I think most people will just stick with Shimano where I live. It’s basically the Toyota Corolla of drive trains - it just works, and if it doesn’t, you can get new parts anywhere, and everyone knows how to fix it. Even SRAM is still new and strange to most of us.
Haha my family has owned several Corollas. I had a 2002 with a fart can exhaust. S model, stick shift. Got me through college and i thought it was fast 😭
This looks like a more expensive copy of SRAM's products rather than anything new - even using the same leverage ratio from shifter to derailleur if other comments are correct. As soon as SRAM start offering double instant cable release upshifts on a single push of the lever and start making 12 speed cassettes competitive in price with SLX, they might get me as a customer (I got a SRAM drivetrain on a bike last year and every time I ride it I keep pressing the upshift paddle waiting for the second shift to happen, when with the escapement mechanism in the SRAM shifters, the first shift isn't finished till the paddle is released). The only way I could be satisfied with that is if I'd never ridden a Shimano drivetrain at all. Shimano have got worse than their 3x10 era too by making the shift force for downshifting higher, so I'm not particularly happy with their recent stuff either. The best shifting Shimano (And anyone else I've tried) has ever made is the first generation 3x10 shadow+ drivetrain, now sold as XT Touring, so I can still get parts thankfully - double upshifts, unbelievably light, crisp downshifts and still a clutch derailleur to keep things quiet (Also improved by the straight chainline thanks to 3 rings up front). Shimano XT remains the best choice for shifters, chain, BB and cranks, while everything else can be Deore or SLX as you won't tell the difference at the shifter and they last very well. The lower grade derailleurs do need the jockey wheels replaced more often, though not as often as I've had to with my SRAM derailleur - the jockey wheel bearings were flopping around so badly it was missing shifts (And thanks to the poor seals on the bearings, seizing solid if not regreased after being ridden in mud, which is more or less every ride I do) before the drivetrain itself was worn out, while XT jockey wheels last 2-3 drivetrains in the same conditions. With TRP's pricing so high they make SRAM look like good value and the complete lack of useful features over Shimano, it looks like the only reason to buy TRP is if you spend more time looking at the bike than riding it.
@@georgeforeman89last sram I had was x01, got my latest xt linkglide 11 speed full groupset, brakes, crankset BB and chain new for £530. Hard to beat.
I really wish I could use Shimano. I've heard nothing but rave reviews about particularly the XTR chain, which is e-bike rated (I have a lot of trouble with drivetrain components breaking on my e-bike). I had an XT drivetrain stock on my trail bike, and it was really nice. But the lack of a derailleur cage clutch pin is just unforgivable, it makes literally everything about drivetrain and rear wheel maintenance almost more trouble than it's worth.
@@georgeforeman89 With an X01 chain - they're well worth the extra money, I get more than double the mileage from mine - even as a MTB guide I get most of a season out of it, but the GX would barely last more than a month.
@@2dcutout I’ve been using the XX1 chain this year for the extra bling. I hope I get more than 1 season. We will see! I’ve heard the x01 chains and cassette are super nice. My next cassette will be the purple garbaruk…for the bling
@@johnnycab8986 Lol wat? Everyone knows electronic groupsets are a complete waste of money. Lots of issues on the new one, derailleur bouncing around on the old one, much slower shifting, e.t.c. If anything, TRP is actually worth the money (minus the Cassette, get a Shimano one), considering the features it has and the performance.
@@NikolaiVozza Right. Which is why top youtubers like Seth use AXS, and why everyone says they're quicker and better. And the features of TRP are what exactly? 5x downshift? C'mon, that's useless. And performance is just as good as on the XTR or the XX1. But at least those are known and tested brands.
I’ve been running the trp 12 speed and dry brakes since may of ‘23. Both systems have been rock solid- the one issue I had was customer service and spare parts. A couple months in I had a nasty crash and broke the cage. It’s a replaceable part, but finding it online or getting help from TRP was punishing…. Days between responses, low spares inventory… even the big wholesaler QBP doesn’t have service parts….
