame-specific rear derailleur hangers in mountain bikes whereas additionally standardizing the place of the derailleur with the cassette for higher and extra constant shifting efficiency. The system integrates the derailleur hanger into the body dropout across the axle.
SRAM’s Full Mount derailleurs make use of the UDH interface however do not contain an precise hanger. A Full Mount derailleur attaches instantly onto the body, on both aspect of the dropout. For the reason that Full Mount launched in 2023, the system has garnered beneficial opinions for its robustness and ease. Nevertheless, up till now, the UDH and Full Mount know-how was largely thought-about a mountain bike factor. However gravel actually stands to realize from its advantages, like improved robustness, shifting efficiency over tough terrain, and chain retention.
Fortunately, the adoption fee of UDH is rising amongst body producers, and types like Trek, Specialised, Canyon, Lauf, Cervelo and 3T already supply some gravel bike fashions with a UDH interface. Nevertheless, there is not any solution to convert an present non-UDH body to change into UDH or Full Mount appropriate – no less than, not in a approach SRAM will acknowledge. Some aftermarket conversion kits will be discovered on the web however SRAM says it would void any guarantee if these merchandise are used.
For shoppers, which means if you wish to improve to this groupset, your present bike should already sport a UDH interface, otherwise you’ll have to purchase a brand new body.
For body producers, the Full Mount know-how might create a little bit of a conundrum as SRAM is mainly saying, ‘conform or be overlooked.’
Shimano and Campagnolo haven’t (but) totally embraced UDH know-how. Whereas appropriate when used with the best elements, it is not all easy. For instance, Shimano and Campagnolo’s Direct Mount derailleurs not embrace a linkage between the derailleur itself and a traditional derailleur hanger. Shimano claims this creates a extra exact derailleur alignment—not not like the UDH raison d’être. Nevertheless, until you purchase a selected Direct Mount appropriate UDH hanger, you may must put the B-Hyperlink again in, thereby negating any advantages.
This sparks lots of questions:
- Are non-UDH frames quickly going to go the way in which of the rim brake?
- Will body producers conform to UDH or will we see allegiances fashioned between bike and element producers?
- Is SRAM forcing Shimano and Campagnolo’s hand?
As for the solutions, we’ll have to attend and see.
Pricing
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
The head of SRAM’s gravel product line comes with a premium price ticket. The groupset with energy meter retails for $3,979 / £3,980. With out the ability meter, it prices $3,529 / £3,530
With bikes costing a fortune nowadays, I not get a lot of a sticker shock once I see these costs come by means of. Nevertheless, what made me do a double-take on this groupset particularly, is the elevated price of wear and tear elements. The cassette alone is $650 / £600 and no alternate possibility is accessible as of but. That is $400 greater than the present top-end XPLR cassette and no less than $200 greater than an Eagle cassette. The flattop chain, too, has gone up $89-99 versus the present flattop Crimson chain at $75. Fortunately, the brand new groupset is backwards appropriate with all flat-top chains.
For groupset comparability, Shimano’s top-end gravel groupset, the 2×12 GRX Di2 with out energy meter, prices round $2,533/£2,100. It provides a 506% gear vary (when constructed with an HG710 11-36t cassette) and weighs 2,747 grams with no energy meter. Is the additional grand well worth the thirteenth cog, 349 grams of weight-savings and hanger-free derailleur?
Verdict
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
Extremely light-weight, bombproof, best-in-class braking, and extra gears: there’s a lot to love in regards to the new Crimson XPLR AXS groupset. However is it sufficient to persuade me to place my non-UDH bike in the marketplace proper now so as to change over to this UDH-requiring groupset? If I had been a severe biker racer, yeah possibly.
The hanger-less Full Mount derailleur actually is an asset, not solely due to its crisp and dependable shifting efficiency but additionally due to its robustness. Placing a motorcycle on a aircraft to journey to occasions is all the time a danger. You by no means fairly know what state your bike goes to be in on the opposite finish. The Full Mount rear derailleur can actually take a beating – throughout journey and on the race course. A few further tooth on the higher finish of the gear vary are all the time welcome, each so as to conquer climbs and for the choice to run an even bigger chainring within the entrance. And the gradual gear jumps within the lower-end of the cassette might be an asset in race tempo and end dash.
As a non-racer on the extra adventure-y finish of the gravel spectrum, I’m not the focused demographic for this groupset. It is made for many who must get probably the most out of their bikes. Lachlan Morton received this yr’s 200-mile Unbound Gravel race with a median pace of 22mph. The ladies’s race completed in a nine-person dash end. In gravel racing, each watt, each minute, each gear counts. Whereas the 12t sprocket and weight discount is a mere nice-to-have for a rider like me, it may be vital in racing.
With that stated, the robustness and shifting efficiency of the Full Mount rear derailleur are attracts, and I am sure we’ll see extra of this know-how in future releases. Thus, upgrading to a body with UDH just isn’t a foul thought on the whole.
Greater than something, what I want my present XPLR groupset had from this launch are the shift-brake levers and brake callipers. And there, we’re in luck. The shift-brake controls are backwards appropriate with all AXS teams, thus one can merely improve these parts with out having to acquire a brand new body.
What I’ve realized in my 11 years within the trade is that SRAM does trickledown know-how very, very properly and so one factor’s for sure: my non-UDH bike’s days are numbered.
