SRAM

Force eTap AXS Shift/Brake System - Bike Build

When your rim or mechanical disc break road bike needs an upgrade, but you can't quite commit to the glamour of Red, SRAM's Force eTap AXS Shift/Brake System is ready to set you up with a reliable wireless system. The Force eTap AXS is below SRAM’s flagship Red, and it features a fully wireless, 12-speed electronic shift and brake system that happily inherits Red’s tech.

The Force's levers share the same aesthetics as the Red version, with substantial hoods housing components underneath. Pressing the left paddle makes things easier at the back, whereas the right paddle makes things harder, and both paddles pressed at the same time shift the front derailleur. By default, you can hold down the lever and shift through all the gears in one go, but this number can be limited in the AXS app. Much like Red, you can use the app to shift in sequential or compensation mode, each of which let the electronic system take care of shifts at predetermined points.

The eTap system is managed by a rechargeable battery, the status of which you can check on via LED indicator in each shift paddle or by using the AXS app. SRAM states the battery will last for 20 hours or more, though the charge will depend on variables such as temperature and how often you shift. Because there's only one Force eTap AXS system, expect very few compatibility worries when you’re speccing out the rest of your ride.