SRAM makes four road and gravel groupsets, from entry level up: Apex, Rival, Force and RED. Apex is 1× 12-speed only (mechanical or electronic); Rival, Force and RED are wireless electronic AXS, in 2×12 for road or 1×13 (the XPLR versions) for gravel. According to SRAM, RED AXS weighs 2,496 g (5.5 lb), Force 2,776 g (6.1 lb) and Rival 2,993 g (6.6 lb). On mountain bikes the range is called Eagle, and its current version, Eagle Transmission, bolts straight to the frame and has no limit screws.
Road and gravel at a glance
| Groupset | Versions | Speeds | Shifting | Official weight (SRAM) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apex | Apex (mechanical) and Apex AXS | 1×12 | Mechanical or AXS | XPLR mechanical 2,872 g (6.3 lb); XPLR AXS 2,890 g (6.4 lb) |
| Rival | Rival AXS and Rival XPLR AXS | 2×12 or 1×13 | AXS | Rival AXS 2,993 g (6.6 lb) |
| Force | Force AXS and Force XPLR AXS | 2×12 or 1×13 | AXS | Force AXS 2,776 g (6.1 lb) |
| RED | RED AXS and RED XPLR AXS | 2×12 or 1×13 | AXS | RED AXS 2,496 g (5.5 lb); RED XPLR AXS 2,488 g (5.5 lb) |
The Rival, Force and RED weights are for a 2× build with 48/35 chainrings, a power meter and a 10-30 cassette (10-28 for RED), including brakes and batteries. Apex is weighed as a 1× with its XPLR cassette. Don’t compare them with Shimano weights without checking the build: cassette, rotors and power meter change the number a lot.
Cassettes. The 2× road groupsets start with a 10-tooth cog (for example 10-28, 10-30, 10-33 or 10-36), which is why they need an XDR freehub body on the wheel. For 1× gravel:
- 12-speed XPLR (Apex XPLR and earlier versions): 10-44 cassette, with cogs 10-11-13-15-17-19-21-24-28-32-38-44.
- 13-speed XPLR (current Rival, Force and RED XPLR): 10-46 cassette, with cogs 10-11-12-13-15-17-19-21-24-28-32-38-46. The derailleur only works with this cassette.
You can see what the 10-tooth cog does to your gearing in our guide to 1x vs 2x drivetrains and in the gear ratio calculator.
Which groupset is right for you
Apex. The entry-level group, built for gravel and mixed-use bikes. It’s 1× only: SRAM confirms it doesn’t support a front derailleur or double cranks. It comes in mechanical and AXS versions, and they weigh almost the same: 2,872 g versus 2,890 g in XPLR trim. Paired with an Eagle mountain derailleur, it takes very large cassettes for bikepacking. Its hydraulic brakes use DOT 5.1.
Rival. SRAM’s first wireless tier. As a 2×, it’s SRAM’s answer to Shimano 105 Di2; as a 1×, it’s SRAM’s most affordable 13-speed XPLR. The 13-speed XPLR derailleur has a clutch and replaceable parts.
Force. The choice of many serious amateurs and high-end stock bikes. It’s about 220 g (8 oz) lighter than Rival in the same build and, like RED, has carbon cranks.
RED. The race groupset. Hollow carbon cranks, the lightest in the range and an optional integrated power meter. SRAM says the shifter battery lasts about two years at 15 hours of riding a week.
AXS: how SRAM electronic shifting works
AXS is fully wireless: no shift cables and no wires between shifters and derailleurs. Each derailleur has its own removable battery, and the shifters run on a CR2032 coin cell.
| Spec (SRAM) | Value |
|---|---|
| Road rear derailleur battery | About 60 hours of riding |
| Mountain derailleur battery | About 25 hours |
| Charging time | About 1 hour |
| Shifter battery (CR2032) | About 2 years at 15 h/week |
| Battery weight | About 24-25 g (0.9 oz) |
| If it dies mid-ride | The derailleur stays in its current gear |
The battery is the same on every AXS derailleur (and on the Reverb AXS dropper post), so you can swap the front derailleur’s battery onto the rear if you run out. The AXS app lets you set up the buttons, check charge and fine-tune the shifting.
One AXS advantage is mix and match: SRAM lets you combine road shifters with mountain derailleurs as long as you use that derailleur’s cassette and chain. That’s how riders build, for example, Apex shifters with an Eagle derailleur for adventure gravel.
