It’s tempting for anyone not living, eating, and breathing bicycle components to regard the news of a fresh SRAM groupset with a lackadaisical shrug. But the brand’s update to its Apex groupset is worth paying attention to, especially if you are an entry-level rider looking to expand your gravel options affordably.
In our SRAM groupset explainer, we classified the Apex as an “entry-level groupset made for riding on pavement. It features a 10-speed, 11- to 32-tooth gear range on the cassette and a two-speed chainring. It also is available in the Apex 1 model, which drops a chainring for a 1×11 setup. SRAM’s Apex drivetrain is not available with electronic components.”
SRAM threw all that out the window with this latest update. The Apex is now a modern 1x, 12-speed, wide-ranging groupset with shifting options, both electronic (June 2023) and mechanical (September 2023).
No longer just for pavement, the updated Apex sports an “intuitive ride experience and wide-range 1×12 gearing options for gravel riders, no matter how they define gravel,” SRAM wrote in a press release. “Apex is about simplicity, versatility, and ease of use, keeping the focus on what matters most — finding the fun.”
An affordable (as far as these things go) 1x groupset with electronic shifting is worthy of note. So let’s dig in and see what SRAM’s updates are all about.
SRAM Apex Details
The AXS is SRAM’s electronic shifting Apex offering. The groupset includes hydraulic disc breaks and an “optimized” shifter hood shape that “fits a wide range of hand sizes,” per SRAM. The Apex XPLR AXS rear derailleur accommodates up to 44-tooth cogs.
SRAM Apex Prices and Weights
- Apex XPLR AXS: 2,976 g
- Apex Eagle AXS: 3,267 g
- Apex XPLR Mechanical: 2,882 g
- Apex Eagle Mechanical: 3,072 g
