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15 of the best 2018 & 2019 SRAM eTap HRD disc brake road bikes

Want a new road bike with SRAM's latest Red eTap HRD disc brake groupset? Here's over a dozen options

SRAM stripped away the gear cables when it launched its first electronic groupset, RED eTap, and it was very well received. A year later SRAM launched a disc brake version called RED eTap HRD, the only groupset currently on the market that combines wireless shifting with hydraulic brakes.

With bike prices ranging from £4,300 to over £9,000 it's clearly reserved for range-topping models, but after the initial handful of bikes, more and more manufacturers are offering eTap HYD machines.

Read more: Red eTap HRD groupset combines wireless shifting with hydraulic brakes

The eTap HRD groupset uses the same derailleurs as the regular eTap but the brake levers are different. The hoods are smaller than the company’s previous hydraulic brake levers which got a fair bit of flak for their size, so SRAM has addressed this and the result is a more aesthetically pleasing brake lever. The new hood is taller than regular eTap but only but a small amount.

Both the reach point and bite point can be easily adjusted so you can customise the feeling of the brake levers. New one-piece flat mount brake calipers save weight and they manage heat better than the previous design. And the rotors now get rounded edges. You can read Mat's first ride impressions right here.

So here are 15 bikes specced with the new groupset, up from just half a dozen then eTap HYD was launched and very much indicating the direction the bike industry is going.

Got a disc-compatible frame you fancy upgrading to eTap? You can get the brakes and gears for £1,397.99.

Read more: A selection of outstanding SRAM Red eTap road bikes

BMC Timemachine 01 Road Two 2019 — £8,500

2019 BMC Timemachine 01 Road Two

For one of 2019's most intriguing new bikes, BMC has taken the aerodynamic prowess of its TimeMachine aero bike and added disc brakes and a storage unit under the bottle cages. It's a bike that looks like it will be both fast on the race course and practical for chasing sportive personal bests, and there's an eTap version too. It's one of three eTap HRD-equipped bikes from BMC for 2019, so if you want something more endurance-orientated or more of a conventional race bike, they've got you covered too.

Trek Émonda SLR 9 Disc eTap — £9,300

2019 Trek Émonda SLR 9 Disc eTap

Trek has just introduced the Émonda SLR 9 Disc eTap as a 2019 model complete bike in the US, but if you want one in the UK right now you can get it through Trek's Project One customisation program, so you can have it in a wild range of colours for an additional cost. Given the Émonda is Trek's lightest frame, it makes sense to equip it with the lightest disc-brake groupset, and Trek finishes it off with Bontrager Aeolus XXX carbon wheels, Bontrager XXX bar/stem combo, and Bontrager XXX saddle.

Find a Trek dealer

Pinarello Dogma F10 Disc — ~£9,200

2018_pinarello_dogma_f10_disc.jpg

When a bike manufacturer says it thinks something all its rivals are making is unnecessary, you can be sure there's a team of engineers frantically beavering away to make it happen. In early 2017 Fausto Pinarello told Cyclingnews.com "we don't think a high-performance bike needs disc brakes", so it was no surprise when his company launched one just a few months later.

The Dogma F10 Disc isn't exactly easy to find, but it should combine the Dogma's renowned ride and handling with the stopping power of discs, as long as you don't mind Fausto Pinarello's stance that "the only people who need disc brakes are those who are heavy or are scared on long descents".

Mason Definition eTap — £4,995

2018 Mason Definition SRAM eTap Disc

Most manufacturers have chosen an ultra-high-spec carbon fibre frame, but Dom Mason focuses on meticulously-designed aluminium and steel bikes, including this version of his Definition all-rounder. Mason says: "for our multi-surface/all-season bikes, lightness is not important without a high level of durability and dependability … this is where wireless, electronic systems really win."

Read our review of the Mason Definition

Whyte Wessex SE — £5,400

2018 Whyte Wessex SE.jpg

The Wessex is a long-time road.cc favourite for its versatility and combination of road bike speed and big ride comfort. For this special edition, Whyte has gone with Easton carbon fibre wheels and FSA carbon bar, stem and seatpost.

