text: Words SRAM/ROCKSHOX
  If you haven't yet read our riding impressions on the new SRAM Eagle AXS electronic wireless drivetrain and Reverb dropper post, go check it out here. Otherwise, read on for the tech details, pricing, and availability of this futuristic groupset. Text, video, and photography below the break are from SRAM's press release.
  XC spec and ready for the trail. XX1 Eagle AXS™ utilizes the proven backbone of SRAM 1x™. With the lightest weight materials and a 500-percent gear range. More secure and longer wearing X-SYNC™2 chainring. The pinnacle of performance, paired with the connected components of Eagle AXS™. Ready for the new generation of super bikes.
  SRAM's most famous AXS product tester - who used the group to multiple wins - was reigning World and Olumpic XC champion Nino Schurter.
  There's an element of the unknown when it comes to running new trail and racing blind. Enduro spec follows suit. X01 Eagle AXS™ utilizes the proven backbone of SRAM 1x™. 500-percent gear range. More secure and longer wearing X-SYNC™2 chainring. The resilience of an aluminum cage, paired with the connected components of Eagle AXS™. Ready for the new generation of super bikes.
  The Secret Sprint Paddle was developed and perfected with input from Nino, who was looking for a way to shift up while sprinting - a situation he finds himself in often at the end of World Cup races. Whether the every day user will make as much use of it remains to be seen.
  Yes, Eagle AXS™ uses a battery. One that is removable for easy recharging after 20 hours of ride time*. One that only weighs 25g and is detachable with a single clip. One that is "hot swappable" if needed—from derailleur to your Reverb AXS™ seatpost or even your SRAM RED eTap AXS™ road group. And it only takes an hour to charge.
  Go ahead and ride in the wet and mud. Spray it down with a hose. SRAM's Eagle AXS group is water and dust proof to the IP69K international standard.
  Smashing your rear derailleur is an even scarier proposition now that it's housing a motor and battery. Thankfully, Eagle AXS derailleurs come equipped with an overload clutch - when it senses an impact, it tucks itself out of the way, instantly springing back into position once the impact has passed.
  The AXS app allows for button customization and will do things like track your mileage and suggest maintenance - if you want it to. You can also use it to set up your Eagle AXS drivetrain or AXS Reverb once and then never use it again. Up to you.
  We also know, sometimes the inevitable happens. Over time, air and oil may mix, resulting in that annoying post "squish"
  and the need for additional service. Vent Valve Technology allows you to do this simple service within a few steps, without any disassembly of the post. Depress the valve, compress the post, good to go. The air is channeled back into the air chamber leaving the oil where it belongs and you back to more confident reliable performance.
  Seatpost: SRAM Battery
  AXS Pricing
  RockShox Reverb AXS - $800 USD | €800* | £700* (*Includes VAT)
  SRAM Eagle AXS drivetrains and RockShox AXS Reverb units will be available for aftermarket purchase in April of 2019.
  Once again, make sure to check out our Ride Impressions article for SRAM Eagle AXS.
  Tags: Eagle, XO1, XX1, Wireless, AXS, RockShox, SRAM, Wireless Dropper Post, Wireless Shifting, SRAM AXS, Electronic
  Reed Holden - Feb. 6, 2019, 7:47 a.m.
  The wires of the DI2 system with the battery in the middle that really has no place on most bikes turned me off the shimano system. It seemed so stupid that in this day and age, they included wires in electronic shifting. Now sram is making it hard for me not to go electronic. All my arguments against electronic shifting pretty much go out the window with the sram system. I won't be buying it but if it comes stock on my next bike, I suspect I will leave it on.
  AndrewR - Feb. 6, 2019, 9:12 a.m.
  Except Di2 shifts perfectly every time and the battery means that you are thinking of charging in terms of months rather than hours. Good luck doing a back country multi-day on AXS (hoping that it can be recharged from a power pack) where as I can confidently do a six day trip and a 14 day work phase without worrying about my battery life with Di2 on my bike. Yes wireless would be great but there is a good reason that Shimano stuck with e-tubes and a battery.
  Pete Roggeman - Feb. 6, 2019, 10:13 a.m.
  Andrew, while I haven't seen the charger, my understanding is that yes, you could simply plug it into a power pack, and I don't imagine it's very big.
  I'm also very curious to see what 20 hours of riding time actually equates to in real world ride time. Is that 20 hours of XC racing? If so, I'd bet that riding in conditions where you aren't shifting as much would allow you to squeeze a lot more time out of a battery. Ditto if you're using a post in terrain where you're not going up and down a lot - you could easily swap your batteries at the end of each day so that your derailleur battery is always fresher. Or carry a spare or two.
