13 speeds on a rear derailleur sounds like marketing excess until you actually ride SRAM's XPLR cassette range. The Red XPLR AXS E1 rear derailleur exists specifically to handle that 10-44T spread, giving you a legitimate climbing gear without sacrificing tight spacing in your cruising range. This is the mechanism that makes single-ring gravel setups work for riders who refuse to compromise on either end of the cassette.

The E1 designation means this derailleur runs on SRAM's simplified wireless protocol. Pair it with any AXS E1 shifter, and you're done—no multi-component ecosystem required. Battery life runs around 60 hours of ride time on the rechargeable unit, and the same battery swaps between your derailleur and dropper post if you're running both. Shifting happens through SRAM's Orbit fluid damper system, which keeps chain tension consistent whether you're hammering pavement or bouncing through chunk.

The cage geometry matters here. SRAM designed this specifically for 1x drivetrains with that massive cassette range, so the pulley spacing and wrap capacity handle the 34-tooth jump from smallest to largest cog without hesitation. X-Range technology positions the pulleys closer to the cassette throughout the gear range, which tightens up shift response and reduces chain noise.... Read More