SRAM Releases Huge Product Drops for the Big Bike Lovers out there

SRAM have just announced three key product upgrades for the downhill and enduro lover – a Maven B1 brake upgrade, brand new XX DH Transmission drivetrain and new BoXXer forks. Read more about the searing hot drop below…

SRAM Maven B1 Brakes: Same Power, Better Control?

When Maven launched two years ago, it reset expectations around outright braking power for gravity, e-bike and hard-charging enduro bikes. The headline number hasn’t changed with the new B1 update – Maven remains one of the most powerful brakes on the market – but how that power is delivered has been meaningfully refined.

Refined lever feel, not more force

The key update is a revised SwingLink leverage-rate curve, aimed squarely at improving modulation through the first part of the lever stroke. Initial engagement is smoother and more intuitive, with better control through the first 25% of travel – exactly where excessive bite can unsettle the bike in rough or low-traction conditions. Peak power remains unchanged, but it’s easier to access progressively, rather than all at once.

Compared to earlier Maven A1 levers, the B1 setup lowers breakaway force while reducing deadband, creating a more predictable transition from light braking to full commitment. It’s a subtle change on paper, but one that should translate directly to better braking confidence on steep or chattery terrain.

Updated caliper ratios

All Maven B1 calipers now run four 18mm pistons, selected to better match the revised lever kinematics. Riders retrofitting B1 levers to older A1 calipers can expect a touch more deadband, but also a small increase in peak power thanks to the altered mechanical advantage at full stroke.

Finish and lever updates across the range

The update isn’t just functional. Maven Ultimate now features a carbon lever blade for improved feel and cold-weather performance, alongside titanium hardware. Maven Silver receives a new forged aluminium lever with machined cut-outs and an all-black stealth finish, while Maven Bronze (OEM only) adopts the same forged blade architecture in a simpler black anodised finish.

Backwards-compatible tuning

A standout detail is backwards compatibility. The new B1 SwingLink and lever blades are available as DIY Lever Tuning Kits for existing Maven owners. Installation takes around ten minutes, requires no bleed, and allows riders to update lever feel without replacing complete brakes – a super easy upgrade.

Maven B1 pricing

Ultimate $515
Silver $455
Maven Base (carry over) $320

Tuning kits pricing 

Ultimate – $185.00
Silver – $155
Bronze – $120

SRAM XX DH Transmission: Shifting Without Lifting

Downhill racing is brutally simple: accelerate harder and commit to your line. SRAM’s new XX DH Transmission addresses what they consider to be one of the sport’s long-standing compromises – the need to ease off the pedals to shift. SRAM have been long-term players in the wireless world, but now AXS shifting is purpose-built for DH. 

But how is SRAM’s new XX drivetrain different from the rest of the AXS ecosystem and the Eagle components we ride day in and day out? We check it out below – but be warned, it’s a premium product for diehard downhillers.

The new SRAM XX DH drivetrain results in a cleaner cockpit, no housing contamination, and faster bike fixes in the pits. The AXS Pod controller (from SRAM’s existing range) offers extensive ergonomic adjustment and customisation via the app, but that’s just the start. SRAM has gone from the ground up in creating the most robust XX system to date.

SRAM’s new XX DH is a 7-speed, T-Type Transmission system designed to shift cleanly under full load, and survive huge watts and the abusive terrain of downhill, whether it’s out of the start gate or sprinting for the line.

Full power, every shift

At the heart of XX DH is Cassette Mapping, allowing for watts on the pedals to translate to the terrain, no matter what. By pairing a DH-specific 7-speed cassette with AXS firmware XX DH maintains continuous chain engagement during shifts, even under load, a key characteristic pulled across from their existing AXS ecosystem. 

Unlike traditional systems that demand a momentary soft-pedal, XX DH allows riders to stay fully committed, saving milliseconds every time a gear is selected. It’s a premium product, with an eye-watering $1205 rrp, so definitely aimed at the dedicated racing DH crowd where every fraction of a second counts.

The cassette runs a tight 10–24T range with full X-SYNC tooth profiles, prioritising durability, chain security and rapid shifts over wide gearing. The system also introduces the XD SLIM driver option, improving spoke bracing angles for stronger, more evenly tensioned wheels on narrow rear ends and retails at $860.

The XX DH derailleur uses SRAM’s Full Mount, hangerless interface, clamping directly to the frame for maximum stiffness and impact resistance, and is claimed to be the strongest DH derailleur available. Positioned further inboard than traditional derailleurs, it’s better protected from rocks and trackside abuse, while also improving heel clearance on modern 148mm DH frames.

A Type 4 damper and compact inline cage keep chain movement tightly controlled and cut out the bulk to reduce the change of impact, with SRAM stating it delivers a notably quiet drivetrain even on rough, high-speed tracks. Skid plates and outer parallelogram link are replaceable, and a rebuildable thread-on cage assembly are a practical nod to race-season longevity.

DH-Specific Crankset

XX DH isn’t just a derailleur and cassette bolted onto an existing system. The aluminium crankset is DH-specific, with reinforced machining in high-impact zones and options down to 150mm length for added clearance (150mm, 155mm, 160mm and 165mm lengths). A new T-Type DH chainring increases resistance to folding and rock strikes (available in 32T-36T), while also being compatible with Ochain chainring damper spiders for riders chasing maximum traction.

XX DH cranksets are offered with either a DUB DH spindle delivering a 56.5mm chainline for both 157mm and 148mm rear hub spacing, or a DUB Wide spindle with a 55mm chainline optimised for 148mm setups, with the DH option featuring SRAM’s most robust dedicated 56.5mm chainline configuration for maximum strength and reliability. The XX DH cranks retail at $775.

XX DH pricing

Derailleur $1205
Cranks $775 
Pod controller $344
Chain  $215 
Cassette $860 

https://www.sram.com/en/sram