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Editor’s word: This text was initially revealed on BikeRumor.
At first look, the “new” SRAM Pressure AXS groupset appears shiny and utterly new. Recent graphics with subtle-yet-shiny paint catch the attention, and the one-piece chainrings and slimmer brake hoods give it a sharper, higher-end look. Each are large enhancements to the group.
Hiding beneath the hood is an enormous assortment of incremental working adjustments which were added to each Purple and Pressure teams through the years and eventually get codified right here.
As a fast background, SRAM does an awesome job of creating steady minor updates and enhancements to its merchandise, however, maybe surprisingly, a extremely unhealthy job of speaking about them. So most of the “new” issues “launched” right here formally have truly been on the group for a while.
A couple of extra noteworthy issues: SRAM is (lastly) dropping “eTap” from the title. It’s now simply Pressure AXS, not Pressure eTap AXS. And, together with 2x Pressure AXS highway group, the 1x XPLR gravel group turns into a correct “Pressure” group with the identical updates, graphics, and particulars. Collectively, they’re a extra cohesive assortment of high-end-yet-approachable drivetrains for drop bar bikes.
2023 SRAM Pressure AXS Particulars
For those who recall, Purple eTap launched as SRAM’s sole 12-speed digital group. Then, when the AXS model got here out, Pressure AXS debuted alongside it, as the road’s second-tier digital group.
Now, it will get its personal launch, fortunately drops the eTap nomenclature, and reimagines what a second-tier group can supply … whereas attempting actually exhausting to eschew any stigma the time period “second-tier” may convey.
To kick that off, it will get a brand new premium end. A little bit of gloss and sparkle within the Unicorn Grey brings it to life within the solar. That’s accented with shiny logos which have a little bit of rainbow flash in daylight too. Fortuitously, magnificence is greater than pores and skin deep. Right here’s what’s new about every part.
Shifters
The hoods get a refined form … which is definitely the identical as the most recent Rival group, with a smaller diameter that tapers down towards the entrance to create extra finger clearance, finger wrap, and simpler grip, notably for smaller palms.
The brake reservoir hump on the entrance is smaller too, and the levers and pivot level are a number of millimeters nearer to the bar, making it simpler to brake with one or two fingers whereas driving within the hoods.
Two essential issues let SRAM make the hoods smaller and produce the levers nearer: eliminating the pad contact alter (as a result of the corporate discovered many riders by no means used it and even knew it was there) and eradicating the auxiliary Blip port.
Now that it has wi-fi Blips, the port turned pointless, and you may join as much as six Blips if you would like a number of shift areas. Additionally, it now makes the system 100% wi-fi. With so many Blips appropriate, SRAM jokes it’s “much more wi-fi” than the competitors.
However, in comparison with Rival, Pressure has upgraded brake levers (carbon as a substitute of alloy) and a brand new shift paddle profile. The shift paddle is a bit longer but in addition tapered to enhance clearance on the bar whenever you’re pulling it actually far into its journey.
Brakes
Working adjustments to the present SRAM Pressure over the previous few years have led to a number of enhancements. This group will get all of them. Which means a two-piece caliper physique that works higher as a result of it could higher machine all of the plumbing inside when it’s completed in two items.
Improved pad retraction means much less pad rub even when the rotors get a bit out of true. And the caliper is stiffer for a extra stable braking really feel.
It comes with its Paceline rotors, which carry over unchanged.
Crank Arms & Chainrings
The crank arms are simple. They’re the identical as earlier than, simply with a brand new end.
The chainrings are new, although, and SRAM designed them round two objectives: enhance shifting efficiency and drop weight.
SRAM achieved this by switching from a typical spider plus chainrings to a one-piece, machined 2x chainring unit (identical as Purple), obtainable with or and not using a Quarq energy meter. This design makes it stiffer and lighter. With the ability meter choice, it saves about 85 g versus the prior model.
That energy meter is now built-in, like with Purple, which suggests if it is advisable to substitute your chainrings, you’re additionally changing the ability meter. However, as with Purple, SRAM says you’ll get lots of miles out of the meeting earlier than it wants changing. Plus, the Pressure chainring is lots cheaper than the Purple equal.
For these with “chainring put on anxiousness,” SRAM says individuals have largely gotten over it as a result of the rings last more than of us thought they’d. That’s due considerably to the model’s distinctive chainring combos, which suggests persons are shifting the entrance chainring much less usually.
However in case you’re hung up on it, SRAM nonetheless gives the usual four-bolt energy meter spider for eased ring swapping.
It’s a bit heavier, however in case you incessantly swap chainrings for various purposes, or journey in foul circumstances that grind down enamel extra rapidly, possibly that’s the higher choice for you. And whether it is, SRAM has eradicated the beauty cowl that got here on the unique Pressure eTap AXS, which had a popularity for creating working noise.
The Pressure chainring-plus-power-meter unit now comes with a ten% low cost on replacements. It’s not fairly the 50% low cost it gives on Purple, however Pressure’s chainring is considerably cheaper. Which is shocking as a result of it’s the identical piece of metallic — solely the end differentiates Purple from Pressure chainrings now.
As for sizes, it added the largest 50/37 chainring combo, which was beforehand solely obtainable for Purple. Others are 48/35 and 46/33.
For gravel riders who love a 2x group, there’s a single 43/30 choice for the Vast crankset (which has a wider chainline and requires a particular Vast entrance derailleur). It can have the identical new chainring design, but it surely’s for bikes constructed round wider tires and wider-range cassettes.
Accessible crank lengths are 165, 167.5, 170, 172.5, 175, and 177.5 mm.
