SRAM reveals new entry level groupset Apex

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An alloy brake blade is the only major difference between Apex and Rival's shift/brake levers.(Image credit: CPSC)

Five years on from their first foray into the road market SRAM have added another arrow to their quiver with the official launch of the Apex groupset in Mallorca, Spain on Tuesday. The entry level group slots in beneath the company's Red, Force and Rival groups, and while sharing most of the company's proprietary features will seek to capitalise on the ever increasing shift towards compact cranksets for novice and recreational cyclists.

Although SRAM has already embraced compact technology in its existing offerings Apex's key feature is the option of a brand new 11-32 PG-1050 ten-speed cassette. A hybrid of the existing PG-1070 cassette and SRAM's off-road experience the new cassette will, when coupled with Apex's 50/34 crankset option (a standard 53/39 will also be available), offer a significant advantage over existing ratio options. The leap across such a wide range of gears is achieved by some rapid progressions at the lower end of the cassette (11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 22, 25, 28, 32). SRAM said that while the matter was addressed during Apex's research and development, the success of similar cassette options on their XX mountain bike component range was evidence the concept would work in the road arena.

SRAM makes no secret of the fact that it's a move designed to strike directly at the triple crankset's increasingly fragile existence within the entry-level marketplace. SRAM's marketing boffins have drawn Apex's under the marketing acronym 'WiFLi'. They contend that the wider [italics] gear range, faster [italics] and lighter [italics] set up of Apex's 50/34x11-32 will be enough to swing those that would previously erred towards the triple option. The lower Q-factor, less gear redundancy and estimated 274 gram weight advantage of the Apex compact over the Shimano 105 5603 triple has, SRAM says, been rewarded with a number of production bike manufacturers already placing significant orders for the new group.

SRAM's existing road technology has flowed down to the newcomer. Apex's shifters feature the same Double Tap, Exact Actuation and Zero-Loss functionality of its elder siblings, as well as the Reach Adjust feature, which will accommodate smaller hands. While SRAM points out the benefits for those of smaller stature and women, growing junior riders could also be major benefactors of its inclusion. Apex will also offer a flat bar option, with the necessary shifters to go into production shortly and brake levers to follow soon after.

Physically, Apex bears close resemblance to its predecessors and, at a MSRP of US$799, is part of a strategy SRAM hopes will encourage those who want the look-and-feel factor without the financial cost. Parts key to shifting performance such as lever internals and chainrings are identical in both Rival and Apex, to provide like-for-like function. However, carbon brake levers make way for aluminium equivalents and less machining in components such as the forged dual-pivot brake calipers sees Apex give up some 225 grams to Rival, but the almost dollar/gram equation will create a natural division on the SRAM range.

Shift/Brake levers: SRAM Apex Double Tap, double compatible only (344g per pair)
Rear derailleur: SRAM Apex mid- or short-cage (SC - 200g, MC - 210g)
Front derailleur: SRAM Apex Zero Loss, braze-on, 31.8mm clamp-on or 34.9mm clamp-on (BO - 89g, CO - 103g)
Cassette: PG-1050, 11-32, 11-28, 11-26, 11-23 (11-32 - 299g)
Brake calipers: SRAM Apex Skelotonized Dual Pivot (306g per pair)
Crank set: SRAM Apex GXP 50/34 or 53/39 (890g - including GXP bottom bracket)
Bottom bracket: SRAM Apex GXP
Chain: SRAM Apex PG-1050