Mountain bikes: Eagle and Eagle Transmission
On mountain bikes SRAM uses the Eagle name (12-speed, 1×). Two families exist side by side, and they are not compatible with each other:
- Eagle Transmission, the current one. The derailleur bolts straight to the frame (Full Mount), resting on the rear axle instead of hanging from a hanger. That’s why it has no limit screws or B-screw: you set it up with a Setup Key. It requires a UDH-compatible frame and uses T-Type chains and chainrings.
- AXS (wireless), from top to bottom: XX SL, XX, X0 and GX. Moving up the range cuts weight and upgrades materials; SRAM says GX keeps all the key features.
- Mechanical: Eagle 90 and Eagle 70, cable-actuated with the same shift-under-load technology. On e-bikes they’re used with single-click shifters.
- The older Eagle (Eagle Drivetrain), with a hanger, limit screws and a B-screw. Its chains, cassettes and derailleurs don’t mix with Transmission.
If your bike doesn’t have UDH, Eagle Transmission won’t fit. Check your hanger type before you buy.
Freehubs and brakes: what to know
- XD and XDR. The XDR freehub body (road) is 1.85 mm longer than XD (mountain). An XD cassette fits an XDR freehub with a 1.85 mm spacer; the reverse doesn’t work. The road exception is the XPLR PG-1231 cassette (11-44), which fits an 11-speed Shimano HG freehub. More in our guide to changing a cassette and the freehub body chart.
- Chains. AXS road chains are Flattop and don’t mix with Eagle Transmission’s T-Type chains.
- Brakes. Most SRAM brakes use DOT 5.1; the Maven and DB8 mountain brakes use mineral oil. Never mix them: we explain why in our guide to bleeding hydraulic brakes.
How to choose
- Decide on 1× or 2×. For road riding and group rides, 2×12; for gravel and rough roads, 1×13 XPLR; on a tight budget, Apex 1×12.
- Pick the tier by weight and budget, not shifting: AXS works the same from Rival to RED.
- Check your wheels’ freehub. Almost all SRAM road groupsets need XDR.
- Compare with Shimano in our guide to Shimano road groupsets, and if you’re torn between cables and batteries, in mechanical vs electronic shifting.
The names of every drivetrain part in six languages are in the drivetrain glossary.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SRAM road groupset hierarchy?
From entry level to race: Apex, Rival, Force and RED. Apex is 1× 12-speed only (mechanical or AXS); Rival, Force and RED are wireless AXS, in 2×12 for road or 1×13 (XPLR) for gravel.
How much do SRAM groupsets weigh?
According to SRAM, RED AXS weighs 2,496 g (5.5 lb), Force AXS 2,776 g (6.1 lb) and Rival AXS 2,993 g (6.6 lb), all as 2× builds with 48/35 chainrings and a power meter. RED XPLR AXS weighs 2,488 g (5.5 lb) and Apex XPLR AXS 2,890 g (6.4 lb).
How long does a SRAM AXS battery last?
SRAM quotes about 60 hours of riding for road derailleurs and about 25 hours for mountain (Eagle Transmission) derailleurs. The battery charges in about an hour and is the same on every AXS derailleur. The CR2032 coin cells in the shifters last about two years.
What is SRAM XPLR?
The 1× gravel version of each groupset. Current Rival, Force and RED XPLR are 13-speed, with a 10-46 cassette and a derailleur that bolts straight to the frame with no limit screws. Apex XPLR stays at 12 speeds with a 10-44 cassette.
Can I put Eagle Transmission on any mountain bike?
No. Eagle Transmission mounts without a hanger, directly on the rear axle, so it needs a UDH-compatible frame (SRAM's Universal Derailleur Hanger). It also isn't compatible with older Eagle parts, except the AXS controllers and some chainrings.
Sources
- SRAM, How much does the RED AXS groupset weigh?
- SRAM, How much does the Force AXS groupset weigh?
- SRAM, How much does the Rival AXS groupset weigh?
- SRAM, How much does the Apex AXS system weigh? and How much does the Apex mechanical system weigh?
- SRAM, How far can I ride on a fully charged AXS derailleur battery?
- SRAM, Are SRAM XPLR eTap AXS parts compatible with other SRAM components?
- SRAM, What are the differences between SRAM Eagle AXS Transmission GX, X0, XX, and XX SL?
