First Look: e*thirteen's TRS Race Product Line
For the unveiling of their 2014 product lineup, e*thirteen chose the bustling college town of Ashland, Oregon. Located near the border of Oregon and California, Ashland has countless mountain biking opportunities, many of them beginning on nearby Mt. Ashland, which rises to an elevation of 7,533 feet, and offers easily shuttleable, high speed singletrack trails. The third stop of the Oregon Enduro Series took place here the day before the launch, and more than a few attendees had sore muscles and battle scars from the loose and dusty course.
The main focus of the launch was e*thirteen's TRSr series of components. This series is intended for enduro racing and all-mountain use, while still being light enough to also be useable on cross-country bikes. TRS stands for trail security, and the “r” stand for race; the race components use more exotic materials like titanium and carbon fiber to achieve the best strength to weight ratios possible. With enduro racing continuing to grow, it made sense for e*thirteen to expand their lineup to offer racers more options in the light and strong department.
TRSr Wheelset
The hubs use carbon tubes bonded to tall
aluminum flanges.
Final pricing is expected to be around $1200 per set, and they should be available around late August or early September.
LG1r Pedals
The LG1r pedals maintain their aluminum core with replaceable wear plate construction, but the race version gets heat treated aluminum pins and a 6/4 titanium axle, changes that shave 62 grams off the LG1+ model. The pedals also get modified seals to make them spin better, the only issue we ran into when we reviewed the LG1+ model last year. Blue, red, white and black wear plates will be available. Final testing is currently wrapping up, and the LG1r should be available at the end of August. MSRP: $319.
TRSr and LG1r Chainguides
The TRSr dual ring guide and the LG1r downhill guide both get carbon fiber backplates for increased strength and reduced weight. Todd Bishoff, e*thirteen's product director, said that the choice to go with carbon fiber wasn't driven by fashion – during testing they found that the compression molded carbon fiber gave the back plate a 25% strength increase with a 20% decrease in weight, numbers impressive enough to make it worth switching to carbon fiber from aluminum for the Race series of chainguides. The TRSr dual ring guide weighs in at a scant 76 grams, a miniscule weight gain considering the additional security it provides. Currently, both systems use a rolling pulley system, a smooth, stepped wheel on the dual ring guide and a toothed one on the LG1, but we wouldn't be surprised if a non-rolling option becomes available in the future. Both guide systems are available with white or black plastics. Available now, the TRSr retails for $199 USD and the LG1r for $219.
Guide Ring M
e*thirteen has tested a number of prototypes of their Modified Guide Rings that use a thick-thin-thick profile along with chamfering to improve chain retention in all gears, and are still testing various coatings to ensure they last as long as possible. The design is intended to work best with 11 speed systems, but it is 10 speed compatible. The difference in width between a 10 and 11 speed chain does mean that riders running these rings with a 10 speed system may still need to run a chainguide of some sort. The rings will be available in both spiderless and 104 BCD versions with 28-38 teeth in even sizes. Expected to be available in late August, the final MSRP is still to be determined.
TRSr Crankset
The spindle uses a shape inspired by a
driveshaft design found in tanks.
The TRSr cranks use a spiderless design, allowing for a wide range of gear combinations in both single and double set ups. The single ring set up will come with e*thirteen's Modified Guide Rings for increased chain retention in even tooth counts from 28 to 38. Dual ring users have 38/24, 36/22 and 34/20 tooth count options to choose from. Weights vary, but for a single ring, 34t cranks set with 175mm crank arms and a threaded bottom bracket the claimed weight is 689 grams. TRSr cranksets retail for $369 with one ring and no bottom bracket.
e*thirteen offers bottom brackets to fill all current “standards,” but we found the PF30 bottom bracket to be particularly impressive. Rather than pushing two sleeves together, the two sides of the aluminum BB thread into each other, allowing for a more precise fit, with less chance of creaking because of imperfect frame tolerances. Like the TRSr wheels, the bottom brackets use angular contact bearings to better handle axial and radial loads. Prices range from $49-$89.
First Impressions:
www.bythehive.com/e-thirteen
The main focus of the launch was e*thirteen's TRSr series of components. This series is intended for enduro racing and all-mountain use, while still being light enough to also be useable on cross-country bikes. TRS stands for trail security, and the “r” stand for race; the race components use more exotic materials like titanium and carbon fiber to achieve the best strength to weight ratios possible. With enduro racing continuing to grow, it made sense for e*thirteen to expand their lineup to offer racers more options in the light and strong department.
TRSr Wheelset
 |
The hubs use carbon tubes bonded to tall
aluminum flanges.
The TSRr wheels have undergone a host of design changes to make them lighter and stiffer, as well as more easily serviceable. The hubs consist of a carbon 'torsion tube' bonded to two aluminum flanges. For 2014 the hubs maintain their distinctive tall flange profile, but the flanges have been moved further apart and their height decreased slightly to create better spoke triangulation, which helps increase lateral stiffness. The idea behind the taller than average flange height is to keep the wheel weight centered around the hub to make acceleration as quick as possible.
