Purchase decision

Groupset Matrix. What is what.

Read the row, not the column. Tier position matters, not brand name. Shimano 105, SRAM Rival and Campagnolo Chorus all sit on the same step — the brand is the second decision, not the first.

4 min read · As of 04 / 2026 · 6 sources

Road

Shimano SRAM Campagnolo

Tier	Manufacturer	Groupset / Gen	Speeds	Shifting	1x / 2x	Weight	MSRP €
1	Shimano	Dura-Ace Di2 R9250 · 2021	12	Di2	2×	2.438 g	4.790 – 5.290
1	SRAM	Red AXS E1 D1 · 2024	12	AXS	2×	2.490 g	4.620 – 5.090
1	Campagnolo	Super Record 13 SR13 · 2024	13	AXS	2×	2.345 g	5.490 – 5.940
2	Shimano	Ultegra Di2 R8150 · 2021	12	Di2	2×	2.716 g	2.890 – 3.290
2	SRAM	Force AXS D2 · 2023	12	AXS	2×	2.810 g	2.690 – 3.080
2	Campagnolo	Super Record Wireless SRW · 2023	12	AXS	2×	2.510 g	4.890 – 5.290
3	Shimano	105 Di2 R7150 · 2022	12	Di2	2×	2.988 g	1.840 – 2.190
3	Shimano	105 R7100 · 2022	12	mech.	2×	3.006 g	1.340 – 1.540
3	SRAM	Rival AXS D1 · 2021	12	AXS	2×	3.050 g	1.490 – 1.780
3	Campagnolo	Chorus 12 CH12 · 2018	12	mech.	2×	2.505 g	2.090 – 2.390
4	Shimano	Tiagra 4700 · 2015	10	mech.	2×	3.120 g	680 – 820
4	SRAM	Apex AXS D1 · 2023	12	AXS	1×/2×	3.280 g	1.040 – 1.250
4	Campagnolo	Centaur 11 CT11 · 2017	11	mech.	2×	2.740 g	1.090 – 1.290
5	Shimano	Sora R3000 · 2016	9	mech.	2×	3.280 g	520 – 640

Gravel

Shimano SRAM Campagnolo

Tier	Manufacturer	Groupset / Gen	Speeds	Shifting	1x / 2x	Weight	MSRP €
1	SRAM	Red XPLR AXS D1-13 · 2024 · UDH	13	AXS	1×	2.515 g	3.890 – 4.290
2	Shimano	GRX Di2 RX825 RX825 · 2024	12	Di2	1×/2×	3.020 g	2.340 – 2.680
2	SRAM	Force XPLR AXS D2-13 · 2024 · UDH	13	AXS	1×	2.790 g	2.340 – 2.690
2	Campagnolo	Ekar 13 EK13 · 2020	13	mech.	1×	2.615 g	1.690 – 2.090
3	Shimano	GRX RX820 RX820 · 2024	12	mech.	1×/2×	3.140 g	1.490 – 1.780
3	Shimano	GRX RX610 RX610 · 2023	12	mech.	1×/2×	3.250 g	890 – 1.090
3	SRAM	Rival XPLR AXS D2-13 · 2024 · UDH	13	AXS	1×	3.110 g	1.590 – 1.890
4	Shimano	GRX RX400 RX400 · 2019	10	mech.	2×	3.380 g	640 – 790
4	SRAM	Apex XPLR AXS D1-12 · 2023	12	AXS	1×	3.260 g	1.190 – 1.390

Three things the table does not say

Read the row

Tier matters, not brand name.

105, Rival, Chorus all sit on tier 3. Choosing 105 over Rival is a brand pick, not a class pick. The class was decided first.

Gravel column is separate

GRX, XPLR, Ekar carry their own rules.

Chainline 47.5–47.8 mm vs. 45.0 mm road. Higher Q-factor. A road derailleur is not plug-and-play in a gravel frame, even within the same tier.

UDH is mandatory for 2024+

SRAM XPLR 13s requires a UDH frame.

A 2022 frame without UDH cannot run SRAM Red/Force/Rival XPLR 13-speed. Apex XPLR 12-speed remains compatible.

Go deeper

Drivetrain

Which chain

Wax-chain, SRAM Force Flattop, Shimano Dura-Ace. Measurable watt difference.

Setup

Tire pressure

Half-system-weight is obsolete. What hookless rims dictate.

Market

Value vs. S-Works

Where expensive watts vanish. Best bike at half the budget.

Setup

Tire width

Why 30 mm rolls faster than 25 mm in almost every condition.