SRAM Eagle Electronic Shifting Spotted on Nino Schurter's Scott

Feb 21, 2018
by Richard Cunningham  
Nino Schurter Dan Gerous instagram
Dan Gerous' Instagram clearly shows Nino Schurter riding with a SRAM eTap wireless electric rear derailleur.


Social media is bubbling with comments about recent Instagram and Facebook images of multi-time World Champion Nino Schurter riding what looks like a prototype SRAM eTap wireless rear derailleur and shifting system. The story was picked up by Velozine, who dug up some old patent drawings of shifters and derailleurs to that effect. That said, eTap has been around for years, so there can be no doubt that by now, SRAM has a fully armed and operational group for mountain bikes. The only question is "when?" Attempts to contact SRAM have not yet borne fruit, so (in the spirit of PB) some unfounded conjecture is in order.

SRAM eTap Red derailleur
SRAM eTap Red rear mech compared with....
SRAM XX1 Eagle
...An XX1 Eagle rear derailleur.

The rear derailleur of Nino's Scott is definitely eTap, but it's doubtful that SRAM would model it in polished silver like its road version - it wouldn't look tough enough for dirt bikes. Two explanations: it could be a modified road changer, adapted with an XX1 pulley cage (eTap Red is 11-speed); Or it could be a production Eagle wireless rear 12-speed derailleur that has been polished as a sort of camouflage to make us think it's a MacGyvered road bike mech

bigquotesThe rear derailleur is not the big question anyway. We know it's going to shift and we know it will be a 12 speed.

The rear derailleur is not the big question anyway. We know it's going to shift and we know it will be a 12 speed. What we are most curious about is what the shifter will look and feel like. That, however, will remain a mystery, because the shift levers are not apparent in the images. The default would be a abbreviated version of SRAM's paddle shifters that feel more like buttons, but possess a tactile and audible click - a retro solution which would play well to the change-reluctant mountain biker crowd. The more progressive solution, however. would be a pair of rubberized buttons or a single radial paddle that could be switched intuitively without moving the thumb completely off of the grip.
Nino Schurter Dan Gerous instagram
The source of the hoopla.


DIY Wireless Shifting

If you had access to a small lathe and possessed some basic metal-working skills, you could splice a long-travel pulley cage from an 11-speed XX1 group to an eTap Red rear derailleur. The cassette spacing is the same as XX1, according to road bike forums. Shifters? Well, SRAM caters to the Triathlon and time trial segment with a pair of clever plug-in remote buttons called "eTap Blips." It wouldn't be too hard to place both on the right side of the handlebar for one-thumb shifting, or if you are already paddle-shifting your sports car, you could place one button on either side of the bars and have a similar setup.
SRAM eTap Blips
SRAM eTap Blips - plug-in remote shift buttons.

More photographs and speculation

Enough nonsense for now. If I do get any facts from SRAM, I'll post them here.

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech First Looks SRAM Nino Schurter


Author Info:
RichardCunningham avatar

Member since Mar 23, 2011
974 articles
Report
Must Read This Week
Thank You For Everything, Pinkbike
75292 views
Pole Bicycles Has Filed for Bankruptcy
50926 views
[UPDATED] Final Elite XC Results & Overall Standings from the Mairiporã XC World Cup 2024
41890 views
First Ride: The Sub-$600 RockShox Domain and Psylo Forks
41224 views
Staff Ride: Matt Beer's NZ MTB Rally-Spec Ibis HD6
40003 views
Tree Root Pierces Harriet Harnden's Foot at Round 1 of the British National Downhill Series
37549 views
Review: Race Face's Era Chainring Uses Steel, Carbon, & Aluminum
27579 views
First Ride: Fox's New Transfer Dropper Post - Adjustable Travel, Up to 240mm of Drop
26142 views
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup

234 Comments
  • 361 2
 They're missing a huge opportunity here if they don't use Star Wars blaster gun sounds for the shifting.
  • 64 0
 I was thinking eagle shrieks but I like the SW gun idea
  • 129 2
 how about the sound of a cash register closing or an interac visa tap?
  • 44 0
 @bigdood: ppshhhh, i make my own eagle sounds when i shift
  • 33 0
 But it would be impossible to hit the right gear...
  • 43 0
 If it sounded like a blaster, when I caught someone on the trail I'd be smashing those buttons. Pew pew pew pew! More important than gear selection.
  • 61 2
 @dldewar: Maybe a dentist drill?
  • 14 1
 How cool would it be if you could change the sound with your phone? I'd make mine fart every shift... I like the attention
  • 7 1
 @bigdood: Maybe the sound of air coming out of the tire..........
  • 18 0
 @moynie: it’s not impossible. I’ve bulls-eyed womp rats in my T-16 back home and they’re not much bigger than 2 meters.
  • 9 0
 True story, I've seen @feldybikes rip the ears off a gundark (while riding a 26er with cable discs!)
  • 4 0
 There was nothing clear about that picture...
  • 8 2
 You can do a custom sound, but it is $10, no problem though since they require account and credit card signup on install. Conveniently they sell shift packages cheap, the standard lamo option is $1/shift, but real endrobros do the $100 for 200 shifts. Again no problem here as the shifter is required to be online at all times through your cell phone, very convenient.
  • 1 0
 @jhelle: Kuh-KAW!
  • 12 1
 www.bike-forum.cz/foto/detail/48431-etap-eagle better photos thanks me later Wink
  • 1 0
 @Smilicito: I like that. It frees up the space under the bar, so you could put a paddle style remote for your dropper on either side, or have one for your dropper and one to lock out your shock if you're a XC racer type.
  • 2 0
 @Rasterman: A DRM-enabled shifter is the thing of nightmares, or like a bike version of Black Mirror.
  • 1 0
 Moto roost.. brapp braapp braaapp
  • 1 0
 @Smilicito: Pictures look like a Red RD with an Eagle cage and a remote very similar to what comes on a Specialized Turbo Vado (note that it's shown on a Specialized Epic, not sure if it's a generic part or if it's been repurposed). Either way, these photos must be from the prototyping stage so... stoked but hopefully they're further along than this.
  • 1 0
 @Smilicito:
  • 1 0
 @moynie: I see what you did there...
  • 1 0
 @feldybikes: Perhaps the best out of context quoting i've ever seen on the internets
  • 51 15
 Analog, I heart you.
  • 72 5
 you mean Mechanic. Analog is a type of signal wich can in fact be electric.
  • 12 4
 Indeed. You've still got to run a hydraulic line to the rear brake so there's still going to be holes in the frame. As others have said, Eagle is very simple and isn't going gain anything by using a microprocessor to optimize ratios like XTR etc. If I had to choose between having another product with a battery to charge V's 6ft of cable and housing, I would take the latter every time.
  • 8 2
 @jclnv: that is unless you have a little oil reservoir on top of the caliper...
  • 9 1
 I don't know, i love indexed shifting, why would you want to go back to friction shifters?
  • 1 7
flag taskmgr (Feb 21, 2018 at 19:29) (Below Threshold)
 @fercho25: analog is only electric.
  • 5 8
 @makripper: false. analog clocks can be mechanical.
  • 2 4
 @cmcrawfo: nope. It is a mechanism. Not analog.
  • 5 3
 @cmcrawfo: well except for a sundial
  • 5 0
 This is basically Rolex vs. Apple Watch. This isn't the end of cables and clicks. It'll never die.
  • 3 1
 @makripper: look it up bro. The word analog has more than one meaning.
  • 3 1
 @mollow: WiFi brakes?
  • 4 0
 @woofer2609: you deserve more props for actually addressing what analog shifting is.
  • 2 0
 @nuttypoolog: Except the prices are the other way around.
  • 22 0
 Hopefully MTBs will soon be fully autonomous, then they'll be able to take themselves out for a ride while we sit on the couch. Can't wait for that day. Such a drag having to ride them.
  • 2 0
 @jclnv: there’s is no technical reason breaking can’t be electric... I sure as hell wouldn’t want it, just saying.
  • 2 0
 @woofer2609: You sir are the real hero, I was trying to make a comment like yours but wasnt clever enough.
  • 2 0
 @Rasterman: there are actually lots of technical reasons.
  • 1 0
 @rjmc: agreed, only another 20 or 30 incremental standards updates and incremental price increases to go. Then we will reach the self-driving, $20,000 e-mtb nirvana we all so desperately need.
  • 25 1
 Surprised Waki hasn't shown up yet with his gallon of haterade hating on all things Eagle!
  • 1 0
 Lol
  • 4 0
 It's probably the middle of the night over there. He'll be awake soon.
  • 16 3
 I was never hateful against Eagle. I have had reasonable arguments against such wide range and I was ridiculing giant spinning chain saucers. Like, if Sram
made 9-56 cassette and priced it high enough you’d find a bunch of dudes who’d find it reasonable
  • 3 0
 @WAKIdesigns: I'd hit it.
  • 23 7
 I gotta think this one is a tough sell. I get it if you run a 2x drivetrain. Then you can bundle shifts (Shimano) with programming to avoid crossovers. But on my 1X Eagle it is pretty effortless shifting with a cable. I cannot see the expense of Etap being worth the potential issues. Unless your planning to go back to 2x?
  • 97 4
 dont understimate dentists
  • 24 18
 It does not matter if it makes sense or not.
Sram is run by marketers and business people, all it matters is sales, even if there is no public interest or if it is worst than current systems.
They own the press thanks to $$$ spend on ads. They can make it “desirable” and “innovative” very easy. Even total garbage like the rs-1 was reviewed by the largest magazine as an outstanding innovative fork.
  • 3 1
 @RedRedRe: Bike fashion show alert....
  • 32 8
 Imagine installing your entire groupo without having to route cables or housing through your frame. Just plug and play. That's enough reason for me. Maybe not a big deal if you already have a mechanic doing that work for you though. I didn't think electronic shifting with wires was that special because of that issue - but if it's wireless then there's a big advantage there.
  • 4 2
 Considering Archer (a small company in SC) has already made 12 speed electronic shifting using the Eagle components you already bought, i dont really see a point in srams version unless it was way cheaper. which is unlikely
  • 27 3
 @thepwnstar39:
I enjoy building the bike and just get it right. It is something takes years to learn and goes hand in hand with the pleasure of riding it.