  Jacob Richard - Feb. 7, 2019, 10:07 a.m.
  You would have no issue with a second battery you would have 40+ hours of riding. You don't have to be anywhere near a charger
  IslandLife - Feb. 6, 2019, 1:10 p.m.
  Oof, must be a tough day over at Shimano! Not only are they 3 years late (and counting...) to the 12x 500% game, but now Di2 has just been rendered obsolete.
  +2 Andy Eunson AlanB
  Andrew Major - Feb. 6, 2019, 2:53 p.m.
  I think the counter narrative is that Shimano is playing a long game and their long game is e-bikes.
  Their new 10t compatible driver is e-bike friendly, XD is not. Di2 (and Fox Live Valve) are hard wired which means the whole vehicle can run off a single battery/single charge point - motor, shifting, dropper, suspension, brakes, accessories.
  On its face wireless is really neat but how many individual batteries does the 'rider of the future' end up charging vs a cleanly run wiring harness - motor, shifter, derailleur, fork, shock, dropper, fork remote, shock remote, dropper remote.
  Look at where Di2 road has gone with the wiring harness hidden inside bar, stem, and frame and it's easy to picture a clean MTB setup including suspension and dropper doing the same.
  I suppose it would be easy enough for SRAM to replace the derailleur battery with a plug if e-bikes do take over the high end market.
  Anyways, have to admit it's a very clean looking adaptation of technology. Hope the new rear derailleur architecture trickles down to cable systems.
  IslandLife - Feb. 6, 2019, 4:42 p.m.
  I'm pretty sure SRAM isn't not thinking about the long game... but I think you answered your own question. On an ebike, it would be quite simple to power the derailleur and dropper with a plug system (they may already have that half-baked... it would make sense) and leave the shifter alone... 2 years on those easily replaceable batteries is fine and power line valve from that same battery. And so, in my mind it makes this system even better when it comes to compatibility on various types of bikes at various price points... pick and choose what you want based on budget, preference and application and you end up with as clean as a bike as you can afford.
  But you're right... I don't have all the info on e-bike parts and specsm, but if SRAM doesn't have an ebike capable cassette and/or hub standard, they probably need to get on that. But again, going down that route, could they not just create something that also works with all their other eagle offerings so far? Thereby completing the cycle? Offering something for everyone, again just pick the parts and application.
  Shimano has some serious catching up to do short term and if all it takes for SRAM to cover it's long term position is to finish off some plugs and build an ebike cassette/hub... it's going to make it tough for Shimano to catch up and win back market share.
  Although, I do think Shimano's saving grace will be that their product ultimately will be better than Eagle. I think when it drops, tests will bear that out, consumers will demand it and Shimano should be able to gain share again.... we'll see.
  They're going to need it as I'm sure Shimano's MTB financials must not be pretty to look at right now.
  Andrew Major - Feb. 6, 2019, 7:15 p.m.
  SRAM just uses the old standard cassette driver (11-50) for their E-Bike setups.
  I wasn't intending a dig at SRAM at all, just a commentary on Shimano vs. wireless. I think SRAM's bringing an impressive product to market.
  IslandLife - Feb. 7, 2019, 1:26 p.m.
  Totally got that and ya makes sense... interesting times!! In the end.. great time to be a mountain biker that's for sure!!
  Andy Eunson - Feb. 6, 2019, 6:22 p.m.
  Can someone explain why the Magura Veyron actuated so slowly? What was Magura thinking? There has to be a real advantage to electronically controlled stuff not a disadvantage.
  AJ Barlas - Feb. 6, 2019, 7:02 p.m.
  From my review of the Magura post back in 2016 for Vital:
  "The delay is a result of the time it takes for the electronics to communicate and the hydraulic clamping mechanism to actuate within the post. During the development process Magura made a version that worked more quickly thanks to the use of magnets, but the force required to release the magnets resulted in unacceptable battery life."
  They claim to have made it faster now but from what I've heard through media squid friends, it's still unnacceptably slow. Not sure why they're unable to get it to function more promptly.
  Rob Gretchen - Feb. 7, 2019, 7:28 a.m.
  I have owned the 1st gen Vyron and currently using the 2nd gen on one of my bikes... it is definitely faster than the previous generation but still not where it needs to be IMO.. I can still get along with it OK. I have had reliability issues though...3 warranty posts, so.... if the new AXS Reverb does all its claimed, other than the too high MSRP it could be a real game changer... and its finally refreshing to see Rockshox add the air bleed feature to this post. They have adamantly denied that this was an "issue" with their posts, but now at least they have a way to mitigate it without a full teardown...