Read our review of the Whyte Wessex

Simplon Pride Red eTap — ~£6,750

Simplon Pride Red eTap

Austrian bike maker Simplon has several models using the eTap HYD combination; this is the go-faster race-orientated aero model with some very clever features including an integrated bar and stem system and the 'Fast Thru Axle' design that retains the axle in the fork to speed up wheel changes and prevent loss and damage.

We were very impressed with the Ultegra Di2-equipped Simplon Pavo Granfondo Disc that Stu reviewed in 2017.

Merida Reacto Disc 9000-E — £5,446.20 (limited sizes)

2018 Merida Reacto Disc 9000-E.jpg

If you want an aero road bike but can't quite stretch to eight and a half grand for the Venge, below, Merida's speedy Reacto Disc is available in Europe with the eTap HYD groupset for . We tested the even spendier but utterly glorious Dura-Ace Di2 version at the end of 2017 and Mat pronounced it "a peach" that "responds beautifully to surges in effort when you're trying to get a gap, close one down or just trying to stick on the wheel of someone who's digging deep."

Felt FR2 Disc eTap — £5,349

2018 Felt FR2 DISC ETAP

One of the most affordable bikes with the eTap/disc brake combination, the Felt FR2 is by no means low-rent (and yes, a long, long way from cheap). The flagship of Felt's racing-orientated FR family, it has a high-modulus carbon fibre frame made from what Felt calls UHC Advanced + TeXtreme carbon, and rolls on Zipp wheels.

Cervelo R5 Disc eTap 2019 — £7,999

2019 Cervelo R5 eTap

Cervelo is the latest bike maker to adopt SRAM's pairing of wireless shifting and hydraulic disc brakes on this version of its high-end R5 race bike. When the latest R5 was announced in 2017, Cervelo said the objective was to improve the bike's stiffness-to-weight ratio rather than to chase gram reduction. This build comes with Zipp wheels, Cervelo's own carbon fibre bar, stem and seatpost and Fizik Antares R5 saddle.

Cannondale Synapse Carbon Disc Red eTap 2019 — £5,000

2019 Cannondale Synapse Disc eTap

Cannondale completely revamped the Synapse endurance line for 2018, tweaking every detail to make a better bike for endurance/sportive cyclists. For 2019 the selection has been expanded and now includes a less-expensive eTap model built around Cannondale's standard Synapse frame, as well as the previous Hi-Mod bike.

Read our first ride of the 2018 Cannondale Synapse: has Cannondale made the best endurance bike yet?

Read more: 2019 Cannondale Range Overview - First look at the new SystemSix, SuperSix, Synapse and CAAD X

Specialized S-Works Ruby eTap — £8,500

Specialized-S-Works-Ruby-eTap-Womens-2017-Road-Bike_98398_1_Supersize.jpg

If you want a comfortable endurance bike , Specialized offers the Roubaix and Ruby (the women’s version of the Roubaix) with eTap HRD. The Roubaix and Ruby share the same redesigned frameset with the FutureShock in the head tube providing 20mm of cushioning and revised geometry and wide tyre clearance.

Read our review of the Specialized Roubaix Expert

Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Disc 9.0 SL — £5,049

2018 Canyon ultimate cf slx disc 9 sl

You can always count on Canyon to deliver a stunning package, and the latest Ultimate dressed with Mavic Cosmic carbon clincher wheels and one-piece carbon handlebar and stem sure looks a serious race-ready package. A claimed weight of 7.4kg for a medium (and Canyon weights are usually fairly on the money) is very impressive.

Read our review of the Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Disc

Canyon Endurace Wmn CF SL Disc 9.0 Ltd — £4,549

2018 Canyon endurace cf sl 9 ltd disc wmn.jpg

One of very few women-specific bikes with the eTap/disc brake pairing (the Specialized Ruby S-Works eTap, above is another), this is one of our Tass' dream bikes after she was very impressed with the Endurace WMN CF SL Disc 8.0 in 2017. A top-flight spec includes Reynolds Assault carbon wheels with 28mm Schwalbe Pro One tyres and Canyon's double-leaf-spring seatpost for a bit of bump protection.