Sure, you save 20/30 minutes when building the bike at first. We are talking about routing 2 cables.

What about the time you spend having to charge this thing every other day. Turn off, plug in, charge, disconnect, turn on and go? Updates? Battery issues?
Wanna go for a ride but forgot to charge? Go tomorrow.

I already have enough things to turn on / off / charge / update / doesn’t work / bugs / everyday...
  • 7 0
 @chasejj: totally in agreement. When I click my shifter, it instantly pulls the cable and moves the derailleur. There is no discernable lag to the naked eye. Does electronic shifting really improve on that?
  • 3 1
 @RedRedRe: Largely correct.
  • 5 0
 @RedRedRe: Nailed it.
  • 7 0
 @thepwnstar39: "Imagine installing your entire groupo without having to route cables or housing through your frame."

That's literally one housing and one cable these days.
  • 5 1
 Oh, and if you wanted to really make it easy you could invest in one of those new frames designed to hold cables on the OUTSIDE of the frame. Or you can get a bluetooth thingamajig whatever.
  • 3 1
 I'd love this. 1x Di2 is excellent, but wiring sucks unless your bike is made for it.
  • 5 1
 @RedRedRe: Except not really. The charge on both Di2 and Etap lasts way longer than you would think it should. Every other day? Every other week if you are being conservative.
  • 10 0
 Because the only thing eagle needs is even more unsprung weight
  • 5 0
 @RobKong: more like every few months on Di2...
  • 5 0
 @thepwnstar39: Sound financial advice: drop an extra grand to save on 10 minutes of easy cable routing. Being a pwnstar has it's perks I guess.
  • 5 0
 @thepwnstar39: I don't want to be rude but if routing two cables (I run 2x) is a problem for you I don't think you shoud be servicing bike yourself. Literally how much complication is in putting two pices of cable on the frame in one piece for most of the time?

Wireless gears is nothing more than a marketing department wet dream. Same thing with 15mm axle. They've created something that nobody was asking for because bullet proof solutions were already there.
  • 12 1
 I might've said the same until I went 1x XT Di2 on my latest Transition Patrol. Perfect crisp precision shifting every time. The electronic shifting is SO easy and precise, using a mechanical shifter now feels simply archaic. You mean I have to basically physically pull the cable with my thumb? Madness. Of course, I shattered my thumb a few years ago so I kinda needed to take some strain off it, but having used it for a flawless* season, I would buy it again in an instant even without thumb issues. Oh, I've also charged it twice, since May, and have put over 1000km Whistler on it.

* I have snapped two short Di2 connector cables in crashes, but that's my fault for bad routing and are a cheap swap out ($10). So yeah, wireless would be even better.
  • 2 0
 @thepwnstar39: man if you are not able to fit a wire into your frame you should not work with your bike.
I do not like the idea of wireless shifting at all because the signal only is working perfect if you use a wire.
Another thing is how much that rear derailleur will cost after smacking some of them into a rock. My eagle derailleurs aren't that good Vs older gx 11 speed. Alot more died and even the pulleys
  • 2 0
 if it is wirless then there are no cables at all which is super clean i guess
  • 4 1
 @RedRedRe: eTap their is noting that need to be turns onthey have an inbuilt accelerometer, as soon as the bike is in motion the system wakes up. After no movement for a certain amount of time they system goes to sleep.
As for charging, most people run a Garmin or GSP device. eTap doesn't need to charger any where as much as any of those items. Derailleur fully charged last 60hours, Shifter 24 months. Thats longer than a recommended lower legs service..
  • 8 0
 You're completely missing the point if you think this is all to avoid routing 2 cables (and hoses).
  • 6 1
 @RedRedRe:

If you had ever touched ETAP for road, you would know this argument about spending time with bugs, charging, etc is totally off. Most roadies are getting 800 miles on a charge for their road Etap systems. For most, that's a couple months worth of riding. MTB mileage would be shorter as we shift more frequently, but even if it's 200 miles to a charge, that's a good month of riding for most people. Of all the etap bikes I've dealt with (a lot) I have yet to come across any issues with bugs, setup, programming....nuthin.

