SRAM adds WiFLi tech to Red eTap groupset

Winch your way up tough climbs with wide-range gearing

Courtesy SRAM

Published: October 10, 2016 at 11:00 am

While SRAM’s wireless Red eTap groupset has been around for a year now, it hasn’t been possible to fit a wide-range cassette for spinning up really tough climbs. That’s now changed with the addition of SRAM's 'WiFLi' technology, which provides a longer-arm rear derailleur and lets you fit 11-30t or 11-32t cassettes.

The SRAM Red eTap WiFLi Upgrade Kit includes a SRAM Red eTap WiFLi rear derailleur, SRAM XG-1190 11-32t cassette, and a SRAM Red 22 11-speed chain. In addition to supporting wider-range cassettes, the updated derailleur design is said to optimise the chain gap for more consistent shifting.

SRAM WiFLi compatibility

The new SRAM Red WiFLi rear derailleur is compatible with cassettes up to 11-32t - Courtesy SRAM

The new WiFLi kit is designed to work with SRAM PowerGlide and PowerdomeX cassettes. The smallest cassette that it can accept is 11-26t — any smaller and you’ll need to fit the existing short-arm Red eTap derailleur. Read our review of SRAM’s Red eTap groupset for the full lowdown on how it rides.

SRAM WiFLi weight

Here's a side-by-side comparison of the new longer-arm Red eTap derailleur (left) and existing short-arm one (right) - BikeRadar / Courtesy

There is a tiny, barely-there weight penalty with the WiFLi kit: the new long-arm rear derailleur weighs 243g with battery, compared to 237g (with battery) for the existing short-arm derailleur.

The latter is a real-world weight that we measured earlier this year for our guide to SRAM Red eTap — actual weights and installation. Take a look at the photo above to see how they compare visually.

SRAM WiFLi pricing and availability

How to install SRAM Red eTap

The full SRAM Red eTap WiFLi Upgrade Kit costs £745 / US$920 / €907 (Aussie pricing TBC), and includes a SRAM Red eTap WiFLi rear derailleur and battery, SRAM XG-1190 11-32 cassette, and SRAM Red 22 chain.

The SRAM Red eTap WiFLi rear derailleur on its own costs £485 / US$610 / €570.

Both will be available from December 2016, just in time for Christmas. “Dear Santa…”