SRAM has updated its Force AXS and Rival AXS groupsets in both 2x road and XPLR gravel configurations with design features and technology first introduced to its top-level Red lineups last year. SRAM boasts that the new systems offer one-finger braking, improved ergonomics, faster shifting, and lighter weight, all at more accessible price points. That’s ‘more accessible’ than SRAM Red; a SRAM Rival AXS groupset, without a power meter, is still over £1,500 at full RRP.
> Read our review of the all new 2025 SRAM Rival AXS groupset, and watch the video below
“The new innovations that we introduced with Red have been out of reach for many of the riders who would benefit from them most,” says SRAM’s road product manager JP McCarthy. “We’re bringing SRAM’s latest innovations in comfort, control and gearing to these riders who are every bit as discerning and demanding as Red riders. Force and Rival AXS deliver the same ride experience as Red.
“Removing barriers for riders has been the essence of SRAM’s innovations. These new groups simplify shifting, make it easier to brake, and deliver wider and more functional gearing.”
In short, SRAM is trickling tech that it introduced at the top in 2024 down to its next two groupset levels, while introducing a few new features. It also says that its new systems are lighter than options from competitor brands.
We have a review of the new SRAM Rival AXS groupset here on road.cc, so check that out too for everything related to performance. Here, we’ll be giving you an overview of the updated ranges.
Find out about new SRAM Force XPLR AXS and SRAM Rival XPLR AXS, which both go to 13-speed, over on off.road.cc.
A bit of context
Just so we’re all up to speed, SRAM’s hierarchy of electronic road groupsets (starting at the top) goes: Red, Force, Rival, and Apex
SRAM introduced new Red AXS as “the lightest electronic groupset ever” last May.
> Read our SRAM Red AXS review
SRAM uses the same hierarchy on the gravel side of things, but gives the components an XPLR suffix. SRAM introduced new Red XPLR components last August.
> SRAM Red XPLR AXS groupset review
HRD Shift-Brake System
With the launch of the latest Red AXS, SRAM made a lot of its new hood shape and the ease of one-finger braking, and Stu Kerton was impressed by the improvement in his review here on road.cc. Now the new hood ergonomics have been brought over to Force and Rival.
> Check out what Stu said about the SRAM Red lever shape in our review
SRAM reckons that the new design requires 80% less effort when braking from the hoods and 33% less effort when braking from the drops over the previous system.
The shift paddles and hoods are textured, and with Force (but not Rival) you also get the Bonus Buttons that were introduced with the latest SRAM Red update, offering you a secondary shift option or the ability to control a connected ANT+ device. You can set them to swipe between pages on a compatible bike computer, for example.
“The improvements made resulted from over four years of rider feedback, giving an even wider range of riders the same level of comfort and control while also eliminating the possibility of finger pinch under hard braking,” says SRAM.
Reach adjustment for smaller hands takes seconds with a 2.5mm hex key (hidden behind a little cover at the top of the brake lever), and each pair of levers is lighter than previously, saving 75g from the last iteration of Force, and 64g on Rival.
The use of markings on the hood covers has also been carried over from Red.
“If you set these markings horizontal, that sets the top of the hood at about a 7° angle, which was the design intent,” says JP McCarthy. “A lot of riders will go higher or lower, but we want to provide the best out-of-the-box experience. It’s just an example of one of the details that we wanted to include to make things easier to set up.”
Front Derailleur
SRAM says that front shifting has been upgraded at both Force and Rival levels thanks to design cues taken from top-level Red.
First, the new front derailleurs get narrower cages for faster gear changes. SRAM says that the difference is especially noticeable on outboard shifts (to the bigger chainring) and when shifting under a lot of power.
Second, SRAM has added auto trim to the Force AXS and Rival AXS systems to eliminate chain rub/rasp on the front derailleur cage as you shift across the cassette.
Finally, SRAM has developed a new setup tool in conjunction with the front derailleur to help you get everything dialled in correctly.
The front derailleur is compatible with 46/33, 48/35, andd 50/37-tooth chainring combos.
Crankset
SRAM says that its new Force Crankset is lighter and stiffer than previously, and that shifting performance has been improved. You’d have guessed all that, wouldn’t you?
“Shift performance has been drastically improved for Force and Rival, taking all the improvements and updates made with Red and the Red front derailleur,” says JP McCarthy. “Besides looking amazing, the new rings and cranks are significantly lighter than the previous generation. Force saves about 33g in a power meter format, and 92g in a non-power format. Rival saves about 50g.
“Rival now has a chainring set machined from one piece of billet, the way we do for Red and Force, which makes it stiffer, vastly improves the appearance and is so much lighter than having a spider.”
The Force carbon fibre cranksets have been redesigned and have a sculpted appearance, while the aluminium Rival cranks have had a complete overhaul with material removed to save weight.
“We’ve listened to the market,” says JP McCarthy. “Nobody actually said, ‘Hey, I just want a hole in that crank’, but we had the benefit of some developments on our mountain bike side, where we had put a hole in the X0 arm and made a lighter crank. We really love the aesthetics, and made a lighter crankset than the previous generation.”
