Your complete guide to SRAM road bike groupsets — explore the range and choose the best SRAM groupset for you

Component manufacturer SRAM makes a range of groupsets for road bikes and mountain bikes. In this guide to SRAM's road bike groupsets we'll walk you through your options from SRAM's innovative wireless electronic shifting systems to the entry-level Apex groupset.

The American-based component maker was founded in 1987 and SRAM's first product was Grip Shift, a twist-grip shifter for road and triathlon bikes that was subsequently adapted for mountain bikes.

Of the three main road bike groupset manufacturers – Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo – SRAM is the 'newcomer' but it has an extensive range and a big slice of the market.

SRAM essentially has four road groupsets, and the good news is that you should be able to get a setup that suits both the type of riding you do and your budget. All four have hydraulic disc brakes as options, and there are still some mechanical rim brakes to be found in the range.

From low to high in terms of price, Apex is their entry-level groupset, followed by Rival, Force and Red. Red eTap is SRAM's lightest and most expensive groupset – the one used by SRAM’s professional road racers. Though it came to the party much later than Shimano's Di2, SRAM has pioneered electronic shifting since SRAM Red eTap was released in the summer 2015.

However, it’s more complicated than that – it always is! SRAM's mechanical groupsets are still 11-speed, whilst their three top-tier groupsets - Rival, Force and Red - are available in 12-speed wireless electronic versions called eTap. Below is SRAM's groupset ranking: 

SRAM wireless groupsets:

• Red eTap AXS
• Force eTap AXS
• Force eTap AXS Wide
• Rival eTap AXS

SRAM mechanical groupsets:

• Force 1
• Rival 1
• Apex 1
• Apex (10-speed) 

SRAM has focused on single-chainring '1X' (pronounced one by) systems, initially for mountain bikes, then for cyclocross, gravel bikes and road bikes. All versions of Force, Rival and Apex are available in 1X configurations (with a single chainring instead of a double).

With Red and Force being a few years old now, could 2023 see SRAM Red go to 13-speed? New SRAM eTap AXS shifters have already been spotted!

SRAM Red eTap AXS

Read our first ride review: SRAM Red eTap AXS

It's getting on for four years old now, so you might already know about SRAM's top-of-the-range groupset, the Red eTap AXS wireless groupset which replaced SRAM Red eTap. 

 

 

> Read our SRAM RED eTap AXS launch story from 2019 here

SRAM Red eTap AXS is the second incarnation of SRAM's wireless electronic groupset. Shifting is actuated by switches on the brake levers, which send a signal to the derailleurs to do their thing.

Clicking on the right-hand button moves the rear derailleur to larger sprockets, while a click on the left-hand button takes you to smaller sprockets. Clicking both at the same time shifts the front derailleur.

Red eTap AXS is a 12-speed group, with a 10-tooth smallest sprocket on each of the three available cassettes. Those cassettes will only fit on wheels with SRAM's XDr freehub body, which is 1.85mm wider than the mountain bike XD body so that the chain clears the spokes on the largest sprocket.

You can choose from 10-36, 10-33, and 10-28 cassettes with a 36t-max derailleur and 
10-26, 10-28, and 10-33 cassettes with a 33t-max derailleur. 

There are double- and single-chainring chainsets, and all of them have smaller chainrings than most current chainsets. Your double-clanger options are 46/33, 48/35 and 50/37. That generally yields gear ranges with a higher top gear and lower bottom gear than in previous widespread use.

The chainsets are available with an optional power meter. Controversially, in most versions, it is built into the chainrings, so when the big ring wears out, you'll have to replace the power meter too. 

SRAM says that this makes for a lighter, stiffer crank-based power meter.

One rear mech rules them all, for the road at least. It works with all three cassette options and single or double chainrings. 

There is an internal Orbit chain management with fluid damper which SRAM says makes it quieter, simpler and more efficient. 

There's also good news for gear tinkerers: the mountain bike Eagle AXS rear derailleurs will work with drop-handlebar controls so you can put together a 1X system with a super-low gear if that's what you need. 

