The 10T idea is not so attractive. It’s a big gear ratio jump from 11, and a lot of drivetrain losses. 1T difference sounds small, but from 11 to 10 it’s almost 10% - and almost 10% jump up in chain tension at a given power and speed, with more than the equivalent jump up in drivetrain losses.
SRAM just released their new Red AXS Max rear derailleur and it is properly disappointing.
I have a Force Wide / Red Chainset climbing set up on my Æthos and love it. I am a weight weenie and love bling stuff.
But this is just rather pointless.
The Max Derailleur does not use a longer cage, but a „drop down“ system, that allows for a wider range (but not wider than 10-36). That said, the normal Red Rear derailleur is only 25g lighter than the Force wide one. The SRAM Red Max is likely even closer to the force weight wise.
The only area where weight saving would have mattered, the cassette (the 10-36 force is 92g heavier than the Red 10-33), they didn’t release a Red version, but just a silver Force Version.
Confusion of da highest orda!
Holy guacamole, that’s expensive. Given the negligible weight difference I’m happy I went with Force eTap AXS instead (with the Wide rear derailleur).
PS Why didn’t they name it Red eTap AXS Wide rear derailleur?!?
It’s not a longer cage, just a different mechanism.
I don’t quite understand your point, are you comparing the two Red rear derailleurs or the Red Max with the Force Wide?
SRAM Red AXS Max vs SRAM Force AXS Wide.
There is no weight on the Red AXS Max yet, but even the normal Derailleur is just 25g lighter, so this being a slightly more intricate mechanism, I expect the gap of SRAM Red Max and SRAM Force to be sub 20g.
That’s pretty little for double the price…
1 Like
Agreed, the price difference is quite ridiculous. Almost 700 € for a rear derailleur, you could get more than half of a Force 1 mechanical groupset for that.
Hi all, just after a bit of technical advice here. I am running SRAM Etap AXS 48/35 with a 10-28 cassette. It is all well and good and a great set up, but I am training for quite a hilly ride and at around the 200km mark there is quite a tough climb to get through. In fact, quite aptly named, the first corner of the ascent is called “WTF corner” which gives you an indication of how steep it is.
Just wondering, would I be able to attach a 10-33 cassette on the back and run the 48/35 at the front without any issues? Does anyone do this? I am not really wanting to go out and buy a new set of front chain rings! Then again, I am not a huge fan of running the risk of chain skipping or even a chain drop when I am pushing power up hill if that is going to happen!
Yes, that should work. Although you should check the chain length to make sure it is long enough.
1 Like
I bought a bike with a 10-28 cassette and replaced it with a 10-33. The only thing I had to change was the chain. Everything works well. You can find out how to set the chain length in the documentation on the SRAM website. Then set 10-33 in the app and that’s all.
Currently, I use the 10-28 cassette on the trainer 
1 Like
sorry just jumping in here as i couldn’t find a definitive answer in the thread…
i have sram axs gx 12 speed rear mech - i usually run 10-52t cassette - but on my kickr its 11sp and never had an issue
i was looking to fit the rear mech to my new 1x gravel bike 11-44t cassette - i imagine if chain gap correct and all info in app correct i can’t see why the the rear mech would not be compatible?
maybe not advised but i seem to see people on youtube not have an issue - i’d need to buy sram rival shifters to pair and thusly remove any cable from equation …
anyone got any experience ? thank you !
I am currently looking at doing the same… did you find you lost anything with the move ? I would like one or two higher climbing gears but wasnt sure if it was overkill.