Tektro announced today that it has created a nine-speed drivetrain system for e-bikes that is meant to be as beginner-friendly as possible. The ED9 groupset consists of the E-Drive rear derailleur, a corresponding nine-speed shift lever, and a cassette that uses a cluster of replaceable sprockets for the three smallest cogs to improve serviceability and lower maintenance costs.
Tektro, the parent company of TRP, says the drivetrain is a response to customer feedback that entry-level riders have needed a more robust, wear-resistant solution than what was previously available. Tektro's research found that high numbers of beginner riders on e-bikes following the Covid bike boom have highlighted problems with durability, especially as beginner riders tend not to shift frequently and often ride components that need service after very little use.
 | Daily use e-bikes are subjected to a similar amount of intensity as the bikes of World Cup racers.—Tektro / TRP Development Engineer Louis Tsai |
The system was developed in partnership with the e-bike manufacturer Conway, and the ED9-specc'd hardtail and commuter models are available
online now. They are expected to become available through dealers in February 2022.
The derailleur is available in two versions: a simpler design without a clutch that weighs 344g and a slightly heavier design that uses the same non-adjustable clutch mechanism as TRP's TR12 and DH7 derailleurs and weighs 361g. The thumb shifter allows for multiple gear shifting and weighs in at 105g, while the steel cassette has an 11-46 spread and comes in at 545g.
The groupset is only available to bike manufacturers at the moment.
More information is available at
Tektro's website.
@Fix-the-Spade: Not to mention all the extra rotational and unsprung mass from those extra gears.
Either way, cheaper, more durable wider range have been available for a while. Microshift of course, Shimano has had the HG-500 (11-50) cassette though that's ten speed. Not sure about the Deore (XT) LinkGlide stuff, doesn't it come with fewer gears too? At least it is supposed to be extra durable too.
As for replaceable smaller sprockets, I love that. It is my primary reason I use an 10sp XT cassette where the four smaller sprockets (11, 13, 15 and 17) can be replaced individually. The SLX cassette only has the smallest two sprockets as individual sprockets, after that you get clusters. Apparently I'm a beginner too, as I wear the smallest sprockets quickest (replacing the 11t one every time my chain stretches to 0.5% and gets replaced too).
bike.shimano.com/en-EU/product/component/deore-m5130.html
That said, I have definitely noticed the limitation of wide range 10 speed. There are bigger jumps across the whole cassette, and often find my sweet-spot for cadence/effort falling between two of the gears. I have to choose between too slow or too hard in ways that I definitely didn't with my previous 11-36t 10spd cassette. So, in a way upgrading from standard 10 speed to wide-range 10 speed has made me more interested in a 12 speed upgrade in the future
This is a listing from an Indonesian online market.
www.bukalapak.com/p/sepeda/drivetrain/sprocket-gear/4d6cgw1-jual-sprocket-deore-m4100-10s-11-46t-casette-deore-m410010s-cs-m4100-deore-10s-11-46t-gear-sepeda-belakang-deore-10s-m4100-sesuai-foto
And no, your opinion is not unpopular. I also prefer that kind of setup.
www.bikeradar.com/features/shimanos-massive-10spd-cassette-is-backwards-compatibility-done-right
Obviously priorities are different for different people. If you ride competitively (or need to keep up with people who do so), I can imagine the fancier stuff works smoother. And if you occasionally find out that you forget to engage the clutch, it isn't just a quick flick of the lever. You need to use an allen key. Maybe a big deal for those for whom every second counts. It is up for everyone to decide what it important for them. That should be ones own decision, not be guided by what's "popular".
I wish companies still made cage extenders for 10 speed drivetrains. But i guess the mod market is a lot smaller and mostly focused on high end now.
Me **heavy breathing***
By your logic Fox Factory 40 = Marzocchi bomber 58. Which they are not the same.
The problem I see with these top end build very cheap AF build reviews is that pinkbike only review bottom end to top end. So the very extremes. No one buys the cheap AF. and 1% of the community buys top end.
Brakes: SRAM, Shimano, TRP, Hayes, Trick Stuff, Hope, etc
Drivetrain: Tektro, Microshift, TRP, SRAM, Shimano, Box, etc
DH Forks: Rockshox, Fox Factory, DVO, Ohlins, Intend bc, Formula, MRP, etc
What is marzocchi high end fork. It is a bomber 58. What is fox factory high end fork? Fox factory 40. Marzocchi has nothing above a 58.
Microshift has never been directly compared shimano, sram, TRP, box, etc.
Shift quality, does it skip, maintenance, price, chain wear, cassette wear, quality of shift during mud runs, quality of shift during dirt runs.
Both directions? How many gears at once?
Pretty much every trigger shifter ever has allowed multiples on the big lever, so really par for the course, or a big fail if they somehow managed to make that not work.
Multiple small lever shifts? That would be novel, but I always assumed Shimano had a patent or such since no one else does it. (Does anyone else do it?)
Is it front mechs or is it the new stuff is better?
Can they make 9spd chains as tough as the XO1 eagle?
I thought about putting my ebike on 9or 10spd shimano but the mechanics me say there's more longevity in the eagle
work in an ebike shop and it's 100% the smallest cogs getting destroyed by riders who rarely downshift - starting and stopping in gears 9/10 in turbo will roach chains and sprockets like nobody's biz
Yes there are many situations where e-bikes are great: commuter bikes, cargo bikes, MTB for disabled riders. But stuff like this seems to be (you seem to agree based on that comment) getting pushed in a way that implies e-bikes should be people's first bikes. That seems just stupid.
There will be those without a clue. There will be those who are willing to learn. On any type of bike.
Using shimano 10x MTB stuff for 6 years already. chain 15eur, cassette 50eur, derailleur 40eur. Shifter didn;t change in 6 years yet. In beginning only aftermarket cassettes were available but few years Shimano have 11-46 10sp cassete offering.
never got 11 or 12 speeds.
Should be perfect for all the online people whinging about 11,12,13,14 etc drive trains.
kinda f*cking pointless telling the general public about something they can't actually buy
Know what's way more annoying? When a company says a new tech is now out and available, but literally no dealers/distributors get it for up to two years after in steady supply. Cough Shimano Cough.