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I see these are now half their launch price from a few years ago. Anyone here had any experience of them?
They work well but are heavy and the bottom brackets are rubbish.
Used one for a while, didn't like the drag on the bigger gears. Great but not quite there, sitting in shed now and I'm running 1x10.
Not worth a punt then? Am I right in thinking it'll give the equivalent of a 2x9 set up when replacing a 3x9 existing? My chain rings are looking a bit battered and it's time for a change; just looking at the choices really.
Aren't they basically half price because 42T sprockets have literally none of the problems that Hammrschmidt has?
I really don't know. I'm asking for some real world experiences of the system. All I've seen is a couple of reviews from new buyers; but I treat that with a bit of scepticism; after all, not many people would have laid out £700 and admitted to dropping a rick. I saw a bike in my LBS a few weeks ago with one on; high end MTB looked well battered/used. The mechanic said the guy had it fitted a couple of years ago and loved it. Seemed to have gone under the radar which is why I'm asking if it's worth trying or going straight to 1x10, which I might struggle with.
I like mine, only used it for a few hundred miles so far, second gear (bigger ring) does feel a little bit draggy but if I need it I am already ploughing at a decent pace or going downhill and you don't notice it so much.
Surprising benefit is that it doesn't rotate the chain wheel when pedalling backwards, therefore when changing feet for cornering berms and such like, your chain never gets hucked up on the block or on the chain guard.
You also get better ground clearance, no bashed rings.
I had one on my Covert for a couple of years.
My real world experience is as follows:
It worked well. The drag people talk about is not an issue, unless you fitted it to a light weight XC bike. But on a winch and plummet bike like my Covert its fine.
BB was fine, it was running fine after 2 years of abuse.
It was good being able to bail out to a low gear mid climb while still pushing the pedals round. Or realising your starting to climb a hill in the wrong gear and being able to change instantly under power 🙂
Weight - I never noticed it on my bike, but my bike is not light anyway.
However, negative points to consider:
In a British winter it will get full of muddy water, so you do need the tool to take it apart and clean it a couple of time a year. Unless your one of those riders who never goes out when the conditions are crappy.
No real other bad points if you fitted it to the right sort of bike and ride it with a style that suits.
But:
I did sell it on however as I tried a mates 1x10 and found my fitness was good enough to live with 1x10. I didn't need it to bail out on climbs to a low gear. So I sold it, saved myself the cleaning of it during the winter. Saved myself the extra shifter / weight / cable. Forced me to get fitter as there was no option but to ride up the hill 1x10.
Oh and the extra bar space freed up by not having a shifter got filled with an uppy downy 🙂
Thanks lads. Mine is a pretty light XC, 2008 Epic Marathon 100m travel but suits me and my riding (Whinlatter/Mabie/Ncsltn). I'm quite into faffing about stripping down and cleaning, so the maintenance isn't an issue. BB clearance sounds good, but I would improve that with 1x10 anyway. Trying to convince myself to give it a try really. Nothing to lose I suppose. I think it's an itch I've got to scratch.
Mine is definitely staying on if that helps, but it is on a 140mm travel hardtail
Can you actually fit it to that frame ? It needs the BB tabs of the right size.
Oh, and you will need the special tool, see if you can find one on Ebay. Or borrow one. Without it you cant take it apart to clean it.
Good point Trimix, it does require ISCG tabs on the frame
Bugger. Standard 73mm BB, but not sure about tabs. Is there not an adaptor you can use for non ISCG frames?
Yes! We're in! Spesh used ISCG OLD (03??)right up to 2008, so I should be fine. Will look tonight. Thanks again lads.
I don't think they do on the Epic though- there won't be any mounts on your BB shell at all.
Dammit. You're right munrobiker, no tabs. Don't fancy an adapter or bodge; just builds in a potential weakness imo. I'll look at 1x10 again and just mtfu. Thanks for your obs lads, appreciated.