Bikes Blog
2023 SRAM Power AXS & XPLR teams up to date with lighter, higher tech
Mar
At first look, the “new” Power AXS group seems to be like a shiny, utterly new group. Recent graphics with subtle-yet-shiny paint catches the attention, and the one-piece chainrings and slimmer brake hoods give it a sharper, higher-end look. Each are big enhancements to the group.
Hiding below the hood, although, are an enormous assortment of incremental working modifications which were added to each Pink and Power teams over time and at last getting codified right here.
As a fast background, SRAM does an important job of creating steady minor updates and enhancements to their merchandise, however, and maybe stunning for the model, a very dangerous job of speaking about them. So most of the “new” issues “launched” right here formally have truly been on the group for a while.
A couple of extra noteworthy issues: They’re (lastly) dropping “eTap” from the title. It’s now simply Power AXS, not Power eTap AXS. And, together with 2x Power AXS street group, the 1x XPLR gravel group turns into a correct “Power” group with the identical updates, graphics, and particulars. Collectively, they’re a extra cohesive assortment of high-end but approachable drivetrains for drop bar bikes.
2023 SRAM Power AXS particulars
Should you recall, Pink eTap launched as their sole 12-speed digital group. Then, when the AXS model got here out, Power AXS debuted alongside it, giving their first 2nd tier digital group.
Now, it will get its personal launch, fortunately drops the eTap nomenclature, and reimagines what a 2nd tier group can provide…making an attempt actually laborious to eschew any stigma the time period “2nd 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 Grey brings it to life within the solar. That’s accented with shiny logos which have a little bit of rainbow flash in daylight, too. Happily, magnificence is greater than pores and skin deep. Right here’s what’s new about every element…
Shifters
The hoods get a refined form…which is definitely the identical as the most recent Rival group, with a smaller diameter that tapers down towards the entrance to create extra finger clearance, finger wrap, and simpler grip, notably for smaller palms.
The brake reservoir hump on the entrance is smaller, too, and the levers and pivot level are a couple of millimeters nearer to the bar, making it simpler to brake with one or two fingers whereas using within the hoods.
Two major issues allow them to make the hoods smaller and convey the levers nearer – eliminating the pad contact regulate, as a result of they discovered that many riders by no means used it and even knew it was there, and eradicating the auxiliary Blip port.
Now that they’ve wi-fi Blips, the port was pointless, and you’ll join as much as six Blips if you’d like a number of shift areas. Additionally, it now makes the system 100% wi-fi, and with so many Blips capable of be linked, they joke that it’s “much more wi-fi” than the competitors.
However, in comparison with Rival, Power has upgraded brake levers (carbon as a substitute of alloy), and and a brand new shift paddle profile. The shift paddle is a bit longer, but additionally tapered to enhance clearance on the bar once you’re pulling it actually far into its journey.
Brakes
Operating modifications to the prevailing Power over the previous couple years have led to a number of enhancements, and this group will get all of them. Meaning a two-piece caliper physique that works higher as a result of they will higher machine all of the plumbing inside when it’s performed in two items.
Higher roll again of the pistons because of a greater gland across the piston seals means elevated pad retraction, which implies 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 their Paceline rotors, which carry over unchanged.
Crank Arms & Chainrings
Crank arms are straightforward: They’re the identical as earlier than, simply with a brand new end.
The chainrings are new, although, and SRAM had two objectives: Enhance shifting efficiency, and drop weight.
They achieved it by switching from a typical spider+chainrings to a one-piece machined 2x chainring unit, identical as Pink, obtainable with or with no Quarq energy meter. This design makes it stiffer and lighter. With the Energy Meter possibility, it saves about 85g versus the prior model.
And that energy meter is now built-in, like with Pink, which implies if you want to change your chainrings, you’re additionally changing the facility meter. However, as with Pink, they are saying you’ll get numerous miles out of it earlier than it wants changing…and, it’s lots cheaper than the Pink chainrings.
For these with “chainring put on anxiousness”, they are saying that individuals have largely gotten over it as a result of the rings last more than people thought they might, due considerably to their distinctive chainring combos, which imply individuals are shifting the entrance chainring much less usually.
However, for those who’re hung up on it, they’ll nonetheless provide the usual four-bolt energy meter spider that you could swap rings on and off.
It’s a bit heavier, however for those who often swap chainrings for various programs or trip in foul situations that grind down tooth extra rapidly, perhaps that’s the higher possibility for you. And whether it is, they’ve eradicated the beauty cowl that got here on the unique Power eTap AXS, which may contribute to some working noise.
The chainring+energy meter unit now has a ten% low cost on replacements. Not fairly the 50% low cost provided with Pink, however Power’s chainring considerably cheaper. Which is stunning, as a result of it’s the identical piece of steel, solely the end differentiates Pink from Power chainrings now.
As for sizes, they added the largest 50/37 chainring combo, which was beforehand solely obtainable for Pink. Others are 48/35 and 46/33.
For gravel riders that love a 2x group, there’s a single 43/30 possibility for the Large crankset (which has a wider chainline and requires a particular Large entrance derailleur). It’s going to have the identical new chainring design, however is for bikes constructed round wider tires and wider vary cassettes.
