Rotor Launches Universal Tooth Pattern Chainrings
Rotor Bike Components has been known to push drivetrain technologies, like their 13-speed, hydraulic shifting system, but their newest chainring development opens up chain compatibility via a "Universal Tooth Pattern".
These 7075 alloy chainrings are compatible with any 11- and 12-speed chains from KMC, Shimano, SRAM, and most other major manufacturers. The idea comes at a suitable time, since sourcing brand specific 12-speed chains could be tough due to supply constraints. A laser-etched logo on the back of the chainring identifies the Universal Tooth Pattern.
Universal Tooth Pattern Chainring Details
• Q RINGS Direct Mount: 38 | 36 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 28
• Q RINGS BCD 110 x 4: 38 | 36 | 34
• ROUND rings Direct Mount: 38 | 36 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 28
• ROUND rings BCD 110 x 4: 38 | 36 | 34
• rotorbike.com
• Q RINGS Direct Mount: 38 | 36 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 28
• Q RINGS BCD 110 x 4: 38 | 36 | 34
• ROUND rings Direct Mount: 38 | 36 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 28
• ROUND rings BCD 110 x 4: 38 | 36 | 34
• rotorbike.com
In regards to the specifications, the weights are nearly identical to the previous generation of narrow-wide offerings, at 55 g for the round, 32-tooth Direct Mount. The 110 BCD rings are compatible with Rotor's INspider power meter and pricing will start at $70 USD for the 32-tooth size.
The Universal Tooth Pattern chainrings will be available at the beginning of October in both round and oval shapes.
Must Read This Week
68 Comments
Ask anyone about their shifting habits while riding. It’s always clunk clunk clunk – up 3 gears for a hill. Trails turns down? Clunk clunk clunk – down three gears to get speed. My hypothesis is that we’re all shifting way too much because we’ve got too many gears.
A 10 speed drivetrain is good enough for mountain biking. It’s lighter, MUCH cheaper, and there’s a lot more tolerances in a 10 speed system. Just keep the upper and lower range but get rid of the extra gears and unnecessary tight tolerances that come with those extra gears.
Signed
-An old man who got tired of ratcheting through his gears every time the grade changed.
STHU with your common sense.
How many times do we have to teach you this lesson, old man?
If I want anything, it's a CVT for bicycles. You can adjust the tension to match your optimum cadence, and it will expand and contract based on the wheel speed, so you can always maintain your cadence and it will adjust the speed as you need it.
Couldn't be happier.
On a side note.. still running an x0 type 2 10spd on my second bike with a oneup range extender. Again.. super reliable and just works unlike the 12spd stuff.
It seems like I am always changing more than 1 gear at a time (11 speed). I like the wide range and I use both ends of the cassette but I seem to shift multiple gears all the time. I do notice the rare times I ride on the street (usually to/from the trails) I like the close ratios. It is nice to adjust the cadence on the street. But in the trails my cadence is changing all the time so it isn't so important. Less gears / more range!!
They work fine. If not. They will wear the f*ck in.
It's obvious that matching brands is reccomeneded, as the parts have been designed together, but does it actually make a noticable difference?
I work in a very high end workshop and I down to using campag chains that never sell and heavy ebike chains on €10k+ bikes daily with dura ace, red, xo1 axs drivetrains because there is simply nothing else.
Want a genuine gx eagle chain? January.
Shimano road brake pads? May.
DUB BB? Forget about it.
A shimano 12 speed chain does not work very well on a 12 speed sram ring.
I am running an Eagle NX Cassette, SLX 12 speed shifter, XT 12 speed derailleur, and a XX1 chain (pretty much what I could find) the chain was purchased after trying the Shimano and finding no joy on the ring.
But, I am running this setup on a HG freehub (and 26" wheels to boot).
Never had any issues.
Shimano 12spd stuff is internally narrower.
For this reason brands like Wolf Tooth, Absolute Black, Unite, etc etc make Shimano 12spd specific rings as the teeth are about 0.5mm thinner.
So the only way these work with a Shimano 12spd chain is if they are thin enough for the chain to fit onto them - a good idea?
Surely there is a reason the other brands didnt go this route? - I imagine they would like to have saved the effort and inventory making completely new tooth pattern chainrings after all.
Why do the brands bother making special 12spd versions if they could just advise removing the quick link.
I don't do that with chainrings made for Shimano 12s.
www.pinkbike.com/news/shimanos-back-in-the-game-with-new-xt-and-slx-12-speed-groups.html
Scroll down to "Chains and Cassettes" Section for a visual. Shimano has beveled the inner shoulders of the wide profile teeth which could conflict with Wide teeth that have squarer profiles.
I believe that all Shimano 12sp chainrings would work with all chains, but not all narrow-wide chainrings will work with Shimano 12sp chains - depending on the tooth profile. I very well may be completely wrong - that was my recollection, but chain tooth profile info doesn't sit top of mind!
I'm not replacing my Saint cranks any time soon.
Source: I've been mixing them for many years.
Join Pinkbike Login