Will this replace cables completely? Heck no. Will it replace cables on my bike? You Damn right.

On another note, Anyone looking for a kidney?
  • 1 0
 If you look at the picture posted by Smilicito (www.bike-forum.cz/foto/detail/48431-etap-eagle), you can see it frees up the space under the bar, so you could run your dropper remote, or the shifter for that matter on whichever side you prefer. Also you could have a paddle style dropper remote on one side, and have a paddle style remote to lock out the rear shock on the other if you're a XC racer. As more XC racers adopt droppers the bars are getting more crowded again, especially on bikes that utilize a locking out rear shock for efficiency (like Nino's Scott). With dropper and lockout both on the left, one of them ends up in a suboptimal position. Agree, it's not for everyone, but for bikes with dropper and lockout I could see some benefit.
  • 3 0
 @thepwnstar39: "groupo..." must be a roadie
  • 1 0
 @Hwulex: Ummm, you still have to route cables????
  • 18 4
 Meh. I'll be excited when it's eTap dropper/dampers. Click a button, drop your post and open the compression circuits. Click again and raise the post and switch back to trail mode.
  • 4 0
 Lapierre's E:I suspension works like that but doesn't even require you to push a button. If you're pedaling it locks out, unless you hit a bump with the fork, in which case the shock opens by the time the rear wheels gets there, and if you're not pedaling, it opens up. It's pretty sweet! At least until you ride it in the rain, mud, snow or sneeze wrong. Then it just has a bunch of blinking lights and a shock you can't lock out any more. It would be even sweeter if it controlled the dropper, too...or you know, was slightly water resistant. After battling it for a while, I'm a little leery of adding more electronics to my MTB. I know how to re-route cables and bleed hydraulics but am not up to repairing microprocessors.
  • 1 0
 Yikes. Idk. If you miss a shift big deal, if your post shoots up on a massive drop or jump you could die.
  • 1 0
 BMC has already done this with cables.
  • 1 0
 @gilby82: Yeah, I'm not sure I would want it to be such a "smart" system. I would still like a button to control when the post goes uppy/downy myself.
  • 12 2
 I know two people with etap on road bikes, at first they loved it, after few months all the batteries started loosing power at different rate and both experienced delay and miss shifts.
  • 5 0
 Well obviously they lose power at different rates, the rear does much more shifting, but the front derailleur takes up a lot more power, so how quickly each battery loses power really depends on how you shift. The nice thing about etap is that the batteries are removable, they should carry an extra in their jersey pocket.
  • 9 0
 @mnorris122: roadies love to store the extra battery in the most ergonomical place on their body
  • 3 0
 @mnorris122: so now the fanny pack comes In handy. It's so the dentists can carry the spare batteries for the e-shit
  • 4 0
 You have to charge the batteries separately? Wow, that sounds like a pain in the ass.
  • 2 0
 @mnorris122: Wow, carry an extra battery? That sounds fun. Tell me of all the other benefits.
  • 1 0
 @longlongpelaman: Better than running out of battery on a Di2 system...
  • 16 3
 S spend R idiculous A mounts of M oney
  • 3 0
 That’s a good one, it’s gonna stick in my head for sure because that is my exact thoughts on most thing sram. I don’t have many negative experiences with there product but I find it about average with an unjustifiable price tag which brings it well below average in my mind
  • 4 0
 for a US brand, engineered in Germany and made in Taiwan brand...
  • 11 3
 Don't get too excited, I talked to the guy at SRAM with the mustache. In order to optimize the performance of this exciting and progressive product, they've come to the elegant solution to increase the interface between rear mech and rear mech hanger. It now takes a 1/28.99" thread. They realize that it will take another year for the industry to catch up and release frames with updated rear mech hangers. This may imply that, for this to fit, the rear axle diameter has to reduce by 28.99nm. They could dumb it down to a reduction of 0mm but that'd be silly. After all SRAM is commited to providing their athletes with the best possible product. Together they'll progress the sport and prove that nothing is impossible.