Out there crank lengths are 165, 167.5, 170, 172.5, 175, and 177.5mm.
Entrance Derailleur
The entrance derailleur’s structure carries over, simply with the brand new Unicorn Grey end. Nevertheless it will get some new setup options to make set up simpler.
A brand new information device helps you to set it on the large chainring as you tighten it onto the braze-on/clamp, basically placing it proper the place it must be.
Information marks are made a bit extra seen in case you want to make effective changes or re-adjust afterward, however you can even simply put the information device again in there for those who’re reinstalling or altering chainring sizes.
Rear Derailleur & Cassette
Operating modifications from the previous couple years are all applied into all 1270 Power cassettes. These embody a damper ring between the 2 largest cogs to scale back noise, and the early change away from that superior wanting all-black end to the present Nickel Chrome end.
They are saying 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 wished it.
The rear derailleur has the identical structure as earlier than, however now there’s only a single mannequin to deal with all 4 of these cassettes. It’s suitable with something as much as a 36-tooth massive cog for those who’re working a special model cassette for some cause…maintaining in thoughts that SRAM’s Flat Prime chains are optimized particularly for his or her cassettes, in fact.
In any other case, there’s no new tech, and even shapes, it’s simply beauty modifications. It nonetheless has carbon outer/aluminum interior pulley cage plates, with metal bearings contained in the pulleys, and the Orbit damper for chain administration on bumpy roads.
2023 SRAM Power Pricing
Maybe the most effective information? All of those updates and the a lot lighter new chainrings include no worth improve. The brand new SRAM Power AXS parts are the identical worth because the prior model.
- Shifter/Brake Caliper, Entrance – $350 (€255 / £228)
- Shifter/Brake Caliper, Rear – $350 (€255 / £228)
- Rear Derailleur AXS – $377 (€360 / £302)
- Rear Derailleur XPLR – $369 (€343 / £306)
- Entrance Derailleur – $243 (€222 / £198)
- 1x Crankset w/ spindle PM – $585 (€632 / £565)
- 1x Crankset – $275 (€330 / £295)
- 2x Large Crankset w/ spindle PM – $585 (€632 / £565)
- 2x Street Crankset w/ PM – $800 (€865 / £772)
- 2x Crankset – $275 (€330 / £295)
- 2x Energy Meter Chainring – $410 (€443 / £396)
- 2x Chainring – $245 (€265 / £236)
- 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 8-bolt mounting customary. It’s not suitable with their 3-bolt DM customary, usually discovered on their MTB cranksets.
Power eTap versus Power AXS weight comparability
In comparison with the prior Power eTap group (D1), the brand new 2x Power AXS (D2) street group with energy meter saves ~94g. The brand new 1x Power XPLR AXS group saves 101g with energy meter. Precise financial savings will rely upon 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 Power XPLR gravel group
Taking a lot of the street group’s options onto gravel roads, the Power XPLR group has a couple of key variations.
They get their very own new carbon crank arm, which has a left-side, spindle-based energy meter possibility. It’s the identical energy meter as Rival, however with a lighter carbon crank arm.
This saved 45g over a spider-based energy meter, and permits you to simply swap via the brand new direct-mount chainrings. Which is nice, as a result of gravel riders usually tend to change a chainring measurement based mostly on the course.
And, they get new one-piece direct-mount chainrings, which save numerous weight, too. Customary and Large cranksets and chainrings can be found
Customary chainring sizes are 38/40/42/44/46 tooth. There are additionally 48T and 50T aero chainrings for these utilizing a typical 1x crankset for his or her TT or triathlon bike.
Brake levers and shifter paddles are the identical as street, and the textured shift paddles and simpler attain are a lot appreciated on rougher terrain.
The derailleur is completely different from the street ones, however carries over the identical shapes and supplies as the prior XPLR group I reviewed, however with the brand new finishes.
It’s suitable with the XPLR 10-44 cassette, and likewise 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 entrance chainring.
Listed here are a couple of images to point out 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, XPLR on the appropriate. Observe the taller B-knuckle on 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 hte B-knuckle, and XPLR is branded as such, making them straightforward to determine.
The Takeaway
In case you have a present SRAM Power group or XPLR group, don’t sweat this launch. It seems to be nice, however the greatest replace is the one-piece chainrings, and you’ll retrofit that to your present Power group. Heck, you’ll be able to even save a couple of hundred {dollars} in your Pink group when it’s time to switch these rings by getting these new Power ones.
Identical for XPLR…the brand new one-piece are backward suitable, and you’ll improve simply the arms if you wish to add the single-sided, spindle-based energy meter.
The one factor that’s a extra demanding improve is the brake levers. These are extra snug with higher ergonomics for each shifting and braking. Functionally, they’re the identical, so for those who’re proud of what you’ve bought, nice. If you want to change your complete group, additionally nice, you’ll most likely like these a bit higher.
Keep tuned for first impressions, and take a look at the brand new Rainbow Pink cassette and chain, plus a 4-battery AXS charger, on this submit.
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