Over the weekend, X person @MoBaohua posted three photos of what seems to be the anticipated subsequent SRAM RED group. They present a really completely 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 stunned to see it’s actually coming quickly.
Right here’s what we will inform up to now…
First, the disclaimers: SRAM has not introduced a brand new Pink group. However primarily based on timing and the age of the present Pink group, it’s very probably launching this yr. Second, they haven’t commented on the veracity of those photos nor are they prone to, that’s simply how this works. Third, the photographs are low high quality and we’re dwelling within the age of unimaginable AI picture era, so….
Is that this a brand new 2024 SRAM Pink 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 general hoods, much more so than the not too long ago revamped Pressure 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 laborious, which is an enormous deal. The paddle appears taller, although, so it’ll be fascinating to see if that interferes with fingers on the drops. Equally fascinating 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 appears to be like 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 might enable distant management of a biking laptop. If it’s an AXS button, it might additionally (lastly) enable one-handed shifting in both path 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 Pink group may also include a newly-integrated biking laptop head unit. So these might probably be the management buttons for these, with out taking your arms 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 might 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 Pink rear derailleur?
The rear derailleur appears to be like leaner, notably with the cutout on the outer parallelogram. The burden-weenies are actually rejoining now!
That half doesn’t look to be person replaceable like on the brand new T-Kind 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 normal derailleur bolt attachment, not a concentric one like Transmission. This makes us assume UDH remains to be primarily a gravel and MTB factor in SRAM’s eyes. However street bikes will stay targeted 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-Kind. We really feel just like the breakaway side appears much less vital for street. 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 massive 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 appears to be like to have big cutouts on the outer plates to save lots of weight. That’s one thing the present Pink chain doesn’t have, however the brand new Eagle XX SL does.
Ideas? Did we miss something?
What do you need to see from a brand new SRAM RED group?
Tell us within the feedback!
