Gravel Grinder News: SRAM Announces Force & Rival AXS XPLR

Image courtesy of SRAM

Note: Information and images provided by SRAM 

Today SRAM announces that Rival and Force levels of AXS XPLR are now available. You might recall SRAM released Red AXS XPLR ten months ago. I have a complete report on this you can read up on HERE.

Concurrent with the XPLR release are AXS 2X compatible Rival and Force road groups Here in this report I will stick to the gravel-relevant XPLR versions.

Like Red AXS XPLR, Rival and Force levels will have Full-Mount,, hangerless, UDH only rear derailleurs, specific flat top chains, and one 10-46T cassette option for now. (460% gear range) Chain rings for the 1X only AXS XPLR groups will range from 38T  - 46T and a range from 44T - 50T will be available in aero rings.

Notable with the Rival aluminum crank set is that the DUB spindle is longer and compatible with Road or MTB frames. Also noteworthy is the Rival crank set which has a "windowed" arm now and which SRAM claims is their lightest aluminum crank set. 

The new "windowed" Rival AXS XPLR crank set. Image courtesy of SRAM

 The levers are completely redesigned, having textured group patches on the hoods and on the lever tips and shifter buttons. Like Red, there will be an auxiliary button which can be configured to operate various functions like GPS, lights, or act as an auxiliary shifter.

SRAM also mentions these groups are not compatible with a frame with shorter than 415mm chain stays or frames with rear suspension because they may alter chain length. (Note the image above is of a Cannondale Topstone with rear suspension)

Battery life is stated to be 6 to 24 months for the lever and 15 to 60 hours for the rear derailleur.

Image courtesy of SRAM

Comments: Obviously these  groups follow the well-worn SRAM road of "trickle-down" tech. So, much of what my reaction to this is similar to my reactions from last year. However; one would suspect these Rival and Force offerings will be less expensive. (NOTE: I could not find the prices in the press release sent to me, but others may have this information)

The only thing I will mention is the proprietary nature of these groups. You must use a flat top chain from SRAM. These cassettes fit only on XDR free hubs. There is ONE ratio in the 13 speed cassette to make the adjustless rear derailleur work. SRAM is pushing the Hammerhead Karoo GPS device as the head unit, (they own Hammerhead), and they point you to a link to find out how to pair up other devices, but they do not strictly say you can use other devices from Garmin, Wahoo, and others. Of course, they wouldn't, and this makes sense, but the implication is the Hammerhead is the best choice. Compatibility with other devices seems "less desirable" here. It is the message, really, which bothers me more than the reality. 

AXS XPLR for the masses? Maybe. There is still a large contingent of riders who will not want to rely, or deal with batteries, and since none of this is mechanical, they may opt out. However; we all know SRAM does offer a hangerless, UDH style Transmission group for MTB. Can a drop bar, mechanical XPLR version be far behind? One would think this is a distinct possibility. Of course, since Shimano still offers a mechanical GRX, it would make sense for SRAM to also compete there as well.