Just finished a gold themed build on my Hightower V3! Same color. This will look sick. Atlas pedals and dominion A4 bronze are worth looking at for your gold build!
@@EvansMTBSaga Before I bought my first new MTB my decision was between TRP DHR evos and Hayes Dominions and I'm still the most interested in this showdown. I've researched both extensively but I still get confused what the differences between them are without having felt them myself. Unfortunately I got stuck with the SRAM brakes on the build, I absolutely hate them I want to replace them badly! I want something with an extremely light pull the whole way through with very fast modulation to full power action, I have hand problems and it literally hurts for me to squeeze my SRAMs all the way. I've heard both Hayes and TRP have good modulation but I think the Hayes are lighter action yes?
I got my first Santa cruz. A CC hightower frame that i built up. The more work on it the more i see how much detail the SC engineers put into the bike. For example the bearings in the links and the links have so many helpful design features like little notches to help pop out old bearings, oil ports to regrease bearings without taking them out.
Bought a bike (fom my son) from Two Hoosiers. Even from another state, good service! They stated it had a couple blemishes, and had a hefty discount on it. I couldn't find a single blemish anywhere! 🙌🏻
@@EvansMTBSaga More than cable stretch, which is kind of not really a thing, what cable housing did you use?. Cheap/oem cable housing compresses quite a bit. Throw some jagwire or XTR cable housing and things can be really different.
Bad reviews maybe but I've beed using the G-spec since 2023, excellent with a Shimano XT cassette, I bought the newest generation for my other bike and it's pretty similar, they fixed some annoyance but the masterpiece is the clutch, once you adjust the engagement and retention you won't ever drop a chain. *Derailleur aged well, shifter meh, probably what your friend issue is. Good news it's 1:1 so sram compatible, I run a GX on my original setup. NEVER DO ANY ADJUSTMENTS OR REMOVE THE WHEEL WITHOUT OPENING THE HALL LOCK. If you do undo the 5mm allen holding the derailleur and reset the lock. 😂
Good tips! I saw your comment on someone else's video about the drivetrain haha. So you can confirm that you can run a SRAM chain with TRP cassette/derailleur?
@@EvansMTBSagaYes you can run any Sram chain. TRP does not have stipulated chain to use on its drivetrain. You can also use Sram or Shimano shifters with TRP. All the 12 speed stuff now use 1:1. Same concept if you run XT dee to XX1 cassette. So compatibility of 12 speed these days is excellent. You can mix and match parts with no deficit... only thing you cannot mix is Shimano 12s Hyperglide+ (HG+) chain and HG+ chainring. Those two only work with each other. Tested the previous gen TRP 12s dee and chain slap/retention is better than Sram , but the rachet clutch wears out over time and you will more slop in the engagement. Also note the clutch and internals will need regreasing if not the dee is prone to seizing/stiff feeling when shifting. Service intervals are not as frequent as Shimano but nowhere near Sram's clutch longevity. Personally, for this setup I'd run the TRP dee, paired to an XO1 shifter, and use an XT cassette and any off-brand chainring that isn't HG+. This way you get the durability and tactile feel of Sram shifter, the ultra quick Shimano cassette (none of that Sram delay or clunking), while having that nice TRP clutch.
will this show up? the funny thing is the ltwoo ax 12 speed (carbon and with a black/gold theme) is most likely based on this thing exactly plus stupidly cheep also its performance is near xtr and other high end
Small suggestion. It would be nice if you included some before and after comparison shots when you do an upgrade. For example, maybe even do some side by side comparison shots of the chain slap going down Dragon Scales to see if there were any noticeable differences. I'd love to see some before and after shots of O-chain in the future. Otherwise, keep up the great work 👍
I had no idea nukeproof went under. That’s really sad. I never rode any of their bikes, but I was hoping to buy one of their hard tails at some point. Bummer. Also, have you ever tried any garbaruk components? I have their jockey wheels and chainring and boy are they super nice. I thought maybe you could try their cranks since you can get them in basically any color. Check them out! Pricey, but super high quality.
