SRAM’s Rival XPLR Is Entry-Level?! Shimano GRX Just Got Left in the Dust
We saw it at the Spoken Bike Show. We played with it, we nerded out over it, and we haven’t shut up since. SRAM’s Rival XPLR AXS groupset isn’t just good for gravel — it’s shockingly good.
And here’s the kicker: this is the entry-level model.
That’s right. Entry. Level.
If SRAM's Rival XPLR is the base spec, then Force XPLR and RED XPLR must be some kind of NASA-grade, dirt-slaying, dream-crushing tech sent from the future. But before we get there — let’s talk about why Rival XPLR alone already makes Shimano GRX feel like it’s stuck in 2022 Nightmare!
I went to Spoken Vike Show in Sydney to get a closer look at the new SRAM Gravel Radness and here is what I learnt .... from their entry level Group-O.
🛠️ UDH + Full Mount = Bombproof Shifting
Let’s start with SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) and Full Mount rear mech setup — a combo that makes old-school hanger systems feel like tuning a VCR.
- UDH standardizes alignment.
- Full Mount wraps around your dropout and clamps to the axle.
The result? Perfectly aligned shifts every time — and way less risk of damage.
Get smacked on the trail? The mech rotates to absorb impact instead of snapping like a twig. Reset and roll.
GRX still clings to traditional hangers. SRAM built a self-defending mech.
⚙️ 1×13-Speed — Smart Simplicity, Wide Range
Rival XPLR AXS delivers 13-speed 1x with a 10–46T cassette, offering a monster range that climbs like a goat and flies like a banshee.
- No front derailleur = no problems.
- Fewer parts, less faff, more fun.
SRAM’s gear spacing is tight where you want it, wide where you need it — no big jumps, no gaps.
Compared to Shimano’s clunky 2x GRX setups with limited cassette options, SRAM’s gravel gearing just works — especially when you’re deep into a long, loose climb.
🔋 Battery Integration — Smart, Sleek, Protected
The AXS battery is fully integrated into the derailleur, tucked safely inside the mech housing.
This isn’t some bolt-on afterthought — it’s clean, crash-friendly, and trail-ready.
Pair that with fully wireless shifting and AXS app control across the whole SRAM gravel range — and you’ve got elite-level tech trickling down to everyday riders.
🔗 Chain Management + Real Braking Power
Borrowing MTB brains, Rival XPLR includes:
- A roller bearing clutch to keep the chain tight and chatter-free.
- X-SYNC 1x chainrings for better retention and mud clearance.
And the brakes? Chef’s kiss.
- Hydraulic disc brakes with massive modulation
- Requires 80% less pull force from the hoods and 33% less from the drops
- One-finger power, even after two-hour descents
That means more control, less fatigue, and none of that dead-feeling braking GRX users know all too well.
🏁 Force and RED XPLR — If Rival’s This Good, Imagine the Upgrade
Let’s not forget — Rival is just the start.
Force XPLR gives you stiffer cranks, carbon components, and an even cleaner look.
RED XPLR? Full carbon cranks, lightweight everything, and pro-peloton refinement.
All 1x. All wireless. All part of SRAM’s singular vision: make gravel kit that’s actually built for gravel.
Shimano GRX still feels like road gear in disguise. SRAM XPLR is what happens when you go all-in on dirt, chaos, and control.
🎯 The Bottom Line
SRAM Rival XPLR AXS isn’t just “good for the price.” It’s category-defining. It’s future-proof. And it’s made GRX look seriously behind the times.
So whether you're racing, bikepacking, or riding until you get lost on purpose — this is the tech you want. Clean, tough, fast, and wireless.
And again — we can’t say this enough — this is the entry-level option.
Gravel just got a new king. And it rides SRAM.
— #FTSIGR
Unbound. Unshackled. Unapologetic.