Loving this. SRAM going to clean up if they can manufacture enough.
Specialized already has a tarmac SL7 comp for 4500 with rival axs on its website. They will clean up if they can meet demand.
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I agree! I have 1x11 Rival with a 10-42 cassette on my gravel bike. Iâd buy a 1x11 electronic upgrade kit much like the ones offered with the 1x12 systems, but Iâm guessing 11 speed isnât ever going electronic. Kind of a bummer since the lack of an upgrade kit means Iâd have to go all in on 1x12 and buy a new shifter, brake, rear derailleur, chain and cassette (technically two cassettes since Iâd also need one for the trainer). Just doesnât quite seem worth it for one extra gear. Maybe on my next bike!
So far, my view of SRAMâs stuff - having ridden it fairly extensively - is that their ideas are the best in the business, but their execution is sub par and holds them back. Force AXS should be the default groupset for most serious cyclists who donât race and can afford it, but the FD is a ~*^% to set up correctly, there are bugs with the app, there are too many proprietary parts, and it just doesnât work quite as well as Shimano or Campag.
This looks a bit heavy and spendy to me, but if they are ironing out the niggles, they will start to make some real inroads into Shimanoâs market. share
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Interesting. Couple of weeks ago they introduced the GX AXS series and now the Rival with powermeter. Well done SRAM.
I have been using Shimano groupsets since 90âs (both MTB & Road) and now I start to feel that Shimano really need to introduce the MTB (LX,XT,XTR) and Road(105,Ultegra, D-A) DI2 sets and those must be wireless shifters IMO. I was hoping that they introduce new DI2 sets on their 100 anniversary but it didnât happen.
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I have one bike with DA Di2 (road bike) and one with Red AXS (CX with 1x). For those of you who are curious about how SRAMâs latest is vs trusty old Shimano, here are my takes:
What I think SRAM does better:
- The AXS drivetrain seems to be a lot more quiet than Shimanoâs, and also seems to require less greasing/waxing/cleaning.
- The whole ecosystem including the app (I use iOS) seems better thought out, and you donât need that extra bluetooth add-on (which is necessary with Shimano).
- Wireless offers a clean, clutterless look.
What I think Shimano does better:
- The SRAM hoods are significantly more clunky than Shimanoâs rather sleek design. I suppose someone with huge hands might find Shimanoâs hoods a bit too tiny, though, so this is more of a preference thing, and I prefer Shimano.
- Shimanoâs disc brakes seem to offer better modulation than SRAM, and also make less noise.
- Shifting quality seems to be just as good, although Shimano may feel slightly crisper and faster.
Other observations:
- While Shimano can argue âonly one batteryâ, for all practical purposes Iâve had no issues with SRAMâs battery system. On the other hand, once the Shimano cables and battery is set up correctly, there is no need to fiddle any further with it either.
- Red AXS chains are bloody expensive (but they seem to last quite long, so perhaps cost per mile is comparable anyway).
- 1x is really cool, but for road racing/riding, I appreciate the nuances that 2x offer.
- I have no experience with SRAM AXS front shifters, but it seems Shimano have nailed the front shifters to a higher degree than SRAM. Worth considering if youâre going for 2x.
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Iâd love one for the winter bike. But will I actually be able to find stock of axs chains and casettes? Uncertain. Iâve heard good things about durability for road axs which makes that less of a problem.
Iâm gonna stick to 11 speed electronic just because replacements are cheaper and more accessible. Atleast until 12 speed becomes the norm. But if I were to buy a new bike and had a choice between 105 and a tiny bit more for rival? I think 105 is going to be extinct at its current price range
I saw that they have an Aethos for the same priceâŚ
Looking at this chart, its pretty easy to see where one can save some weight, so getting Rival AXS without the PM, and then buying a Quarq DFour, as well as Red AXS Cassette seems to really save some weight⌠since crankset and cassette seems to be where the weight is (taking into account ease of swap)
So with the case with Aethos, 4500 euros for bike with Rival AXS, 600 euro for Quarq + cassette 250 euro, plus 1500 euro for a pair of Alpinist CL.
Total of 7000 euros then with upgrades, but then you should have a bike that is on veeeery close to the S-Works models 
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Hopefully this plastic looking portion is just a cover and not actually structural
Also not a fan of the chainring being silver inside, looks pretty cheap, but finally thereâs a fair price for a SRAM groupset.
