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Hands On + Actual Weights of (Most of) The New Sram Red

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Just last week Sram launched its all new top tiered Red group from Mallorca as a majority of the cycling community looked on and drooled over their keyboards. Impressively, with the public still talking about the initial launch, Sram is already getting the new group out to shops in order for mechanics and owners to see it for themselves and get preorders in if they like. After hearing our local Sram rep was in town with a non descript black case, I was able to catch up with him at BioWheels Workshop, just down the street from my house.

There were a few parts missing from the case like the rear brake and a few crank options, regardless, I grabbed a scale and got to work.

Actual weights after the break.

The only complete new Red crank the rep had with him was the new standard GXP crank. It’s no heavyweight though, as the entire crankset is a measley 588 grams (for claimed weights, check out this post) . Add in the BlackBox ceramic GXP external bottom bracket and the whole system is under 700 grams! While all the parts shown were marked as display only, I was told they are extremely close to production pieces and shouldn’t affect the weight. The crank arms seem a bit fatter than the previous edition, likely from the new hollow construction, though ankle clearance didn’t look to be an issue.

The new rear derailleur is 145g which doesn’t drop any weight from previous versions, but the improved barrel adjuster is actually an improvement, along with the fact that the cable anchor routing is improved as well. As for the added aero benefits and quietness of the new pulleys? We’ll have to wait and see.

At 78g for the regular front derailleur, and 84 g for the chain spotter equipped model, the front derailleur actually gets heavier, though only by a bit. It isn’t all that surprising though, considering the derailleur cage has been strengthened to improve shifting, along with the addition of the Yaw trimless front shifting. However, the shifting promises to be much better and the chain spotter is very well thought out. If you’ve ever installed a chain watcher/catcher/spotter a la K-Edge or similar, it can be pretty tricky to get everything to line up just right since you’re adjusting the derailleur and the chain spotter at the same time. Sram’s chain spotter allows you to adjust the front derailleur first, and then attach and adjust the chain spotter separately. The secret is the hollow threaded braze on bolt for the front derailleur, which the chain spotter slips over and bolts into. Then you simply adjust the spotter with the 2.5mm Allen on the front, and you’re all set. Very slick, and nothing touches the frame.

If you’ve taken the time to watch the install video, you know what these lines are for. If not, Sram included lines in the finish of the front derailleur to use to properly align the cage with the chainrings. It’s important to note that you can only use the height set up line while the limit screws are at the factory setting. Once you adjust the limit screws, using the setup line is no longer accurate.

One of the big stars of the new launch would have to be the new cassette. While the old red cassette was a beautifully made showpiece, it’s amplification of sound caused many riders to trade down to Force cassettes instead. Enter the new X-Dome cassette complete with StealthRing elastomer inserts! I know, it sounds like an infomercial, but truth be told it looks really good. This happens to be an 11-28 cassette which makes the 158g even better especially with it’s 8 elastomer rings (no ring between the 11 and 12).

While Sram’s claimed weight for the previous Red shifters is listed at 280g, actual weight was more like 318g. So with the new shifter’s actual weight at 281g it’s pretty good. Other than the improved reach adjust that has already been mentioned, mechanics out there will be happy to hear that cable installation is now easier. I know, I tried it. Cables are still pushed through the smaller hole in the shifter body, but it pops out of the top without any creative bending, or cursing. Also, thanks to the silver insert in the brake channel, brake housing no longer needs a ferrule where it inserts into the shifter allowing easier installation and a smoother bend.

This is the front brake, hence the long brake bolt, so the rear should be a bit lighter. However, they still manage to drop weight from previous Red even with the new Aero Link. Red brakes now have spring tension adjusts on both sides of the brake to perfectly dial it in. While the new barrel adjuster has a lot of plastic, it is pretty well thought out and seems fairly sturdy. The barrel on top functions just as you would expect, with the lever sticking out the back the new quick release that rotates around the barrel adjuster to release the brake. The import thing to notice is that with the anchor bolt no longer connected to a plastic quick release, there is no chance of a mechanic over torquing the anchor bolt and breaking the quick release (which I’ve seen more than once).

All in all, the new Red looks good. Really good. Sram seems to have addressed all of the known issues and dropped even more weight at the same time. Sign me up (once the hydraulic disc brakes are out, of course).

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WV Cycling
WV Cycling
12 years ago

I’m not a fan of expletives, but I must interject:

HOLY SHIT I WANT THAT BRIEFCASE (AND THE GEAR IN IT)!!!

Joshua Murdock
12 years ago

What he said

Speedy
Speedy
12 years ago

Ditto

tn
tn
12 years ago

What’s the weight of the briefcase? Jk. But ditto ditto.