Nukeproof are a sub brand of Chain Reaction Cycles, who went into liquidation (as shown on Pinkbike etc) in the spring. It sucks, but that's life for companies post-COVID.
Well I didn't because of the reviews and ultimately needed to bin the user manual and trust my abilities. I nailed it too! Didn't have to turn the barrel once on the trail since
i though putting gold on that bike was a wierd style choice but when you actually installed the drivetrain it looks great lol, the gold is super flashy and awesome
Pretty sure that I Saw you out filming while I was in Bentonville with my wife last week. You may have even been filming this video, lol. ( unsure how quick your turn around is ) I didn't stop and say hi because I felt it would be rude But I did watch closely here in case I couls see myself rideing past in the background. Thanks for the great content.
If you try to use straight air to prevent bottoming, your fork will be harsh. Throw in a couple of tokens for progression, and you can run lower pressure and get that plush initial stroke. That’s probably what he was talking about.
@@EvansMTBSaga Unless you also drop the pressure when adding the token it cannot make the fork feel more 'plush' off the top. If you feel like it does then what you are experiencing is purely psychological. It'sjust in your head. Suspension is such a complex topic and people talking about it online are usually morons. My advice is get a shockwiz and play around. They you actuallly have concrete evidence and numbers which you can use to relate to how the suspension 'feels'.
Probably off topic, but you mentioned making some adjustments on your fork. As much as you like switching things up and trying different parts and components, I can't believe you haven't tried the Manitou Mezzer Pro fork, or the Mara Pro shock.
I would've liked to, especially when I was first starting. The first upgrade I ever did was a Manitou fork. But unfortunately now, them and Suntour don't have sales like Fox/Rockshox and those upgrades you mentioned are very expensive
@EvansMTBSaga I have an extra Mezzer Pro I'd send you, if you'd be interested in trying one out. I'm not affiliated with Manitou or Hayes, but if you haven't ridden one, you need to.
Manitou has been running sales on the mara pro and mezzer for the past year. They just dropped the new mara line and I expect the new mezzer will be dropping soon. There was old stock maras in stock last I checked. I got one last year 50% off. Super nice rear shock. Not long ago the mezzer pro 29" was 50% off.@EvansMTBSaga
@@SnootchieBootchies27 never saw that before and I've been fixing bikes in Whistler for the past 2 seasons...anyway if it Breaks it breaks, I've been abusing it for 2 seasons now and when it breaks I'll be going T-Type anyway.
The derailleur looks pretty calm in rough sections.. that's impressive, I was expecting it to move more but it did a very good job in my opinion. I wonder how it performs after 1000km/600ish miles.. SRAM worked for me perfectly out the box every time so far and Shimano always needed some time to work smoothly.. at least for 12 speed setups.. well.. I'd like to see a long term review of this drivetrain. I won't buy it but I'm interested to see what tektro/trp is capable of
Had 2 VPP bikes. Old style (high) wasnt too bad for maintaining. The newer lower link VPP is very maintenance intensive and the pivot axel design is a major weak point. Made from weak aluminum and has a weird flange that is prone to cracking when servicing. My Tallboy spent 4 months out of past year broken down waiting on the pivot axel to come back into stock and ship. Love the LL VPP when working good but just bought a Horst Link bike for what thats worth.
I have only one thing to say about KMC: I have broken two of their e-bike rated E12 chains on my e-bike, and in both cases the chains were close to new, not to mention $80 each.
Dang! Dude I rode it today and had to pedal hard in the harder gears and the thing skipped on me twice! I was doing about 800 watts (didnt get to shift in time for a climb)
Do you think the O’chain we’re not meant to know about made your experience better, for example the noise? And regarding the token, are you OK with telling us your weight with kit? Ta!🎉 Lastly, do you think the thingumy-Bob that bolts these things onto the drop-out is better than the one on the GX (it’s good on the XO1 and you buy one for a GX too)? I’m asking because of the gold lever thingy named after Aaron’s mechanic.