So I guess I'll just take his word for it.
  • 7 0
 Even if you attached an Eagle cage to a Red derailleur, it would not work. The angle of the parallelogram is massively different between the two and an integral part of how the Eagle derailleur tracks the profile if the cassette. There is no way to frankenderailleur these together, it would have to be a whole new unit.
  • 9 12
 @ripplemuncher Maybe, the exaggerated offset of the XX1's upper pulley is equally as or perhaps more important than than the angle of the parallelogram. .
  • 3 0
 @RichardCunningham: I concur.
  • 5 0
 Not to mention that the clutch mechanism is required for the Eagle cage to work.
  • 11 1
 I can tell you with 100% certainty that no R&D department has EVER combined parts that shouldn't work just to see what would happen.
  • 16 1
 I eat crayons, blue is my favorite
  • 2 7
flag weebleswobbles (Feb 21, 2018 at 23:43) (Below Threshold)
 @RichardCunningham: you sir are below threshold. Ok, enough of the nonsense when you are actually below threshold, I will post the facts here.
  • 1 0
 @seraph: yes, how did PB miss this one! 1X doesn't work all that well without a clutch which is not possible to add to a Red etap rear derailluer (without a ton of custom work).

On that topic, when is either Sram or Shimano going to make electric shifting with a clutch. This is long overdue for CX and gravel riding.
  • 1 1
 @bogey: There's no way that SRAM could pull off that kind of custom one-offing with their own componentry. No way in hell.

Also, Shimano does make Di2 with a clutch. XT and XTR both have clutches and work with drop-bar kit just fine. The only caveat with mix and match Di2 setups is that your FD and RD have to either both be road or both MTB (eg can't have Ultegra FD with XTR RD). The easy workaround is running 1x, which happens to be stellar for cross.
  • 2 1
 @bogey: While I'm still thinking about it: you don't even have to shell out for both Di2 levers if you're running cable brakes. Dig even further into the catalog and you'll find Alfine (commuter/IG hub kit) drop bar 1x levers for mechanical brakes only. The truly amazing thing is that Shimano legitimately makes 1x road levers but they go unnoticed thanks to their branding. Good work everyone!
  • 1 0
 @fullfacemike: if you’ve done your research you’ll know you’re wrong about red etap with a clutch. They’d have to rejig the parallelogram to fit the clutch knuckle in there so at that point it isn’t a red etap mod. There are Nino pictures floating around that confirm this.

I’ve been running an XTR di2 rear derailleur on my CX bike for almost 2 years. It shifts terribly with anything but a wide range cassette, so no, it is not ideal for CX unless you want big jumps between gears. The slant on the parallelogram makes it horrible with even a large road cassette like an 11-32.
  • 13 4
 When you forget to charge your MTB..... #Singlespeedsfordentists
  • 5 0
 Magura need to stop ducking around. They have a perfectly good remote dropper button with 2 buttons that no one uses. Open it up for anyone to have remote adjustment, let Scott bin that Twinloc lever, let Sram 1x etap off it.
  • 1 0
 I think they use the ANT+ protocol, which is open. At least if you for instance have a heart rate strap transmitting it in ANT+, any heart rate monitor watch that uses that protocol too could be coupled and be able to read it. So yeah, I think it shouldn't be too hard to link their components to another device that also uses this protocol. Or in this case, if a drivetrain manufacturer programs their rear mech so that it could be operated with those two buttons, you have what you want. Now of course Magura has these buttons to operate their suspension too. But yeah, if someone has that remote but only uses it for one Magura component, there will indeed be two buttons free for something else. Now of course one concern I've read in a review of their dropper seatpost is that it was a bit slow to react to the button. So if that happens when operating the rear mech, that'd put most people off.
  • 2 0
 @vinay: well said. Etap is insanely quick and I know Magura did some updating to the dropper, a few lads here have had them with great success now, quicker than the first generation. I just feel there's a huge opportunity here for Magura to step in or get overtaken. Shimano has the tools at their hands, maybe box should pair up with Magura. The vyro could use a servo motor on one button, box single button rear, dropper in the middle. Or front and rear to any company willing to licence the use and spec the post on their bikes OEM along with some MT brakes..
  • 2 0
 @sethius: I think this is a response to the next wave of Shimano genius coming that integrates shocks,seatposts and derailleurs all with electronics. I shudder to think what that will cost.$15K?
  • 2 1
 @chasejj: yep, market could of been well ahead of this. It's not new tech, it's all been around but not organized between everyone. Just been too busy stuffing around with BS standards for the last few years.. Lapierre at least got the show started, even if the shock had its many issues.
  • 6 1
 I'm gonna go out on a limb here, but I would wager most of the people dissing electronic shifting have never tried it. My verdict is out until I try it myself. If it ain't broken, fix it 'til it is.
  • 8 1
 eeeeeeeeeeeeeagle...DUD compatable
  • 3 0
 Have eTap and only bad thing I can say, which is just my personal preference, is I miss a dedicated shifter for front/rear. Didn’t think I would until I built a bike with it. But otherwise, best shifting bits I’ve owned in road or mountain. I’d rock the mountain version if etap, and hope it means a 1x version for road is coming.
  • 7 3
 This thing would probably cost a lot, like 744 bitcoins. Can you guys believe they would charge 12 bitcoins for this? I mean who would spend 539273 bitcoins for a derailleur like this?
  • 4 2
 Congrats on being the first to wireless control a system that doesnt need to be wireless controlled. Cant wait for my next car to have bluetooth brakes and Ant+ steering. Guess they got the idea from all the great examples like... Wait. Nothing well designed uses wireless controls within the same mechanical system. Well, I guess congrats sram on being the first to do something nobody asked for? Will be interesting to see those jammed w cheap jammers and mobile phone apps.....
  • 2 0
 Been riding XT Di2 for over a year now. It shifts faster & more accurately than cables. So... if you race or you shift a lot... you want this. Simple. Same thing as hydraulic brakes and dropper posts-- not truly needed but make riding much more enjoyable.
  • 1 0
 Totally agree. Had Di2 on my Patrol since the spring and no plans to go back.
  • 7 2
 E-agle. F*ckin nailed it.
  • 6 3
 Because the electronic version of XTR and XT are such a runaway hit. Oh wait, they're pretty much universally panned as not worth the additional weight and expense.
  • 5 1
 No, that’s forum junkies speculating. Go ride that xt stuff sometime even in 1x....it’s better than anything else out there.
  • 6 2
 Automatically adjusting chainline and programmable shifting for 2x, clean consistent shifting everytime and no cable stretch on its own makes it superior. Great ideas on something you have never tried though.
  • 3 2
 @warmerdamj: I don't want 2X, I've never had a missed shift with X01 Eagle and cable stretch is probably a half turn of a barrel adjuster for the entire life of the cable.

