SRAM Rival AXS on test: The most advanced affordable gravel drivetrain currently available?

This road bike season is all about new components: All three major manufacturers are launching new groupsets on the market. For gravel bikes and road racers, from very affordable to luxurious: we have the Campagnolo Super Record 13 (Test)the Shimano cues and also the SRAM Force AXS already tested. And the SRAM Rival AXS. Read on to find out more.

SRAM Rival AXS - 13 for the people

The Rival Group, which was presented in 2021 as the third series behind Red (Test) and Force (Test) in the SRAM programme, was intended to make electronic shifting accessible to a wide audience at the time and give the Americans additional market share. Not much came of it, as competitor Shimano responded quickly with the 105 Di2, which was lighter and slightly cheaper and, in retrospect, much more successful on road racing bikes. On the other hand, the Rival was more frequently found on gravel bikes; here it actually marked the entry into the world of electronic shifting, and the option of being able to operate the transmission without a front derailleur was more in keeping with the spirit of the times. The latest generation change at SRAM could now contribute to the Americans finally gaining the upper hand when it comes to equipping gravel bikes.

This is because Shimano currently has nothing to counter the attractive 1x13 option, which the Rival also offers. Gravel bike transmissions with only one chainring are in vogue, even if they force you to make compromises, such as a smaller gear range or coarser gradation. Because off the tarmac, riding is slower overall, but with greater differences in speed, this is less of a problem. Advantages such as easy handling, space for wider tyres and a lower susceptibility to defects can then outweigh the disadvantages. With an additional sprocket, SRAM is now further weakening the main counter-argument. A few years ago, the Campagnolo Ekar already showed that 13 sprockets, correctly stepped, fulfil the vast majority of requirements. Until now, however, such gears were reserved for high-end bikes. With the Rival, complete bikes should be available from 3000 euros in the future; at the market launch, online shops were already offering the groupset for a good 1000 euros.

The striking aluminium crank with cut-out and the voluminous rear derailleur with many plastic parts look very unique, but by no means cheap. The shape of the new grips is based on Red and Force and are greatly enhanced with carbon brake levers. However, they lack the bonus button on the inside, which we think is a shame. The gravel drivetrain concept includes a special rear derailleur that is mounted directly on the thru-axle in the UDH standard. It sits rock-solid, works very precisely, is robust and very easy to adjust. The days of bent or torn derailleur hangers are also over. The only disadvantage: the frame must be prepared for this; older bikes cannot be retrofitted.

One cassette, several sheets

There is only one cassette with 10-46 teeth for the SRAM single-speed drivetrains. Fine-tuning is done via the chainring, which is available in steps of two from 38 to 46 teeth; even larger rings can be fitted. The gradation, combined with a 40-tooth chainring on our test bike, is suitable for many applications and also allows for very easy climbing. However, we could also imagine a slightly narrower gradation option for a sportier riding style - especially because 1x13 could then also be an option on a road bike.

In practice, it is astonishing how similar the new Rival has become to the Red: the powerful brakes, the ergonomics, the precise shifting behaviour - functionally, there is hardly any difference. The Rival groupset thus takes a huge step forward in the renovated SRAM portfolio. Of course, the groupset is heavier than the Red, the rear derailleur weighs almost 500 grams, the crank 750 grams. Complete bikes will weigh around nine kilograms. A similarly priced bike with mechanical Shimano GRX gears should be somewhat lighter. However, in view of its functional advantages and the much more modern impression of the Rival XPLR, many prospective customers might prefer a bike equipped with SRAM in this price range. Even a power meter is integrated into the crank: Although the device hidden in the bottom bracket shaft only measures on the left, it only costs an extra 180 euros.

Individual weights SRAM Rival AXS XPLR

• Rear derailleur: 465 g
• Cassette: 388 g
• Chain: 277 g
• Crankset: 746 g
• Inner bearing: 82 g
• Shift/brake lever and brakes: 767 g
• Brake discs: 277 g
• Sum: 3002 g

New for the road: SRAM Rival 2x12

The road bike version of the Rival also benefits from the extensive update of the SRAM components. The new levers, brakes and cranks correspond to those of the tested XPLR groupset. Like the more expensive SRAM groupsets, the double version now runs with integrated chainrings; both are made from one piece and can only be replaced completely. The groupset has become 50 grams lighter. Only 46/33 and 48/35 teeth are available as chainring combinations for the Rival. However, the Rival AXS derailleur is also compatible with the Force's larger 50/37 chainring combination. It also has an auto-trim function and should shift just as quickly and precisely as the more expensive derailleurs. A more sporty (10-30) and a wider range cassette (10-36) are available for the Rival in combination with the double cranks. In terms of price, weight and number of gears, it competes directly with Shimano's bestseller 105 Di2: the component group costs just over 1000 euros, complete bikes start at around 3000 euros.