With the ochain can you do a comparrison to it and using a hub with higher/more degrees to engagement. I just dont get why that is any different but every reviewer says higher engagement is better (i personaly never agreed due to having bikes prone to pedal kickback)
I think SRAMs transmission is the next height to reach. If i want mechanical classic drivetrain i can easly got for shimano xt, xtr or sram gx and still do everything. Transmission is the new standards imo
I'd never heard of TRP here in the UK until I bought a Intense MTB which had TRP brakes. If the drive train is as good as the brakes, which in my opinion are very very good, then it should have absolutely no problems competing with Shimano and SRAM.
😂far too expensive for me🤔running only 1x10 11-42 cassette and a 32t chainring😆its plenty of range for me👌it all wears out, and find deore cheaper to replace, and its smooth when set up nicely😎👍
I have similar thoughts. The lower level Shimano drivetrains are so good for the price I have a hard time getting anything else. I have an 11 speed deore drivetrain and have no need for more. Maybe some day I will be able to tell the difference.
Got the same on my hardtail, XT cassette, hope expander ring, new deore mech and a saint shifter, works perfectly. The saint shifter is nearly a decade old and still feels like new 😅
I notice you have the DB8 brakes - I've actually heard really good things if you swap to metalic pads and the thicker sram rotors. Would be interesting to hear more about them once you get to the brake portion of your build, and how they hold up with better rotors & pads, if they are on par with Code RSCs.
My son and I have three bikes, soon to be four, converted to 10 speed because of that Saint shifter. 11-48 cassette is all you really need for the vast majority of riding where we live, even with a 32 tooth chainring.
My son and I have three bikes, soon to be four, converted to 10 speed because of that Saint shifter. 11-48 cassette is all you really need for the vast majority of riding where we live, even with a 32 tooth chainring.
I see the sram gx full drive train for $387 on Amazon. Thats what I got the nx on sale for a few years ago. I would just get this gx. Maybe consider the Trp if it was at $500, even then I don’t know. I have been doing nx on 3 different bike builds with no problem and I can switch the rear tire on all my bikes with no hub issues. I’m 59 , I think the nx and gx are fantastic technology. Enough for me, I don’t think I need $1500 drivetrains. Had the 6000 shimano on a new trek 7, the 10 tooth is good but not necessary when I hit the mountains in Marin ( so I don’t absolutely need the gx with the 10 tooth either).I thought the sram shifted a bit better then the shimano 6000. Maybe they are the same.
I love competition in the marketplace and want to see other companies bringing groupsets like this to market - but man, that price is just too much. I run a Box One/Two Prime 9 on my main trailbike and one of the reasons I was willing to give it a shot was it being less expensive than Shimano/sram. FWIW I'm really happy with the Prime 9 - once you get it dialed in it's incredibly bomb-proof, but I will say it doesn't shift quite as smooth/snappy as shimano or sram. But that's OK with me, it gets the job done lol
I know GX has been the standard for drivetrains for a while, value and performance, but I'll like to start a official petition to move that crown over to Shimano Cues. Price to performance you cannot beat it. Performs alongside the best for so much less.
It is not bad, it is better than chenese L Twoo, microshift (mine is terrible and only has one year) etc But is is far from shimano and Sram especially in long term. My 1996 XT works so good today ... and the 2006 2017 etc shimano. Tektro brakes for example are quite reliable, not powerfull but constant so they should evolve this TRP ...
That clutch looks as weak as the SRAM AXS (from the side angle video). I’m a left foot forward rider and on the downhills the chain would beat up my right crank arm. Switched to the transmission and no issues and no marks on the new cranks.
I have an X01 cable and I feel the clutch is worn out pretty bad. Massive chain slaps lol. This one is about as good as a new SRAM clutch, maybe a tad better. We'll see if it holds up!
@@EvansMTBSaga thx, mate. Shimano's 4-gears-at-once (XT and XTR shifter) works pretty well; you don't have to be light on the pedals. And you can combine it with cheaper SLX parts.
