The new SRAM Drive AXS group sits someplace between evolutionary and revolutionary, delivering premium efficiency at an agreeable worth level. By taking one of the best options of Crimson and Rival and giving it a cultured (and sparkly!) end, SRAM gave its second-tier group new life on highway and gravel.
I rode each the usual 2x highway group and the 1x Drive AXS XPLR gravel group on the launch, then had extra time at dwelling on the highway bike earlier than scripting this. Listed here are my first impressions based mostly on a pair hundred miles, beginning with a direct comparability to the prior Drive group.
2023 Drive AXS vs. Drive eTap
Past the sparkly Unicorn Grey end and shimmering decals, the obvious improve to the brand new Drive group is the one-piece chainring. Borrowed immediately from the top-tier SRAM Crimson group, it’s the identical piece, simply with a inexpensive end. This piece alone is accountable for saving many of the group’s weight over the prior eTap group, and it’s stiffer too.
Accessible with or with out an built-in Quarq energy meter, it’s additionally an effective way to exchange your Crimson chainring set and save a pair hundred bucks.
Ergonomically, the shifters and hoods are the most important distinction. The brake hoods are smaller with a slimmer diameter, making it simpler to wrap my palms round it each on the flat half and curling a finger across the brake lever’s pivot.
Distinction this with the highest, which is only a bit broader on the brand new Drive AXS, giving me a bit extra platform to relaxation on once I’m leaning approach ahead. Whereas I just like the micro-texture of the previous model higher, the brand new one’s grooves wrap additional across the hood cowl for extra complete grip.
The shift paddles get longer and taper on the backside. The concept was to create an even bigger contact patch when shifting, so it’s simpler to seek out it it doesn’t matter what your hand place or how tough the highway is.
The angled strains are indented at an angle to create grip too — not simply beauty.
The opposite purpose was to create extra finger clearance when pulling the brake lever deeper into its journey. Relying in your hand place, it kind of works, however the high of the paddle nonetheless will get fairly shut and might entice my pinky in some conditions, which implies I can’t pull the lever all the best way in.
The brand new form is best on this regard, however solely barely. Nonetheless, the elevated contact patch is welcome and positively doesn’t lower finger clearance. Price noting is that this downside of getting fingers block full lever pull is just not unique to SRAM.
And, contemplating the lever’s pivot level is just a few millimeters nearer to the bar, it’s now simpler to achieve the brakes from tops and drops and carry out one-finger braking.
The brand new Drive AXS loses the brake pad contact adjustment however retains the lever attain adjustment (which is accessed from beneath, behind the brake lever).
Visually, the brand new Drive AXS rear derailleur seems to be extra polished and high-end, which has us questioning what a brand new Crimson group may seem like.
2023 Drive AXS Trip Overview
Common efficiency is on par with expectations. The rear shifts the identical, which isn’t stunning since neither the derailleur nor cassette modified apart from cosmetically. SRAM’s rear shifting stays strong and fast sufficient.
The noticeable enhancements in efficiency come from the 2 issues that did change: the levers and the chainrings. Shifts are only a bit simpler to execute because of the elevated paddle dimension, and the chain strikes confidently between chainrings. Shifting underneath energy, like on a climb or a dash, isn’t just easy but in addition satisfying.
I’ve been a fan of SRAM’s 13-tooth chainring jumps since they have been launched. Whereas not dramatically completely different than most different 2x combos, the actual sizes it selected appear to work rather well together with its cassette choices to offer an satisfactory vary on any given journey.
Technically, a smaller 10-tooth cog is much less environment friendly, however I don’t spend a ton of time in it and haven’t seen any undue put on on my long-term Crimson or Drive Huge group. I’ve a brand new Drive group coming in for long-term testing, however given the mainly equivalent components, I believe it’ll maintain up in addition to the others I’ve been using for the previous few years.
I loved the brand new, smaller brake hoods and nearer pivot placement on the highway. On group rides the place I’m hovering a finger over the levers simply in case, it makes it simpler to comfortably preserve that place. And pulling the brake lever is less complicated, both with one finger or two.
The attain modify is all the time appreciated too, as I wish to carry my levers in a bit since I sometimes mount them towards the very high of the handlebar’s clamping space. This makes them simpler to achieve usually, however particularly when using within the drops, which is essential on descents and tough gravel.
Regardless of being larger (and, thus, having larger palms), I’m having fun with the smaller grips, particularly on gravel with the Drive XPLR group. The “horns” on the very entrance are smaller now too, because of the lacking pad contact adjustment, which makes them simpler to relaxation my palms on high for a (very) short-term aero break.
I do like having the distant Blips. However I’m on the fence about being pressured into utilizing the totally wi-fi Blips the place I can’t exchange the batteries. Handy? Sure. Eco-responsible? Not likely. Thankfully, SRAM appears to be listening to this and, properly, it’s “always evaluating rider’s wants and dealing on stuff.” That mentioned, the little nub of a set off is less complicated to really feel and use than the spherical button of the wired model, however each have their place — at the very least till the subsequent Crimson replace, in all probability.
Total, the brand new Drive group is sort of a shinier, extra reasonably priced Crimson group with all the identical know-how and efficiency. You may purchase this and improve to OS ceramic bearing pulleys and nonetheless come out forward, or put the additional cash into one thing like wheels or a carbon handlebar the place you’ll discover extra of a distinction.
The attractive and fascinating factor a couple of launch like this that, at a look, appears solely incremental and beauty, is it exhibits simply how good trickle-down tech is making second- and third-tier teams. And it makes me suppose SRAM goes to should do one thing actually particular for the subsequent Crimson group…
So, sure, the brand new Drive group is nice. And it seems to be nice too.
Facet Notice: We Rode in Portugal
If you happen to’re in search of someplace superior to journey, eat, surf, and presumably even retire, then … Portugal. Watts and I did a full week of gravel using with Thomson Bike Excursions, and the place is solely superb. Limitless roads, most with practically excellent pavement and little visitors provide ribbons of mountainous routes with gravel service roads capturing off in each route.
SRAM employed Fiona, proprietor of Echappee Portugal, to guide our rides and she or he’s superb. Nice routes, pleasant native information, and a really sturdy, expert rider. Test her, or Thomson, out in case you’re planning a visit and go away the journey logistics to the specialists.
