Revamped SRAM Rival Group Goes 22 Speed, Gains Hydraulic Disc & Rim Brake Options

All new Rival brings hydraulic braking down to SRAM’s mid-level road bike group with a fresh aesthetic and performance updates.

They said idea wasn’t to simply trickle down Red’s pro rider features and tech in a cheaper, heavier package, rather it was to create a group that met the different needs of enthusiasts. But, it needed to bring the performance features of the 22 speed groups and have the durability to last a long, long time while being ridden hard and put away dirty.

So, it got the obvious upgrade to an 11-speed cassette and the corresponding chainrings, but it also gained Hydro R brake options, WiFli and pretty much did end up taking most of Red’s tech in the process…

The crankset has forged aluminum arms with hidden bolts holding the X Glide R chainrings. They’re forged aluminum with heavy shaping to make the chainrings very stiff for crisp shifting.

Basic specs and options are:

• 165/167.5/170/172.5/175 lengths
• 110 BCD for all chainring combos
• 52/36 – 50/34 – 46/36
• GXP, Pressfit, BB30, PressFit 30 bottom brackets

The front derailleur gains SRAM’s trim-free YAW technology and includes a chain spotter.

The rear derailleur will be offered in short cage for cassettes up to 28T and mid cage up to 32T.

The mechanical shifter levers use the exact same internals as Red, so shifting performance will feel identical. That means DoubleTap, ZeroLoss and Reach Adjust for both brake levers and shift paddle. Both levers are alloy, which is where the cost savings come from.

The Rival 22 Hydro-R also share the same shifting internals and completely revamped hydraulic master cylinder. Cost concessions come from using stainless steel hardware rather than alloy, and alloy levers rather than carbon, but they keep the SwissStop pads. They’ll be available in standard and moto hose routing.

The drivetrain offers their WiFLi wide range 11-32 cassette with full usability across the entire range in both chainrings, which was a big premise of SRAM’s move to 11-speed rear ends. Cassette is the PG-1130 model that’s been in the line and offers 11-26 (260g), 11-28 (271g) and 11-32 (310g)

Chain is PC1130 with chrome hardened pins and nickel silver plated outer links, which they say is by far the best featured chain you’ll find in this price group. It’s an important part of a group that’s aimed at people that’ll ride the same bike again and again with minimal maintenance.

Should you choose mechanical calipers, the brakes were opened up to accept up to 28c tires and upgrade to a dual pivot design, but the geometry of them have changed to have a better angle of attack on wider rims. Or opt for the new Rival Hydro-R rim brakes for even more power.

Hydraulic rim brake calipers get the same quick release feature, tool free contact point adjust and 28c tire clearance as the Red models. Again, just hardware changes, and same story for the disc brake calipers. The Rival mechanical rim calipers have had a dual pivot design, but the geometry of them have changed to have a better angle of attack on wider rims.

Centerline rotors were introduced with the new SRAM Guide mountain bike brakes and are used across the road line.

SRAM RIVAL 22 ACTUAL WEIGHTS & PRICING

Crankset is 736g without the spindle (it’s all they had available – claimed weights are 860g for BB30 and 844g for GXP, both with 50/34 chainrings), mechanical shifter levers are 339g for the pair and cassette was 262g

Front derailleur is 81g (88g claimed with chain spotter), short cage rear is 179g and medium cage rear is 191g.

Mechanical brake calipers are 155g and 158g, rotors are 91g (140mm) and 112g (160mm). They did not have the Hydro-R bits loose, only installed on a  bike.

The mechanical group will be available first of July, hydraulic parts follow very shortly thereafter. Retail price for the full mechanical group went down a bit over last year, coming in at $761 USD with GXP and $792 with BB30. The Rival Hydro-R shifter levers come packaged with either the rim brakes for $334 or disc brakes for $384 per wheel, and rotors are $44 (140mm) and $55 (160mm) each. SRAM recommends 160 for road and 140 for off road (gravel, cyclocross, etc.). That puts complete Hydro-R groups at:

• Rival 22 w/ GXP / Hydro-R Rim / 160mm rotors- $1,202
• Rival 22 w/ BB30 / Hydro-R Rim / 160mm rotors – $1,233
• Rival 22 w/ GXP / Hydro-R Disc / 160mm rotors – $1,302
• Rival 22 w/ BB30 / Hydro-R Disc / 160mm rotors – $1,333

SRAM.com