Leven
12 years ago

I was lucky enough to see the contents of a similar case yesterday. SRAM does an awesome job of creating an edgy product, which makes you want to go for a ride. Di2 is cool, but it is so freakin’ boring. SRAM is like Apple; Shimano is like Microsoft.

dimples
dimples
12 years ago

^ WTF?

dimples
dimples
12 years ago

You’re kind of a ham sandwich Leven.
http://krakusfoods.com/

Atgani
Atgani
12 years ago

“with the public still talking about the initial launch”

can anyone spell h-y-p-e-r-b-o-l-e?

Daniel
Daniel
12 years ago

Could you create a table of claimed vs measured weights so we don’t have to browse two pages simultaneously to compare them?

Tom
Tom
12 years ago

@Leveb. Lol @ comparing SRAM to Apple. If SRAM was like Apple, we wouldn’t be subjected to the terrible graphics they put on everything—it lacks class. Campagnolo does a much better job of this. And just to counter your comment about the briefcase:

http://image.ecplaza.com/offer/s/sinarbikejaya/5761015.jpg

Jon Moro
Jon Moro
12 years ago

SRAM is more like windows….it lags down overtime and just doesnt work right. Shimano has NEVER failed me bc their quality control is just so much better than scram. Shimano = Mac!

Brattercakes
Brattercakes
12 years ago

I’m excited about the new red, but I think the graphics department at SRAM needs to back off on the overstated graphics. Those graphics are too loud…like my aunt.

Rick S
Rick S
12 years ago

Hmmm…seems the crowd has really bought into the SRAM marketing BS.

Leven
12 years ago

@Tom touché. True about Campy. As a former diehard Campy user I agree their aesthetics are hot, but my gosh, do we really need parts groups that retail for over $5K? I don’t need my shifters hand crafted from fine Italian baby hair.

Tom
Tom
12 years ago

@Leven: Also a good point. I will never look at Campy carbon the same again.

matula
matula
12 years ago

wow, i feel guilty after looking at this stuff, however i feel much less guilty when touching them. last year’s anyhow.

Cornbread
Cornbread
12 years ago

I’m so sick of the Shimano and Campy trolls. I rode Shimano for years, worked well. Riding Red now, works well. Wouldn’t mind trying DA Di2 when the price comes down. The main reason why Red is so popular, especially in the race community, is its light and cheaper. No one in their right mind would pay 4-5k for a group and go race crits. You are either rich or getting a discount.

I focus my energy on riding. If you don’t like it don’t ride it or read about it.

Tom
Tom
12 years ago

FTR, you can get a Record group for under $1700. Bit of a far cry from 4-5K. Not trying to be a troll, but the number is not realistic. Maybe for the whole bike.

Wil
Wil
12 years ago

No weight on the Quarq crank?

richard
richard
12 years ago

i agree with cornbread. i prefer sram b/c of the way that it shifts. i like to hear it and shimano is way to smooth. and sram is lighter and cheaper. shimano works great i just much prefer sram. and rival is way better than others entry stuff from shimano or campy as well.

Joey
Joey
12 years ago

Our local Sram rep brought the “black case and it’s content by the shop yesterday. I was very impressed with the new “Red” group. I have used Red since early 2008 and really like the Douple Tap shifting. The ergonomics of the new hoods are sweet! The brakes are well thought out and super light. The frt der is very impressive (a welcome change) and the new crank is lighter. The cassette will hopefully be the answer to a quiter drivetrain. After the introduction of XX I always knew at some point the cassette would change. All in all the new group is impressive. From what I gathered, the new Quarq crank will be available in the summer along with the “other” brakes. Pricing has only increased approx. 150 for the group, not bad for all the improvements and technology.

Robin
Robin
12 years ago

Who’s paying 4-5k (I’m assuming US) for a gruppo? Until Campy’s Super Record EPS hits the showroom floors, no one is paying that much for a new gruppo.

derek
derek
12 years ago

Anyone else see the video pelaton magazine did? At 2:08 and later in the video it says on a poster behind the guy talking “Integrated Electronics = maximum reliability” , ” Ease of us visible id led indicator” Replaceable battery!!

Rob S
Rob S
12 years ago

@derek that’s related to the Quarq powermeter version of the crankset, not an electronic shifting version.

Noordkaapfujin
12 years ago

Campy is definitely more like Apple than SRAM, as it is compatible with nothing except itself. It is also more like Apple because campy is more like a religion than a technology brand.

andyoo
andyoo
11 years ago

For all the comment above… buying campy is really like buying Gucci…not apple or microsoft.
it’s just way out there too expensive (better or not is a different issue).
I have both DA 9700 and the 2011 SRAM RED and the 2012 new SRAM RED.
DA is smooth but it’s boderline boring and it’s way heavier than sram red or campy super record.
2011 red is light but the crank is darn ugly and the casette is just so loud.
As for 2012 RED, the casette is super smooth and quiet like shimano and the new crank now
looks a lot more blink and the whole group just work much better than 2011 all together.
The weight is now just as light as super record. I have no complain on shifting at all.
As for price…darn it, at xxcycle it’s as cheap as old 2011 red price. I got the whole groupo under 2500.
the UK and american sites jacked up the price so it’s more like 3500 a set.

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