Entrance Derailleur
The entrance derailleur’s structure carries over from the earlier SRAM Pressure groupset with the brand new Unicorn Grey end. But it surely will get some new setup options to make set up simpler.
A brand new information instrument enables you to set it on the massive chainring as you tighten it onto the braze-on/clamp, primarily placing it proper the place it must be.
Information marks are made a bit extra seen in case it is advisable to make positive changes or readjust afterward. However you can too simply put the information instrument again in there in case you’re reinstalling or altering chainring sizes.
Rear Derailleur & Cassette
Working adjustments from the previous couple of years are applied into all 1270 SRAM Pressure cassettes. These embrace a damper ring between the 2 largest cogs to scale back noise and the swap away from that awesome-looking all-black end to the present nickel chrome end.
SRAM says this end is quieter, smoother, and extra sturdy than prior finishes.
The group has 4 cassette choices: 10/28, 10/30, 10/33, and 10/36. There’s no extra 10/26 cassette supplied, primarily as a result of nobody needed it.
The rear derailleur has the identical structure as earlier than, however now there’s a single mannequin to deal with all 4 of these cassettes. It’s appropriate with something as much as a 36-tooth cog in case you’re working a distinct model cassette for some purpose, however take into account that SRAM’s Flat High chains are optimized particularly for its cassettes.
There’s no new tech and even shapes right here, simply beauty adjustments. It nonetheless has carbon outer/aluminum internal pulley cage plates, with metal bearings contained in the pulleys, and the Orbit damper for chain administration on bumpy roads.
2023 SRAM Pressure Pricing
Maybe the perfect information? All of those updates and the a lot lighter new chainrings include no value enhance. The brand new SRAM Pressure AXS parts are the identical value because the prior variations.
- Shifter/Brake Caliper, Entrance – $350
- Shifter/Brake Caliper, Rear – $350
- Rear Derailleur AXS – $377
- Rear Derailleur XPLR – $369
- Entrance Derailleur – $243
- 1x Crankset w/ spindle PM – $585
- 1x Crankset – $275
- 2x Vast Crankset w/ spindle PM – $585
- 2x Street Crankset w/ PM – $800
- 2x Crankset – $275
- 2x Energy Meter Chainring – $410
- 2x Chainring – $245
- Cassette – $195
- XPLR Cassette – $222
- Chain – $50
The excellent news is you may improve these one-piece chainrings onto any crankset that accepts SRAM’s eight-bolt mounting normal. It’s not appropriate with its three-bolt DM normal, usually discovered on its MTB cranksets.
Pressure eTap vs. Pressure AXS Weight Comparability
In comparison with the prior Pressure eTap group (D1), the brand new 2x Pressure AXS (D2) highway group with energy meter saves about 94 g. The brand new 1x Pressure XPLR AXS group saves 101 g with an influence meter. Precise financial savings will rely on chosen chainring measurement/combo.
Weight financial savings come primarily from the brand new one-piece, direct-mount chainrings, and new shifter lever our bodies are considerably lighter.
2023 SRAM Pressure XPLR Gravel Group
Taking a lot of the highway group’s options onto gravel roads, the SRAM Pressure XPLR group reveals a number of key variations.
It will get its personal new carbon crank arm, which has a left-side, spindle-based energy meter choice. It’s the identical energy meter as Rival, however with a lighter carbon crank arm.
This protects 45 g over a spider-based energy meter and seeks to let riders swap by way of the brand new direct-mount chainrings simply. And that’s good as a result of most gravel riders usually tend to change a chainring measurement between rides.
And, it will get new one-piece direct-mount chainrings, which save lots of weight. Customary and Vast cranksets and chainrings can be found.
Customary chainring sizes are 38/40/42/44/46 tooth. There are additionally 48T and 50T aero chainrings for these utilizing an ordinary 1x crankset.
Brake levers and shifter paddles are the identical because the highway group’s. I extremely appreciated the textured shift paddles and simpler attain on rougher terrain.
The derailleur differs from the highway variant however carries the identical shapes and supplies as the prior XPLR group I reviewed, however with new finishes.
It’s appropriate with the XPLR 10/44 cassette and in addition the most important 10/36 highway cassette however is particularly designed for 1x use solely; you may’t pair it with a 2x chainring.
Listed here are a number of photographs to indicate the important thing variations, illustrating why you may’t run the highway and gravel derailleurs interchangeably:
The highway derailleur is on the left, and XPLR is on the correct. Word the taller B-knuckle on the XPLR, whose mounting bolt can also be positioned additional again.
The cages are completely different, with the XPLR getting an offset higher pulley that enables for the elevated rotation and motion required to maneuver throughout a wider vary of gears.
The highway derailleurs have “MAX 36T” etched on the again of the B-knuckle, and the XPLR is branded as such, to make them simple to determine.
The Takeaway
Don’t sweat this launch when you’ve got a present SRAM Pressure or XPLR group. It appears nice, however essentially the most important replace is the one-piece chainrings, and you may retrofit these to your present Pressure group. Heck, you may even save a number of hundred {dollars} in your Purple group when it’s time to exchange these rings by getting these new Pressure ones.
Identical for XPLR. The brand new one-pieces are backward appropriate, and you may improve simply the arms if you wish to add the single-sided, spindle-based energy meter.
The brake levers do represent a extra significant improve. I discovered them noticeably extra snug than the earlier era, with higher ergonomics for each shifting and braking. However mechanically, there’s no change from the previous levers, so in case you’re proud of what you’ve bought, nice. If it is advisable to substitute your entire group, additionally nice; you’ll in all probability like these a bit higher.
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