SRAM's Force AXS E1 Brake-Shift Lever with Caliper is the second-generation update to the Force AXS hood shape, and it's the lever most gravel and road riders will actually notice a difference on compared to the D1 version it replaces. The system has stiffer calipers, one-finger braking from the hoods and drops, Bonus Buttons, and texture to easily locate and actuate the buttons and controls — the result of over four years of rider feedback aimed at eliminating finger pinch under hard braking and fitting a wider range of hand sizes. If you're building or refreshing a gravel bike and want AXS wireless shifting paired with hydraulic disc braking, this is the mid-tier option below Red and above Rival.

The brake lever itself is carbon fiber, which is where Force gets its one-finger braking capability from — the stiffer lever blade transfers more of your input to the caliper instead of flexing under load. The caliper has been redesigned to offer additional pad clearance and eliminate rotor rub , which is the fix most riders were asking for on the previous D1 generation. Bleeding uses SRAM's Bleeding Edge system with DOT fluid, and the caliper accepts standard SRAM road pads when it's time to swap them.

Sold as a single lever with matching caliper, so a complete bike build requires two — one left (front brake, 950mm hose) and one right (rear brake, 1800mm hose). These brakes are for use with flat mount frames and will not work with post mount frames , so confirm your frame and fork mounts before ordering. Compatibility runs across the AXS ecosystem — compatible with AXS derailleurs , meaning you can pair these with Rival, Force, or Red rear derailleurs on the road side, or run them with an XPLR gravel derailleur if you're building 1x.... Read More