How does adding a battery and a heavier, more expensive derailleur etc benefit me?
  • 3 1
 @jclnv: it just feels way better, its like power windows vs manual roll down windows in your car.
  • 4 1
 @warmerdamj: Guess I'm either a purist or not a fan of replacing window motors because I'd have the Porsche or Lotus with the wind-up windows every time.

All that complexity, a servo motor, battery etc for the feel of a button? That is the iPhone generations form over function thought process if ever I've heard it.
  • 2 1
 @jclnv: This x1000! KISS Keep It Simple Stupid
  • 1 0
 @jclnv: to each their own I guess, I love it. And I hate iPhones.
  • 1 1
 @warmerdamj: Cables do not stretch.
  • 6 3
 I wonder if they'll fix the chain wedging in the cage and jockey and ripping the RD off first or just use paying customer to beta test.
  • 2 1
 The time between the demise of Gripshift, and the resurgence of sram must have been a tough time, where people couldn't argue the minutae of the two competing manufacturers a la Ford vs. Chevy, Mac vs. PC, Coke vs. Pepsi, etc.




(Shimano ftw, by the way )
  • 2 0
 Suntour was hanging in there for a while.
  • 1 0
 @ridesona: yeah, i was thinking the same thing. Interesting history behind the company, their mtb line was actually pretty good in the esrly 90' s, but they kinda fell off the face of the earth
  • 1 0
 @ridesona: Their cassette is still the best, cheapest solution for 1x10. Better ratios and same price as just getting a big cog.
  • 1 0
 @TucsonDon: You might be confusing SunRace with Suntour, (and their later post merger moniker, SR SUNTOUR.)
  • 2 0
 @woofer2609: You are correct, sir!
  • 4 1
 Let's go vintage and bring steam powered shifting to the table...complete with a cast and riveted boiler tank ready to explode at the sneeze and kill everyone around...
  • 1 0
 This steam shifting will be so awesome on my steampunk fixieWink
  • 5 1
 Sram should have used the money they invested in Etap to produce a better disc brake.
  • 4 1
 Why wouldn't it come in polished silver, that's what X0 and XX used to come in
  • 9 5
 the shit no one wanted from Shimano, now twice as expensive Smile
  • 11 4
 Actually wireless shifting is pretty rad.
  • 1 4
 @seraph: goldberg machine
  • 3 2
 @seraph: “wireless shifting rad” coming from a bike mechanic? Are you a masochist?
  • 1 1
 @WAKIdesigns: You won't find many tinkering with this, they'll just screw er in and if it brakes, they'll send it in for service.
  • 1 0
 @WAKIdesigns: from a mechanic's standpoint, wireless shifting makes my life a lot easier.
  • 2 2
 I am always amazed when I ride a bike with XTR DI2 how much it feels like a regular shifter. It really does feel great. That said, SRAM is going to have wireless electronic 12 speed shifting before Shimano even has 12 speed or wireless shifting. This makes me sad.
  • 1 0
 Sram always rush products on the market to be “the first”....
When road hydraulic brakes came out, they had to recall thousands of bike.
Tiso, a small size component maker from Italy, that has been around longer than sram, already had 12 speed and wireless shifting in 2014.
  • 1 0
 @RedRedRe: They freaking nailed it with XX1 though. Revolutionized the market, while Shimano was in denial for almost three years.