Red eTap AXS is customisable via a smartphone app that communicates with the system, meaning you can set it up however you like. Whether that's switching the way the shifting works so a right-hand tap yields lower gears rather than high or getting the system to take care of shifting the front mech for you so you only have to tap one button at a time...you can do them both. 

The app also monitors battery level and updates will be able to detect chain wear and tell you how many shifts the system has executed.

The chain is dubbed Flattop because the outer edges of the links are flat. There's no backwards-compatibility with first-generation Red eTap.

Buying Red eTap AXS

Groupset pricing varies based on brake type selection, 2x or 1x drivetrain selection, and aero or spider-mounted 1x chainring type selection where applicable.

Configurations 

• double chainset/disc brakes (+ optional power meter) 
• double chainset/rim brakes (+ optional power meter) 
• single chainset/disc brakes (+ optional power meter) 

It's also still more common to be offered the derailleurs, brake levers and brakes as a set, then add your choice of chainset, sprockets and so on.

You'll also need wheels, a new rear wheel with an XDr freehub body or to replace the freehub body on your existing wheels with an XDr body.

A complete 2x groupset with disc brakes includes:

• Sram Red D1 DUB Chainset
• Sram Red XG-1290 Casette 
• Sram Red D1 Chain
• Sram Red eTap AXS HRD Shift-Brake-System left front/right rear with Flat Mount calipers - 2x12 Speed
• Sram Red eTap AXS rear derailleur - 12 Speed
• Sram Red eTap AXS Front derailleur - 2x12 Speed
• 2 x Sram AXS Batteries
• 1 x Sram Centerline XR Centrelock Rotors - 140mm
• 1 x Sram Centerline XR Centrelock Rotors - 160mm
• Sram AXS charger

> Check out 25 of the best SRAM Red eTap AXS bikes from Specialized, Canyon, Trek, Cannondale and more

A Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 with SRAM Red eTap AXS costs around £11,750 and a Trek Madone SLR 9 with SRAM Red eTap AXS costs around £13,600. 

SRAM Force eTap AXS

Read our review of the wide version of SRAM Force: SRAM Force eTap AXS

After SRAM announced the first Red eTap system, it was obvious there'd be a next-level-down wireless electronic shifting system alongside the Force mechanical groupset. 

Force eTap took four years and a whole eTap development cycle to happen. Red eTap was launched in August 2015, and it would have been relatively straightforward for SRAM to make a Force version by just substituting cheaper, heavier materials in key areas of the gear mechanisms and shifters. Instead it seems SRAM beavered away addressing criticisms of the original eTap like its lack of customisation, migrating 12-speed technology from mountain bikes, coming up with a new approach to road bike gearing and developing a Force version of eTap in parallel with Red eTap AXS. Phew!

Force eTap AXS, is identical in features and functions to Red eTap AXS, but cheaper and a bit heavier thanks to different materials. However, when we say 'cheaper', 'a bit less expensive' would be more accurate.

You can choose from 10-36, 10-33, and 10-28 cassettes with a 36t-max derailleur and 
10-26, 10-28, and 10-33 cassettes with a 33t-max derailleur. 

There are double- and single-chainring chainsets, the only exception is that there's no 50/37 chainset for Force,  just a choice of 48/35 and 46/33. Again, the chainsets are available with an optional power meter but in theory, you could add a QUARQ AXS Power Meter Spider (~£400) to a Force crank. 

Buying Force eTap AXS

Configurations 

• double chainset/disc brakes (+ optional power meter) 
• double chainset/rim brakes (+ optional power meter) 
• single chainset/disc brakes (+ optional power meter) 

As with Red eTap AXS you're going to need a whole groupset if you want to switch from whatever you're riding now, plus a new rear wheel with the XDr driver to accommodate SRAM's 10-tooth stop sprocket. There's no upgrade path from first-generation Red eTap.

