RED XPLR AXS Welcome Guide

WELCOME TO RED XPLR AXS

We know you love gravel riding, and your new RED XPLR AXS bike is about to make you love it even more. Your purpose-built gravel groupset is designed to provide simple setup for effortless and resilient performance. With no derailleur hanger or adjustment screws, you’ll enjoy every bit of your 13-speed 10-46T range in no time. Before you hit the gravel, get to know the basics of RED XPLR AXS.

Still need to install your drivetrain? Installation is easy.  And be sure to download the AXS App to control, personalize, and monitor your AXS components.

Two riders riding Gravel Bikes with SRAM RED AXS XPLR

TECH TIP: Your AXS system preserves battery life by going to sleep when your bike is stationary. To wake it up, simply start riding or shake your bike to wake the components.

TECH TIP: A spare AXS battery weighs just 24 grams, so throw one in your flat kit or cargo bib pocket for off-the-grid adventures. Plus, if you ride a Reverb XPLR AXS dropper post, the AXS batteries are interchangeable between AXS seat post and derailleur in a pinch.

Your RED AXS shifters also provide additional shift points for your thumbs on the inside of your hoods, known as Bonus Buttons. These two buttons default to the same simple shift assignments as the shift paddles. You can easily swap their shift assignments via the AXS App, so you always have a way to shift even when one hand is busy grabbing gummy bears from your top tube bag.

To tailor your reach, all you need is a 2.5 mm hex wrench. Carefully remove the covers from the front of your brake lever to access the Reach Adjust bolt underneath. Turn the bolt counterclockwise to bring the lever closer to the bar, or clockwise to move the lever away from the bar.

TECH TIP: To make the most of the new control ergonomics, you may want to shorten your stem length or handlebar reach to accommodate for the longer hoods. The Zipp SL 70 XPLR bar is specifically designed to pair with RED AXS controls for optimal hand positioning for hours of rough riding over mixed terrain. The bar also provides easy placement for additional Wireless Blips for shift points when you’re in the drops while battling headwinds.

STEP 5: GET THE BEST BRAKING

BED IN YOUR BRAKES

The hydraulic disc brakes on your RED AXS bike feature a stiffer caliper and refined brake track on the rotors to ensure optimal power and control for riding in even the roughest conditions. To get the most out of your new brakes, you must complete the brake bed-in procedure before your first ride. Bed-in is the process of controlled slowing to gradually heat the braking surface while evenly embedding brake pad material into the disc rotor. Proper bed-in reduces brake noise, allows for consistent performance, and gives you 20% more braking power.

CONTACT POINT ADJUST

If you want to change the amount of lever movement before the pads engage the rotor, your RED AXS controls offer Contact Point Adjust. Pull the hood cover back to find the 2.5 mm bolt on the inside of the lever body. Select from four different positions by gently rotating the bolt clockwise to increase the lever throw, or counterclockwise to decrease the lever throw. You’ll hear clicks when turning the adjuster to indicate the position, and there will be stops at the minimum and maximum positions.

TECH TIP: Want to use Bonus Buttons for more than swiping screens on your bike computer? With a Karoo, you can program your Bonus Buttons to perform a variety of actions, including zooming into your map or dropping a pin when you need to re-route for emergency gas station snacks.

BIKE COMPUTER PAIRING GUIDE

STEP 7: VIEW AND ANALYZE YOUR RIDE DATA

GEARING DATA

You know you want to see how many times you shift over a grueling gravel race, and AXS Web makes that dreamy data a reality with AXS Ride Reports. Once your drivetrain is connected to your Hammerhead Karoo or ANT+ bike computer, be sure to sync with AXS Web to receive post-ride data like time spent in each gear, shift counts, and more.

POWER DATA

You'll have access to even more ride data when using a power meter. The ultra-accurate RED XPLR AXS spider-based power meter precisely measures torque and captures your right and left leg power balance to help you understand your efforts and build fitness. Plus, it’s waterproof, so you can tackle every creek crossing with confidence. Don’t have a power meter yet? Upgrade now. 

TECH TIP: Should your gearing and power data lead you toward changing your chainring size, the RED XPLR AXS power meter cranksets feature removable and replaceable thread-mount chainrings, available in 38T-46T.

LEARN MORE ABOUT AXS INTEGRATIONS