I run XTR brakes, but I'm so glad I didn't settle for Shimano 2x once X01 was available. Now there's not much difference again, but for a few good years, SRAM was way out in front.
  • 1 0
 @TucsonDon: Haha, they still are.
  • 2 0
 Will it read my mind and shift on my command? Or maybe a “hey siri” function? Can I sync with itunes? These are the real questions folks.
  • 5 3
 I don't want any electronic BS on my bike! Riding my bike is the one place I feel I can actually disconnect and just have fun!
  • 2 1
 The only thing that surprises me on this is that is hasn't happened sooner.. I wonder if E-tap Eagle comes out if we will also see a 1x12 road group since SRAM is pushing 1x for road too...
  • 2 0
 12s road is likely coming very soon. For at least a couple months now Zipp has been shipping wheels with the extended XD-R driver that was designed specifically to accommodate 12s road cassettes.
  • 1 0
 @fullfacemike:
  • 1 0
 @fullfacemike: yeah, my SRAM rep mentioned a special XD driver for the road wheels...
  • 3 0
 So this is “clearly” E-tap rear mech? Come on Pinkbike... are the stats getting so low? Big Grin
  • 2 0
 You don't need to be Sherlock Holmes to know this is "very clearly" E-tap.

Journalism seems to be taking a unique twist these days. Back in the days you had "spy shots" where the athlete poses with the bike. Nowadays research and conclusions are based on pictures on social media. I'm starting to think that there are Russian Gwin and Schurter stunt doubles, just to upset Pinkbike.
  • 3 0
 @vinay: with all due respect, this picture is a tiny bit blurry flying saucer thing... comes from photoshop cheater Wink
  • 1 0
 so excited to get my full custom steel hardtail with 26 inch coilfork 20mm axle,singlespeed, nonboost, no dropper, no carbon. (cushcore though). So tired by all this shit today. blademaster got nerfed too -what a shitty day
  • 3 0
 I hate charging my phone... can't imagine charging my bike, forgetting to, dead battery... no thanks
  • 1 0
 Sorry guys I can't join you for the epic ride I forgot to charge my e components
  • 3 1
 if I had that, my luck would have the battery run out at a downhill section and have me stuck in granny gear the whole time
  • 2 0
 Then you'd know what it feels like to be a singlespeeder.
  • 1 1
 You sound like what people would've sounded like when the car came out. "I don't like change, and don't want to learn about it!"

Batteries take a long time to die and it's so small, just put a reserve in your pack, or on the bike, or in your pocket
  • 1 0
 @ShailyCR: it was a joke, chill
  • 13 14
 I cannot stand the ergonomics of the SRAM shifters otherwise I would be on eagle this year. If they provide options for more ergonomic shifting I would buy it in a second. Then of course Shimano will release 12 speed xtr......... it is a personal preference. I get that people like SRAM shifters but not for me.
  • 7 1
 SRAM's ergonomics are ace.
  • 15 0
 How dare you have an opinion! Have another downvote.
  • 7 0
 You do realize Eagle shifters are adjustable in 3 axis/planes?! (in/out, paddle start/stop angle, rotation on bars) My guess is if you can't get the ergonomics right it's user error.
  • 1 0
 -NO Gear indicator. Who needs those anyway now?
  • 4 1
 Trust me. Spent a long time with a set of those shifters. Just did not work. Also no matter how you adjust it you cannot make a SRAM release lever work both ways. @tcmtnbikr:
  • 9 0
 @dldewar: 2 way release and double upshifts keep me on Shimano. Use both every ride.
  • 1 0
 @sspiff: HEAR HEAR!!!!
  • 2 1
 Dude seriously, the derailleur is silver because it's a prototype. Most mules are raw aluminum. No need to make a finished looking product when you're just testing.
  • 1 0
 And it's lighter for Nino haha
  • 2 0
 So you mean all those angry posts here mixed with people excited about their Di2 as they have no other option than to rationalize such expenditure... all like water to sand?
  • 3 0
 Stoked for this and hopefully a concurrent launch of Force eTap.
  • 3 0
 eMTB with eEagle and eReverb, with my ePhone....sounds like paradise.
  • 1 0
 eExcellence.....
  • 3 1
 SRAM Eshifters on a FattyEbike. OOOOOO this new world of mountain biking is going to be great
  • 2 0
 Wow you guys are late to the party, other sites picked up on this way before
  • 1 2
 "Enough nonsense for now, if I do get any facts from SRAM, I'll post them here." RC.
Really... so this is just a little more BS until you actually have something to report.. thanks RC for such fine journalism. Let's get some facts together
  • 2 1
 Wait, why is that guy wearing all spandex tights? Does that make teh ladies love you or perhaps make you ultra fast like Michael Phelps without the water and weed?
  • 3 1
 There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers. So thanks for asking, here comes the quality of answer your question was calling for. I don't think these are tights. It looks like a onesie. According to the latest reviews onesies are excellent to keep the mud out. Need proof? Call Nino and ask if he had any mud entering his clothes on that particular ride.
  • 1 0
 Wireless (or di2) allows for frame design to ditch a constraint.
If your willing to commit to a battery it should plug into the shock and seatpost as well.
  • 2 0
 @Trabes I agree. I bet there is some constraint with regards to cables and suspension design. I know that if a cable is cut too short on a long travel it can cause havoc with the shifting at times. I think wi fi shifting is a great idea.
  • 2 1
 Making 1x drives with electronic shifting is a fuc**ing nonsense!