A complete 2x groupset with disc brakes includes:

• 1x SRAM Force eTap AXS complete front brake/shifter lever with flat mount caliper
• 1x SRAM Force eTap AXS complete rear brake/shifter lever with flat mount caliper
• 2x SRAM Centerline XR disc rotors 160mm, Centrelock brake rotor mount
• 1x SRAM Force eTap Rear Derailleur, Short Cage Max 33t
• 1 x SRAM Force etap Front Derallieur, Braze-on
• 2x SRAM eTap battery
• 1x SRAM Charger and Cord
• 1x SRAM Force 1270 Cassette 10-33t
• 1 x SRAM Force 12 Speed Flattop Chain
• 1 x SRAM Force 2x Dub Chainset

A Specialized Aethos Pro with SRAM Force eTap AXS costs around £8,500 and a New Strada with SRAM Force eTap AXS costs around £6,199 at the time of writing. 

SRAM Force eTap AXS Wide

Read our review: SRAM Force eTap AXS Wide groupset

SRAM Force eTap AXS now includes wider gearing options: a 10-36 cassette and 43/30 crankset, because SRAM says: "Sometimes you want a lower gear. Because having more range can be the key to thriving as the road points upward."

There are different derailleurs to work with them, since it moves the chainline outboard to increase tyre clearance for gravel bikes.

For lovers of very wide range gearing, the main facts you need to know are that Force eTap AXS Wide gives you a low gear of 23in (with a typical 700C 38mm tyre) and a high of 119in for a 518% range. We're pretty sure that's the widest gear range anyone has ever offered in an off-the-peg double-chainset groupset.

However, you don't have to go the whole hog. If you already have an AXS-equipped bike you can get lower gears by fitting the Force Wide or RED eTap AXS 36T Max rear derailleur, 10-36 cassette and a new chain.

Otherwise, Force eTap AXS Wide is the same as Force: same brakes, same levers, same chain and so on.

Components:

• Complete groupset with disc brakes and double chainset 
• 10-36 upgrade kit: derailleur, cassette & chain 
• Front derailleur 
• Chainset

SRAM Rival eTap AXS

Read our review: SRAM Rival eTap AXS

Last to turn electric was SRAM's third-tier groupset launching in April 2021. SRAM Rival eTap AXS makes electronic shifting available to more riders than ever before. 

Rival eTap AXS is a 12-speed system, like Red and Force and is also available in 1x and 2x chainring options. 

There is one derailleur option: 36t cog max derailleur that works with 10-28, 10-30, 10-33, and 10-36 cassettes. There is the option of a Quarq power meter inside a DUB crank spindle.

 

Like Force eTap AXS, there is a wide crankset option with 43/30T chainrings for bikes with up to 700x45c or 27.5x2.1" tyres. 

Buying Rival eTap AXS

Configurations 

• double chainset/disc brakes (+ optional power meter) 
• double chainset/rim brakes (+ optional power meter) 
• single chainset/disc brakes (+ optional power meter) 

A complete 2x groupset with disc brakes includes:

• SRAM Rival eTap AXS HRD shifters
• SRAM Rival Flat Mount calipers
• SRAM Rival eTap AXS medium cage rear derailleur, including battery
• SRAM Rival eTap AXS front derailleur, including battery
• SRAM Rival AXS DUB Power Meter chainset
• SRAM XG-1250 12-speed 10-36t cassette
• SRAM Rival AXS 120 Links with PowerLink 12-speed chain
• SRAM 160mm Paceline Center Lock rotors
• SRAM AXS charger and cord

> 17 bikes equipped with SRAM Rival eTap AXS groupsets, from Specialized, Trek, Boardman & more

A Specialized Tarmac SL7 Comp with Rival eTap AXS is around £5,500 and a Trek Domane SL 6 eTap Gen 3 with Rival eTap AXS is around £4,300. 

SRAM Force 1 

Read our review: SRAM Force 1

SRAM Force is also available as a 1x system designed for road, gravel, adventure, fitness and triathlon applications. This means you get a single chainring and a wide-range cassette.

SRAM says that a 1x system is simpler because there’s no front mech or front shifter, there’s no chance of the chain rubbing on a non-existent front mech, and it’s quieter on rough surfaces. SRAM also says that the interface between the chain and chainring is better because their X-Sync rings have tall, square teeth edges that engage the chain earlier, and the traditional sharp and narrow tooth profile helps manage a deflected chain.