Completely off the subject, but do you know any good riding spots on the west side? I live in Laveen right next door so I don't want to say where you live. I saw it on a video of yours. Your address for PO box any good routing spots nearby. I am used to south mountain
Intend is just amazing. Enormously expensive, but if you are choosing something from 1000+$ options, intend perfoms so much better than RS or Fox products.
My fox 36 is also extremly harsh on my Specialized Status 160, and it never goes above 80 percent travel even with 30 percent sag. Do you have any clue how to fix this? thanks
Yea I'm riding a set of TRP Slate Evos on one of my bikes and while those are quite a bit cheaper they're not bad. I've been keen to get my hands on the DH-R Evo to see how they perform!
Can you please please do a long, like at least 10min video where you compare Polygon to Santa? I heard you saying "upgraded Polygon was not as good as base level Santa". Please elaborate to us much as you can. I am a firm believer that bike for 5500 eur with NX groupset and Rhythm or Performance 38 Fox is a joke. How is Santa able to charge so much for their bikes and people still buy them in tons. What is there what naked eye doesn't see beyond much cheaper components on Santa and their VPP suspension. I watch your videos because you siad multiple times that you want to try as many bikes as possible. I think you did Trek not a fair comparison, little time to ride, not enough chance. Keep up the work, but I'd like to elaborate on Santa vs cheaper, better equipped bikes.
I will think about it. But it comes down to engineering, research & development. Santa Cruz is pushing the envelope on that and it really shows with how the stock bike feels
@@EvansMTBSaga that's what "bugs" me. 2x price difference for a "better" feel... Can an average rider feel the "feel "? Or people buy Santa and just "invest " the money in what you mentioned just trusting the brand, without feeling what they supposed to
I ditched the TRP DHR Evo brakes but I'm still running two derailleurs and one shifter, I replaced my original TRP tr12 shifter by a GX since it started making clicking noises and has weird loose ends in between gears, the brakes were just to inconsistent after a couple of bleeds. Now on the lewis LH4 on both bikes.
I used box stuff in the very beginning of my channel. That specific model was junk, I understand it's discontinued now though. I have a long history with Box going back to my BMX days and its always been crap Taiwan catalog stuff. In BMX, Box is considered a premium brand too 😂
@@EvansMTBSaga I love my downhill shifter. And they are really cheap second hand. If you order it from the official webshop, it is fairly expensive! So I hope that 11 speed will be fine too. The shifter costs about the same as an XTR derailleur!
I think most people will just stick with Shimano where I live. It’s basically the Toyota Corolla of drive trains - it just works, and if it doesn’t, you can get new parts anywhere, and everyone knows how to fix it.
Even SRAM is still new and strange to most of us.
Haha my family has owned several Corollas. I had a 2002 with a fart can exhaust. S model, stick shift. Got me through college and i thought it was fast 😭
This is the sole reason im going to stick with my XT-groupset.
The corolla-factor.
This looks like a more expensive copy of SRAM's products rather than anything new - even using the same leverage ratio from shifter to derailleur if other comments are correct. As soon as SRAM start offering double instant cable release upshifts on a single push of the lever and start making 12 speed cassettes competitive in price with SLX, they might get me as a customer (I got a SRAM drivetrain on a bike last year and every time I ride it I keep pressing the upshift paddle waiting for the second shift to happen, when with the escapement mechanism in the SRAM shifters, the first shift isn't finished till the paddle is released). The only way I could be satisfied with that is if I'd never ridden a Shimano drivetrain at all. Shimano have got worse than their 3x10 era too by making the shift force for downshifting higher, so I'm not particularly happy with their recent stuff either. The best shifting Shimano (And anyone else I've tried) has ever made is the first generation 3x10 shadow+ drivetrain, now sold as XT Touring, so I can still get parts thankfully - double upshifts, unbelievably light, crisp downshifts and still a clutch derailleur to keep things quiet (Also improved by the straight chainline thanks to 3 rings up front).
