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Hands on: Actual weight of the new SRAM Force eTap AXS 2×12 road group

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It’s been an exciting year for new 12 speed groups – for both road and mountain. On the road side, one of the biggest introductions has been the new SRAM Force eTap AXS group. Essentially a more affordable version of the SRAM RED eTap AXS group, the Force edition brings improved wireless shifting to a more affordable level. This Force group ended up being the catalyst of a new project built (hinted at by the title photo), but first, let’s check in on the group itself.

Hands on: Actual weight of the new SRAM Force eTap AXS 2x12 road group

Starting at the controls, each Force eTap AXS shifter came in at 238g. As part of the AXS family, the shifters feature hydraulic brake levers and single buttons for the wireless electronic shifting operated by an internal coin cell battery. The biggest difference between SRAM RED and Force shifters is the addition of a second Blip port on the RED shifters for a total of 4 (Force has two), and different materials for the lever blade.

Hands on: Actual weight of the new SRAM Force eTap AXS 2x12 road group Hands on: Actual weight of the new SRAM Force eTap AXS 2x12 road group

SRAM Force opts for a two piece caliper design instead of the monobloc calipers found on RED, which results in weights of 166g and 180g for the front and rear brake respectively with full length hoses, 160mm rotor adapters with hardware, and a pad spacer. Pro Tip: when you’re ready to connect the hoses and bleed the system, you’ll need a newer SRAM Bleed Kit that includes the Bleeding Edge connector for the caliper bleed port.

Hands on: Actual weight of the new SRAM Force eTap AXS 2x12 road group

Opting to run 160mm rotors front and rear for this build, the six bolt Centerline XR (CLX-R) rotor is the same that you’ll find with the SRAM RED group and weighs in at 117g per rotor without hardware. It’s also available in Centerlock, with both options offered in 140mm or 160mm sizes.

If you’re not into disc brakes there is also a SRAM Force eTap group with mechanical levers for rim or mechanical disc brakes.

Hands on: Actual weight of the new SRAM Force eTap AXS 2x12 road group

I’ve been spending a lot of time on 1x groups lately, but for this build I wanted the range of 2x – plus I just wanted to try the full set up. Not to mention if I want to switch to 1x, I can just ditch the front derailleur and run up to a 33t cassette on the same rear derailleur, though that certainly wouldn’t provide the same range. Checking in at 199g with a 31.8mm front derailleur clamp adapter, the derailleur was weighed with the rechargeable battery which is the same for all eTap groups.

Hands on: Actual weight of the new SRAM Force eTap AXS 2x12 road group

The rear derailleur also uses the same battery, and weighed in at 325g. Keeping things simple, for now there is only one rear derailleur model that will fit up to 33t cassettes in 1x or 2x configurations. Here an aluminum cage and steel pulley bearings are used which add a tiny bit to the overall weight of the group.

Hands on: Actual weight of the new SRAM Force eTap AXS 2x12 road group

For the gearing, I opted for the lowest gearing possible since I would be riding somewhat loaded and for the most part it was a good decision – but more on that in the next post. At the crank that meant the use of a 46/33t chainring combo and this crankset is equipped with the AXS Power Meter. All in, 807g gets you a 2x crank with 172.5 arms and power.

Hands on: Actual weight of the new SRAM Force eTap AXS 2x12 road group

Add in a SRAM DUB bottom bracket to complete the crankset, and you’re looking at another 73g for a BSA threaded BB.

Hands on: Actual weight of the new SRAM Force eTap AXS 2x12 road group

Out back, I again skewed towards the low side with a 10-33t XG-1270 cassette. This gets you the same high range as the 10-26 and 10-28t cassettes, but with bigger jumps at the top end of the cassette to get up to the 33t cog – 10,11,12,13,14,15,17,19,21,24,28,33. The cassette weighs in at 266g and it requires the new-ish XDR freehub body which is 1.85mm longer than an XD freehub.

Hands on: Actual weight of the new SRAM Force eTap AXS 2x12 road group

To finish off the drivetrain, you need a chain. Specifically the new SRAM Force (or SRAM RED) Flattop chain. The CN-FRC-D1 is Hard Chrome plated with solid pins and weighs in at 259g uncut. Note that it’s weighed with the new Flattop Powerlock which is also specific to the new chain design. Protip: not all chaintools are compatible with the new Flattop chains, so make sure you have the right tool before diving into your build.

Complete group weight

All in with the product combinations above, you’re looking at roughly 2985g. That of course is with full length brake hoses, an unbled brake system, uncut chain, and with a few pieces of missing hardware like rotor mounting bolts.

Next up is the story behind the build along with all of the parts chosen. Stay tuned!

sram.com

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22 Comments
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Pinko
Pinko
4 years ago

Does it matter how much it weight if it is STILL unreliable? Look at what happened at Giro d’Italia or search for mollema sram….

