Home > Feature Stories

Revamped SRAM Rival Group Goes 22 Speed, Gains Hydraulic Disc & Rim Brake Options

22 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

2015 SRAM Rival 22 road bike drivetrain group

All new Rival brings hydraulic braking down to SRAM’s mid-level road bike group with a fresh aesthetic and performance updates.

They said idea wasn’t to simply trickle down Red’s pro rider features and tech in a cheaper, heavier package, rather it was to create a group that met the different needs of enthusiasts. But, it needed to bring the performance features of the 22 speed groups and have the durability to last a long, long time while being ridden hard and put away dirty.

So, it got the obvious upgrade to an 11-speed cassette and the corresponding chainrings, but it also gained Hydro R brake options, WiFli and pretty much did end up taking most of Red’s tech in the process…

2015 SRAM Rival 22 road bike drivetrain group

The crankset has forged aluminum arms with hidden bolts holding the X Glide R chainrings. They’re forged aluminum with heavy shaping to make the chainrings very stiff for crisp shifting.

2015 SRAM Rival 22 road bike drivetrain group 2015 SRAM Rival 22 road bike drivetrain group

Basic specs and options are:

  • 165/167.5/170/172.5/175 lengths
  • 110 BCD for all chainring combos
  • 52/36 – 50/34 – 46/36
  • GXP, Pressfit, BB30, PressFit 30 bottom brackets

2015 SRAM Rival 22 road bike drivetrain group

The front derailleur gains SRAM’s trim-free YAW technology and includes a chain spotter.

2015 SRAM Rival 22 road bike drivetrain group

The rear derailleur will be offered in short cage for cassettes up to 28T and mid cage up to 32T.

2015 SRAM Rival 22 road bike drivetrain group

The mechanical shifter levers use the exact same internals as Red, so shifting performance will feel identical. That means DoubleTap, ZeroLoss and Reach Adjust for both brake levers and shift paddle. Both levers are alloy, which is where the cost savings come from.

The Rival 22 Hydro-R also share the same shifting internals and completely revamped hydraulic master cylinder. Cost concessions come from using stainless steel hardware rather than alloy, and alloy levers rather than carbon, but they keep the SwissStop pads. They’ll be available in standard and moto hose routing.

2015 SRAM Rival 22 road bike drivetrain group

The drivetrain offers their WiFLi wide range 11-32 cassette with full usability across the entire range in both chainrings, which was a big premise of SRAM’s move to 11-speed rear ends. Cassette is the PG-1130 model that’s been in the line and offers 11-26 (260g), 11-28 (271g) and 11-32 (310g)

Chain is PC1130 with chrome hardened pins and nickel silver plated outer links, which they say is by far the best featured chain you’ll find in this price group. It’s an important part of a group that’s aimed at people that’ll ride the same bike again and again with minimal maintenance.

2015 SRAM Rival 22 road bike drivetrain group with hydraulic rim brakes

Should you choose mechanical calipers, the brakes were opened up to accept up to 28c tires and upgrade to a dual pivot design, but the geometry of them have changed to have a better angle of attack on wider rims. Or opt for the new Rival Hydro-R rim brakes for even more power.

2015 SRAM Rival 22 road bike drivetrain group with hydraulic rim brakes

Hydraulic rim brake calipers get the same quick release feature, tool free contact point adjust and 28c tire clearance as the Red models. Again, just hardware changes, and same story for the disc brake calipers. The Rival mechanical rim calipers have had a dual pivot design, but the geometry of them have changed to have a better angle of attack on wider rims.

2015 SRAM Rival 22 road bike drivetrain group

Centerline rotors were introduced with the new SRAM Guide mountain bike brakes and are used across the road line.

2015 SRAM Rival 22 road bike drivetrain group

SRAM RIVAL 22 ACTUAL WEIGHTS & PRICING

2015 SRAM Rival 22 road bike drivetrain group actual weights

Crankset is 736g without the spindle (it’s all they had available – claimed weights are 860g for BB30 and 844g for GXP, both with 50/34 chainrings), mechanical shifter levers are 339g for the pair and cassette was 262g

2015 SRAM Rival 22 road bike drivetrain group actual weights

Front derailleur is 81g (88g claimed with chain spotter), short cage rear is 179g and medium cage rear is 191g.

2015 SRAM Rival 22 road bike drivetrain group actual weights

Mechanical brake calipers are 155g and 158g, rotors are 91g (140mm) and 112g (160mm). They did not have the Hydro-R bits loose, only installed on a  bike.

