Sram’s new AXS (pronounced “access”) 12-speed components are a real game-changer, revolutionising the connection between a rider and their gears. This wireless electronic system provides incredibly quiet, secure and smooth shifting, while also offering you the most versatile range of gears to date.
The AXS system allows you to customise how your gears operate, and then gives you incredibly useful feedback on how you’re using them. It also offers you a vast range of different gear setups, suiting everyone from the Time Trialist wanting super-close ratio gears to the Randonneur/Audax rider who needs a wide range to cover all eventualities.
AXS takes SRAM’s proven eTap technologies and elevates them to the next level, providing you with unparalleled wireless electronic shifting that’s faster than ever before. You won’t need to learn the “feel” of your gears to prevent accidental half-shifts and mis-shifts any more, a simple push of a button will make AXS do all the work for you.
At the heart of it all is the AXS app, giving you access to your ride data and allowing you to customise your gear setup. There’s a really clever Sequential Gearing setting that allows you to only ever worry about changing up or down a gear, with the front mech shifting (and rear also changing a gear or two to keep the change in gear small) automatically at the best point, meaning that you don’t need to worry about what combo you’re in at the front and rear. The app also allows you to check battery status, change component behaviour, personalise controls, get maintenance reminders, and update your firmware.
For years now, mountain bikers have been enjoying the benefits of the wider range provided by a cassette with a 10t top gear, and this range increase is now available for road and gravel with SRAM’s X-Range cassette. This opens up more possibilities for 1x drivetrains and super close-ratio cassettes, and with 12 gears on a single cassette AXS really is the most versatile gearing system out there.
SRAM have worked hard to keep the gears as close as possible, while still providing a big range. The cassette has up to 7 gear changes where the cog size differs by only 1 tooth (depending on the ratio that you choose), meaning that you can always be in exactly the right gear for the terrain you’re riding.
It needs a unique XDR driver body, similar to the XD driver body but slightly longer. New ZIPP wheels are available with it already on, and many suppliers are producing them to retro-fit to your current wheels. Get in touch if you’d like us to check if it’s available for your rear wheel!
SRAM RED XG-1290 Cassette
-
Specifically designed for wireless electronic shifting
-
One-piece machined steel X-Dome design for weight savings
-
More gradual gear progression between cogs - at least five one-tooth jumps
-
10-tooth smallest cog that provides a wider gearing range
-
Designed to work with an XDR driver body
-
10-26T cassette Ratio: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26, Range: 260% (similar but slightly larger range than an 11-28T cassette)
-
10-28T cassette Ratio: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 24, 28, Range: 280% (similar but slightly larger range than an 11-30T cassette)
-
10-33T cassette Ratio: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 24, 28, 33, Range: 330% (similar but slightly larger range than an 11-36T cassette)