Shimano XT remains the best choice for shifters, chain, BB and cranks, while everything else can be Deore or SLX as you won't tell the difference at the shifter and they last very well. The lower grade derailleurs do need the jockey wheels replaced more often, though not as often as I've had to with my SRAM derailleur - the jockey wheel bearings were flopping around so badly it was missing shifts (And thanks to the poor seals on the bearings, seizing solid if not regreased after being ridden in mud, which is more or less every ride I do) before the drivetrain itself was worn out, while XT jockey wheels last 2-3 drivetrains in the same conditions. With TRP's pricing so high they make SRAM look like good value and the complete lack of useful features over Shimano, it looks like the only reason to buy TRP is if you spend more time looking at the bike than riding it.
@@peglor thanks for your blog, glad I’m not the only one 6 beers deep.
It looks like bike manufacturers who did use the shimano drive units have dumped the running gear as well when they went to bosch
Tried other groupsets always went back to shimano XT, cost/weight/functionality and reliability i dont think can be beat for the money.
Have you tried SRAM GX? I’ve never tried a shimano drivetrain, but the GX is killer value IMO and it’s bullet proof.
@@georgeforeman89last sram I had was x01, got my latest xt linkglide 11 speed full groupset, brakes, crankset BB and chain new for £530. Hard to beat.
I really wish I could use Shimano. I've heard nothing but rave reviews about particularly the XTR chain, which is e-bike rated (I have a lot of trouble with drivetrain components breaking on my e-bike). I had an XT drivetrain stock on my trail bike, and it was really nice. But the lack of a derailleur cage clutch pin is just unforgivable, it makes literally everything about drivetrain and rear wheel maintenance almost more trouble than it's worth.
@@georgeforeman89 With an X01 chain - they're well worth the extra money, I get more than double the mileage from mine - even as a MTB guide I get most of a season out of it, but the GX would barely last more than a month.
@@2dcutout I’ve been using the XX1 chain this year for the extra bling. I hope I get more than 1 season. We will see! I’ve heard the x01 chains and cassette are super nice. My next cassette will be the purple garbaruk…for the bling
$800+ dollars...they're nuts!
They'd have a tall order to fill if it was electronic, that this is mechanical makes it even more insane. XTR groups are like $500.
I have just the derailer and shifter. it works perfectly with any Sram or Shimano chain and cassette.
@@johnnycab8986 Lol wat? Everyone knows electronic groupsets are a complete waste of money. Lots of issues on the new one, derailleur bouncing around on the old one, much slower shifting, e.t.c. If anything, TRP is actually worth the money (minus the Cassette, get a Shimano one), considering the features it has and the performance.
@@NikolaiVozza Right. Which is why top youtubers like Seth use AXS, and why everyone says they're quicker and better. And the features of TRP are what exactly? 5x downshift? C'mon, that's useless. And performance is just as good as on the XTR or the XX1. But at least those are known and tested brands.
They gotta pay Gwinner somehow. 😂
Glad to hear you were able to solve the fork suspension issue. Can’t wait to see how this one turns out
Props on the rolling derailleur shot... really cool to see it up close for that amount of time and in frame
I’ve been running the trp 12 speed and dry brakes since may of ‘23. Both systems have been rock solid- the one issue I had was customer service and spare parts. A couple months in I had a nasty crash and broke the cage. It’s a replaceable part, but finding it online or getting help from TRP was punishing…. Days between responses, low spares inventory… even the big wholesaler QBP doesn’t have service parts….
Just finished a gold themed build on my Hightower V3! Same color. This will look sick. Atlas pedals and dominion A4 bronze are worth looking at for your gold build!
Are you the one talking about the bloodox color on my last video?
TRP brakes next?❤
Yup! I heard they're the best
They are the best
@@orishomerAgree, running both DHR EVOs and Slate EVOs, both are the best brakes ever.
Evo’s are awesome Imho. Best brakes I’ve ever had. Not the absolute most powerful, but they are consistent, easy to work on, and have a light lever
@@EvansMTBSaga Before I bought my first new MTB my decision was between TRP DHR evos and Hayes Dominions and I'm still the most interested in this showdown. I've researched both extensively but I still get confused what the differences between them are without having felt them myself. Unfortunately I got stuck with the SRAM brakes on the build, I absolutely hate them I want to replace them badly! I want something with an extremely light pull the whole way through with very fast modulation to full power action, I have hand problems and it literally hurts for me to squeeze my SRAMs all the way. I've heard both Hayes and TRP have good modulation but I think the Hayes are lighter action yes?
