The newest SRAM RED AXS, which debuted in Might 2024, took the entirety excellent concerning the prior Pressure & Rival updates, made it higher, then took it additional. Now not best did the hood shapes support like its siblings, however the brake levers and serve as themselves took a large jump ahead in energy and ergonomics.
Its skill to pair and arrange stepped forward, too. And prefer a excellent older brother, it is helping be certain everybody will get alongside, providing backward compatibility with all 12-speed AXS parts.
After about 8 months of using the SRAM RED AXS E1 crew, I’m nonetheless stoked on it. The efficiency is as excellent as you’d be expecting from a top-level crew with a historical past of superb efficiency, however the brakes push it excessive for me, making it a gaggle that’s merely a pleasure to make use of. Aspect notice: For those who want gravel, there’s additionally a brand new devoted RED AXS 1×13 gravel crew only for you, however a lot of this may occasionally practice, too.
The brakes justify the improve
The good factor about backward compatibility is that you’ll improve simply the brakes for now, gaining dramatically extra energy and modulation, extra relaxed hoods, and shedding about 83 grams.
The form of the levers makes it simple to hook a finger round them, however the greatest development is the lever’s revised pivot location. It’s so much upper, supplying you with extra leverage for a miles lighter really feel.
SRAM claims an 80% aid in braking effort from the hoods, and I’ll verify that. Complete braking energy from the very peak of the lever. It’s fantastic.
I additionally like that there’s a touch of outward flare, which strains up well with fashionable handlebars. That, plus a extra pronounced lip on the backside of the brake lever makes braking from the drops more uncomplicated and extra assured, too. That additional little bit of hook supplies extra safety beneath the finger when ripping down descents, and the total form lends extra self assurance, even if it’s raining and the carbon blade is rainy.
It’s additionally more uncomplicated than ever to regulate lever succeed in because of a front-facing adjustment bolt somewhat than the hard-to-find bolt beneath prior fashion’s levers.
As an avowed weight weenie, I’m additionally stoked that they’re lighter, which in part comes from the calipers, too.
However as an early adopter of drop bar disc brakes who paid the associated fee, I’ve begrudgingly accredited having extra mass the place it issues. Greater rotors and stout calipers are a tradeoff I’m keen to make, particularly since I’m a bigger rider (6’2″, 190lbs nekkid).
So, I used to be a bit of involved concerning the skeletal new caliper design, specifically as I constructed up my Lauf Úthald for a mountainous bikepacking go back and forth in Japan. Me plus an absolutely loaded motorbike plus 160mm rotors with brakes designed for highway racing had me making an allowance for higher rotors.
Even after some very wet days and descents, with an absolutely loaded motorbike, I’m stoked on those brakes.
However after a couple of conversations and early check rides, I caught with 160s and headed to the Land of the Emerging Solar.
After 8 days of loaded traveling and exploring with scarily steep, unkempt village roads and screaming speedy, completely paved mountain descents (and the entirety in between), I don’t have any issues.
Significantly, if you’re on the lookout for a reason why to improve (or simply spend cash), the brakes by myself are value the cost of admission.
Oh, and the ones Bonus Buttons…
The opposite killer new function are the bonus buttons. Certain, you’ll program them to do issues on a Karoo biking laptop and extra, however the most productive setup for me used to be having the left button carry out an upshift (tougher) whilst the left paddle downshifted (more uncomplicated). And vice versa at the proper aspect.
Via reversing what the usual shift paddle does, I’m ready to shift each instructions one-handed. It’s wonderful, particularly when using undulating terrain whilst additionally looking to consume a snack.
Take a look at it, it’ll alternate your lifestyles.
The whole lot else is excellent, too.
Right through the go back and forth and again house after, the crowd carried out flawlessly.
Moving is clean and quiet. And it shifts in point of fact smartly beneath energy, making it simple to downshift on a difficult climb with out letting off the fuel.
The brand new, narrower entrance derailleur cage didn’t building up chain rub or rasp because of its auto-trim function, and it executes entrance shifts in addition to any.
The hoods line up well with handlebars, with new embossed grip texture to assist in pointing them in the appropriate course. Additionally they take a seat very point with the handlebar (examined on Lauf’s Smoothie Street bar, which could also be superb).
Hammerhead time
If you are going to buy a brand new SRAM RED AXS crew, you’ll get the brand new Hammerhead Karoo with it, and that’s a excellent factor. Now not best is it one in every of my favourite biking computer systems (a integrated keyboard to pre-name each and every experience earlier than importing to the cloud? I imply, c’mon…that’s superior), it’s an development at the prior fashion, and it integrates seamlessly with the brand new RED AXS crew.
That means, you’ll customise the shifters’ bonus buttons setup, 0 your Quarq energy meter, and a lot extra from the menu at once at the tool. Routing, re-routing, and navigation were spot on, the mountaineering graphics are shiny and ambitious, and the displays are simple to customise to get the information issues you need.
Finally, it in the end pairs with iOS, and I used to be ready to replace our routes and locations the usage of it even whilst in Japan, which proved very useful. Plus, it presentations battery ranges for all hooked up parts, additionally very useful whilst you’re deciding what to price from an influence financial institution you’ll want for a couple of days of off-grid using.
Exact Weights & Set up Notes
Exact weights for the brand new SRAM RED AXS E1 parts are:
Crankset: 468g (172.5mm palms, 46/33 chainrings w/ Quarq powermeter)
Brake levers: 202g each and every, 404g set*
Brake calipers: 151g entrance, 164g rear*
Entrance derailleur: 144g
Rear derailleur: 260g
Brake rotors: 131g each and every, 262g set (160mm, Middle Lock)
Cassette: 232g (10-36)
TOTAL: 2,085g**
*Brake calipers had the spacers in them throughout weigh-in as it’s clamped in there and will’t be got rid of till the hose is opened for set up. Brake levers had small plug in port to stop fluid from leaking. Each levers and calipers/hoses come prefilled with brake fluid, making set up more uncomplicated, incessantly with out the desire for a whole bleed.
**Upload the next to this general:
+236g for the chain (claimed, uncut)
+48g for 2 AXS batteries (24g ea.)
+ a couple of grams for Middle Lock mounting lock rings
– few grams for the brake spacers/plugs that get got rid of upon set up.
The gang comprises set up guides that make derailleur alignment and positioning really easy.
Particularly, the entrance derailleur’s information now not best positions its peak at the body, giving it best clearance over the large chainring…
…but in addition making its yaw alignment simple by means of lining up the information marks at the software and the cage. This takes all the guesswork out of it, and I best needed to make small, fast tweaks to dial it in.
Moreover, the reinforcement wedge, which sits between the derailleur and the seat tube to reinforce it when pushing the chain outward to the large ring, is now mounted from the outdoor of the derailleur. It’s a small factor, however can save numerous time and frustration throughout setup.
Ultimate ideas
General, even mid-tier highway teams from all the main manufacturers are in point of fact darn excellent. Pressure and Ultegra, Rival and 105. They go away little to be desired, truthfully.
The place SRAM justifies the expense to head up a degree is conveniently of possession and extremely gentle weight, plus a focal point at the braking efficiency and ergonomics. For me, that is what units the crowd aside and makes each and every experience on it a pleasure.
Additionally, Japan, significantly. Do just it.
SRAM.com
