SRAM Force AXS First Ride: RED Gets a Discount

Following closely on the heels of last year’s SRAM RED launch last year, SRAM is launching four groupsets today including a brand new SRAM Force AXS with 2×12 gearing. The whole point of this launch is that SRAM Force AXS will now offer the same performance and features as the top tier SRAM RED AXS. That’s great news but let’s talk about what that means.

If you are more interested in SRAM Rival AXS XPLR I’ve also got a first ride review of that one up to check out.

Quick hits: 9 things to know about the SRAM Force AXS groupset

• SRAM is very clear that there’s no performance difference between RED, Force, and Rival
• Both the Force crank and the shift levers are carbon
• There’s a purple chain option that looks cool but is functionally identical
• 1x Force 1 crankset is available with or without a dual sided power meter
• 2x cranksets are available with a thread mount, non integrated, power meter or as a direct mount plus there’s an optional spindle based power meter upgrade
• Rear derailleur gets the same oversized pulley wheel and carbon lower cage as SRAM RED AXS
• SRAM claims the front derailleur benefits from a “refined cage shape” that “results in faster and more accurate front shifts”
• An updated Paceline rotor “sheds 20 grams compared to the previous version”
• Force crankarm assembly options change from 165 to 177.5mm to 160mm up to 175mm
• For more information visit the SRAM Website.

Quick takeaway: It’s very difficult to fault anything about the new SRAM Force AXS launch. You get all the performance of SRAM RED AXS for less money with a bit more weight. If you are deciding between SRAM and Shimano the price, performance, and weight are quite close so it’s going to come down to preference of hood shape, shifting style, and battery style.

details | weight | ride experience | conclusion | what about 13-speed?

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SRAM Force AXS Groupset details

I happen to be writing this after I’ve finished the SRAM Rival AXS XPLR first ride review. That doesn’t matter other than this is now the third time I’ve written almost the same thing. Red, Force, and Rival groupsets are now nearly identical other than materials which dictate more weight and less money as you move down market. For this launch, I’ll start at the controls.

SRAM Force AXS levers get RED performance

Last year SRAM set a new standard in braking performance with a new lever and hood shape. You could view that as a biased view but this is a review after all and that’s my read on the situation. Keep in mind though, the standard isn’t solely about braking power.

What SRAM did was move the pivot point of the lever then create space behind it. The changes mean that you can 1-finger brake from the hoods and if you wrap fingers for better control, you can’t catch them under the lever. Now those changes have landed at the Force level.

Along with the shape changes, there’s also some finish changes plus the addition of the bonus buttons. As with RED, both XPLR and Road groupsets use the same levers and there’s a lot more of an outward curve to shape as compared to previous Force road components. You’ll also find the same reach adjustment cover in the front of the lever as RED and a new texture to the hood with new alignment marks.

This is all just like SRAM RED and the last detail to move from RED to Force is the bonus button. You won’t find the bonus button at the Rival level but with Force it’s there to change gears, head unit screens, or even control a dropper post. Anything you can do with a SRAM Blip is available through the bonus button, you can also add a Blip, however it’s clear that SRAM envisions shifting as the primary use and that’s how they come programmed from the factory.

SRAM Force AXS front and rear derailleur updates

At the front, the change is about speed and precision. SRAM states that “the cage is narrower, allowing for less distance to move, especially on outboard shifts and shifting under big power” and goes on to claim that means “faster and more accurate front shifts.”

There are also some visual updates to the front derailleur but subtle is an understatement. It’s tough to tell the two apart even looking from one image to the next. There’s also no change in weight with both the old version and the new weighing 156 grams.

In the rear the changes are bigger and the weight dropped. Visually you will immediately notice a change to both the graphics and how it’s constructed up top plus the lower pulley is all new.

The new version features a carbon lower cage and the same large pulley wheel found on RED. The same derailleur works with both 1x and 2x and it’s lost 12-grams in the process.

Force gets a bunch of chainring and power meter options

One of the biggest complaints about the previous version of SRAM Force was that the chainrings used a one-piece design with the power meter integrated. That design is gone (sort of). Now there’s a thread mount design with a proprietary tool, previously introduced with RED but it got an update, that allows the removal of the chainrings without removing the power meter.

Your bike might not have that version of the crankset or power meter though. There are two versions of the crank. One option is a Force crankset “available in 160, 165, 170, 172.5, and 175 mm lengths. With a DUB spindle and an 8-bolt interface, it is compatible with power and non-power AXS spiders and integrated chainrings. It can be used with the spindle-based Force AXS power meter upgrade.” You can also choose a 1x aero road crankset and in that case, “the Force 1 crankset pairs with our aero chainrings and can be upgraded to a power meter. It is  available in 160, 165, 170, 172.5, and 175 mm crankarm lengths.”