I got my first Santa cruz. A CC hightower frame that i built up. The more work on it the more i see how much detail the SC engineers put into the bike. For example the bearings in the links and the links have so many helpful design features like little notches to help pop out old bearings, oil ports to regrease bearings without taking them out.
Bought a bike (fom my son) from Two Hoosiers. Even from another state, good service! They stated it had a couple blemishes, and had a hefty discount on it. I couldn't find a single blemish anywhere! 🙌🏻
if the shifting is good at first then gets bad at some point its just the cable stretching
Yeah then can use the barrel adjuster. I thought it was interesting that mine got better over time 😂
@@EvansMTBSaga More than cable stretch, which is kind of not really a thing, what cable housing did you use?. Cheap/oem cable housing compresses quite a bit.
Throw some jagwire or XTR cable housing and things can be really different.
@@puntoycoma47 I just used whatever came with the bike, so probably the cheap stuff haha. I did drop some dry lube in the housing though
Heads up: cables don’t stretch, it’s housing settling into the ferrules.
There are no barrel adjusters on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Sram chains are the best on the market, even for Shimano setups.
xx1 chains are bloody good.
Man I still have the original XX1 chain from 2022 in circulation. Well worth it
Bad reviews maybe but I've beed using the G-spec since 2023, excellent with a Shimano XT cassette, I bought the newest generation for my other bike and it's pretty similar, they fixed some annoyance but the masterpiece is the clutch, once you adjust the engagement and retention you won't ever drop a chain.
*Derailleur aged well, shifter meh, probably what your friend issue is.
Good news it's 1:1 so sram compatible, I run a GX on my original setup.
NEVER DO ANY ADJUSTMENTS OR REMOVE THE WHEEL WITHOUT OPENING THE HALL LOCK.
If you do undo the 5mm allen holding the derailleur and reset the lock. 😂
Good tips! I saw your comment on someone else's video about the drivetrain haha. So you can confirm that you can run a SRAM chain with TRP cassette/derailleur?
@@EvansMTBSaga you can run 10-50 sram but not 10-52, 10-51 is maximum it can fit.
@@EvansMTBSagaYes you can run any Sram chain. TRP does not have stipulated chain to use on its drivetrain.
You can also use Sram or Shimano shifters with TRP. All the 12 speed stuff now use 1:1. Same concept if you run XT dee to XX1 cassette.
So compatibility of 12 speed these days is excellent. You can mix and match parts with no deficit... only thing you cannot mix is Shimano 12s Hyperglide+ (HG+) chain and HG+ chainring. Those two only work with each other.
Tested the previous gen TRP 12s dee and chain slap/retention is better than Sram , but the rachet clutch wears out over time and you will more slop in the engagement. Also note the clutch and internals will need regreasing if not the dee is prone to seizing/stiff feeling when shifting. Service intervals are not as frequent as Shimano but nowhere near Sram's clutch longevity.
Personally, for this setup I'd run the TRP dee, paired to an XO1 shifter, and use an XT cassette and any off-brand chainring that isn't HG+. This way you get the durability and tactile feel of Sram shifter, the ultra quick Shimano cassette (none of that Sram delay or clunking), while having that nice TRP clutch.
will this show up?
the funny thing is
the ltwoo ax 12 speed (carbon and with a black/gold theme)
is most likely based on this thing exactly
plus stupidly cheep
also its performance is near xtr and other high end
Never ridden a Trp drivetrain before, this video made an excellent demonstration, and I am considering doing a bike build or Steel Hardtail.
