Ridley E-ASTR Rival XPLR AXS 1x13 / Raw Sugar Glossy M

White and Shiny, Wirelessly Fine: The E-ASTR Rival XPLR for Demanding Rounds

A bike that at first glance looks like a purely mechanical gravel machine but hides a quiet electric helper beneath its shiny white surface – exactly this combination makes this Raw Sugar version of the E-ASTR so distinctive. If you like it sporty yet unobtrusive, you will find the right blend here.

A video from an external video provider is displayed here. YouTube has its own cookies and may collect data on activities. Consent is required to view YouTube videos.

Enable Youtube videos

From outside this E-ASTR glistens in bright white; inside the TQ HPR40 drive works away. The HM-carbon frame is developed specifically for the mid motor, allows tyres up to 52 millimetres wide and takes on the sporty geometry of the ASTR family. The motor unit weighs only 1.2 kilograms, unfolds up to 200 watts of peak power and 40 Nm of torque and stays whisper-quiet thanks to HPR technology; the 290 Wh battery sits in the downtube, optionally extended by the 160 Wh range extender on a mount inside the front triangle. The assistance engages completely naturally and fades gently above 25 km/h; LEDs in the bar plug show the mode; no display exists. The drivetrain comes from the SRAM family: Rival XPLR 1x13 connects the single 42-tooth chainring of the Praxis Type-5 crank with a 10–46 cassette, and the wireless derailleur shifts effortlessly through thirteen gears. On the DT Swiss G1800 Spline wheels (25 millimetres rim height, 24 millimetres internal width) run Schwalbe G-One Evo R tyres in 50 millimetres, tubeless-prepared. The 4ZA CIP integrated cockpit 2.0 hides all cables inside the frame; the Forza Aero seatpost (six millimetres of offset) carries the Selle Italia Novus Boost Superflow saddle with manganese rails. No lighting is fitted; the mounts in the triangle for a bottle and the extra battery, however, allow light bikepacking undertakings. Available in the colour Raw Sugar Glossy for size L, with further sizes up to XL.

From the E to the Colour: The Building Blocks of the Model Name at a Glance

The E announces the electric assistance; ASTR is the melodious series name, pronounced "ASTor" and derived from the Latin word for star. Rival names the upper middle class of the SRAM components – one tier above the Apex entry level, one below the Force and Red race groups. XPLR is the gravel series of the group, AXS the radio-based shifting system. 1x13 stands for a single chainring and thirteen sprockets. Raw Sugar Glossy, finally, describes the shiny white, sugary paintwork of this model.

Interplay of the E Family: How the Rival Model Positions Itself

The series divides into the conventional ASTR, the race-oriented ASTR RS and the electric variant. Within the E line, the Apex spec (twelve gears) and this Rival spec (thirteen gears) form the offered tiers, with the Rival model setting itself apart through the integrated 4ZA CIP cockpit, Schwalbe tyres, the Selle Italia saddle and the finer gear steps. While the Apex version lowers the entry threshold, the Rival edition targets riders who value smooth running and high-quality parts. The essential difference to the ASTR RS stays the electrics: motor and battery increase the range but cost load weight.

Its Territory: Long Gravel Rides with Class and Comfort

This gravel e-bike is intended for extended rides in which the assistance remains discreet in the background: the HPR40 pushes on climbs and into headwinds and steps back by itself above 25 km/h. The radius of use ranges from the quick after-work loop to a multi-day weekend tour. If you additionally expect lighting, a rack and everyday usability, you will find these with the E-Kanzo Adventure; if you prefer comfortable, cosy riding, the E-Grifn serves. In terms of sportiness, the E-ASTR Rival XPLR stays the reference point for geometry-aware gravel riders who do not want to do without electric aid.