Over the weekend, X person @MoBaohua posted three photos of what seems to be the anticipated subsequent SRAM RED group. They present a really totally different hood and lever form, a streamlined and hollowed-out rear derailleur, and a tightly-spaced cassette. Learn our 2024 Predictions from a few weeks again. We aren’t too shocked to see it’s actually coming quickly.
Right here’s what we are able to inform thus far…
First, the disclaimers: SRAM has not introduced a brand new Crimson group. However based mostly on timing and the age of the present Crimson group, it’s very doubtless launching this 12 months. Second, they haven’t commented on the veracity of those photos nor are they more likely to, that’s simply how this works. Third, the pictures are low high quality and we’re residing within the age of unbelievable AI picture technology, so….
Is that this a brand new 2024 SRAM Crimson eTap AXS that’s leaked on X?
All that mentioned, in the event that they’re actual, probably the most thrilling half appears to be the revised brake levers. Slimmer and shorter total hoods, much more so than the not too long ago revamped Power and Rival teams, result in a really new lever form.
The recess just under the hood ought to assist it clear your fingers higher when braking exhausting, which is a giant deal. The paddle appears taller, although, so it’ll be attention-grabbing to see if that interferes with fingers on the drops. Equally attention-grabbing is the apparently greater lever pivot location, which ought to give us extra leverage over the brake lever and permit for extra nuanced braking.
And that little rubber plug on the high of the brand new carbon lever blade seems to be loads lie the place we’d discover the entry gap for a brake lever reach-adjust bolt.
Upgraded ergonomics?
In fact, there’s no telling any of those are actual, however they do match patent drawings from mid-2023. These drawings additionally reveal a button on the within high of the hood, which may enable distant management of a biking laptop. If it’s an AXS button, it may additionally (lastly) enable one-handed shifting in both route from a single shifter…one thing that we’ve wished for when attempting to carry a bottle, snack, or telephone whereas on a climb.
We’ve learn loads of unsubstantiated on-line rumors that following SRAM’s buy of Hammerhead again in 2022, that the brand new Crimson group can even include a newly-integrated biking laptop head unit. So these may doubtless be the management buttons for these, with out taking your fingers off the bars!
Lighter brakes?
The calipers seem a lot smaller, with a bigger hole between it and the mount, and fewer materials across the pistons. Mixed with the slimmer levers, these could possibly be considerably lighter weight than earlier than, serving to put SRAM RED again within the weight-weenie pole place.
The rotors look leaner, too, with deeper scalloping across the circumference, bigger vents, and far much less materials on the aluminum provider.
Nonetheless 12-speed, however lighter MTB-inspired Crimson rear derailleur?
The rear derailleur seems to be leaner, notably with the cutout on the outer parallelogram. The load-weenies are actually rejoining now!
That half doesn’t look to be person replaceable like on the brand new T-Sort Transmission MTB derailleur, primarily as a result of the rear-ward pivot sits contained in the B-knuckle, not exterior.
Two options actually stand out, although:
- It’s not UDH – it’s utilizing a regular derailleur bolt attachment, not a concentric one like Transmission. This makes us suppose UDH continues to be primarily a gravel and MTB factor in SRAM’s eyes. However highway bikes will stay centered on the lightest doable weights. The inclusion of excessive/low restrict screws reinforces this notion.
- Bigger decrease pulley – This seems to have a 14-tooth decrease pulley with the identical breakaway design as T-Sort. We really feel just like the breakaway side appears much less vital for highway. However we do like that it’s larger. Larger wheels imply much less resistance, simply ask each aftermarket cage maker.
The angled view of this cassette makes the primary six cogs seem a lot nearer than the present cassette, however each share 1-tooth jumps for the primary six cogs with a 33-tooth large cog. Present smaller cassettes get 1-tooth jumps for the primary seven cogs and we assume that’ll carry over, together with 2x chainring combos up entrance.
It stays 12-speed, however that chain seems to be to have enormous cutouts on the outer plates to save lots of weight. That’s one thing the present Crimson chain doesn’t have, however the brand new Eagle XX SL does.
Ideas? Did we miss something?
What do you wish to see from a brand new SRAM RED group?
Tell us within the feedback!