TheKaiser
4 years ago
Reply to  Pinko

I’ve seen that 7 or 8 second vid of Mollema with his rear derailleur jumping around, but everyone seems to be talking about a vid where you can hear him yelling “f-ing sram!”. Is there something or another vid I’m missing?

Cyclette
Cyclette
4 years ago
Reply to  TheKaiser

Search Mollema sram

Rekt23
Rekt23
4 years ago
Reply to  Pinko

@pinko- do u know the whole story since ur claiming this group”still” isn’t reliable? A little 2 second sound bite isn’t a tag to hang reliability upon. If that’s the case, no one would be riding tubulars since our buddy LA watched his rival break a hip on a heated descent in the Tour.

roadstain
4 years ago

So, heavier and as if not more costly than Campagnolo Super Record….I will stick with Campy on the road thanks. (SRAM off road – for now)

JohnnieSparkles
4 years ago
Reply to  roadstain

So, by any measure S-Record EPS ($4900) is more expensive than Force ($3200) and even a tad bit more than Red ($3650). Oh, and both SRAM systems come with powermeters. As for weight, Campy = 2505g, Force = 2812g, Red = 2518g.

But hey, Campy is super-sexy, shifts like crap, and the braking sucks until you replace the pads.

Velo Kitty
Velo Kitty
4 years ago

807 g for the crankset w/ power meter? A bare Ultegra R8000 compact crankset is about 674 g, so that’s a pretty hefty penalty.

What happened to the weight savings from moving to smaller chainrings? Oh wait, I forgot.. It was done to make SRAM AXS incompatible with other manufacturers’ components.

TimE
TimE
4 years ago
Reply to  Velo Kitty

have you actually weighed the Shimano Crank? Its a lot heavier with rings and both arms. closer to 790grams. Compare apples to apples please

Velo Kitty
Velo Kitty
4 years ago
Reply to  TimE

I’ve weighed my Dura Ace R9100 crankset. It was 621 g.

qba
qba
4 years ago
Reply to  TimE

Ultegra real weight approx 700g for complete crankset

Heffe
Heffe
4 years ago

SRAM could have very easily released mechanical 12 speed groups, particularly a 1X drivetrain for gravel applications. Pure arrogant dickishness to force, as it were, people into their electronic ecosystem. Very Shimano-like!

blahblahblah
blahblahblah
4 years ago
Reply to  Heffe

what are you talking about you can have shimano any way you like it

Huffagnolo SuperMagna
Huffagnolo SuperMagna
4 years ago
Reply to  Heffe

Nobody from Shimano forced anything though the Di2 did put my account in the red briefly but I went over the apex happily and now I XO it and it would take the claws of an eagle to take it from me! Get a grip(shift), homeslice, Shimano doesn’t have to be your rival.

Thank you thank you, I will be here till Thursday, try the Phil Grease

JohnnieSparkles
4 years ago
Reply to  Heffe

According to Pioneer (kinda hard to find a Shimano dual-sided powermeter), theirs weighs 853g. So they’re pretty competitive. Which is kinda stupid because I can *still* get a bike down to the 14# range with either.

Guy
Guy
4 years ago

What’s the frame in that top image?

Guy
Guy
4 years ago
Reply to  Guy

Why Cycles Pure Road (if the hover text is to be believed, and I believe it is)

Eggs Benedict
Eggs Benedict
4 years ago

They should have designed the front derailleur so the battery protruded out the front, and not the back as it is. It would offer better tire clearance.

Reagan Evans
Reagan Evans
4 years ago

Mollema, Porte, Degenkolb. They’ve all had issues with it in big races that have cost them places. Too busy trying to be woke in marketing over testing products.

Douglas Dye
Douglas Dye
4 years ago

I have used Red eTap for two years without a hitch. Way easier to install and makes traveling with the bike a breeze to pack for a plane ride.

Paul Chuck
Paul Chuck
4 years ago

I have 2 bikes with 11spd ETap and one with AXS and have had ZERO issues. With AXS being programmable via phone apps SRAM brings updates to your doorstep effortlessly.

ANTOINE DELMUR
ANTOINE DELMUR
4 years ago

I am in the process to build a custom 1X11 titanium bike.
I wanted to put some regular sram force but now I am thinking about upgrading to sram force Etap to get 12 speed, easier assembling, being able to future proof in case I need a 2x

To cut the costs, I would like to know a few questions.
Could you help me ?

Can you buy just the right shifter, rear derailleur, cassette and chain ?
Do you need any other part from this Groupset to work ?
I would buy separately a the non axs sram force left lever and front and rear brake.
Can you set only the right shifter to change speed up and down with the app or is there any other method?

rien
rien
2 years ago
Reply to  ANTOINE DELMUR

You need a left and a right shifter for etap derailleurs. 1 for up shifting, 1 for down shifting. And in the case of a front derailleur, you use both shifters the same time.

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