The mechanical group will be available first of July, hydraulic parts follow very shortly thereafter. Retail price for the full mechanical group went down a bit over last year, coming in at $761 USD with GXP and $792 with BB30. The Rival Hydro-R shifter levers come packaged with either the rim brakes for $334 or disc brakes for $384 per wheel, and rotors are $44 (140mm) and $55 (160mm) each. SRAM recommends 160 for road and 140 for off road (gravel, cyclocross, etc.). That puts complete Hydro-R groups at:

  • Rival 22 w/ GXP / Hydro-R Rim / 160mm rotors- $1,202
  • Rival 22 w/ BB30 / Hydro-R Rim / 160mm rotors – $1,233
  • Rival 22 w/ GXP / Hydro-R Disc / 160mm rotors – $1,302
  • Rival 22 w/ BB30 / Hydro-R Disc / 160mm rotors – $1,333

SRAM.com

 

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

22 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
K11
K11
9 years ago

(the bottom 2 lines in group read the same other than price, one should say 140?)

Finally. Rival 22 FR and R derailleurs to abuse and replace more frequently. Instead of hanging “the best” red derailleurs on a bike that is going to be beat-on without mercy.

Tyler
9 years ago

K11 – no, bottom one was BB30, it’s been fixed. Good eye!

Andrew
Andrew
9 years ago

Rival is a real unsung hero in the mid-range. Bulletproof performance, super light (less than Ultegra), great price, and now the crank even looks decent. In my mind it is THE cyclocross drivetrain for the budget conscious. On the road (since money could be better spent on something like decent wheels) its probably a better bet than even Ultegra on entry/mid level carbon bikes.

brattercakes
brattercakes
9 years ago

I agree with @Andrew. Rival is awesome across the board.

RC
RC
9 years ago

Huge loss that the new cranks are no longer available in 180mm. This is too bad as they look like a nice upgrade from the current generation and I want to pick up a compact set, I guess I will have to buy the 10 speed ones.

Peter R
9 years ago

Rival is a great buy, best bet for cross as others have said, but I’d prefer Ultegra for road bike in this price range. Also a bigger fan that Shimano uses mineral oil in their brakes and not DOT fluid.
The 52×36 is awesome. I’ve been using that setup on my Chorus equipped road bike for over a year now and it is nice to be able to keep an 11-25 cassette with those front rings. Highly recommend going 52×36 to people.

brattercakes
brattercakes
9 years ago

I kind of wish they kept the matte appearance.

Velo
Velo
9 years ago

The 28c clearance is nice. I’m sticking to SRAM 10-speed because I can run an 11-36 cassette with a SRAM Via or SRAM mountain rear derailleur.

sadlesniffer
sadlesniffer
9 years ago

I used to use the force but that I realized that this rivaled that…

muf
muf
9 years ago

pretty nice – its too bad vendors generally go with apex then bump to force/red mix or just red while rival is the best quality/weight/price ratio from sram.

k
k
9 years ago

glad to see all groups getting the new yaw rings. SO much better. better FDS too.

lqdedison
lqdedison
9 years ago

I’m really excited about this group and I’m really happy with what SRAM has done with it. I can’t wait for it to be on the market.

Pedals
Pedals
9 years ago

It’s not clear in the photos or description: do the disc brake calipers have adjustable banjos?

Jeb
Jeb
9 years ago

@pedals, certainly looks like adjustable banjos. Look at the pic of the front caliper.

Gabriel
Gabriel
9 years ago

I wish they hadn’t dropped the 180mm arm length. My 180 mm 2010 Rival cranks are going strong on their second (third?) set of chainrings but I was looking into compacts… guess I’ll keep looking!

Brattercakes
Brattercakes
9 years ago

HAHA! @sadlesniffer

mateo
mateo
9 years ago

I’m stunned to see two people complaining about the 180mm cranks. We can barely give away anything over 175mm anymore. Everyone is going short now. Not surprised at all to see SRAM drop the 180mm option (especially on a low/mid level crank).

Robert
Robert
9 years ago

Disappointed to see no cassettes offered starting at 12T instead of 11. Come on SRAM! Not all of us are Cat 1 gear mashers. For my gravel bike, I already use 34-44T rings and 12-28T cassette. Going to 11 speed with the current offering wouldn’t give me any more usable gears than I have now. A 12-30 or 32T would be just perfect. Just like your 12-27 or 28T 10-speed with an extra gear at the low end, where it would be of actual use to the rest of us.

Mike
Mike
9 years ago

Looks good. Although SRAMs short arm yaw FD is still not on par with shimano’s new 11s DA & Ultegra long arm front derailleurs.

clyde
clyde
9 years ago

also said to see the 180 mm option disappear – luckily I have 2 sets of the older Rival cranks.

Chup
9 years ago

@Robert I totally agree with you. I’d like a 12-32 setup. That 11T is only useful in downhill… at least for me….
so instead of 11-12-13-14-15-17-19-22-25-28-32,
12-13-14-15-16-17-19-22-25-28-32 would be much nicer!

Alex
Alex
9 years ago

Am I the only one who misses the 18T cog, and only needs the big ones for the rare cases I’m actually in the Alps ?
I.e. something like 12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-21-24-28 ?
(or 12-13-14-15-16-17-18-20-22-25-28)

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.