Angular contact bearing keep the hubs rolling smoothly, and can withstand loading from multiple directions. The internals have been simplified to make disassembling them easier – a small flathead screwdriver and a 3mm hex wrench are the only tools necessary remove the axle. The new internals are also backwards compatible with earlier versions of the wheel for riders wishing to upgrade. Even the freehub body has been refined, with the addition of stainless steel inserts to prevent cassettes from marring the aluminum splines. The hubs have 60 points of engagement, giving the three pawls a 6 degree engagement angle.
The hubs weren't the only thing to get wider – the TRSr's aluminum rims now have a 23.5mm center width and a 28mm external width capable of supporting up to a 2.5” tire. The sidewalls have been reinforced for better dent resistance and a claimed 30% increase in stiffness. There is no carbon rim option yet, but since e*thirteen already has carbon molding capabilities, we don't doubt that this could be on the horizon. The 26” and 27.5” wheels use a 28 hole lacing pattern, and the 29” wheels use 32 spokes. Total weight is expected to be 1560 grams for the 26” wheels, a very competitive weight, especially for a wheel designed to handle the abuses of enduro racing.
Angular contact bearing keep the hubs rolling smoothly, and can withstand loading from multiple directions. The internals have been simplified to make disassembling them easier – a small flathead screwdriver and a 3mm hex wrench are the only tools necessary remove the axle. The new internals are also backwards compatible with earlier versions of the wheel for riders wishing to upgrade. Even the freehub body has been refined, with the addition of stainless steel inserts to prevent cassettes from marring the aluminum splines. The hubs have 60 points of engagement, giving the three pawls a 6 degree engagement angle.
The hubs weren't the only thing to get wider – the TRSr's aluminum rims now have a 23.5mm center width and a 28mm external width capable of supporting up to a 2.5” tire. The sidewalls have been reinforced for better dent resistance and a claimed 30% increase in stiffness. There is no carbon rim option yet, but since e*thirteen already has carbon molding capabilities, we don't doubt that this could be on the horizon. The 26” and 27.5” wheels use a 28 hole lacing pattern, and the 29” wheels use 32 spokes. Total weight is expected to be 1560 grams for the 26” wheels, a very competitive weight, especially for a wheel designed to handle the abuses of enduro racing.
Final pricing is expected to be around $1200 per set, and they should be available around late August or early September.
LG1r Pedals
 |
TRSr and LG1r Chainguides
 |
Guide Ring M
 |
TRSr Crankset
 |
The spindle uses a shape inspired by a
driveshaft design found in tanks.
The TRSr crankset uses e*thirteen's P3 Lobe Interface, a design previously used in industrial applications, including tank drive shafts. Instead of a spline system at the end of the spindle, there is a rounded triangle shape that allows the spindle to be in complete contact with the surface of the crankarm. Crank installation has been simplified over previous versions – it's now as easy as pushing the driveside crankarm spindle through the bottom bracket, tightening the non-drive side arm until it bottoms out, and then adjusting the preload ring by hand to remove any remaining play.
The TRSr cranks use a spiderless design, allowing for a wide range of gear combinations in both single and double set ups. The single ring set up will come with e*thirteen's Modified Guide Rings for increased chain retention in even tooth counts from 28 to 38. Dual ring users have 38/24, 36/22 and 34/20 tooth count options to choose from. Weights vary, but for a single ring, 34t cranks set with 175mm crank arms and a threaded bottom bracket the claimed weight is 689 grams. TRSr cranksets retail for $369 with one ring and no bottom bracket.
e*thirteen offers bottom brackets to fill all current “standards,” but we found the PF30 bottom bracket to be particularly impressive. Rather than pushing two sleeves together, the two sides of the aluminum BB thread into each other, allowing for a more precise fit, with less chance of creaking because of imperfect frame tolerances. Like the TRSr wheels, the bottom brackets use angular contact bearings to better handle axial and radial loads. Prices range from $49-$89.
