If we’re being sincere, SRAM’s foray into gravel bike drivetrains has been a bit complicated. Beginning with a hydraulic “clutch” on all of their eTap AXS highway bike derailleurs, introducing “Pressure Broad” to accommodate gravel’s bigger tires, and an assortment of derailleurs that nearly required a diagram to seek out suitable cassettes, it was sufficient to make you look away.
Then, lastly, they launched a whole XPLR group that features Zipp wheels and a Rockshox Rudy fork. If the product has XPLR on it, it really works collectively. Which, in the case of drivetrains, solely actually refers back to the rear derailleur and 10-44 cassette. It’s solely suitable with 1x drivetrains, however you should use any crankset and 12-speed 1x chainring.
So, whereas every little thing can nonetheless be combined and matched, operating an Eagle 12-speed mountain bike derailleur and cassette, paddle or drop bar shifters, and so on., the XPLR “group” optimizes cage size and equipment ratios and equipment steps for the overwhelming majority of gravel conditions.
And now that I sort that out, maybe it doesn’t actually simplify it, however it follows in SRAM’s obvious logic of “let’s optimize every part for a particular, comparatively slender gear vary in order that it performs as crisply as attainable.” And with that in thoughts, right here’s my assessment…
SRAM XPLR drivetrain assessment
The SRAM XPLR teams supply two cassettes, the top-level 1271 with alloy backing plate proven right here, and a 1251 with totally pinned development. Each are 10-44 and use their XDR freehub physique.
The vary actually is the candy spot for gravel. From flat to rolling hills, it provides the precise unfold, with the flexibility to simply swap their direct-mount chainrings from 38 as much as 46 tooth to accommodate the course du jour. When you’re routinely driving large mountains and want extra vary, simply go for the Eagle AXS setup with a 10-50 as a substitute.
For comparability, the Shimano GRX teams (for now) are designed to work with 11-speed highway and mountain bike cassettes, with the latter utilizing MTB derailleurs quite than the GRX derailleur, identical as SRAM does. The Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed group has 9-36, 9-42, and 10-44, which all add a further cog for smoother gear steps on the small finish of the cassette, however the identical gear vary on the biggest cassette.
So, despite the fact that SRAM XPLR has a single cassette, the truth is you’ll be able to combine and match throughout components for nearly each model, or for Campy, select from quite a lot of cassettes and chainrings to get it the place you want it. Apples to apples, simply perhaps Pink Woman to Purple Scrumptious to Honeycrisp.
Oh, and the XPLR derailleurs are additionally suitable with SRAM’s 10-36 cassettes, too, however these aren’t branded XPLR.
Received it? Good.
The beauties of the SRAM system are the extra trim ranges and the derailleur’s hydraulic Orbit damper that’s not a clutch.
XPLR derailleurs are supplied in Rival ($269), Pressure ($369) and RED ($749). Mixed with the 2 cassette choices, there’s one thing for many budgets.
Just like the highway bike derailleurs, the Orbit is a fluid damper that merely slows the cage’s motion to forestall wild chain motion over harsh terrain. Not like a spring-loaded clutch, it’s not including stress to the system (though, like all derailleurs, the cage remains to be spring loaded to keep up applicable chain stress).
So, technically, it’s not combating the motor (as a result of all trim ranges are AXS, no mechanical choices supplied), however it’s ridiculously good at taming chain slap.
Regardless of if it’s root gardens, chunky gravel, drops, or large bunny hops, the chain stays quiet and on monitor.
The group can also be actually good at executing shifts below energy, even when driving by way of tough stuff. Easy supply, straightforward shifts, and dependable efficiency are the highlights.
The bigger, textured shift paddles make issues straightforward, even with full finger and winter gloves, and braking ergonomics are fairly good.
Out of the field, the levers are very far ahead, so I like to recommend taking the time to regulate the attain for max security and one of the best ergonomics. As soon as I had it dialed in, one-finger braking is sufficient for informal stopping, and getting two fingers into place is simple sufficient and gives greater than sufficient leverage for many conditions.
I nonetheless favor getting within the drops on quick, aggressive, and steep descents, and having the levers in straightforward attain (see above advice) is essential right here, too. Happily, SRAM’s drop bar levers have loads of adjustment vary.
General, XPLR is a dependable, well-performing group with a cornucopia of choices to suit any model of motorcycle or driving.
Rockshox Rudy XPLR & Reverb AXS assessment
With nearly each suspension model providing a gravel fork now, the Rockshox Rudy XPLR (significantly within the gloss black) has the sleekest appears to be like. It appears to be like slim and petite by comparability, with curves and features on the dropouts and arch that assist it disappear on the bike. It is a good factor.
My testing up to now has been on the 30mm journey model, which helps spotlight the Zipp wheels (preserve studying), however in all actually, simply get the 40mm journey model. Until you completely have to preserve the bottom attainable entrance finish, there’s no cause to not have a bit extra journey.
