First Ride: TRP's DH7 Shifter & 'Hall Lock' Equipped Derailleur

Shifter

The 7-speed shifter has grooved paddles to help provide extra traction and hopefully prevent any missed shifts. It's possible to shift up the cassette five gears at a time, while the release lever allows for one shift to a harder gear at a time. That release lever is positioned so that it can be reached by moving your thumb either over or underneath the advance lever depending on rider preference. The carbon fiber advance lever can be adjusted within a 40-degree range for an extra level of cockpit customization.





Derailleur

The feature that sets TRP's short-cage derailleur apart is the Hall Lock, the lever that's located to the left of the mounting bolt. Flipping that lever to the closed position effectively locks the B-knuckle in place, which keeps the derailleur from bouncing around and creating unwanted noise or chain movement. The tension of the Hall Lock is adjustable, and the lever allows it to be turned off for wheel changes or derailleur adjustments.

Along with the Hall Lock, the derailleur also has an adjustable, ratcheting clutch mechanism. The clutch adjustment is hidden behind the pulley wheel, which can make it a little tricky to get to without removing the wheel. It's a relatively fine adjustment, too, and an eighth of a turn can make a noticeable difference in how tight the clutch is. Other details include sealed cartridge bearing pulleys and a carbon fiber cage and upper link.




Ride Impressions

I've put in five days of bike park laps aboard the DH7 drivetrain so far, enough time to get a solid feel for the ergonomics and performance of the shifter and derailleur combo.

Installation was quick and easy, and I appreciated the fact that there weren't any tiny screws to fumble with when performing a cable swap. The clutch mechanism provided plenty of tension to keep the derailleur's cage from extending forward too easily, although the ratcheting mechanism is audible if there's not much other noise going on – you can hear the cage return to its home position when the bike is unweighted. When I was bombing down the trail with a full face helmet on it wasn't as noticeable, but it's there. The Hall Lock worked as intended, holding the derailleur securely in place and away from the frame. How much difference it makes will vary from bike to bike, but the fact that it's adjustable is a nice touch.

The shifting feel isn't quite as light and refined as what you'll find with SRAM's DH drivetrain – it takes a little more effort to shift up or down, but each shift generates a positive 'click'. I got along well with the actual shape of the shifter, and it didn't take any time at all to get used to the positioning.

On my fifth day of riding I ran into an issue I haven't experienced in years – I went to add a little cable tension and noticed that the barrel adjuster had snapped off inside the shifter. I'm not exactly sure what the cause could have been – I hadn't had any memorable crashes or collisions, and the shifter itself is free of any scratches or other damage. It's a pretty easy fix, but it's still far from ideal.

It's great to have another competitor in the mix, and the DH7 derailleur does have several novel features that set it apart, but the price vs. performance ratio isn't quite enough to elevate it above the level of SRAM and Shimano's offerings. Still, it's going to be interesting to see what else TRP bring to the table in the future.

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Reviews and Tech First Looks First Rides Drivetrain Trp