 |
 Thick fog greeted us on the final day, making for surreal riding conditions. Photo: Long Nguyen |
First Impressions:
 | We were able to get two solid days of long shuttle laps aboard the new components. While the trails around Ashland aren't the most technical, they are extremely high speed (it's not uncommon to reach speeds of close to 40mph), with plenty of brake bumps and loose corners to keep riders on their toes. The trails were too smooth to truly test the dent and big hit capabilities of these wheels, but once the production versions are ready we'll be sure to put them through the wringer. There were, however, plenty of opportunities to test the acceleration of the wheels, a test they passed without issue. Likely due to their light weight, they felt quick from the starting line, snappily accelerating up to the warp speeds possible on the trails around Ashland. The cranks arms felt plenty stiff as well, without any noticeable deflection even when standing up and mashing on the pedals. We did manage to drop a chain when running a Modified Guide Ring without an upper guide on a 1x10 setup, but other riders went both days without issue on the same setup. Riders with 1x10 setups will need to experiment for themselves - different suspension designs and even the brand of chain may influence how effective the rings are. 1x11 shouldn't be an issue, as the narrower chains will increase the retention the thick-thin-thick rings provide. Overall, these products are designed for the way most of us prefer to ride, on components that don't balk at hitting drops and jumps, and don't become boat anchors as soon as the trail heads uphill, sitting somewhere in the middle ground between cross-country and downhill riding. Plus, e*thirteen has taken care to make their components as user-friendly as possible; installing chainguides and crankarms can sometimes lead to bouts of cursing and hair pulling, but it's evident that e*thirteen has gone to great lengths to make this unlikely to happen. While we can't comment on long term durability, at first glance the TRSr products are an excellent addition to an already solid lineup of components. - Mike Kazimer |
www.bythehive.com/e-thirteen
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Member since Feb 1, 2009
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I have TRS+ stuff on my bike and have had a lot of problems with it. Both the cranks and chain guide have failed on me so no I dont buy this rubbish that more expensive is always better. In my experience it generally lasts no longer than XT level stuff and provides no substantive difference in performance.
Ive had so much really high end stuff that fails just as soon as the mid to high end yet people still spend money on it. There is always someone who will say "Oh I've had mine for 84 years and they last a lifetime". Well guess what! A shit load of people have also been running less expensive equipment just as hard for just as long a time.
There is a thought process in marketing that a certain percentage of people will pay for the "best" regardless of how expensive it is or how small the gains in performance are. Therefore they price it accordingly and you end up with people paying double the price for something which is only marginally more expensive to produce and provides tiny gains in performance. But once these people have "the best" they dont care. Some people will be dumb enough to buy these pedals...
About a third the cost....
www.pinkbike.com/photo/8782116
all im saying is a bone stock 1j (aside from single turbo conversion and 272 in/ex cams, internals are not touched!), will net you atleast 500hp, and torque not being far behind (which is what really matters), with two less cylinders. oh and btw, if your smart and know what your doing it would cost about half of what a LSx motor runs ya...
youd think someone from canada would know whats good seeing as how you probably see soarers, tezzas, and crestas on the regular.. stupid DOT and EPA wont ever let us have any fun (Japanese) motors =(
and ahhhhhh, love me some yotas ans subies (fuji heavy!), best cars out there (IMO)
They aren't good.
www.reset-racing.de/reset/images_pedal/6412_6850_pedal3_web_big2.jpg
they are even pricier with a price around $780
Whoever rides these must be the king at the ice-cream parlor.
sad part is they arent joking either.. i read not too long ago that they didnt warranty this dudes guide cause he wasnt using grease/lube on the safe list.
why create a part that cant take standard everyday stuff (like wd40 or other chainlubes), seems kinda dumb.. i dont follow MRPs stuff cause i really want an lg1+ for my build, but ive never heard anything about them limiting lubes and grease.. maybe i should be drooling over their stuff instead.
who knows.. it may sound like im shooting myself in the foot already for wanting a chain guide that will make me carry around special grease and chain lube in my tool box. its really not that big of a deal, but theres a reason why i use the fluids that i already do, they work great and dont break the bank!
although like i said earlier, i dont follow mrp or the other companies that make guides closely cause ive never had to buy a chain guide (until now), so ill do some more reading before i buy. although i liked the lg1+ guide the best from what ive already seen.. im not ruling it out just yet
The wheels, and cranks/guides etc are fair competition but those pedals...idk. I don't think many people will buy them. People spend that kinda money for sexy looks and weight savings, on top of the expected things. I just don't like anything about them
The comparison to Stan's is tough because the E13 fall between Arch EX and Flow EX widths.
of course all the money is in the molding, factory costs/upkeep, machinery etc etc... but if youd spending that much on pedals, you had better be gettin some spare freakin parts!
www.vitalmtb.com/product/guide/Chainrings,19/e-thirteen/Guidering-M,12361#product-reviews/1334
hopefully not to be continued!
Dont overtighten that chainguide pulley bolt even a little, it cracks the cheap plastic.
dont doubt plastics! theyve got some nice stuff out there. its just far too expensive or not needed for our bikes.
id love to see more chainguide parts made out of delrin. although im not sure if its too soft, hard, porous, etc for bikes.
edit:
btw, some engine blocks are made out of plastic. like i said, never doubt plastic!
i really like the idea of them putting it online in a PDF (saves paper, makes the world a better place, etc), but if they dont even note it on the box, then whats the point!?
reviews.mtbr.com/chub-hub-pro-review
it is a bad idea guys.