More than 4500 km with the new Sram Red AXS groupset

Sram officially launches its new high-end Red AXS drivetrain, five years after a previous version with uncontested success.testable. If with this new version the American brand has managed to keep the main characteristics of its flagship group (12 speeds, disc brakes, wireless electronic derailleurs and cassette with small 10-tooth sprocket), great efforts have been made on weight gain (154 g less), the ergonomics of the handles and the quality of the braking, as we were able to see during this test intensive spread over the last two months. Our verdict after more than 4 km with the group.

About Guillaume Peephole – Photos: ©Different Media Productions

Released in 2019, the Sram Red eTap AXS was logically waiting for its successor, a little over a year after the launch of the second-level group of the American brand, the AXS strength. With this renewed version of its flagship group (now called Red AXS), Sram is not revolutionizing the field of transmission by keeping everything that has made its success so far, namely wireless electronic derailleurs, a 12-speed cassette with a first sprocket of 10 teeth, disc brakes, as well as multiple development options, in double or single chainring, with or without power sensor. However, With this new Red, Sram is revising its copy to gain a little weight (and now flirt very closely with its direct competitor Shimano Dura-Ace), and improve the ergonomics of the handles and the quality of the braking.The development ranges offered are also superior to Shimano and Campagnolo, with four different cassettes and six chainring combinations available.

Aesthetically, the new Sram Red AXS group is distinguished from the previous one first by the shape of the brake/gear change levers., longer, thinner, and with a lever with slightly more convoluted curves but which seem to fall directly under the fingers. Fine connoisseurs will also notice the different profile of the brake calipers, as well as the slightly larger lower pulley of the rear derailleur. The crankset, another striking figure of the group, integrates a little more black at the level of the teeth, but not enough to completely change the spirit of the Sram Red, with still integrated chainrings in the spider. Thus, I was able to evolve during several outings in the peloton without anyone noticing that it was a test in preview ofa transmission group that is likely to mark the coming seasons by bringing significant advances in terms of fluidity, operating silence, comfort, and ultimately pleasureThe new Red, however, has suffered a significant price increase to around €4, which will unfortunately keep it inaccessible for many users.

=> Buy the new Sram Red group on sale for €3350

New grips and significantly improved braking

Sram has revised the architecture of the grips and levers to adapt them to all hand sizes and offer powerful, fluid, easy and accessible braking from any position on the handlebars.. Independent adjustment of the reach and contact point still allow for customization of the lever configuration and handling. The brake caliper is not only stiffer according to Sram, but also lighter, and has a wide clearance between the pads, for friction-free operation. Even if the brand keeps a DOT brake fluid as on previous versions, the braking is finally up to the competition. I immediately felt confident, whether on dry or wet ground, with powerful and, above all, perfectly adjustable braking., in addition to being operable with only one finger on the lever. Silent in the dry, the braking sometimes remains a little noisy in the wet, but without excess.

At the handles, The comfort of handling is improved thanks to a longer and thinner shape, and especially to the abandonment of the raised upper part at the end of the handle. Under the handle, near the lever, there are still some slightly sharp shapes where you can put your index finger, but they are no longer as painful as on the previous model. I would have liked, however, that for a product of this price, an effort had been made at this level to soften the contact with the finger.

According to Sram, the best ergonomics of the handles is obtained by applying an angle of 7° between the part where the hand rests and the ground. And 45° with respect to the top of the handlebar, since the brake levers themselves are slightly offset towards the outside for easier access. It should also be noted that the handles are a few millimeters longer than on the previous model, and may eventually lead to changing the stem length of the bike.

The Sram Red grips also incorporate for the first time what the brand calls buttons bonus, at the top of the handles within reach of the thumbs, on the inside part. Different functions can be assigned to these buttons via the Sram smartphone app, whether it's changing gears by repeating the action of the eTap levers located behind the brake levers, or acting on the meter to change menu pages, or start/stop split times for example. I used these buttons a lot during the more than 4 km of this test, as I usually do with the same function at Shimano. For me, this is a real benefit on this new version compared to older generations of Sram transmissions.

