The new SRAM Force AXS & XPLR groups drop the eTap moniker and get lighter, brighter, & more ergonomic w/ smaller hoods and 1-piece chainrings!
At first glance, the “new” Force AXS group looks like a shiny, completely new group. Fresh graphics with subtle-yet-shiny paint catches the eye, and the one-piece chainrings and slimmer brake hoods give it a sharper, higher-end look. Both are huge improvements to the group.
Now, it gets its own launch, thankfully drops the eTap nomenclature, and reimagines what a 2nd tier group can offer…trying really hard to eschew any stigma the term “2nd tier” might convey. But, compared to Rival, Force has upgraded brake levers , and and a new shift paddle profile. The shift paddle is a bit longer, but also tapered to improve clearance at the bar when you’re pulling it really far into its travel.Running changes to the existing Force over the past couple years have brought about several improvements, and this group gets all of them.
And that power meter is now integrated, like with Red, which means if you need to replace your chainrings, you’re also replacing the power meter. But, as with Red, they say you’ll get a lot of miles out of it before it needs replacing…and, it’s a lot less expensive than the Red chainrings. The chainring+power meter unit now has a 10% discount on replacements. Not quite the 50% discount offered with Red, but Force’s chainring significantly less expensive. Which is surprising, because it’s the same piece of metal, only the finish differentiates Red from Force chainrings now.
Guide marks are made a bit more visible in case you need to make fine adjustments or re-adjust later on, but you can also just put the guide tool back in there if you’re reinstalling or changing chainring sizes.Running changes from the past couple years are all implemented into all 1270 Force cassettes. These include a damper ring between the two largest cogs to reduce noise, and the early switch away from that awesome looking all-black finish to the current Nickel Chrome finish.
They get their own new carbon crank arm, which has a left-side, spindle-based power meter option. It’s the same power meter as Rival, but with a lighter carbon crank arm. Brake levers and shifter paddles are the same as road, and the textured shift paddles and easier reach are much appreciated on rougher terrain.the prior XPLR group I reviewedIt’s compatible with the XPLR 10-44 cassette, and also the largest 10-36 road cassette, but is specifically designed for 1x use only…you can’t pair it with a 2x front chainring.
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