Photographs of what appear to be elements of a new SRAM Red AXS groupset have appeared on social media.
The rear derailleur, chain and cassette, disc caliper, disc and derailleur were leaked on the “Baohua@TCR&TARMAC” account on the X social media platform.
Cassette remains with 12 speeds
The new cassette appears to confirm that the new SRAM Red AXS groupset will remain 12-speed, utilizing a similar current-generation SRAM Red XG-1290 12-speed cassette. It starts with a 10 tooth gear and appears to use single tooth differences for the first six gears.
However, the new rear derailleur, chain, brake calipers and discs appear to have had excess material removed to save weight.
Group is historically one of the lightest in the Premium market
Historically, SRAM’s Red groupsets were among the lightest available for road bikes. The mechanical group had a declared weight of just 1,741g.
The switch to its wireless electronic form (which first occurred in 2015 with the release of the SRAM Red eTap) and the addition of hydraulic disc brakes has seen the overall weight increase in recent years.
SRAM’s current Red eTap AXS groupset, for example, weighs 2,518g.
Perhaps as a result, SRAM appears to be focused on reducing the weight of the various components of this new Red AXS groupset.
The new rear derailleur, for example, appears to have several excavated areas to reduce weight.
New exchangers
The new shifter body appears to have become narrower compared to the existing Red eTap AXS shifters, while the brake lever and shifter paddle have been redesigned.
The brake lever appears to have been lengthened. It now curves more towards the top, before turning in and out at the bottom.
While the leaked images don’t show the new auxiliary button detailed in the patents, there is a small rubber cover on the new brake lever just in front of the pivot point.
The single paddle shifter seems to confirm that SRAM maintains its ‘DoubleTap’ shifting logic (one button to raise and lower the cassette and or both together for a front shift). It is now taller and narrower than before.
Brakes and discs
Like the rear derailleur, the updated SRAM Red hydraulic disc brakes also appear to have received the weight-saving treatment. The new calipers, for example, have two hollow tips on each side and the area around the inner piston also appears to have been machined more aggressively.