The handles/brakes set with hoses is announced with a lighter weight of 83 g on the pair than the previous Sram Red. A spectacular advance, achieved by improving comfort and efficiency. A big bravo on this point to the American brand. And I add that Although the system is lightweight, it produces no vibration or clicking noise, and offers a truly premium feel to use..

On the disc side, Sram now offers a Red Paceline X version, combining a silent and lightweight braking surface with an aluminum support that is also lightweight. The pair of 160 mm discs thus gains 8 g compared to the old version, without losing efficiency, quite the contrary.

Fast and quiet derailleurs

The rear derailleur, defined as the heart of the AXS ecosystem, is lighter than the previous version (-16 g). Compatible with double and mono transmissions, it also accepts the four cassette combinations now offered, from 10-28 to 10-36. The lower roller goes from 12 to 14 teeth to reduce chain bend and improve the fluidity of the entire transmissionThe derailleur also adopts Orbit chain management technology as in mountain bikes to prevent chain slamming and ensure safe and quiet chain operation.

The derailleur operation seemed a bit faster to me than the previous version, on par with the Dura-Ace. During the more than 4 km of test, I have not had to deplore any malfunction. I was struck by the silence of the transmission, whatever the gear engaged, the impression of fluidity that it transmits and its precision. Only the most extreme crossing with the large chainring and the largest sprocket of the cassette shows some slight friction, but in any case it is a gear that I have only used once. The crossing small chainring/small sprocket is impossible because it is electronically prevented. Overall, on the first 11 sprockets of the cassette with the large chainring, it's absolute flexibility!

Thanks to the AXS application installed on the smartphone and which communicates via Bluetooth with the group, it is possible to assign different functions to the gear change buttons (as with the Shimano E-Tube application), and to the bonus buttons on the handles. It is also possible to modify the number of gear changes with a long press on a lever, to possibly avoid handling errors. The application also allows you to choose whether or not to use sequential or semi-sequential gear change functions. For example, even if I used the small chainring very little, I set up the system so that each time I shift from one chainring to the other, the rear derailleur changes two sprockets on the cassette to compensate for the difference in gear ratio.. It is also with the application that we can configure the blips satellites (additional gear change buttons to be placed wherever you want on the driver's station)tage). In short, simple to use, this application also brings a real benefit to the use of electronic transmission.

I pushed the battery life of the derailleurs to see what was possible. It was only at almost 2 km that the AXS app alerted me to the need to recharge the rear derailleur battery., and almost 3 km for the front derailleur. Remember that the two batteries are interchangeable, and that it is always possible to swap them on the route in the event of failure of one of them.

The front derailleur doesn't change much from my point of view in terms of operation, but it now has an adjustment made easier by a new tool, in order to best determine the angle and height relative to the trays. I do not have testThis is the tool, since I received the bike from test already mounted.

I had no problems to report with this derailleur, but I must admit to having changed the chainring maybe five or six times only in more than 4 km. The reason: developments not necessarily adapted to my use on the groupset received for the test, with a large 48-tooth chainring, enough to get over all the hills in my area, especially with a 12-sprocket cassette from 10 to 33 teeth. The small 35 chainring therefore proved almost useless to me.

A pedalboard that is also lighter

Sram announces that it has lightened a crankset that was already among the lightest at this level of the range. The new design of the carbon cranks allows for a gain of 29 g compared to the previous model. In its range of cranks, Sram adds a length of 160 mm, to meet specific needs (small sizes, time trials or triathlons, etc.). The chainrings are still connected by two, with a difference of 13 teeth. To its already known ranges of 46-33, 48-35 and 50-37, Sram adds the options 52-39, 54-41 and 56-43, until now only reserved for professionals.

