SRAM Apex 12 Compatibility | Apex Eagle and Apex XPLR
This guide explains which Ratio Upgrade Kits you can use with the SRAM Apex 12 speed derailleurs and shifters.
What is SRAM Apex 12?
In 2023, SRAM released two mechanical 12 speed groupsets in the form of SRAM Apex Eagle* and SRAM Apex XPLR*. Unlike previous Apex groupsets, Apex 12 is available exclusively as a 1x drivetrain.
With SRAM Apex Eagle, it is possible to get a wide-range “mullet” setup off the shelf using the Apex 12 road shifters and a MTB cassette. Alternatively SRAM Apex XPLR allows the use of XPLR cassettes with road or MTB mechanical shifters.
If you’re already using older SRAM 10 or 11 speed road shifters, there’s no need to replace them. Ratio Upgrade Kits let you upgrade to 12 speed while keeping the parts you already own. This will save money, reduce waste and achieve the gearing you need.
For a wide-range 12 speed cassette, use the Apex Eagle derailleur with the Ratio 1×12 Wide Upgrade Kit.
For an AXS or XPLR 12 speed cassette, use the Apex XPLR derailleur with the Ratio 1×12 Road Ratchet and Cable Fin A.
Read on for more details.
Can I upgrade older SRAM 10/11 speed road shifters to work with an Apex 12 derailleur and a wide-range 12 speed cassette?
If you’re currently running 10 or 11 speed SRAM road shifters and want to upgrade to a wide range 12 speed cassette then it is possible to reuse your shifters by fitting the Ratio 1×12 Wide Upgrade Kit.
The ratchet in the kit converts your shifters to 12 speed, with spacing specifically designed for SRAM Eagle cassettes, and the fin converts the cable pull ratio of the derailleur (Apex Eagle uses X Actuation and Apex XPLR uses a modified version of X Actuation*, while SRAM road shifters are Exact Actuation*).
While both derailleurs are compatible, we’d recommend an Apex Eagle derailleur as the jockey wheels on the XPLR model are slightly narrower.
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Can I still use my SRAM 10/11 speed road shifters with an Apex 12 derailleur and an AXS or XPLR 12 speed cassette?
To use your SRAM 11 or 10 speed road shifters with an AXS/XPLR cassette, you can fit our 1×12 Road Ratchet, coupled with our Cable Fin A.
You’ll need to use a SRAM Flattop* chain. Since this chain is narrower than a SRAM Eagle model, it is important that you only use the SRAM Apex XPLR derailleur. This is because this derailleur has narrower teeth than the Eagle model.
Simply fit the Road Ratchet in the shifter to upgrade to 12 speed for AXS or XPLR cassettes. The cable fin is then converts the pull ratio of the derailleur to Exact Actuation.
What about the Apex 12 speed shifters?
The SRAM Apex 12 speed shifters use a new ratchet design, so they are only compatible with SRAM Apex Eagle, SRAM Apex XPLR or other X Actuation rear derailleurs.
SRAM derailleurs with Ratio cable fins attached will not work with these new Apex shifters.
Still unsure which kit you need?
You can use our Kit Finder to find out what you need to get the right setup for you. If you’re still not sure, do get in touch with details of the setup you’d like to get.
*AXS®, DoubleTap®, eTap®, SRAM®,SRAM APEX®, SRAM EAGLE®, SRAM FORCE®, SRAM RED®, SRAM RIVAL®, X0®, X01®, XX1® are registered trade marks owned by SRAM, LLC. Eagle™, Exact Actuation™, GX™, NX™, SRAM APEX 1™, SRAM Force 1™, SRAM RIVAL 1™, S-series™, SX™, WiFLi™, X-Actuation™, XD™, XDR™, XPLR™, XX™, Zero Loss™ are trademarks of SRAM, LLC. The use of these trademarks in the table below is for informative purposes only, and all trademarks remain the property of SRAM, LLC.
