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Fingers-on with the brand new SRAM Drive AXS groupset – actual weights vs Shimano Ultegra
Mar
Actually, modifications from the previous-generation groupset have been small, and largely to the shifters, the 2x crankset and the entrance derailleur. The excellent news is the value hasn’t modified.
SRAM has despatched us a whole groupset to check, however earlier than using off into the sundown utilizing it, we’ve weighed all the person elements. If, nevertheless, you do wish to know what it’s wish to trip off into the sundown with the groupset in Portugal, learn our SRAM Drive AXS first trip evaluate.
SRAM Drive AXS is pitched towards Shimano Ultegra 12-speed. We’ve beforehand weighed Ultegra component-by-component, so we’ve in contrast the weights of the 2 groupsets right here.
SRAM Drive AXS: seven issues to know
Right here’s a run-down of key options of the brand new SRAM Drive AXS groupset. There’s extra element on all of the parts and their variants in our SRAM Drive AXS groupset launch story.
- Quite than use separate chainrings, the standard-width Drive AXS 2x crankset now has a single-piece, direct-mount chainring, like these seen in SRAM Pink AXS. 1x cranksets are additionally direct mount, however the Huge double has separate chainrings
- As with the earlier era, SRAM’s cassettes begin at 10 enamel, so cranksets are smaller than these utilized by Shimano, which makes use of cassettes beginning at 11 enamel. The cranksets can be found in 50/37t, 48/35t and 46/33t sizes
- SRAM majors on completely different configurations, so in addition to the standard-spaced double crankset, there’s a single-ring possibility and Huge cranksets with smaller chainrings in double and single configurations
- There are energy meter choices for all cranksets. The usual double is dual-sided, others learn left-crank energy solely. You may improve a non-instrumented crankset to an influence meter
- The entrance derailleur has been redesigned with the goal of enhancing shift high quality
- The usual rear derailleur handles cassettes as much as 36 enamel, however there’s additionally a single-ring solely XPLR derailleur that can settle for a 42t cassette. As with all of SRAM’s groupsets, you can too arrange a mullet construct
- The shifters are smaller than the previous-generation groupset and the shift levers have been redesigned. They lose the choice to attach wired Blips satellite tv for pc shifters, though you’ll be able to nonetheless use them with wi-fi Blips
SRAM Drive AXS groupset element weights
SRAM Drive AXS shifters (pair) weight
The outdated Drive AXS shifters had been chunky, however SRAM has slimmed down the present model with the goal of creating them simpler to make use of for a wider vary of hand sizes. They’re an analogous dimension and form to Rival AXS shifters and have comparable performance, shedding chunk level adjustment and wired Blips compatibility.
The brake lever is carbon slightly than the Rival groupset’s alloy brake lever and the shift lever is smaller, which SRAM says reduces the danger of pinched fingers when braking. The Ultegra 12-speed wi-fi shifters are available in fairly a bit lighter than Drive AXS.
- Precise weight: 468g (pair)
- Ultegra weight: 385g (pair)
SRAM Drive AXS rear derailleur weight
The SRAM Drive AXS rear derailleur’s tech hasn’t modified from the earlier era. There’s a button used to trim the mech and put it into configuration mode to allow you to alter shift parameters through the AXS smartphone app.
You additionally get the identical Orbit fluid damper to assist enhance shift high quality and scale back drivetrain noise. Solely the graphics and end have modified to the brand new sparkly metallic look.
Ultegra has a single central battery powering each entrance and rear shifters, so it saves fairly a little bit of weight right here. We weighed the identical battery at 53g once we checked the weights of the Shimano 105 Di2 groupset.
- Precise weight: 328g (together with battery)
- Ultegra weight: 261g
SRAM Drive AXS entrance derailleur weight
SRAM has redesigned the entrance derailleur cage to enhance shift high quality. It retains the yaw geometry of SRAM’s different derailleurs. SRAM claims this leads to much less chain clatter while you’re cross-chaining, which was an annoying function of the previous-generation groupset.
Once more, Ultegra is available in lighter however doesn’t have an connected battery.
