Spencer reviews the latest SRAM Rival XPLR groupset with thirteen – yes, thirteen – gears. He thinks this is the actual best use of the UDH full mount design, with apologies to everyone who enjoyed standing on their derailleurs. Read on to find out what the groupset nails and what misses the mark…
Every time I get a press release for a new groupset, it makes my f*cking head spin. Distilling the info dump into something digestible for even a Radar post here will probably wind up taking as long as writing an actual review. So many options, permutations, numbers, acronyms, and tech jargon. The Rival XPLR AXS group was released as a deluge of updates to the Force and Rival level components. The XPLR variation is SRAM’s gravel-focused corner of the Rival system, with a wider gear range and 1x-specific cranks for the modern gravel scene.
The internet is teeming with information and opinions about the slew of groupsets from SRAM over the past few years that integrate the hangerless UDH mount. Famously, almost everyone (except us) stood on the derailleur to show how robust the mount was when it was released. Amid concerns about ruining frames, increasing homogeneity, and patenting of derailleur style, the bike world was up in arms and divided. However you come down on the issue, UDH is here to stay, and I think there are plenty of merits to its design. I was initially enthralled by the ability to shift under load when I first rode a Transmission-equipped bike, but now I see where that stiff and solid mount truly shines: keeping 13 speeds indexed properly.
Rival XPLR AXS Quick Hits
- $1240 as reviewed
- Full Mount to UDH
- 13 speeds
- Flattop chain
- Updated brake design to reduce effort when braking
- 10-46t 13 speed cassette
- 1x Specific
- Weights:
- Cassette: 387 grams
- Crankset (w/ 40t chainring and power meter): 758 grams
- Derailleur: 438 grams
- Shifters: 217 grams each
What Rival XPLR Gets Right
The new Rival XPLR AXS groupset nails the tight tolerances needed to facilitate a 13-speed drivetrain. I had no issues with micro adjustments during my review period, and I was constantly adjusting my legacy Eagle AXS derailleurs. The adoption of Full Mount for these road and gravel groupsets feels like the ideal use of the UDH design and makes all the previous marketing stunts feel superfluous.
SRAM upgraded the design of the new Rival levers to reduce the amount of force needed to actuate the brakes, and they knocked it out of the park. The lever action is light, smooth, and the braking power is surprisingly powerful. I could easily lock up either wheel with just my pointer and middle fingers from the hood, leaving the rest of my fingers to hold the bars. This allowed me to stay in my preferred riding position even when the utmost lever control was needed for technical riding. The shifter hoods incorporate two dashed markers to help make sure your levers are mounted level as well. The carbon lever blades look sweet and probably save a few grams. I can finally lay to rest my complaints about SRAM drop bar hydraulic brakes. Bravo, y’all.
Like everything in the SRAM AXS system, it all plays together wirelessly, and that is wonderful. Mix and match all the drop bar and mountain bike shit you want, it will all talk. Put your hands down, friction shifting fans, we see you.
The tight jumps between the 13 speeds spread across the 10-46t range created a delightfully nuanced experience. After spending my last few years on the larger range of 10-52 cassettes across 9-12 speed variations, I have forgotten the pleasure of a shift creating an incremental but noticeable jump. I never found myself stuck between two gears, feeling spun out in one and pushing too hard in the other.
Speaking of pushing hard, the Rival crankset I reviewed featured their Quarq power meter. Like all things in the AXS system, it seamlessly paired to my Karoo Hammerhead and told me just how few watts these tired ole legs were putting out. It worked great, despite disappointing results due to my lack of power.
The bottom bracket and crank interface revolves around the SRAM DUB standard, which is anything but a standard, but better than much anything else we’ve got (besides square taper). I was able to easily look up the proper chart for spindle and cup spacers, though I had to use a local shop to supplement the specific pairing of spacers (2.5mm and 5.5mm) as they were outside the standard allotment that comes with the DUB bottom bracket.
Where Rival XPLR Missed the Mark
While SRAM claims the Rival cranks are their most technically advanced alloy cranksets, they are, in my opinion, aesthetically ugly. I wish SRAM would stop making cranks that look like some bastard child of a Batmobile. Just make them clean and simple. This is purely a cosmetic critique here; they worked flawlessly.
The only demerit you get for not going with Force shifters is the lack of secondary buttons on the top of the hood. Are they unnecessary? Almost certainly. Do I enjoy shifting with my pinkies and thumbs when I can? I do.
Pros
- Incredible leverage and braking feel with new levers
- Ease of wireless pairing and AXS system support
- Smooth jumps between the whole cassette while retaining a wide range
- Full mount hangerless interface pairs nicely with the tight tolerances needed for 13-speeds
Cons
- Ugly cranks
- We probably don’t need 13 speeds