SRAM Force AXS Review 2026: Is the Wireless Groupset Worth the Upgrade?

SRAM’s mid-2025 refresh brought the Force AXS groupset much closer to the flagship Red AXS in feel while cutting weight and, unusually for a groupset update, cutting price. For triathletes building or upgrading a road bike used for training and non-drafting racing, Force AXS is now one of the most credible alternatives to Shimano Ultegra Di2. Here’s how it actually stacks up.

SRAM Force AXS crankset with power meter
SRAM Force AXS E1 crankset with integrated power meter

Price and Weight

A full Force AXS 2x groupset with power meter weighs 2,776g — 183g lighter than the previous generation — and retails at £2,528, against £2,168 for the version without a power meter. That undercuts Shimano Ultegra Di2 (£2,328.88) despite Force now sharing much of Red’s shifter ergonomics and braking power.

What’s Changed

  • Shifter redesign: new hood shape and lever feel borrowed directly from Red AXS, closing much of the ergonomic gap between the two groupsets.
  • Faster front shifting: a redesigned front derailleur with built-in auto-trim reduces chain rub without manual adjustment mid-ride.
  • New crankset: available with or without an integrated power meter; the power meter version is what we’ve linked below.
  • 12-speed only: SRAM has fully moved the Force line to 12-speed AXS wireless shifting — there’s no longer a mechanical Force option in the current range.

How It Rides

Independent testing from Cycling Weekly and Cyclingnews both landed in the same place: Force AXS is now close enough to Red that most riders won’t notice the difference in day-to-day shifting, and the price gap makes it the better value pick unless weight is your only priority. The wireless shifters mean no cable runs to route through a tri-specific frame, which is a genuine advantage if you’re building a bike with internal aero routing.

Who It Suits

Force AXS makes most sense if you’re speccing a new road bike for training and non-drafting racing and want electronic shifting without paying Red or Dura-Ace prices. If you’re set on a dedicated TT/triathlon frame with clip-on bars, check compatibility carefully — AXS shifters are designed around drop-bar hoods, and a dedicated tri cockpit setup needs SRAM’s separate blip/satellite shifter accessories, sold individually.

Verdict

Force AXS is the best-value wireless groupset SRAM has built to date — genuinely closer to Red than the price gap suggests, and cheaper than the Shimano Di2 equivalent. If you’re upgrading a road bike used for training and racing, it deserves to be on the shortlist alongside Ultegra Di2.

Check price on Tredz — SRAM Force AXS E1 Crankset w/Power Meter

See also: Shimano 105 Di2 Review 2026 · Best Triathlon Bikes 2026.

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