Nine reasons you need AXS

It’s predicted that Rival AXS is going to shake up the groupset market. Here are nine fine reasons why you might want to welcome a new era in groupsets

01 It’s 12-speed

The advent of 12-speed cassettes for SRAM means not just adding another sprocket but reinventing how we think about bike gearing. By re-assembling the ratios with more of a split towards the wide range at the back, it means chainring sizes can be reduced. So unlike traditional 11-speed systems, the largest chainrings in the AXS world become 50/37 as a match for 53/39.

Instead, chainring sizing is set at 48/35 and 46/33 for double and a 43/30 in the WIDE system, plus 1x options of 40t and 46t. Cassette options vary between the AXS range too, but Rival comes in 10/30 and 10/36 options. The range that these options o er when compared to standard 11-speed systems is impressive, with the key element that the jumps between the core gears that you use most are kept close using one-tooth jumps.

02 Few compromises

To produce a wireless groupset at this new price point SRAM couldn’t compromise on performance from the components, so Rival AXS uses exactly the same motors, chipset, antennas and electronics as their pricier premium groups. That still means cost savings needed to be made. Most of these come from material choice, so aluminium in place of carbon for the levers of the shifters and the front mech cage plates being steel rather than alloy. The body of both front mech and rear mech are predominantly a nylon-based material instead of carbon, while the cassette is steel, rather than the mixed materials of premium groups.

The major di erence aside from materials is in the shifters themselves. The Rival units forgo the two additional ports that both Force and Red carry to add additional satellite shifters. The hoods also remove the contact point adjustment for the brakes, though they do retain the reach adjustment. If you’re completely wedded to the idea of secondary shifters that may be a kick in the teeth but, if you’re used to mechanical groups, then you’ve probably never missed them. Positively, the removal of extra ports and adjusters means the hood shape and breadth is reduced slightly.

03 There’s power

SRAM’s positioning of Rival as a premium o ering at a more a ordable price extends to including a power meter as part of the groupset. How much uptake we’ll see for the power option as original equipment on bikes remains to be seen, but the new meter is a keenly priced option coming standalone either as a complete chainset at £322 or as an upgrade kit at £230.

The meter itself consists of the lefthand crank arm and an integrated spindle that contains the meter itself. The measures on the left side only are used to calculate the total watts. While SRAM maintain that the much more expensive dual-sided Quarq chainsets o er more total accuracy, it claims that Rival o ers consistent measures. Simplicity is the key with the Rival unit, which adds minimal weight to the chainset (40g) and will run for 400+ hours from an easily replaceable AAA battery.

04 The compatibility

Rival is fully compatible with the rest of the AXS stable, so if you wanted to upgrade any element of the drivetrain you can mix and match

Force, Red and Rival. The road market has always been more conservative compared to mountain biking when it comes to groupset mixing, but we like the idea of a custom build that combines components from di erent levels, opting for a Rival cassette rather than the more expensive Red or using a Rival chain over Force and putting the money saved into upgrading the shifters to allow for satellite shifting. Plus, building a 1x bike with an ultra-wide gear range is possible and cost e ective, especially as SRAM’s mountain-bike arm already launched a much cheaper version of Eagle AXS.

05 It’s up there with Force

SRAM has been thoughtful on what to leave out to keep the Rival AXS price low, and what to produce more cost e ectively. None of the underlying mechanics of the existing AXS system have been played with, meaning it has the same electronic brain and shift logic, the same motors moving gears and the identical antennas transmitting info to the AXS app.

Rival’s greatest asset is just how similar it feels to Force (and, in turn, Red) when it comes to riding experience. If you’re fresh to SRAM, once you’re used to the shifting dynamics, you get the same simple

Rival is fully compatible with the rest of the AXS stable, so if you wanted to upgrade any element of the drivetrain you can mix and match Force, Red and Rival

functionality and intuition within a few clicks. The Rival’s shifting across the rear block is just as accurate as Force AXS so it’s easily a match for Shimano Ultegra Di2 and significantly cheaper. Front shifts take a little more getting used to as you push both triggers at the same time. The material di erences between the mechs have no e ect on the performance; they add just a little weight, and the shift quality of Rival across the cassette is absolutely superb.

06 The app

Pair the groupset to your phone via the free AXS app and you can adjust shifting settings, such as the number of multi-shifts from a prolonged button press. Or choose compensation mode, which means when you shift the front mech it automatically moves the rear gears to put you in the next best available. You can also go full-auto shift for the front mech. This means that as you move up or down the rear block, the bike will automatically change the front mech to the next best gear when you’re reaching the extremes at either end of the 12-speed cassette.

The AXS app also o ers analysis opportunities for your riding as it’ll record a ride with speeds, distance, moving time, heart rate (when paired with a heart-rate monitor), and full GPS tracking. It also adds in component data, such as how many times you’ll shift gear in a ride, front shifts or rear shifts per kilometre, gear usage, and time and distance spent in each gear. The app can also provide power and heart-rate analysis if you want to go for a deep dive into your ride data.

07 Brands are queuing up

Bike brands already confirmed to start using Rival AXS are numerous. Take your pick from Specialized (Aethos, Roubaix, Tarmac), Trek (Domane, Emonda, Madone), Boardman (SLR), BMC (Roadmachine, Teammachine, Timemachine), 3T (Exploro Team), Ridley (Fenix), Orbea (Orca), Storck (Aerfast3) and Vitus (ZX-1).

08 It’s easy to live with

Living with AXS is easy. The batteries may not last as long on paper as Di2 but they’re far more convenient. A quick click means the batteries are released and plugged into the charger, and they’re fully boosted in 40 minutes. The reliably accurate shifting outshines mechanical versions – where cables that stretch, get gummy, age and corrode can bring chills to riders who don’t feel comfortable making adjustments or servicing drivetrains.

09 It’s the future

Does Rival spell the end of the mechanical groupset? Well, not just yet – just as Shimano’s Di2 and Campagnolo’s EPS haven’t spelt out the end for their cable-operated ranges. What Rival does signify is that this kind of cutting-edge technology is coming down to a lower level. Which makes sense when it’s done this well; it’s something both Shimano and Campagnolo should take note of – particularly if Rival has the success that the current widespread take-up from bike brands suggests.

At its current cost it’s not yet at a price that’s low enough to mean wireless for the masses. However, it’s worth recalling that Force AXS on its launch retailed at £2274 but last year took a huge price drop down to a £1540. If SRAM did a similar thing with Rival down the line, then maybe we’ll see the end of the humble gear cable just as the hydraulic hose may spell the end for the brake cable.

The batteries may not last as long on paper as Di2 but they’re far more convenient. A quick click means the batteries are released and plugged into the charger, and they’re fully boosted in 40 minutes