Early in 2024, SRAM’s large information was a brand new model of their top-tier street group, RED AXS. That new group is lighter, simpler to make use of, and incorporates a considerably completely different shifter/hood form. Now it seems these adjustments may very well be headed to their middle-tier Drive group within the close to future.
As regular with most of these leaks, there may be one grainy image posted to the Weight Weenies discussion board of what seems to be a brand new SRAM Drive group. The Shifter profile appears to be of comparable form to the not too long ago launched RED shifters, and the brake calipers look to be very related albeit with out the machined holes by means of the caliper sides and completely different rotors.
Notably absent is a cassette from the photograph. SRAM RED remains to be utilizing 12-speed cassettes which might be backwards suitable with present SRAM 12-speed AXS teams, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see Drive go the identical route. Clearly, SRAM RED XPLR cranked it as much as 13-speed, nevertheless it primarily requires a 1x cassette to make it work by angling the biggest cogs out over the spokes to make the most of the identical XDR freehub physique. By retaining the brand new SRAM group 12-speed, riders ought to have the ability to use present chains, cassettes, and chainrings whereas getting the improved ergonomics and brakes launched with RED.
SRAM has been fairly good currently at launching new teams with trickle-down tech pretty shortly after their halo teams, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see this on bikes this yr – which might be nice for SRAM, since suggestions on the brand new lever form and brake efficiency has been overwhelmingly constructive.