You can choose between 46/33 and 48/35-tooth chainring combos at both Rival and Force AXS levels, and Force AXS gets an additional 50/37-tooth option, SRAM sticking with the X-Range gearing it has been using for the past few years.
The cranks come in 160, 165, 170, 172.5, and 175mm options.
If you’d prefer a 1x system to keep things simpler or save a little weight, the Force 1 Crankset uses the same cranks but pairs them with direct mount single chainrings from 44-tooth up to 50-tooth.
Power Meter
Power measurement has become big business for SRAM over the past few years.
“Power is expected to come at this level, especially in 2x,” says JP McCarthy. “For this generation of product, OEM [original equipment manufacturer] specifications reflect 85% subscription to power meter for Force in 2x, and it’s greater than 50% now with Rival for 2x.
“The new Force power meter builds on the stability and accuracy of the Red integrated power meter and now provides riders at the core of the market with even more options for customisation and serviceability.”
The new Force power meter allows you to thread chainrings on and off in 46/33 48/35 and 50/37-tooth combinations, so you tune them to the riding you’re doing and replace them if they ever wear out.
This is a change from previously, where the power meter was fully integrated with the chainrings, meaning the power meter needed to be replaced when the chainrings wore out.
If you want to go 1x, the Force 1 AXS Aero power meter is fully integrated into the chainring. SRAM says this makes it the lightest and stiffest power meter option for Force.
A power meter at a second price point is new for Force 2x. It uses one-piece non-power chainrings with a spindle-based power meter that uses left-side power to calculate total watts.
Both Rival AXS and Rival 1 AXS power meters are spindle-based.
As previously, SRAM claims that power readings are accurate to within +/-1.5% regardless of temperature changes. Crank lengths and chainring options are the same as for the non-power meter cranksets.
Rear Derailleur
“As we saw throughout the spring classics this year, chain management is crucial for the road,” says JP McCarthy. “While the average rider doesn’t race on cobbles and likely avoids the roughest terrain on skinny tyres, the benefits of chain management are always present and ensure that the chain and derailleur are always where you want them.
“Both Force and Rival, deliver reliable and dependable chain management for a quiet and secure drivetrain, spring clutches in each derailleur keep things in place over the roughest terrains and steepest climbs.
“Shift when and how you want with the rear derailleur cage keeping tension on the chain, keeping the drivetrain quiet and secure, and the front derailleur trims based on the position of the rear derailleur. This sets us apart from other road drivetrains and gives riders confidence over any terrain.
SRAM says that the Force rear derailleur’s new lighter cage brings the weight down a touch – it’s 12g lighter than its predecessor – and that larger X-SYNC pulleys (jockey wheels) increase drivechain efficiency.
For both Force AXS and Rival AXS, there is one rear derailleur for all cassette sizes from 10-28 to 10-36-tooth.
Chain
SRAM’s Flattop chains are still compatible with 12-speed road and 13-speed XPLR AXS dropbar groupsets, but they’ve been made lighter than before.
Like the Red option, the Force chain now has cut-outs in both the inner and outer link plates to lower the weight. It’s also available in purple, if you’re feeling funky.
The Rival chain has cut-outs in just its outer plates.
Cassette
As previously, SRAM’s Force 12-speed cassette is available in 10-28T, 10-30T, 10-33T or 10-36T range. It works with SRAM’s XDR driver body.
SRAM Rival options are 10-30T and 10-36T
The new Force AXS and Rival AXS components are compatible with the previous generation.
SRAM has also introduced new 13-speed Force XPLR AXS and Rival XPLR AXS groupsets for gravel. Find out about those over on off.road.cc.
Prices
SRAM Force AXS groupset with power meter
Power meter, 48/35T chainrings £765
Shift-brake system, left £340
Shift-brake system, right £340
Rear derailleur £330
Front derailleur £240
Cassette £190
Chain £55
Paceline rotor £55 x 2 = £110
ETAP battery £56 x 2 = £112
ETAP battery charger and cord £46
Total £2,528
SRAM Force AXS groupset without power meter
As above, except with a standard chainset (£405) instead of the power meter model (£765), saving £360 and bringing the total down to £2,168.
SRAM Rival AXS groupset with power meter
Power meter, 48/35T chainrings £340
Shift-brake system, left £250
Shift-brake system, right £250
Rear derailleur £285
Front derailleur £170
Cassette £118
Chain £40
Paceline rotor £55 x 2 = £110
ETAP battery £56 x 2 = £112
ETAP battery charger and cord £46
Total £1,721
SRAM Rival AXS groupset without power meter
As above, except with a standard chainset (£195) instead of the power meter model (£340), saving £145 and bringing the total down to £1,576.
Weights
SRAM claims the following groupset weights:
Force AXS 2x 2,776g
(with a Thread Mount power meter, 48/35-tooth chainrings, and a 10-30T cassette)
Rival AXS 2x 2,993g
(with power meter, 48/35-tooth chainrings, and a 10-30T cassette)