Focus Izalco Max Disc eTap — £5,999

2018 Focus Izalco Max Disc RED eTap

Focus pulled out all the stops when it developed the Izalco Max Disc, producing one of the lightest carbon fibre disc brake framesets with the incredibly intuitive and time-saving RAT thru-axles. Now it’s available with SRAM’s latest Red eTap HRD disc brake groupset and Focus has added a fine Zipp 302 wheelset with Continental Grand Prix SL 25mm tyres.

Want something less racy? For 2018 Focus also offers an eTap-clad version of the disc-braked Paralane endurance bike for £6,499. We were really impressed when we reviewed the 2017 Paralane Ultegra.

Read our review of the Focus Izalco Max Disc

Rose Team GF Six Disc eTap — £4,256.50

 Rose Team GF Six Disc eTap

Rose has used its endurance model, with a carbon frame, fork and thru-axles, for its all-day SRAM Red eTap HRD offering. And at under £4,300, it’s the most affordable bike with SRAM’s new groupset that we’ve yet come across. The advantage of buying from Rose, as well as the great prices, is that you can customise the specification very easily on its website. The pictured bike gets Rose’s own carbon wheels with Conti tyres and Ritchey finishing kit, but you could upgrade any of those parts as you wish.

Want something racier? Check out the X-Lite Six Disc eTap for £4,809.21.

Read more: Everything you need to know about disc brakes

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Our guides include links to websites where you can buy the featured products. Like most sites we make a small amount of money if you buy something after clicking on one of those links. We want you to be happy with what you buy, so we only include a product in a if we think it's one of the best of its kind.

As far as possible that means recommending equipment that we have actually reviewed, but we also include products that are popular, highly-regarded benchmarks in their categories.

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Road.cc buyer's guides are maintained and updated by John Stevenson. Email John with comments, corrections or queries.

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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26 comments

Avatar
rix | 5 years ago
1 like

I wonder if I am the only one who thinks that those HRD shifters are too big and ugly?

Avatar
darrenleroy replied to rix | 5 years ago
0 likes

rix wrote:

I wonder if I am the only one who thinks that those HRD shifters are too big and ugly?

 

They really are ugly in comparison to the Dura Ace shifters, aren't they? I love the wireless functionality but dislike the shifters and you can't swap the lever function. Would like it if by pressing the left lever the chain would move in the same direction ie down the cassette into a bigger gear, and vice versa with the right shifter. But you can't.

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pedalpowerDC | 5 years ago
0 likes

My eTap HRD tandem is pretty boss.

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Jonah731 | 6 years ago
0 likes

Have you ridden one though? Muppet!

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BeatPoet | 6 years ago
0 likes

The Roubaix is a seriously horrible looking bike. What on earth is going on with the bottom bracket? Focus meanwhile looks tres chic.

Avatar
Bigtwin replied to BeatPoet | 6 years ago
0 likes

BeatPoet wrote:

The Roubaix is a seriously horrible looking bike. What on earth is going on with the bottom bracket? Focus meanwhile looks tres chic.

That's not the BB, it's the optional between the frame box thingy you can put your lunch in.

Avatar
Looper35uk replied to BeatPoet | 5 years ago
0 likes

BeatPoet wrote:

The Roubaix is a seriously horrible looking bike. What on earth is going on with the bottom bracket? Focus meanwhile looks tres chic.

 

Thats not the Roubaix, thats a Ruby (Womens Bike). The triangle storage box at the bottom is an optional extra. 

Avatar
cxmad | 6 years ago
0 likes

Quote: "Focus has added a fine DT Swiss R22 wheelset with Continental Grand Prix 25mm tyres"

I'm off to the opticians, because the Focus pictured above has a Zipp 202 wheelset, with Schwalbe One tyres. Please correct me if I'm seeing things that I want to see, on what is (in my opinion) the best looking bike in the group. That aside, it might be sexier with a negative drop stem?

