SRAM lifts lid on “lightest electronic groupset ever”, new RED AXS groupset
Refined for an effortless ride, the new SRAM Red AXS groupset features a light brake feel and comfortable ergonomics, also promising smooth front shifting as well as fully wireless connectivity and expanded gearing choices to fit every rider need.
There’s a bunch of features included, such as accurate and reliable power measurement, new shift points and more brake adjustability while also sticking to the ‘shaving-grams-off-every-morsel for what it said is the lightest electronic groupset ever.
Providing what it says is “true one-finger braking”, the hood and lever architecture has been overhauled and there’ve been breaththroughs for all hand sizes and easy access to powerful and smooth easy breaking from anywhere on the bar. Independent reach and contact point adjustment allow for customised setups, with no risk of pinching fingers or bottoming out on the bar whatever the settings. The caliper is stiffer and lighter, and 83g has been removed from the pair. The front derailleur promises to be fast, reliable and silent, using Yaw technology with electronic trim for fast shifts and chain rub elimination. The rear derailleur, the heart of the AXS system, is more efficient, more capable and lighter than ever, covering cassette ranges from 10-28T up to 10-36T. Larger pulleys decrease chain articulation and increase efficiency, while an Orbit fluid damper keeps everything in place over rough terrain. It is compatible with 1x and 2x drivetrains.
The RED AXS power meter is SRAM’s lightest, stiffest and most accurate integrated power meter and chain rain combo – lighter too with a new carbon crankarm construction. Accurate to +/-1.5% it isn’t affected by temperature changes and the consistent 13 tooth gap on the rings ensure fast and reliable shifting. The RED 1 AXS power meter, is also available.
The XG-1290 cassette is a light, durable cassette, with four distinct cassette options, including SRAM’s first 10-30T and 10-36T RED cassettes, each provide secure shift ramps specifically designed for electronic shifting. The chain too has lighter, faster, more durable and strong capabilities. The Paceline X Rotor is SRAM’s lightest aluminium carrier.
It comes with the new Hammerhead Karoo computer, featuring smartphone quality screen and all day battery life, plus connectivity with SRAM AXS products and an update on the software front, with an all-new Hammerhead Companion App. Karoo is the single point where riders experience and control every aspect of the ride, from the data they see and record, to routes and workouts, connected components and AXS products, eBikes and ANT+ lights.
What’s more, there’s also a new high-end handlebar from SRAM’s Zipp stable – the SL 80 Race – which is a premium aero-road carbon bar explicitly designed for integration with the new SRAM Red AXS.
The bar features an overhang to cover the brake hose where it exits the hood. The shelf creates a platform that mates with the brake lever, providing a perch for hands while riding on the hoods, while the drop shapes has been refined to give the rider easy access to the brake lever while riding in the drops. There are also defined locators marked on the drop and bar top for easy placement of SRAM Wireless Blips. The bar top has a wing shape for improved aerodynamic efficiency, while also including innovations to comfortably ride on the bar tops. It’s pitched as ideal for long climbs or for those who love to grab the tops and go, with a bar top that features a slight down sweep so hands don’t sit flat.
SRAM Red AXS is available to the UK trade via ZyroFisher.