If you’ve not had the luxury to ride a SRAM’s Force AXS group you’re missing out. The Force AXS Group features SRAM’s second-generation wireless shifting has taken things up a notch and made the single chainring setup more versatile. The simplicity is second to none, that goes for the ride and the install.
Almost everything is new, the exceptions being the brake calipers (rim and disc) and hood shapes, which carry over from the previous generation and get a pretty nice graphic update.
So what is AXS? The AXS label denotes the unique gearing, as well as integration with any other component labeled AXS. That means you can mix and match — with some limitations — mountain bike and road AXS components.
Campagnolo and Shimano cassettes go down to an 11-tooth small cog; with SRAM, thanks to XDR cassette driver, you can now go down to a 10-tooth rear cog. This means you can get a wider gear range and use smaller and lighter chainrings along with fewer chain links. From a 1X perspective, The 10-tooth cog is a major benefit when hitting fast sections of road or gravel.
SRAM Force eTap AXS offers the key features of RED eTap AXS—modern gearing, advanced chain design, and easy personalization without the dent in the bank account.
I have said this before, but this time I really mean it! After putting some miles on the road, some gravel and even some single track I’m struggling to understand why you’d want to pay more for the top-tier Red AXS group. Force eTap AXS HRD shifts and brakes cleanly, looks great and integrates easily with computers like Garmin’s Edge lineup. Sync your AXS system with SRAM AXS Web and you’ll have more data then you know what to do with!
SRAM Force eTap AXS Shifters
SRAM’s eTap is controlled with one “button” per side. This is located behind the brake lever and controls the rear derailleur. The left-lever button puts the chain in a larger cog, the right-lever button puts it in a smaller; pressing both buttons at once moves the chain between the chainrings (if you have a 2x setup). Along with this shifting simplicity, the SRAM AXS app, allows you swap out the left and right shift buttons, control cog steps and more.
SRAM’s Force eTap AXS HRD levers offer a rather large brake hood compared to a cabled brake, with a substantial amount of room for the hydraulic master cylinders. Some folks will like this and some won’t. I think it is going to depend on hand size and purpose, large hands and those that really want something to crank on off-road will love them. The larger lever offers more control in my opinion. If you are deterred by the hood size the rim brake version is considerably less bulky.
SRAM HRD Brakes
SRAM’s HDR brakes get the job done, it is that simple. As stated above the disc brakes have only had an aesthetic update. SRAM says the performance is good enough and I had no issues with them. I was running 140mm rotors front and back and only on the steepest and nastiest descents was I hoping for for a little more help.
SRAM Force AXS eTap Rear Derailleur
No we did not forget about the front derailleur, SRAM kicked it to the curb with some of the groups. Designed for both 1x and 2x systems, the Force eTap AXS rear derailleur capitalizes on X-Range gearing technology for enhanced range and chain management.
Can you run the same shifters and rear derailleur on both a 2x and 1x system? The answer is yes. The front brake includes a shifter so, in theory, you could switch back and forth between a 1x and 2x system, but it seems like a pain in the ass to me. Personally, unless this group is going onto a road bike I wouldn’t even bother with a second chainring. The new 12-speed cassette offers plenty of range.
SRAM Force eTap AXS 1X Gear Range
With the SRAM Force 1X set up you have numerous cassette options that include: 10-26, 10-28 and 10-33. 33 in the rear, not enough? Then possibly look into a mullet build with a 10-50 SRAM Eagle cassette and XX1 rear derailleur. All AXS components are interchangeable to a certain extent. So basically you are not putting a Force derailleur with an Eagle cassette.
For chainring options, you will have several ranging from 36T to 48T in 2 tooth jumps — but 36T and 38T are not available on power meters. While a 38T or 40T chainring may not sound that awesome, it is plenty for gravel and most of the time on the roads.
SRAM has a nice little calculator here that illustrates things very well.
Upgrade to a Quarq Power Meter
The Quarq Power Meter add-on offers a proven and simple setup. It pairs super easily with any head unit and provides detailed individual leg power and cadence. Training with power is an incredible tool. It is a $300 upgrade for the power option but well worth it if you have the cash. I’ve found the power measurements to be accurate and actionable. Should you use any number of training programs, this setup will allow for seamless integration. Or, if you’re like me, the combination of Wahoo and Strava’s power analysis does the trick. I can quickly see how my power output is trending and what each ride did to my fitness. I also use it to compare bikes and other equipment on identical routes.
New 12 Speed Flattop Chain
Specifically designed to work with its new AXS 12-speed group, SRAM’s Force 12-Speed Chain is a unique take on chain construction. It uses its all-new Flattop technology creating a lighter, quieter, and stronger chain. This also enables SRAM to build a narrower chain to accommodate those 12 cogs without sacrificing strength or durability.
Please note that the chain is only compatible with eTap AXS rear derailleurs and requires a Flattop Powerlock chain connector (included).
There are two main ways to tell Force eTap AXS apart from Red eTap AXS: with a scale (~300g) and with your wallet (~$1,000). If you like SRAM’s wireless shifting style, this is a great group with a wide gearing range.
Quote from VELONEWS
Force eTap AXS HRD Verdict
After several months of riding, I can definitely say this group is a winner and one I would buy it in a heartbeat. Normally I am a little bit of a bike snob and need to have the top of the line gear, but I think this is a case where I would have no problem passing on the AXS Red Group and going Force. The functionality is all there, you just don’t get some of the bling you get with the top-end group, or the absolute lightest weight. You do get some extra cash in your pocket so you can go check out a sweet gravel event somewhere.
You can get your SRAM Force AXS groupset at Competitive Cyclist. Looking for something a little more extravagant to get the job done? Read our SRAM RED AXS Review here.
