SRAMRED E1 Flattop Road Chain

$110.00

Built for

SRAM Road
road
gravel

Key specs

Speeds

This pairs well with

Garbaruk 12-Speed Gen 2.0 Gravel Cassette for SRAM XD/XDRCassette

You may also need

SRAM 12-Speed Flattop PowerLock ConnectorChain connector

Overview

The SRAM RED E1 Flattop Road Chain is the lightest SRAM road chain, made for SRAM's eTap AXS road and gravel drivetrains. It uses hollow pins and cut-out outer plates to save weight, with 126 links. It is the current-generation RED chain, and it also serves SRAM's 13-speed RED AXS. It comes in silver or a Rainbow oil-slick finish, and it fits every SRAM road AXS tier.

Why we love it

We love the RED E1 chain for being the lightest road chain SRAM makes, in a clean silver or a Rainbow oil-slick finish.

01Hollow pins and cut-out outer plates make it the lightest SRAM road chain, lighter than the previous RED chain.
02It fits every SRAM eTap AXS road tier, carries across SRAM's 12- and 13-speed RED AXS, and is e-bike approved.
03It comes in silver or a Rainbow oil-slick finish, with the matching SRAM PowerLock connector.

Why it makes the cut. Hammer & Howl only carries parts we believe are among the best in the business. It is the flagship chain for a light, well-finished SRAM AXS road or gravel build.

Specifications

What it is: A 12-speed road Flattop chain for SRAM eTap AXS road and gravel
Number of speeds: 12- and 13-speed (SRAM RED AXS)
Drivetrain: SRAM eTap AXS road and gravel (RED, Force, Rival, Apex), and 13-speed RED AXS
Chain type: Road Flattop, hollow-pin with cut-out outer plates (lightest SRAM road chain)
Links: 126 links
Connector: SRAM PowerLock quick link, single-use, included
Finish: Silver, or a Rainbow oil-slick PVD coating
E-bike approved: Yes
Manufacturer part number: Silver 00.2518.065.015
Rainbow 00.2518.068.008

Warranty

SRAM publishes its written warranty, including what it covers and what it excludes, at sram.com/en/service/warranty. We will send you a free copy of that warranty on request. Email support@hammerandhowl.com or call (206) 420-9548.

What's included

One SRAM RED E1 Flattop Road Chain (126 links), in the finish you select
One SRAM PowerLock connector, the matching quick link for this chain

Not included: A chain tool or master-link pliers. You size the chain to your drivetrain with a chain tool, then join it with the SRAM PowerLock in the box, with the arrow on the PowerLock pointing in the direction the chain travels. The PowerLock closes by hand and locks in place with a firm pedal stroke while you hold the rear brake, until it clicks. Removing the chain later needs master-link pliers. The PowerLock is single-use, so use a fresh one each time the chain is joined. Many home mechanics do this job; if you would rather not, any bike shop can install it for you.

Will it fit your bike?

Compatible with

SRAM 12-speed eTap AXS road and gravel drivetrains, including: RED, Force, Rival, and Apex eTap AXS; 1x (single-chainring) and 2x (double-chainring) AXS road setups
Any of those SRAM road tiers (SRAM's 12-speed road Flattop chains interchange, so this chain fits RED, Force, Rival, and Apex alike)
SRAM's 13-speed RED eTap AXS drivetrains as well (the RED chain carries across 12- and 13-speed RED AXS)

Not compatible with

SRAM Eagle 12-speed drivetrains (NX, GX, X01, or XX1 Eagle, and SRAM's drop-bar Apex Eagle group), which use a SRAM Eagle chain, a different chain
SRAM Eagle Transmission (T-Type) drivetrains: the T-Type Flattop chain looks similar but is a mountain-bike chain made for SRAM's Transmission system and does not interchange
10-speed, 11-speed, and non-SRAM drivetrains

Confirm before ordering

This is the SRAM road Flattop chain for a 12-speed SRAM eTap AXS road or gravel drivetrain, and it fits RED, Force, Rival, and Apex alike. Match it to your groupset. If you are not sure, confirm with your bike mechanic or Hammer & Howl before ordering.

SRAM's road Flattop chain is the chain for its 12-speed eTap AXS road and gravel groups, RED, Force, Rival, and Apex. They all use the same road Flattop chain, so this one fits any of them; the tiers differ by weight, pin construction, and finish, not by fit.

Questions

Can I use a cheaper SRAM road chain, like Apex or Rival, on my RED or Force AXS bike?

Yes. SRAM's 12-speed road Flattop chains, RED, Force, Rival, and Apex eTap AXS, interchange, so a lower-tier chain works on a higher-tier drivetrain and the other way around. The tiers differ by weight, pin construction, and finish, not by fit. Choosing a chain is about weight and wear. If you ride an e-bike, also check each chain's e-bike approval, as that differs by tier. For SRAM's 13-speed RED AXS, this RED E1 chain is the one made for it.

Will it work on a SRAM Eagle mountain-bike drivetrain?

No. A SRAM Eagle mountain-bike drivetrain uses a SRAM Eagle chain, which is a different chain. This is a road Flattop chain for a SRAM eTap AXS road or gravel drivetrain. Match the chain to your bike.

Is it the same as a SRAM Eagle Transmission (T-Type) chain?

No. The Eagle Transmission (T-Type) chain shares the flat-top shape but is a mountain-bike chain for SRAM's direct-mount Transmission system. This road Flattop chain is made for a SRAM eTap AXS road or gravel drivetrain, and the two do not interchange.

Which finishes does it come in?

Two: silver, and a Rainbow oil-slick. The Rainbow is a PVD coating over the steel, not paint and not anodizing. It is a thin, hard coating applied over the chain's plating, and it shifts color with the light. Both are the same chain, so choose the finish you like.

Can I use it on an e-bike?

Yes. This chain is e-bike approved, so it suits a SRAM AXS e-road or e-gravel bike as well as a regular one. Keep it clean and check it for wear regularly, as an e-bike can wear a chain faster; replace it when it reaches the wear limit.

Does it come with a connector?

Yes. A SRAM PowerLock connector, the matching quick link for this chain, is in the box. You size the chain to length with a chain tool and join it with the PowerLock, its arrow pointing in the direction the chain travels; it closes by hand and locks with a firm pedal stroke.

Can I reuse the PowerLock connector?

No. A SRAM PowerLock is single-use. Once it has been closed, use a fresh PowerLock the next time the chain is joined, and use master-link pliers to open the old one. Reusing a connector risks a broken chain, so it is worth replacing each time.

What do I need to install it?

A chain tool to size the chain to your drivetrain, and the SRAM PowerLock in the box to join it. Set the PowerLock so its arrow points in the direction the chain travels; it closes by hand and locks with a firm pedal stroke. To take the chain off later you use master-link pliers, and you join it with a fresh PowerLock each time. If you would rather not install it yourself, any bike shop can.