Bikes Blog
New SRAM Drive AXS & XPLR Teams Up to date, Now Even Extra Wi-fi!
Mar
At first look, the “new” Drive AXS group appears to be like like a shiny, fully 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 enormous enhancements to the group.
Hiding beneath the hood, although, are an enormous assortment of incremental operating adjustments which have been added to each Purple and Drive teams over time and at last getting codified right here.
As a fast background, SRAM does an awesome job of constructing steady minor updates and enhancements to their merchandise, however, and maybe stunning for the model, a extremely 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 number of extra noteworthy issues: They’re (lastly) dropping “eTap” from the title. It’s now simply Drive AXS, not Drive eTap AXS. And, together with 2x Drive AXS street group, the 1x XPLR gravel group turns into a correct “Drive” 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 Drive AXS particulars
Should you recall, Purple eTap launched as their sole 12-speed digital group. Then, when the AXS model got here out, Drive 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…attempting actually exhausting to eschew any stigma the time period “2nd tier” would possibly 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. Luckily, magnificence is greater than pores and skin deep. Right 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, notably for smaller fingers.
The brake reservoir hump on the entrance is smaller, too, and the levers and pivot level are just a few millimeters nearer to the bar, making it simpler to brake with one or two fingers whereas driving within the hoods.
Two important issues allow them to make the hoods smaller and produce the levers nearer – eliminating the pad contact modify, 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 may join as much as six Blips if you would like a number of shift areas. Additionally, it now makes the system 100% wi-fi, and with so many Blips capable of be related, they joke that it’s “much more wi-fi” than the competitors.
However, in comparison with Rival, Drive has upgraded brake levers (carbon as an alternative 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 if you’re pulling it actually far into its journey.
Brakes
Working adjustments to the prevailing Drive 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 completed in two items.
Higher roll again of the pistons because of a greater gland across the piston seals means elevated pad retraction, which suggests much less pad rub even when the rotors get a bit out of true. And the caliper is stiffer for a extra stable 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 Purple, out there with or with no Quarq energy meter. This design makes it stiffer and lighter. With the Energy Meter choice, it saves about 85g versus the prior model.
And that energy meter is now built-in, like with Purple, which suggests if it’s worthwhile to substitute your chainrings, you’re additionally changing the facility meter. However, as with Purple, they are saying you’ll get loads of miles out of it earlier than it wants changing…and, it’s so much inexpensive than the Purple chainrings.
For these with “chainring put on nervousness”, they are saying that folks 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, in the event you’re hung up on it, they’ll nonetheless provide the usual four-bolt energy meter spider you can swap rings on and off.
It’s a bit heavier, however in the event you incessantly swap chainrings for various programs or trip in foul situations that grind down enamel extra rapidly, perhaps that’s the higher choice for you. And whether it is, they’ve eradicated the beauty cowl that got here on the unique Drive eTap AXS, which may contribute to some operating noise.
The chainring+energy meter unit now has a ten% low cost on replacements. Not fairly the 50% low cost provided with Purple, however Drive’s chainring considerably inexpensive. Which is stunning, as a result of it’s the identical piece of metallic, solely the end differentiates Purple from Drive chainrings now.
As for sizes, they added the most important 50/37 chainring combo, which was beforehand solely out there for Purple. Others are 48/35 and 46/33.
For gravel riders that love a 2x group, there’s a single 43/30 choice for the Huge crankset (which has a wider chainline and requires a particular Huge entrance derailleur). It is going to have the identical new chainring design, however is for bikes constructed round wider tires and wider vary cassettes.
Obtainable 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. But it surely will get some new setup options to make set up simpler.
A brand new information device enables you to set it on the large chainring as you tighten it onto the braze-on/clamp, primarily placing it proper the place it must be.
Information marks are made a bit extra seen in case it’s worthwhile to make advantageous changes or re-adjust afterward, however you too can simply put the information device again in there in the event you’re reinstalling or altering chainring sizes.
Rear Derailleur & Cassette
Working adjustments from the previous couple years are all applied into all 1270 Drive cassettes. These embody a damper ring between the 2 largest cogs to cut 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 appropriate with something as much as a 36-tooth giant cog in the event you’re operating a unique model cassette for some cause…holding in thoughts that SRAM’s Flat High chains are optimized particularly for his or her cassettes, after all.
In any other case, there’s no new tech, and even shapes, it’s simply beauty adjustments. 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 Drive Pricing
Maybe the very best information? All of those updates and the a lot lighter new chainrings include no worth improve. The brand new SRAM Drive AXS elements 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 Huge Crankset w/ spindle PM – $585 (€632 / £565)
- 2x Highway 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 appropriate with their 3-bolt DM customary, usually discovered on their MTB cranksets.
Drive eTap versus Drive AXS weight comparability
In comparison with the prior Drive eTap group (D1), the brand new 2x Drive AXS (D2) street group with energy meter saves ~94g. The brand new 1x Drive XPLR AXS group saves 101g with energy meter. Precise 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 Drive XPLR gravel group
Taking a lot of the street group’s options onto gravel roads, the Drive XPLR group has just a few key variations.
They get their very own 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 saved 45g over a spider-based energy meter, and permits you to simply swap by means of the brand new direct-mount chainrings. Which is sweet, 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 loads of weight, too. Customary and Huge 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 regular 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 totally 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 appropriate with the XPLR 10-44 cassette, and in addition the biggest 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 below are just a few 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, XPLR on the proper. Word the taller B-knuckle on XPLR, whose mounting bolt can also be positioned additional again.
The cages are totally different, with the XPLR getting an offset higher pulley that permits 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 establish.
The Takeaway
When you have a present SRAM Drive group or XPLR group, don’t sweat this launch. It appears to be like nice, however the largest replace is the one-piece chainrings, and you may retrofit that to your present Drive group. Heck, you’ll be able to even save just a few hundred {dollars} in your Purple group when it’s time to interchange these rings by getting these new Drive ones.
Identical for XPLR…the brand new one-piece are backward appropriate, and you may 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 comfy with higher ergonomics for each shifting and braking. Functionally, they’re the identical, so in the event you’re proud of what you’ve received, nice. If it’s worthwhile to substitute 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 Purple cassette and chain, plus a 4-battery AXS charger, on this submit.
Supply hyperlink