I do wish their flattop chain was compatible with Shimano cause it looks super slick and supposed to last a looooong time but 
I dunnoâŚRival is pretty freaking heavy, especially the crank. Having used a 1x Rival crank on my Crux when I got it, I know what boat anchors those cranks can be. This is one of the inherent limitations of the AXS systemâŚyou are locked into SRAMâs cranks (at least I am unaware of any 3rd party AXS crank options)
I do like the new shape of the hoods and prefer those to Red or Force. I would actually consider those levers w/ Force derailleurs.
As for it forcing Shimanoâs hand with 105 Di2, I kinda doubt it. Shimanoâs R&D process is years long and any 105 Di2 project would already be well underway. The earliest you would see any such project hitting retail would be 2023. DA 12spd Di2 will hit races this summer and retail in the fall / winter. Maybe you get Ultegra 12 spd late next year. If they introduce 105 at the same time, they undercut the Ultegra market.
And the new Rival AXS is more expensive than Ultegra Mechanical and WAY heavier. Now, some (many? Most?) people wonât care and will want the buzz of electronicsâŚbut Iâd be hard pressed to pass up mechanical Ultegra for this.
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I have had Force AXS since last July and so far have had no issues with spare chains or getting a cassette. Because the chains and cassettes are just for Force/Red AXS and those are relatively new offerings maybe people havenât needed as many spares yet so they have been able to produce enough for current demand.
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my understanding was that SRAM has a patent on wireless shifting, which is one reason Di2 is wired.
From the rumors Iâve heard the shifters will be wired together and the derailleurs and battery will be wired together with wireless between the two wired circuits.
Sounds like guff to be honest.
Canât imagine SRAM ruining their USP with some nonsense like this.
My FSA drivetrain has wireless shiftingâŚit uses the same (rumored) semi-wireless system that Shimano will be using. Wireless to the derailleurs, but both derailleurs are wired together. But the shifting is definitely wireless.
That Rival crankset looks like a Shimano crankset and a Rotor crankset had a baby 
I for one and really interested in this. I can get an SL7 with electronic shifting for $4700?! Ultegra or Force your looking at 7k! Red youâre looking at 9k+!!! Thatâs ridiculous.
I currently have a 2018 Cervelo R3 with UDi2 and I love the shifting but the bike is kinda boring and I want to try SRAMâs etap and this is a great price point.
I could never go back to mechanical. You could offer me mechanical DA or Rival AXS and Iâll choose electronic every day. Itâs just that nice.
If weight is truly a concern get stronger, get new wheels, get a new Red cassette and chain and youâll drop some weight.
Iâll read through after the kids are in bed, but until this announcement Iâd completely written off SRAM for my new CX/Commute bike, (12-24 months away at the earliest, group rides and road racing should be a thing by then, right? so Road, too).
This pricing is stupid competitive and has me pondering about upgrading my current 1x CX/Commute/solo road bike to this group (including PM) at this price.
OH, shoot. Its 12spd xd⌠Thatâs a new wheel set or at least free-hub body.
[Edited after full reading of this thread and a trio of YouTube videos]
- So its a single sided power meter, spindle based. (still a great deal for price-point)
- I still havenât done a deep dive on 12spd ratios with the new chainring options, but 2x is finally back on SRAMâs announcements. Maybe it was actually road hydro brake acceptance that pushed it there, but Iâm happy 2x finally seems to be something theyâre proud of rather than trying to ditch ASAP.
- Iâve never needed remote shifters that have been jettisoned from the higher end versions (I have always shifted mechanically and removed bar-top brake levers on my first CX bike at the first cable replacement).
- Smaller levers look better than the current hydro/electric offerings, but as a rider, Iâve never been bothered by the current hydro/mechanical with my big olâ hands.
- what in the Sam Hell was James Huang [CyclingTips] wearing in that review, and where do I get one? (Also, a mid spring snow storm and outdoor video doesnât call for whatever the hell that thing was, but that doesnât reduce my jealousy).
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I guess SRAM agreed with you!
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Hey mate, im going to say âyesâ, got LBS to install rival etap axs groupset as I couldnât be bothered (built 1 bike, enough for me screwing around). Brakes were okay-ish, took in ~6 weeks later for first service as brakes has shifted back to the point where they hit the drops.
LBS âbled brakesâ but are now arguably worse, rear brake doesnât really stop me at all, lever hits the drops easily and front brake pulls all the way into the drop bar but stops okay-ish.
I now have purchased the proper SRAM bleed kit so going to give it a shot myself tonight, but so far Iâve found the brakes on this to be absolute rubbish when compared to my ultegra r8020 which surprised me when I rode it again on the road in a while how crisp the brakes are.
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