i just bought a Sram red exogram crank set. Will my Sram force front deraileur work with it? I read on the net that I may need to change the deraileur to a yaw deraileur to get maximum performance and smooth gear changes.

You should be fine, I can't see how the ramping and tooth shape of a front chain-set is going to be affected positively or negatively by having or not having yaw. Companies usually have A B C compatibility and of course a yaw FD will give you SRAM's A compatibility and that's what they want you to use but if you're not in the position to afford or don't want to spend the money on the yaw FD I'd just proceed without it. If you have chronic shift issues that can't be alleviated by adjustment, then consider it. I could be wrong but from my understanding and first hand experience with working on SRAM Red 2.0, the yaw has more affect on chain rub during cross chaining than anything else.

I believe "need" is a somewhat superfluous term on the 41....

Do you have older shifters with a trim position? Then no - you do not new the new FD. Newer (red only?) shifters from SRAM lack trim and you would need that yaw feature.

that maximum performance is just marketing fluff. The new chainrings definitely shift better and the YAW FD is a big improvement over the older Ti caged Red FD.

I actually put the exogram rings on my older red crank (they make a separate large chainring for non-hidden bolt compatibility) and I put a yaw FD on with my old red shifters and it's shifting flawlessly. FLAWLESSLY!. The shifts are fast, clean and relatively noise free. Bliss.

I have a new Red crank and it works fine with my older Rival derailleur.

While you don't need it, I'd contend it's a more serious upgrade than most here.

Not necessarily. There is only a slight amount of rub when big-big crosschaining that the trim position effects. The amount of rub is inconsequentail, and there's no need to be big-big cross chaining in the first place. I never use the trim on my Red or Force bikes.

Agree you don't need it. New Red Yaw FD, with new red crank, set up correctly, shifts great, and it would be worth paying for the new derailleur.

https://velonews.competitor.com/2012/...ibility_209270

somebody tested it so you dont have to

I did find this article a couple of days ago. It looks like I would be ok with my older deraileur, but I went a different route. I found a good deal on force 22 front and rear deraileurs, so I bought those. This is a new build I don't have shifters yet. That will be my next purchase I guess. Shifters, brakes and wheels are all I still need. I hope to ride the Silver Comet in late October on my new bike. Thanks.