- Precise weight: 182g (together with battery)
- Ultegra weight: 111g
SRAM Drive AXS crankset weight
A normal double crankset now makes use of a one-piece ‘built-in’ chainring, which mounts on to the crank arms. SRAM says this alteration will increase the unit’s stiffness. It’s obtainable with both a dual-sided energy meter or un-instrumented, with SRAM claiming the facility meter provides simply 40g to the crankset weight.
We’ve got the 48/35t possibility with an influence meter, however you can too purchase a double crankset in 40/33t. There’s a brand new 50/37t, which was beforehand solely obtainable for Pink AXS. There are additionally 1x chainsets with direct-mount chainrings and Huge choices.
The Drive AXS chainset with an influence meter weighs inside one gram of the Ultegra chainset and not using a energy meter.
- Precise weight: 748g (with energy meter)
- Ultegra weight: 749g (52/36t, 172.5mm cranks, no energy meter)
SRAM Drive AXS crankset cassette (10-33t) weight
Cassettes haven’t modified. These to be used with double chainsets run up from 10-28t, through 10-30t and 10-33t to a 10-36t, so there are many gear vary choices. You may match a 10-36t or 10-42t cassette with a single chainring and a Drive AXS XPLR rear derailleur. All require an XDR freehub.
SRAM’s cassette is considerably lighter than the Ultegra design and makes use of SRAM’s Minicluster design, the place the 4 smallest sprockets are machined from a single block of metal.
- Precise weight: 273g (10-33t)
- Ultegra weight: 340g (11-34t)
SRAM Drive AXS crankset brake calipers weight
SRAM moved to a two-piece design in 2020, to make for simpler manufacturing, extra correct piston bore drilling and fewer brake rub on extended braking. These haven’t modified for the brand new groupset.
- Precise weight: 286g (130g entrance with hose & brake fluid, 156g rear with hose & brake fluid)
- Ultegra weight: 240g (pair)
Brake rotors
SRAM makes use of the identical Paceline brake rotors as with its previous-generation Drive AXS and different groupsets. They’re obtainable in 140mm or 160mm diameter, with SRAM recommending the 160mm dimension we now have right here.
- Precise weight: 320g (pair)
- Ultegra weight: 216g (pair)
SRAM Drive AXS crankset chain weight
As with the cassette, SRAM makes use of the identical chain as on its previous-generation Drive AXS groupset. The flattop design is exclusive to SRAM street groupsets.
Not like the Pink-level chain, the Drive chain has strong pins, which could add just a little to the burden. Nonetheless, at 242g it’s fairly mild and virtually the identical weight because the Ultegra groupset’s Shimano XT chain.
- Precise weight: 242g
- Ultegra weight: 240g
SRAM DUB backside bracket
SRAM has choices for its DUB backside bracket with nearly all of completely different backside bracket requirements. We’ve received the threaded exterior backside bracket from a Specialised Aethos, however we don’t have a comparable weight for Shimano Ultegra.
SRAM Drive AXS groupset whole weight
Totting all that up, we reckon the brand new SRAM Drive AXS groupset weighs 2,922g within the configuration we now have. Ultegra 12-speed undercuts that at 2,577g and not using a backside bracket or brake hoses.
The Drive AXS groupset’s weight sits mid-way between SRAM Pink AXS at simply over 2,500g and Rival AXS at round 3,500g, each with double chainrings. That’s extremely depending on configuration although.
We’ve additionally weighed the person parts of Shimano 105 Di2 and calculated a complete weight of two,950g. Curiously, the SRP for the brand new SRAM Drive AXS groupset, in addition to the burden, is nearer to that for 105 Di2 than Ultegra.
- SRAM Drive AXS whole weight: 2,922g
- Ultegra whole weight: 2,577g
For extra element on the brand new SRAM Drive AXS groupset, take a look at our first trip evaluate video. Subsequent up is to suit the Drive AXS groupset to a motorbike and head out onto the much less unique and heat roads of the UK slightly than Portugal to check it much more completely, so be careful for a full evaluate.
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