[Grande]

I'm running Sram Rival 1 on my gravel bike. Looking at Rival AXS and wondering if you can run that on 11 speed ring, cassette, and chain. Seems like one could just program out one gear during set up. But I have no idea and I have not found a clear answer. And that's why I'm asking.

 

[pgm83]

You can use the Rival AXS shifters with an 11 speed etap rear derailleur for 11 speed cassettes. There's no way to use 11 speed cassettes with the AXS shifters and AXS rear derailleur.

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[Joe Nation]

You're half right - you can use Red or Force AXS shifters with 11 speed Red etap mechs, but not Rival. See here for full details from SRAM.

Grande, are you looking for a halfway-house upgrade to a full AXS groupset? In which case I suggest a Ratio12-speed upgrade. It allows you to use a 12-speed AXS chain and cassette with your existing 11-speed mechanical shifters and derailleur (you need to modify the shifter with one of their ratchet rings to give the extra click and the right cable pull, and you can use road cassettes with your Rival 1 derailleur or change to an Eagle derailleur and cassette by modifying the derailleur cable fin too). Then you can buy the AXS shifters and derailleur later.

 

[pgm83]

Ah, I didn't realize that Rival was blocked. Thanks for your note.

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[Grande]

You're half right - you can use Red or Force AXS shifters with 11 speed Red etap mechs, but not Rival. See here for full details from SRAM.

Grande, are you looking for a halfway-house upgrade to a full AXS groupset? In which case I suggest a Ratio12-speed upgrade. It allows you to use a 12-speed AXS chain and cassette with your existing 11-speed mechanical shifters and derailleur (you need to modify the shifter with one of their ratchet rings to give the extra click and the right cable pull, and you can use road cassettes with your Rival 1 derailleur or change to an Eagle derailleur and cassette by modifying the derailleur cable fin too). Then you can buy the AXS shifters and derailleur later.

Thanks for the reply. Right now I am running Sram Rival 1 (11 speed) mechanical with hydro brakes. Brake fluid is leaking at the lever end. I brought the bike to the LBS. They are going to look at it but they did discuss that it could go to warranty suggesting the shifters may have failed. I had been interested in AXS but cannot justify the expense. But in this case if I need new shifters I may be in the position to switch to AXS.

Again right now I'm using Rival 1 11-speed. My thought was that I could move the shifters and rear derailleur and purchase Rival 1 AXS shifter/brakes and rear derailleur but keep the existing 11 speed cassette, chain, and Force crank/ring. If so what has to happen or is it that I need to go full 12 speed?

 

[Joe Nation]

Ah I get it now. From what you have now, you'd need to get the whole groupset - levers, rear mech, chain and cassette. Officially the Force 1x chainring isn't compatible with the flattop AXS chain, but there's lots of anecdotal evidence that it works just fine. Assuming you have a 5-arm 110mm spider, you could get an aftermarket chainring (Wolftooth, Garbaruk etc) and keep your Force cranks too.

What size cassette do you have now? You could also take the opportunity to change to a mullet set-up, with an Eagle AXS rear mech, chain and bigger cassette (up to 10-52 if you want) - the Eagle chain will definitely work with your Force chainring.

 

[Grande]

Ah I get it now. From what you have now, you'd need to get the whole groupset - levers, rear mech, chain and cassette. Officially the Force 1x chainring isn't compatible with the flattop AXS chain, but there's lots of anecdotal evidence that it works just fine. Assuming you have a 5-arm 110mm spider, you could get an aftermarket chainring (Wolftooth, Garbaruk etc) and keep your Force cranks too.

What size cassette do you have now? You could also take the opportunity to change to a mullet set-up, with an Eagle AXS rear mech, chain and bigger cassette (up to 10-52 if you want) - the Eagle chain will definitely work with your Force chainring.

Thanks. Seems like I need to go all 12 speed to go AXS. I use the bike mostly on dirt, unpaved roads. No trails. I have a trail bike for that. Running a 40T ring with a 10-42 cassette. I'll see how the Sram warranty claim goes. It may makes sense just to stay with what I have or sell the existing group. I actually prefer Shimano. Maybe I'll look at GRX.