Syncro Shift for 2x is pretty cool cause it works like simple gearbox. But 1x? Who needs it?
  • 1 0
 I suppose the battery sits on the derailleur. Hope they dont get the battery from samsung otherwise it will explode every time something hits the derailleur
  • 1 0
 I love the E tap system on my road bike. But on my Enduro i'd be scared to rip off a $3-400.00 rear mech every other time i crashed.
  • 8 6
 Bluetooth or WiFi, It will get hacked. At the bottom of a steep climb.
  • 4 0
 That could be fun
  • 4 0
 Nah, eTap uses 128-bit encryption. It's not un-hackable, but you'd have to go to some serious effort to hack it.
  • 3 0
 @blanc: What about an Airea™ WiFi jambler?
  • 3 0
 @endlessblockades: As far as I know the Airea isn't normal WiFi. You could jam the signal, sure, but it'd need a custom jammer. You aren't going to be able to make the derailleur shift into a different gear, just stop the shifter from telling the derailleur to shift, locking the bike in one gear, just like if the battery went flat.
  • 2 0
 Oh wait... you guys are serious? ^
  • 1 0
 @blanc: but that would still be fun.
  • 1 0
 @blanc: you can jam it with a cheap mobile jammer. This isnt rocket science . its already available.
  • 2 0
 @blanc: also give it one year till it can be manipulated. Its not exactly a protected signal. This isnt the military, its a cheap sram product compared. Jamming is easy now.
  • 1 0
 @pargolf8: have you ever paid attention to the cheating in road cycling? Dont think someone is going to blanket jam an area at some point?
  • 3 0
 @atrokz: no, ive never paid attention to roadies. Ever.
  • 3 4
 Sram is coming out with a jersey and helmet combo that has built in solar panel technology. Should be ready by the next summer games! The only down fall is that in may cause skin cancer.
  • 1 1
 seems like a short gain gain, long term loss to me!
  • 7 4
 I assume 28.99 volts.
  • 6 6
 f*ck off pinkbike.......That is clearly sram produced content. I wonder how much sram paid to have pb suck them off this time?
  • 2 0
 Hopefully this will help Nino out of his slump.
  • 1 0
 i wonder what these will bring to the EWS and DH scenes.
  • 2 1
 Maybe that is what shifter Gwin was rolling.
  • 2 0
 Oh I can tell you for sure it isn’t. And that’s all I can say
  • 1 0
 that man doesn't need a chain and tyre to win.
  • 2 0
 @juansevo: THIS GUY KNOWS SOMETHING
  • 1 0
 I like the idea, but I don't see myself charging my mountain bike.
  • 1 0
 No ones talking about the prototype Maxxis tires...
  • 1 0
 Never stop inventing new stuff to get money out of our pockets... ssh*t
  • 1 0
 Okay, so where are the SID and Deluxe eTaps?
  • 1 0
 look exactly, it will be 11.99 speed!
  • 1 0
 I have Eagle with wireless shifting. There are no wires.
  • 2 1
 Sca-REW SRAM
  • 1 1
 ....
  • 1 1
 ......
  • 9 10
 Srams track record of long term quality is awful
  • 4 3
 Garbage product.
  • 1 0
 @atrokz: what problems have you had
  • 1 0
 @markar: lots. Forks dropping travel. Poor tolerance stack causing premature wear on internal sealing surface of an air can. Broke two rival carbon brifters. Broke various truvativ cranks. Worked at a shop as a mech for a while so there's more. Some decent shit. Some really bad ideas and execution
  • 1 1
 what about e-grip shift?
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv56 0.066590
Mobile Version of Website