SRAM's Red XPLR drivetrain was the first gravel drivetrain from the brand to feature the Full Mount derailleur hanging system that did away with the derailleur hanger in favour of a mountain bike-inspired direct mount. With that drivetrain being nothing short of high-end, those without deep pockets can rejoice (kind of) as SRAM has trickled all of that tech down to its Force and Rival XPLR groupsets. Here's everything you need to know.

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Promising to 'match your dedication to gravel', SRAM says that its Force XPLR AXS drivetrain is durable yet precise and lightweight, which should appease the new breed of gravel racers. As with Red XPLR AXS, Force XPLR AXS brings 13-speed shifting to the party.

2025 sram force.rival mech.jpg, by Liam Mercer

The biggest headline is the fact that the derailleur uses the Full Mount system that was first unveiled in SRAM's mountain bike Transmission drivetrains. It's a 1x-specific mech that benefits from replaceable components while being largely rebuildable. As with other Full Mount mechs, it bins limit screws in a bid to simplify setup.

2025 sram force.rival lever.jpg, by Liam Mercer

With a new mech comes a fresh, spindle-based power meter that provides 400+ hours of power, says SRAM, fueled by a AAA lithium battery. It's rated to IPX7 waterproofing and is available with 160, 165, 170, 172.5, and 175mm crank lengths. Against a non-power meter crankset, the brand claims that the Force XPLR AXS Power Meter crank weighs 40g more. Force XPLR AXS also welcomes new 44 and 46t aero chainring sizes.

Moving onto the cassette and yes, it's 13-speed, providing 460% range, which should suit the demands of 1x gravel riders. It's compatible with all flat-top chains and the XDR freehub body.

2025 sram force.rival crank.jpg, by Liam Mercer

As for Rival XPLR AXS, SRAM is set to bring more powerful brakes while shedding weight. There's yet another 13-speed cassette. The differences here, against Force XPLR AXS, are through construction materials, with the cassette being nickel chrome plated. The mech also gets many of the same features, including replaceable parts and rebuildability. 

While we say that Force and Rival XPLR bring the tech of Red XPLR to a friendlier price point, it's still a fair investment. Force XPLR with the power meter will set you back £2,102 (£1,917 without), whereas Rival XPLR with a power meter is £1,552 (£1,392 without).

• www.sram.com

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