Gravel gearing math works differently than road racing. The XPLR AXS XG-1271 cassette runs a 10-44T spread that makes sense when your ride includes pavement, dirt roads, and whatever that unmarked trail turns into. The 10-tooth small cog keeps you spinning on fast descents and paved sections, while the 44-tooth bail-out gear handles steep grades that would have you walking with a standard road cassette.

SRAM built the XG-1271 specifically for their XPLR ecosystem, which means it pairs with the XPLR rear derailleur's extended cage and clutch mechanism. The cassette uses a one-piece X-Dome pinned construction where the largest cogs are machined from a single steel block and pinned to the smaller cogs. This approach keeps weight reasonable while maintaining the durability you need when grit and debris are part of every ride. The steel construction handles the increased torque loads that come with grinding up loose climbs in your biggest gear.

Tooth progression matters for cadence consistency across varied terrain. The 10-44T range spaces the jumps to minimize the jarring cadence changes that can disrupt your rhythm on mixed-surface rides. You're not hunting for gears when the road surface changes underneath you—the spacing lets you settle into a sustainable effort whether you're soft-pedaling through a rocky section or driving the pace on a gravel road.... Read More