Note that these last three chainring combinations are only offered with a Quarq power sensor spider, supplied as an option on the groupset. A lightweight (+35g on the crankset), precise, reliable and easy to use power meter. I was able to compare the data from this sensor with my Garmin Rally pedals and a Wahoo Kickr home trainer, sensors reconnaked for their accuracy. And I can say that This Quarq power sensor is today one of the most recommended on the market, especially since it does not add we €560 group price.

The Sram Red AXS crankset is also available in mono, with a mono chainring.tage direct, with 48 or 50 teeth.

Two new cassettes to expand the choice of developments

On this new Red AXS group, Sram keeps the same type of 12-speed cassette, but adds two options of etagement, with the 10-30 and 10-36 which are added to the 10-28 and 10-33 that we already knew. This is one more choice than Campagnolo, and especially two more choices than Shimano. Indeed, at the time of the release of the Dura-Ace, the availability of an 11-28 cassette was announced, but in fact, only the 11-30 and 11-34 were marketed.

At Sram, the small 10-tooth sprocket is intended to increase the development range of the entire cassette, associated with a smaller pair of chainrings than at Shimano. But this 10-tooth sprocket does not always offer excellent performance (the chain describes a circle that is a little too restricted) and the difference in development with the 11 is a little too important (+ 95 cm per crankset turn when going from 48/11 to 48/10). Obviously, Using smaller chainrings increases the versatility of the drivetrain on the top of the cassette. This is the goal of this transmission, especially with the developments I received on the bike from test , best suited to the general public, with 48-35 tooth chainrings (the best-selling) and a 10 to 33 tooth cassette.

However, I admit that I would have preferred to try a transmission with gears consistent with what I usually use. With 52 and 39 chainrings and a 10 to 28 tooth cassette, I would certainly have almost never used the 52/10, but I could have used the small chainring more often. And above all, with such a cassette and itstagement tighter, I could have ridden with more comfort on the flat and on false flats, or even facing the wind. During these more than 4 km, I most often evolved on three gears: 500/48, 14/48 and 15/48, with an annoying gap between 17 and 15 (17 cm of development gap between the two). Lacking good development is ultimately a shame with a 12-speed transmission at the rear and two chainrings.

A strong, silent and lighter chain

On the new Red AXS, Sram has even reworked the least visible component of the group: the chain. The solid rivets, and the internal and external plates allow to save 13 g compared to the previous version, but without modifying the precision, the fluidity and the silence of the chain on the whole of the transmission. Nor especially its durability. The wear of the chain depends on several factors: the climatic conditions, the intensity of the use and the crossings on the transmission. I did not use the Sram Red AXS in an extreme way, but However, I was able to measure the wear of the chain after 4 km using a dedicated tool, and I was surprised to see that it was almost like new! No elongation noted, which had never happened to me on any chain after this mileage. I estimate its lifespan (under the same conditions) at at least 8 km. Not bad for 000 speeds. But in relation to the price, very high for this type of component.

A largely positive assessment

This new Sram Red group is an improvement in all areas from my point of view compared to the previous version. : weight, ergonomics, braking, fluidity, silent operation of the transmission and total absence of parasitic noise... not to mention the surprising durability of the chain which suggests that maintenance will not be required very often.

A really great group premium which adds pleasure to the effort, which is a way of making the high price pill go down, at around €4 for the groupset without a power sensor (you'll have to count on a little over €500 with the very good sensor integrated into the crankset). Note however that in the event of purchasing a complete groupset alone, a new generation Hammerhead Karoo computer is supplied, with the accessories of mytage. A counter of a very good level, which we will talk about again in a few weeks.

The fact remains that at this price and this level of service, it is essential to demand the right combination of developments among the many options offered., by choosing the chainrings and cassette that best suit your use. In order to get the most out of the performance ofa group that risks quickly becoming the new benchmark.

=> Buy the new Sram Red group on sale for €3350

Summary of the weights and prices of the components of the new Sram Red AXS groupset

Power sensor: 35 g + €560

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