This is aimed at the bike builders....please fix the brake levers to the bars in a "flat" position, with the drops parallel to the ground....bikes look so much better when the hoods aren't pointing vertically upwards (the Venge and the Robaix / Ruby are "criminal" for their lever positions, which, in turn, doesn't make them look pretty).

A normal "aero" bar on the Venge would look much better than the "wavy" one too. Canyon have managed it on the Utimate, so come on Specialized...use your vast collective hive brain and make the Venge look (and ride) better.

'Nuff said.

 

Avatar
BikeJon replied to cxmad | 6 years ago
0 likes

cxmad wrote:

Quote: "Focus has added a fine DT Swiss R22 wheelset with Continental Grand Prix 25mm tyres"

I'm off to the opticians, because the Focus pictured above has a Zipp 202 wheelset, with Schwalbe One tyres. Please correct me if I'm seeing things that I want to see, on what is (in my opinion) the best looking bike in the group. That aside, it might be sexier with a negative drop stem?

This is aimed at the bike builders....please fix the brake levers to the bars in a "flat" position, with the drops parallel to the ground....bikes look so much better when the hoods aren't pointing vertically upwards (the Venge and the Robaix / Ruby are "criminal" for their lever positions, which, in turn, doesn't make them look pretty).

A normal "aero" bar on the Venge would look much better than the "wavy" one too. Canyon have managed it on the Utimate, so come on Specialized...use your vast collective hive brain and make the Venge look (and ride) better.

'Nuff said.

 

 

Also, is it 'a thing' to photograph the crank to be aligned with the chainstay now? I thought they are supposed to be horizontal, like the Giant?

Avatar
wycombewheeler replied to BikeJon | 5 years ago
0 likes
BikeJon wrote:

cxmad wrote:

Quote: "Focus has added a fine DT Swiss R22 wheelset with Continental Grand Prix 25mm tyres"

I'm off to the opticians, because the Focus pictured above has a Zipp 202 wheelset, with Schwalbe One tyres. Please correct me if I'm seeing things that I want to see, on what is (in my opinion) the best looking bike in the group. That aside, it might be sexier with a negative drop stem?

This is aimed at the bike builders....please fix the brake levers to the bars in a "flat" position, with the drops parallel to the ground....bikes look so much better when the hoods aren't pointing vertically upwards (the Venge and the Robaix / Ruby are "criminal" for their lever positions, which, in turn, doesn't make them look pretty).

A normal "aero" bar on the Venge would look much better than the "wavy" one too. Canyon have managed it on the Utimate, so come on Specialized...use your vast collective hive brain and make the Venge look (and ride) better.

'Nuff said.

 

 

Also, is it 'a thing' to photograph the crank to be aligned with the chainstay now? I thought they are supposed to be horizontal, like the Giant?

It appears that most photos are taken with the left crank missing, so the line the crank up with the chainstay to hide this. Look carefully some are not quite aligned properly. I guess this will increase chain tension as the crank is trying to rotate, not sure if that is the reason. Only the pinarello and the rose are complete bikes as far as I can tell. Canyon have even fitted a single pedal to their single crank.

Avatar
part_robot | 6 years ago
0 likes

The aero-looking bars Canyon provide are aluminium or carbon depending on the model.

Avatar
ajd | 6 years ago
1 like

Yes, the Venge Disc is ugly, but significantly less ugly than the cable braked monstrosity.

If you put normal bars on it, but *might* look passable.

No-one does aero bars as well as Canyon IMHO, but I wouldn't race on carbon bars - if you crash, your head will be full of doubts.

 

 

 

Avatar
Fluffed | 6 years ago
0 likes

IDK what's going on with the Rose, I've ridden it and it's a bit of a barge with a very isolated from the road type feel, yet with these rims which catch the wind like nobodies business (and an aero-like bar/ stem) ... and the only wheel customisations are other deep section wheels, it's weird! 

Avatar
macrophotofly | 6 years ago
0 likes

By the way, why does this article list the Focus as being £7,199 but if I go to the Focus review you linked above, there is this,

"There are two versions available. The lightest, and most expensive, is a model with a SRAM Red drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes, and Zipp 202 carbon fibre wheels. It weighs a claimed 6.8kg but costs £4,699" ?

