To the thrill of roadies and gravelers alike, SRAM has announced the launch of its all-new Force and Rival groupsets in both AXS and XPLR configurations, boasting one-finger braking, improved ergonomics, faster shifting and lighter weight, all at a reduced price point.
“The new innovations that we introduced with Red have been out of reach for many of the riders who would benefit from them most,” says SRAM’s road product manager JP McCarthy. “We’re bringing SRAM’s latest innovations in comfort, control and gearing to these riders who are every bit as discerning and demanding as Red riders. Force and Rival AXS deliver the same ride experience as Red.
“Removing barriers for riders has been the essence of SRAM’s innovations. These new groups simplify shifting, make it easier to brake, and deliver wider and more functional gearing,” he adds.
SRAM Force AXS
The newly minted Force AXS is about as close as one can get to the brand’s top-tier RED without the price tag, which features the same level of ergonomics and braking, which SRAM claims requires 80% less effort when braking from the hoods and 33% less effort when braking from the drops over the previous system. Also, shift paddles and hoods are now textured, while with Force the group gets the Bonus Buttons that were introduced with the latest SRAM Red update, offering you a secondary shift option or the ability to control a connected ANT+ device. You can set them to swipe between pages on a compatible bike computer, for example.
“The improvements made resulted from over four years of rider feedback, giving an even wider range of riders the same level of comfort and control while also eliminating the possibility of finger pinch under hard braking,” says SRAM.
Likewise, rear derailleur also sees an overhaul, claiming to be both faster and lighter thanks to larger pulleys and a revised cage that can accommodate everything from a 10-28T cassette to a wide-range 10-36T setup whether it’s a 1x or 2x configuration.
Lastly, the revamped Force AXS sees the trickling down of the RED crankset, featuring one-piece carbon crankarms and a new modular design that makes gearing swaps easy via its thread-on chainrings that span 46/33T, 48/35T and 50/37T set-ups.
Plus, let’s not forget about power meter options.
“Power is expected to come at this level, especially in 2x,” says JP McCarthy. “For this generation of product, OEM specifications reflect 85% subscription to power meter for Force in 2x, and it’s greater than 50% now with Rival for 2x.
“The new Force power meter builds on the stability and accuracy of the Red integrated power meter and now provides riders at the core of the market with even more options for customisation and serviceability.”
If one opts to go 1x, the Force AXS Aero power meter is fully integrated into the chainring. SRAM says this makes it the lightest and stiffest power meter option for Force. Still, there’s a power meter at a second price point for Force 2x that uses a spindle-based power meter that measures left-side power to calculate total watts.
SRAM Rival AXS
The new Rival AXS also sees a reduction in weight, while also being treated to improved ergonomics such as higher brake lever pivots, an expanded Reach Adjust range and anti-pinch shaping, along with SRAM’s Yaw Tech for the same, effortless one-finger braking.
Like Force 2x, both Rival 2x AXS and Rival 1x AXS rely on the same spindle-based power meter, which SRAM claims provide readings that are accurate to within +/-1.5% regardless of temperature changes.
SRAM Force and Rival XPLR
Rival XPLR
Force AXS Full Groupset
Force 2X Power Meter Group
- Price: $2,842.00
Force 2X Group (no power meter)
- Price: $2,432.00
Force AXS XPLR Groupset Pricing
- Price: $2,358.00
- Price: $2,153.00
SRAM Rival AXS and XPLR Groupset Pricing
- Price: $1,929.00
Rival 2X Group (no power meter)
- Price: $1,764.00
- Price: $1,743.00
- Price: $1,563.00