Clearance for 700x50mm tires gives all of the room anybody would want earlier than simply utilizing a mountain bike. Instrument-free cable administration appears to be like clear and means no stress over shedding a component or stripping out a tiny screw.
Controls are easy, simply flip the knob to regulate the Race Day damper’s compression damping from open to closed. Full vary rebound adjustment is on the underside with a detachable knob.
Fender mounts behind the arch work with a customized Rockshox fender, however there are additionally hidden mounts beneath the dropout for attaching a full protection fender from different manufacturers.
Flat mount brakes come from their highway bikes, no XPLR particular brakesets are supplied. The Rudy locations the calipers in place for 160mm rotors with no adapters; they’re suitable with 180mm rotors with an adapter.
Using the Rudy felt managed, and its 30mm journey labored effectively with the Zipp Moto wheel’s means to mould to the terrain (preserve studying). The most effective phrase I might consider is “supportive” whereas nonetheless opening up the bike (and me) to extra aggressive terrain.
I trip this drop-in lots on all my gravel bikes, however the management supplied with this setup let me go quicker with extra confidence. As a substitute of selecting rigorously round every root, I might simply roll by way of them, focusing extra on the exit.
With such a small quantity of journey, I didn’t miss any further compression damping controls and simply left it open on a regular basis. There’s minimal motion below spirited standing efforts as a result of, effectively, there’s minimal journey, and Rockshox’s newest damper designs and air springs do an ideal job of offering mid-stroke help. And all of it appears like “mid stroke” on such a brief journey fork.
Rebound changes are sufficient, and a pleasant function. The air spring might be tuned with quantity spacers, which is certainly price fidgeting with even right here.
What concerning the Reverb AXS XPLR?
The Reverb AXS might be one of the best factor to occur to dropper posts…for mountain bikes. The easy activation is one of the best use for wi-fi, and it’s in all probability tripled my dropper utilization.
For gravel, I like the concept of it higher than the execution, for 2 causes. First, it’s extra cumbersome than it appears to press each left and proper shift paddles concurrently, which is how the XPLR mannequin is actuated. It requires simply sufficient fingers-off-the-brakes to make it really feel uncomfortable at finest and unsafe at worst.
I discovered myself having to both anticipate utilization effectively upfront, or gradual excessively earlier than utilizing it whereas on a descent. Conventional, mechanical dropper levers positioned mid-bend on the handlebar really feel extra intuitive and comfy for me on this use case, and that they can be utilized one-handed is even higher. I really feel like SRAM can clear up this, and I hope they do, as a result of the operate of the Reverb itself is implausible.
Second, although, the “suspension” function is difficult to make use of. It requires the publish to be dropped into its journey, whilst little as 1mm, with the intention to supply some cushioning. Appears sensible, however getting it to drop only a couple millimeters such that it doesn’t alter your seated place an excessive amount of is all however unimaginable throughout regular driving. Once more, I really feel like that is one thing SRAM can discover a higher answer for, hopefully with a firmware replace, however as is, the function is simply actually exhausting to make use of efficiently.
ZIPP 101 XPLR gravel wheels assessment
The Zipp 101 XPLR gravel wheels are a narrower model of their 3 Zero MOTO mountain bike wheels, that are wonderful. They’ve the identical ground-taming profit, and the identical weight detriment, making them a wheelset that’s devastatingly efficient…with a reasonably slender use case.
Just like the MTB wheels, they use a single-wall design with “ankle flex”, basically letting them twist alongside the spoke mattress’s aircraft to adapt to the bottom beneath. The impact isn’t as dramatic because the MTB wheels as a result of they aren’t as huge (so, much less leverage from the bottom), however it’s there.
Mixed with the fork, there was a sure one thing about driving this bike that was exhausting to place a finger on, however it was simply uncannily in a position to monitor the bottom. Roots? Rocks? Crunchy corners? No downside. Traction, even with the pretty low-profile Zipp tires, was subsequent degree. It gave the bike a brand new character that made the identical outdated trails and roads extra fascinating, and let me push a bit more durable.
The caveat is, they’re heavier than every other high-end gravel wheel, so I’d solely pull these out for the precise races. Assume Grinduro, the place it’s nearly extra mountain bike race than gravel. Gnarly terrain is the place they shine, and the place they’re price the additional grams.
Ultimate ideas?
Any considered one of these components, save (and I’m pained to say this) for the Reverb AXS XPLR, are nice on their very own. Put all of them collectively (particularly the Rudy and 101 Motos) and the sum is larger than the components. The flexibility of their drivetrain components to be combined and matched is larger than both of their rivals’ collections, even when they do generally take a bit further analysis to kind out.
I’ve been driving all of those on and off (I’ve a whole lot of bikes) for a bit over a 12 months, in moist, dry, chilly, and sizzling situations they usually’ve held up admirably. Usually I’ve had no undue sturdiness points with any of the SRAM stuff I’ve examined and suspect these will proceed to trip robust for years to return.
