Wilier Adlar Rival AXS XPLR E1 Bike w/Alloy Wheels

Wilier Adlar Rival AXS XPLR E1 Bike w/Alloy Wheels Info

The Wilier Adlar is Wilier's adventure gravel platform: a reinforced carbon frame rated for 35kg of additional load, MTB-inspired geometry, comprehensive mount architecture, and the flexibility to carry everything a multi-day expedition demands. This build pairs that platform with SRAM Rival XPLR E1 — a fully wireless drivetrain that removes every cable from the shifting system, which on a bike built for long days away from civilization is a meaningful advantage over any wired alternative.

Same frame as the GRX Di2 build. Different drivetrain ecosystem. The choice between them comes down to how you think about your bike.

The Adlar Platform — Built for Distance and Load

The Adlar's carbon frame weighs 1,100g and is structurally reinforced to handle 35kg of additional cargo — the full weight of a serious bikepacking setup without any concern about long-term fatigue. The carbon fork weighs 470g and extends the axle-to-crown length for tire clearance up to 52mm on 700c wheels or 29x2.0" MTB rubber, while maintaining compatibility with suspension forks up to 40mm of travel for riders who want more cushion on rough touring routes.

Geometry is borrowed from Wilier's mountain bike program: a 70° head tube angle across all five sizes keeps the front end stable under heavy load, a 74° seat tube angle (medium) keeps the rider positioned efficiently over the pedals on long climbs, and the 1,065mm wheelbase provides the stability that a fully loaded bike descending rough terrain requires. Reach measures 413mm on a medium — longer than most road-influenced gravel bikes — with a shorter stem to keep steering direct.

Mounting architecture covers everything: two bottle cage mounts inside the main triangle plus a third under the down tube, top tube bag mounts, three-pack anything cage mounts on each fork leg (six total), dynamo hub cable routing through the fork's right leg, and thru-axle rack mounting points for Wilier's optional low-rider racks — the load transfer method that connects directly to the strongest structural point on the bike rather than to the chainstay or seatstay. Dropper post compatibility and 1x-only drivetrain architecture complete the picture.

Why Wireless Makes More Sense on an Adventure Bike

The case for wireless shifting on a bikepacking bike is stronger than on a race bike. In a race, the bike is relatively clean, the ride duration is fixed, and mechanical support is nearby. On a multi-day expedition, none of those things are true.

Cable-actuated drivetrains degrade over distance. Housing compresses, cables stretch, contamination builds in barrel adjusters, and shifting quality that was excellent on day one is noticeably worse by day five — particularly after wet days or river crossings. Diagnosing and correcting cable-related shifting issues in the field requires tools, spare cables, and mechanical knowledge that not every rider carries or has. SRAM's AXS wireless system removes this entire category of maintenance concern. There are no shift cables to stretch, no housing to compress, no barrel adjusters to turn. The derailleur communicates by radio signal; the signal doesn't degrade with distance ridden.

AXS batteries are small, hot-swappable, and shared across SRAM's component range. You carry one spare battery — roughly the size and weight of a AAA cell — and your drivetrain maintenance concern for a multi-week trip is a single USB-C charge every few hundred kilometers. The batteries themselves are standard enough to charge from any power bank, which most bikepackers carry anyway.

SRAM Rival XPLR E1 — The Spec Details

Rival XPLR E1 is SRAM's latest generation gravel-specific wireless groupset, bringing updated brake ergonomics and drivetrain refinements from the flagship RED XPLR platform down to a more accessible price point. The 13-speed 10-46T cassette provides a wider total gear range than a 12-speed system, with tighter steps through the middle of the cassette where most riding happens. The low gear is genuinely useful on a loaded climb — a 46T cassette cog gives you options when the grade steepens and the bike weighs significantly more than normal.

The rear derailleur uses SRAM's Full-Mount design, bolting directly to the UDH interface on the Adlar's frame without a traditional derailleur hanger. No hanger to bend on a rough track or river crossing, no spare hanger to carry and hope it matches — a structural improvement that matters on exactly the kind of terrain the Adlar is designed for.

E1 generation brake ergonomics are meaningfully improved over the previous Rival XPLR: expanded reach adjust range and significantly reduced lever effort from both the hoods and drops. On a loaded bike with hydraulic disc brakes, the one-finger braking capability is especially welcome — you're often riding with more hand fatigue on a loaded long-distance bike than on a race bike, and braking that requires less effort extends the range before that fatigue becomes a problem.

The Wireless Build for the Long Road

The Wilier Adlar Rival XPLR E1 with alloy wheels is for adventure riders who want wireless drivetrain simplicity on a bike purpose-built for distance. The alloy wheels are the right choice for this use case — durable, field-repairable in a way that carbon wheels are not, and appropriate for the varied terrain and potential rough conditions that define bikepacking routes. If you flat a carbon rim on a remote gravel track, your options are limited; alloy rims can be straightened, patched, and kept rolling.

At $5,350, this build and the GRX Di2 version are identically priced — the decision between them is a system preference. If you already use SRAM AXS components (power meter, dropper), the shared battery ecosystem makes Rival XPLR E1 the obvious choice. If you prefer Shimano's interface and lever feel, or want wired reliability with no battery management at all, GRX Di2 is the answer. Both drivetrains are excellent. The Adlar beneath them is the same either way.

Available in Stone Dark Gloss and Bottle Green Gloss across five sizes from XS to XL.