The XPLR XG-1271 sits at the top of SRAM's 12-speed gravel cassette lineup, and if you're building or maintaining a Force XPLR or Red XPLR AXS drivetrain, this is the cassette that ties the system together. The 440% range of the XPLR XG-1271 cassette provides smooth gear progression when you're sweating up gravel climbs, and tight jumps on the high end for when it's time to drill it on asphalt. The 10-44T spread has become the default gearing target for 1x gravel, and this is SRAM's execution of it — one step above the XG-1251 in the XPLR hierarchy, and the one you pair with the higher-end derailleurs.

Construction is where the money goes. The MINI CLUSTER hybrid cassette construction combines four small cogs that are CNC machined out of a single block of billet steel with an additional eight cogs that are individually pinned together. The largest cog is aluminum to keep rotating weight down where it matters most, and the cog surfaces are shaped specifically for AXS electronic shifting — the ramps and pins are designed around the derailleur executing shifts under load rather than around a human hand feathering a lever.

Compatibility is strict and worth getting right before you order. The cassette is for use with XPLR 1x rear derailleurs, compatible with Flattop chains, and compatible with XDR driver bodies. That means it will not fit a standard 11-speed HG freehub body — if you're upgrading from an 11-speed wheelset, you need to swap the driver body to XDR before this cassette will thread on. Most wheels built in the last several years for road and gravel already spec XDR, but confirm before purchase. The Flattop chain requirement also rules out running an older SRAM 11-speed or Shimano chain with this cassette.... Read More