Now depending on your crankset you then choose between a single sided spindle based power meter upgrade kit, a 1x aero power meter that’s integrated into the aero chainrings, or a 2x spider based power meter with thread mount and accuracy “within +/- 1.5%, measuring left and right power balance.”

Weight

SRAM Force AXS ride experience

My first ride review of SRAM Rival AXS XPLR was a rehash of RED XPLR with some discussion of the missing bonus button. This time the rehash of SRAM RED AXS is even closer. There is no difference when riding the bike between RED and Force.

SRAM says the new front derailleur is faster and all I can really say is okay. The old derailleur was fast and accurate. I guess the new one is more. There’s not much to say on it and the same is true of the new rear derailleur. SRAM doesn’t specifically mention the increased efficiency of a larger lower pulley in this launch but that’s the point. I’m all for that but you can’t tell that the performance is better.

Both front and rear the gearing is all the same as it has been for years. Actually there are a few less choices for small aero chainrings on the 1x side but 2x continues to offer 46/33T, 48/35T, or 50/37T and cassettes are the same 10-28T, 10-30T, 10-33T, or 10-36T options. I think it’s confusing to have both direct mount and thread mount with spindle or spider based power meters but none of that affects riding the bike.

So that leaves me to tell you that the new hood and lever shape continues to be brilliant. The ability to brake from the hoods with a single finger on even the steepest and longest descents sets a standard. Being able to wrap some fingers under the lever and never have to worry about pinching them also sets a standard. Those two details are what makes the SRAM road ecosystem worth choosing and that hasn’t changed. The only thing that changed is that it got a little cheaper and slightly heavier.

If you are curious about that weight piece, SRAM Force AXS is officially 267 grams heavier than SRAM RED AXS while SRAM Force will save you roughly $1400. That’s for the same functionality, including the power meter. Hard to argue with that.

In terms of riding, my only complaint is not actually unique to Force but it is better on Force than Rival. What I mean is the hood shape. The fact that you can hold the hoods and brake with one finger while wrapping under the lever sets a standard but the shape of the hood at the peak isn’t actually the best.

When I reviewed RED last year I noticed it but the more I’ve ridden with RED, and now Force, the more I’ve found that the wide shape really only works if you follow SRAM’s direction. It’s perfect when you keep your hand a little lower placing your thumb at the bonus button and a couple of fingers at the brake. I also sometimes like to hold the tops like a handle in an aero position. The new shape is too wide for that though.

This hood shape thing is hardly a deal breaker but Shimano is better. On the other hand, Force is better than Rival since Force has the bonus buttons and it feels more natural to hold the hoods as they are designed.

Conclusion

I struggled to find negatives for SRAM Force AXS. It makes no sense to have multiple chainring mounting systems with two different power meter locations but realistically you’ll figure that out once, maybe twice, in the life of a groupset then move on. The hood shape isn’t my favorite as I ride with it more but as long as you put your hand the way it’s designed it’s actually the best on the market.

So what’s left to help you make a decision? One aspect of this launch I love is that SRAM is saying the quiet part out loud. RED vs Force is about style. Unless you are an elite racer you are choosing RED because you want RED on your bike not because it matters for performance.

No more guessing or talking around how it seems like it’s every bit as good. If you are okay with an extra 267 grams on your bike and $1400 in your pocket then grab Force and it’s brilliant.

If you are deciding between Ultegra and Force they are very similar also. The main deciding factors are preference. Do you like SRAM style shifting or Shimano? Would you prefer one big battery that’s in the frame or two smaller batteries that are removable? They both have bonus buttons now but SRAM does have a clutch which helps keep the chain on over rough roads. Maybe the purple chain will be your deciding factor?

Bottom line is that SRAM RED has class leading brake performance, now you can get it cheaper.

What about 13-speed?

There’s one more thing that I kept thinking while riding SRAM Force AXS. Where is the 13-speed road? 2×13 is the obvious next step but last year when RED launched without it there was plenty to talk about with the hood shape and bonus buttons. Force obviously wasn’t going to be the level that 2×13 launched with but now that Campagnolo Super Record 13 is out it’s feeling like SRAM road groupsets are a bit boring. It’s hardly fair given that RED performance got a huge discount but the competition moved ahead and things changed. It’s likely that RED won’t see an update for four more years and that feels like a life to wait for 2×13. Especially when 1×13 XPLR feels so good.

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