Can I use AXS bonus buttons on a singlespeed?

Tech Tech Help
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Just built up a new Wilde Mean Jean; it’s a fun little cross bike that can be run geared or singlespeed. I’m running it singlespeed right now, and have the newest AXS Force levers on it, with SRAM bonus buttons.

I’d like to be able to use the buttons with a head unit; e.g. switching pages on a Karoo, or triggering a new lap. Is this doable without a derailleur? The AXS app isn’t recognizing the levers, but I don’t know if that’s a limitation of the app, or if there’s a more technical limitation.

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The rear derailleur acts as the ‘anchor’ for the rest of the components and the app to attach and pair to - e.g. to connect the app you use the AXS button on the rear derailleur to allow permission.

On that basis, this probably isn’t going to be possible.

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Wonder if you could take the computer parts of the rear emech and strap it under the saddle.

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Yeah, I wasn’t sure if there was a stand-alone “controller module” for things like this, I guess there probably aren’t other build types that would fall into this.

It would be pretty funny to hang a RD on the bike but just not hook it up to the chain…

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SRAM has this really helpful document (https://www.sram.com/globalassets/document-hierarchy/compatibility-map/road/axs-components-compatibility-map.pdf) that delineates each component and what it does in the AXS ecosystem by SKU. The shift levers are system controllers that are only able to control the headunit when paired to a primary component - specifically called out to be a rear derailleur - as shown in the note.

Additionally, SRAM has this page about bonus button control of the Karoo that says the shifters need to be paired to a primary component: https://support.hammerhead.io/hc/en-us/articles/25672636525979-Karoo-OS-Controlling-Karoo-with-SRAM-AXS-Controllers

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I think you may be able to do this. I seem to remember that my bonus buttons worked even if I didn’t have a battery in my rear derailleur. I’ll double-check this later on.

If confirmed, then you’d just need to temporarily get your hands on a rear derailleur to set up your bonus buttons.

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I just checked this and I was completely wrong - bonus buttons don’t work without a battery in the rear derailleur :frowning:

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