Avatar
David Arthur @d... replied to macrophotofly | 6 years ago
0 likes

macrophotofly wrote:

By the way, why does this article list the Focus as being £7,199 but if I go to the Focus review you linked above, there is this,

"There are two versions available. The lightest, and most expensive, is a model with a SRAM Red drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes, and Zipp 202 carbon fibre wheels. It weighs a claimed 6.8kg but costs £4,699" ?

 

Because that review was for a 2016 model bike and came out before the 2017 range was announced - the review is purely linked there as a bit of relevant content and while it doesn't feature the new SRAM groupset, it gives an indication of the Izalco Max Disc performance just in case it's a bike someone might be interested in and want's to know more

Avatar
macrophotofly | 6 years ago
0 likes

Trying to work out what makes the Venge look so bad. I think a great degree of it starts with the ugly transistion from handbar to stem to steerer cap to frame. Irronic given aero bikes are meant to be making that area a smoother transistion.

Personally I like the Focus most, although both it and Giant are being extremely stingey with the wheels for that money. I'd want Zipp 404's minimum for that kind of dosh - so congrats to Canyon for a better specc'd bike even if it looks more like a tool the Terminator would use...  absolutely everything Black is the obviously the new Black yes

Avatar
sunnyape | 6 years ago
1 like

Fingers crossed, eTap HRD will trickle down from the RED to the Force and even Rival levels so that it lines up with prices for Ultegra Di2. That's the price / quality threshold for my needs.

Avatar
David Arthur @d... replied to sunnyape | 6 years ago
0 likes

sunnyape wrote:

Fingers crossed, eTap HRD will trickle down from the RED to the Force and even Rival levels so that it lines up with prices for Ultegra Di2. That's the price / quality threshold for my needs.

 

I'd say that's a nailed on certainty, given SRAM's history of very quickly trickling down top-end tech to its more affordable groupsets. Might be some time though given this new groupset is only just appearing and we can't get our hands on it to review yet

Avatar
macbob | 6 years ago
0 likes

I think the wheel options on the Rose are disappointing.

The CDX is a "marathon" bike in the Rose range - a sensible "endurance" set of wheels from someone like DT Swiss could have reduced the price to well below £4000 - less than half the price of most of the bikes here. And still kept the total weight to a little over 7 kilos.

Considering the trade price of SRAM eTap HRD, most of the bikes here look seriously overpriced.

 

Avatar
700c | 6 years ago
1 like

The Giant looks good. All suit the 'cable free' look and clean lines with the disc brakes,  (which I find unnecessary but accept I'm in the minority).

 

 

Avatar
themuffle | 6 years ago
2 likes

Wow that Venge is seriously ugly. I would be embarressed if I was Specialized and saw it below that lovely Giant. I mean really, who cares if it is ever so slightly quicker over 50 miles, it is horrid!

Avatar
check12 replied to themuffle | 6 years ago
2 likes

Boo hiss

 

njmoffat wrote:

Wow that Venge is seriously ugly. I would be embarressed if I was Specialized and saw it below that lovely Giant. I mean really, who cares if it is ever so slightly quicker over 50 miles, it is horrid!

Avatar
Jonah731 replied to themuffle | 6 years ago
0 likes

njmoffat wrote:

Wow that Venge is seriously ugly. I would be embarressed if I was Specialized and saw it below that lovely Giant. I mean really, who cares if it is ever so slightly quicker over 50 miles, it is horrid!

 

Almost as bad as your grammar!  Spell Checker for this man please!

Avatar
fennesz | 6 years ago
2 likes

For my money, the Focus or the Giant.  The Spesh Roubaix looks like it's been designed by my kids.

Avatar
PaulBox replied to fennesz | 6 years ago
1 like

fennesz wrote:

The Spesh Roubaix looks like it's been designed by my kids.

More likely for your Mrs, it's the Ruby I think.

Avatar
steviemarco | 6 years ago
1 like

Well done chaps laugh

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