Can a budget electronic groupset perform better than a big name brand one?
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- I finally get a chance to chat to my buddy Chris who's recently bought an Orro Venturi with SRAM eTap. How does it stack up against the Wheeltop EDS-TX though?
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Nice comparison. If i had to choose, defo SRAM - the removable batteries make all the difference to me. Then again, I don't see myself EVER getting an electronic groupset unless I'd get it gifted. My 2x11 mechanical setup (Ultegra) works like a charm and all I had to do after 3500 km was turning in the cable adjuster at the RD a bit. :) There are too many things I have to charge already when going for a ride (lights, headunit, phone, headphones). To each their own ofc.
I must admit that charging things the night before a ride has become the bane of my life, despite building myself a charging station to make it easier. Incredibly though, I haven't had to charge the Wheeltop since putting it on back in the summer. I've probably done around 500 miles since then and it's only just hit 50% battery.
The removable batteries on the SRAM are enticing though, especially with being able to swap them out if one dies mid ride!
2x11 Ultegra is a more than decent setup though, so can understand you not wanting to change.
One thing that bears mentioning with SRAM is that you’ll also need the bottom bracket, probably. My bike has BB86 and with the 30mm crank axle diameter, this means that the BB ends up with pretty puny bearings in it. I’m sticking with my Shimano 2x11 mechanical 105 for the time being. 😉
Oh that's an interesting bit of info I wasn't aware of! I mean, I'm sure the bearings still work well, but yeh, there's always a little more concern for smaller parts wearing quicker.
Thanks for the info.
Love to try the wheel top group set - seems like it fills a few holes in the e gear game!
I think it really does. Not only with a rim brake option but being able to change your cassette size at the tap of a button in the app is game changing. No more need to swap out expensive bits of kit to upgrade.
I'm super happy with it. 👌
I have a 2 x 11 speed Ultegra, 2x SRAM force 12 speed, and 1 x SRAM Apex 12 speed, all electronic, also have a bike on my trainer 105 rim brake mechanical, I’m thinking of investing in the wheeltop set, good see that some manufacturers are thinking of upgrade, rather than total replacement. Enjoying the videos, nice to see some English countryside, for change.
Cheers Steve, glad you enjoyed it. Appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment.
As you say, Wheeltop is a great option to upgrade and I think they’ve stolen a march on the big name brands with that and the rim brake option. 👌🏻
Took me a LONG TIME to go from shimano mechanical to eTap (the gearshift movement) which I've had for at least 4yr I think 🤔, the 1st issue (non-disc) & even on the 1st batteries (charging when they need to have it) and I've rode it in every weather condition also 👌 - thanks for the video Peter 👍
Cheers Lee. 👌🏻The SRAM setup does look nice and, as silly as it sounds, I think it’s mainly to do with the flat top chain. It looks so cool! 😂
May consider installing SRAM on my bike in the future, but for now I’m really happy with the Wheeltop group. 👌🏻
@@petertreadway Oh truly Peter, if I was buying electric now, it'd be your stuff (Wheeltop) - id have to get that as I'm still in the past with my old-fashioned rim brakes 🤣
@leedorney as much as I’m a big fan of discs, I can see a certain romanticism with rim brakes, so would never deny someone their love of them. 😉
I will be getting the wheel top gravel group set as I'm looking to build a carbon one. Give my boardman 8.9 to my son.
Not seen a bad review on them yet. Some small problems that can be got over and extra money to go on the build.
You've made your decision then, Colin. Awesome! I bet your son will be chuffed with the Boardman too.
Keep me updated with how your build goes. 👌
Nice video again Mr Treadway, no offence but you have convinced me to stick with what I have. You did not say what you had for breakfast , that is the most important bit. See you next Sunday please. Enjoy your week.
Sorry for missing out that vital bit of info, Richard! I had a lovely sausage and egg sandwich on toasted sourdough bread, with lashings of brown sauce!
Also, so long as my videos are helping people come to some sort of decision, it maters not to me what that decision is. I'm just happy to have helped.
Thanks as ever though, and I'll see you next Sunday. 😉
Neither, I love my Di2 105 and now thanks to the "front shift next" update In love it even more. I don't need to pine for the hidden buttons any more, because all I wanted them for was to be able to flip my Garmin pages, and now I can.
But if I had to choose, I'd go Wheeltop, nothing against SRAM really, it's purely practical, most aftermarket drivetrain consumables from expensive to dirt cheap are Shimano/HG clones, so it's simpler and cheaper to keep things running, alongside my other Shimano-ish bikes.
You've put in to words something that's always nagged at the back of my mind with SRAM, Chris and that's that it just seems a little more obscure or niche than Shimano, at least in terms of getting compatible parts. The ease of maintenance/replacement of parts for the big name brands (in my head at least) goes Shimano, SRAM, then Campag.... although one day I would love to run a Campy set up, just to see what all the fuss is about! 👌
Hi. Just for info, my EDX is working with Garmin Edge 830.
Cheers Peter, I'll have to do a firmware update and hopefully get it working! 👌
Frankly, I'll stick with analog shifting, b/c electronic shifting fixes a problem that _I_ don't have. I don't want to have to charge my otherwise self-powered bike.