The 1x system comprises three elements. Those X-Sync single chainrings are available in a range from 38 to 54 teeth; wide-range 11-speed cassettes are available in 11-36, 11-32, and 11-30, plus the whopping 10-42 introduced for the original mountain bike 1x, which needs a special XD freehub body. Finally, there's the clutch mechanism rear derailleur which prevents chain slap.

A 1x transmission can offer a very wide range of gears. A 46-tooth chainring with the 10-42 cassette gives a slightly wider gear range than a 50/34-tooth compact double with an 11-25 cassette.

We’ve used Force 1 and we did notice the fairly sizeable jumps in gear ratio size across the wide-range cassette. You sometimes find your legs spinning far quicker than you’d expected, or far slower, but you soon adapt. Although it’s not the best option for everyone, we’d say that 1x certainly has a place.

SRAM Force 1 is available with both hydraulic and mechanical brakes.

SRAM Rival 1 

Read our review: SRAM Rival 1

Like mechanical Force, Rival is still available in a 1x configuration with just a single chainring and a wide-ranging cassette. It has no direct rival from Shimano or Campagnolo.

The most important part of the groupset is the Rival 1 X-Horizon rear derailleur. Inside its bulky exterior is a clutch mechanism that prevents unwanted chain movement. It eliminates chain slap when you’re riding over bumpy terrain.

It won't be for everyone, but Rival 1 offers shifting simplicity, a useable range of gears, and powerful hydraulic brakes (or mechanical brakes if you prefer).

It’s also easy to use. You have one shift paddle to move the derailleur across the wide-range cassette. You quickly adapt to the simplicity of the shifting, and while the actual gear shifting is a little clunky – it doesn't have the lightness or quietness of Shimano – there's no mistaking a gear change.

There are slightly bigger leaps between certain gears which will put off cyclists who like to be in the cadence sweet spot all the time. This is one of the biggest compromises with this groupset, but for solo riding it's not nearly as problematic as you might expect.

Anyone building a gravel, adventure, touring or cyclo-cross bike might be interested (and lots of new cyclo-cross and gravel bikes are shipping with this groupset), but it won't appeal to road racers, where the gear jumps and simple lack of range will limit its suitability.

SRAM Apex 1 

Where the double-chainring version of Apex is ten-speed, the single-ring version goes up to 11, which is probably the smallest number of sprockets that can provide both the wide gear range gravel bikes need and comfortable spacing between the gears.

Like Rival 1, Apex 1 uses SRAM's X-Horizon rear derailleur tech, with a roller clutch to control chain slap, and in pretty much ever other respect, Apex 1 is a budget kid brother to Rival 1, so the same comments apply, and it's common to see Apex 1 on single-chainring gravel bikes, a niche SRAM had almost to itself until Shimano's launch of GRX in 2019.

SRAM Apex 

Read our review: SRAM Apex

Apex is SRAM’s entry-level road groupset, and it’s a 10-speed system. You don’t get the same level of technology as with the higher-end groups, but that’s to be expected. For example, the front derailleur doesn’t incorporate SRAM’s Yaw tech to avoid the need to trim the position as you move the chain across the cassette, but you do get DoubleTap controls and powerful dual pivot brakes.

Like all the other SRAM road groupsets, Apex is available in a WiFLi configuration meaning that you can fit a wide range cassette (12-32-tooth) with a long cage rear derailleur.

The Apex chainset comes in 53/39-tooth, 50/34-tooth and 48/34-tooth, options, but there’s no 52/36-tooth semi-compact available here.

Although it looks a little dated next to its more illustrious siblings, Apex is sound stuff and we like it very much. Plus, of course, it’s far more affordable so if you’re looking for good performance on a budget, this could be the option for you.

Discontinued (but still available if you look around)...

SRAM Red 22, Force 22 and Rival 22 are all previous-generation mechanical SRAM groupsets that are no longer available as complete groupsets. However, SRAM retailers may still be able to access individual parts such as rear derailleurs and shifters, and you can find plenty of these parts at smaller bike retailers and on eBay. 

For more info go to www.sram.com

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