Yeh, I get that. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. 👌
Im on sram rival and definitely going Shimano next time! The front derailleur is awful
What’s the issue with the FD, Chris? I’ve never used SRAM, so would be interested to know of any problems. 👌🏻
@@petertreadway it needs absolute precision for it not to throw the chain over crank side. There's a few provided setup tools but my god, you need to go out on a ride with an allen key 😂
@@chrisje1991 Ah, that's frustrating then! Nothing worse than changing up in to the big ring, ready for a sprint and finding your chain has come off! 🤦
Thanks for the info and hope you get on better with Shimano but I can definitely highly recommend the Wheeltop though. 👌
I don't need to upgrade, Shimano DI2 rocks! 😅
Yeh, I can understand that. If you happy and comfortable with what you're running, there's no need to change.
SRAM rival etap upgrade kit can be got for about £700, so for me this would be the choice.
Where did you find that deal, Mark?
What brand are your handlebars Peter?
It's a Toseek integrated bar and stem from AliExpress, Brian. I bought it about 4 years ago though, so they don't seem to make it anymore but this is a similar sort of thing they do now:
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DEx54nL
3-14 speed AND a rim brake option. It's Wheeltop for me.
Yeh, it definitely fills a great gap in the market. I think Wheeltop have played a blinder here. 👌🏻
Check your updates. My wheeltop has worked with my garmin for Over a month . And I'd advise your friend to get a magene pes 505 power meter although check sram chainringcompatibility. Mine has been fantastic and it's really cheap
Ooooh, there's info I wasn't;t aware of!!! Cheers for that, I'll go take a look now.
As for the Magene, funnily enough I've been looking at them recently, so will likely grab one soon for my road bike. 👌
For me the main upside of the Wheeltop system is its compatibility. I ride a rim brake bike, which makes this tempting as an electronic shifting option, especially with my rough shifting habits causing the rear shifter cable to tear inside the shifter housing approximately once every year. Beyond support for rim brakes, I would be able to use it with my current 10-speed cassette, and then upgrade to 12-speed at a later time without needing to replace the whole drive train. It is annoying that the big brands deliberately prevent this compatibility. A software or firmware controlled system is the ideal platform for this kind of flexibility, but instead they lock you down, forcing you to replace everything. The open question about Wheeltop is long-term reliability and repairability. I'm very sceptical about spare part availability, not just the battery, e.g., can you purchase just the derailleur? Apparently not. It's relatively inexpensive, but this goes out the door if it breaks and cannot be repaired. There are apparently teething problems too, from poor app design to badly fitting charge pin covers, weak magnets, and cheap rubber hoods. I'm on the fence between sticking with mechanical shifting or giving this a try, perhaps when the next generation is released or the price drops significantly?
As you suggest, Joachim, I think Wheeltop have played it really well by offering rim brakes and the ability to change your cassette size with the push of a button.
Regards your questions though, I have to agree with your concerns, as most of them are things I discussed in my review video of this group a couple of months ago. The app can be a bit clunky and the charge port covers are something I've suffered with. However, I'm hoping that Wheeltop will take all of this feedback on board and later iterations of the hardware and software will be much improved. Time will tell, I guess.
What about LTWoo? Sram and Wheeltop aren't the only options.
Agreed, Peter and I’m a big fan of LTWOO, but none of my riding buddies have it on their bikes, so it’s difficult to do an ‘on the road’ comparison. 😂
@@petertreadway I have the eGR on my gravel bike. I can't say I've tried the Wheeltop, but from videos I've seen the actual installation and setup using the app seems way too painful compared to the LTWoo.
Microadjusting a gear anywhere anytime, visually seeing the derailleur move as you click your screen vs having to shift and check, shift and check is just too much to give up.
I want to get the eRX, but my budget doesnt allow it yet.
Yeah, its not "fully" wireless, more like Shimano, but for me and I think most users non power users, that difference is negligible.
@@PeterSmithCA, the difference between fully wireless and needing cables routed to a central battery is not a negligible detail if one is trying to upgrade a bike that wasn't designed for such a battery and associated cable routing. Fully wireless is the only realistic option in that case.
@@joachimachtzehnter4772 This is true. I really only got into cycling in 2019, and nothing I've bought hasn't been built for this. I kinda would like to refurbish an old 70s 10 speed, so might be an option there. I hope they improve their app from videos I've seen at least. But I need a budget first - lol
Think its winter kit from now on Peter
Sadly I think you’re right, Paul. I went out this morning in 4°c and 4 layers! 🥶
Honestly? I'm up in the air now. My eR9 is now giving me grief after being flawless; the v2 has vapourised and Di2 is just out of reach full stop even in 105 form. I'm beginning to lean towards the EDS TX
The wait for the LTWOO v2 does seem to be getting on now. I remember you mentioning it quite some time ago now, so it's a shame it hasn't;t materialised yet!
I can definitely recommend the Wheeltop group though. It seems robust, it works well and after around 500 miles, I'm still het to charge it up again. I can't complain at all, Sam. 👌
Gears?
The SRAM is 12 speed but the Wheeltop can be anything from 3-14 speed. You just change it in the app and away you go. 👌🏻
Until Wheel top have service centers in UK and Europe its not worth the the hassle sending stuff back to China and leave you with out a bike for a month or more.
@@arcoulant87 yeh, that’s a valid concern I can’t argue with.
Although, you could always just buy a new bike while you wait! 😂
For the cost, you can just buy a complete new groupset and still have spent less. Then send the broken part back at your leisure
GeX?
This is the EDS-TX on my road bike, although I'm hoping to get the GeX on my gravel bike soon. 👌
@@petertreadway only thing preventing me from buying ATM is the customer service and warranty experience,it's an unknown versus SRAM in Europe