Small suggestion. It would be nice if you included some before and after comparison shots when you do an upgrade. For example, maybe even do some side by side comparison shots of the chain slap going down Dragon Scales to see if there were any noticeable differences. I'd love to see some before and after shots of O-chain in the future. Otherwise, keep up the great work 👍
Yeah that would've been a good idea. I will try to remember that moving forward
love your videos man, just ordered the S- build of this same exact bike... plus got a Gold Fox 36 for the front end... gonna be a real blinger, lol.
Dang that’s hefty. I’ll stick with X01 anyday. Tried and true. Proven reliable and durable.
Watching my second add at the start rn and I know for a fact this vid is gonna be a banger
The on bike cams in the last few videos are really cool to see.
Thanks Austin!!
Great review! I like the 5 gear dump mode. I might have to look into this drive train. It will siut my riding tarrian greatly
I had no idea nukeproof went under. That’s really sad. I never rode any of their bikes, but I was hoping to buy one of their hard tails at some point. Bummer. Also, have you ever tried any garbaruk components? I have their jockey wheels and chainring and boy are they super nice. I thought maybe you could try their cranks since you can get them in basically any color. Check them out! Pricey, but super high quality.
Nukeproof are a sub brand of Chain Reaction Cycles, who went into liquidation (as shown on Pinkbike etc) in the spring. It sucks, but that's life for companies post-COVID.
5:25 I have never used a manual for adjusting shifting. You just adjust the derailleur until it shifts fine. :D
Well I didn't because of the reviews and ultimately needed to bin the user manual and trust my abilities. I nailed it too! Didn't have to turn the barrel once on the trail since
i though putting gold on that bike was a wierd style choice but when you actually installed the drivetrain it looks great lol, the gold is super flashy and awesome
Pretty sure that I Saw you out filming while I was in Bentonville with my wife last week. You may have even been filming this video, lol. ( unsure how quick your turn around is ) I didn't stop and say hi because I felt it would be rude But I did watch closely here in case I couls see myself rideing past in the background. Thanks for the great content.
Adding a token doesn't make the fork "more plush". If anything, it will make it more firm as it compresses.
If you try to use straight air to prevent bottoming, your fork will be harsh. Throw in a couple of tokens for progression, and you can run lower pressure and get that plush initial stroke. That’s probably what he was talking about.
Not exactly true. On top stroke with tokens fork will be more sensitive. It will only get progressively stiffer deeper in stroke.
I disagree. I have a memory foam mattress. Its soft off the top and firm when compressed. I'd call it a plush mattress
@@EvansMTBSaga Unless you also drop the pressure when adding the token it cannot make the fork feel more 'plush' off the top. If you feel like it does then what you are experiencing is purely psychological. It'sjust in your head. Suspension is such a complex topic and people talking about it online are usually morons. My advice is get a shockwiz and play around. They you actuallly have concrete evidence and numbers which you can use to relate to how the suspension 'feels'.
Probably off topic, but you mentioned making some adjustments on your fork. As much as you like switching things up and trying different parts and components, I can't believe you haven't tried the Manitou Mezzer Pro fork, or the Mara Pro shock.
I would've liked to, especially when I was first starting. The first upgrade I ever did was a Manitou fork. But unfortunately now, them and Suntour don't have sales like Fox/Rockshox and those upgrades you mentioned are very expensive
@EvansMTBSaga I have an extra Mezzer Pro I'd send you, if you'd be interested in trying one out. I'm not affiliated with Manitou or Hayes, but if you haven't ridden one, you need to.
Manitou has been running sales on the mara pro and mezzer for the past year. They just dropped the new mara line and I expect the new mezzer will be dropping soon. There was old stock maras in stock last I checked. I got one last year 50% off. Super nice rear shock.
Not long ago the mezzer pro 29" was 50% off.@EvansMTBSaga
TRP DH-R EVO gold brakes and a FOX gold fork would look amazing.
Since I started riding my axs groups I just love that I can rapidfire through the gears with one long push. I think I can't go Back.
You will when the derailleur stops working because you rode in the rain
@@SnootchieBootchies27 never saw that before and I've been fixing bikes in Whistler for the past 2 seasons...anyway if it Breaks it breaks, I've been abusing it for 2 seasons now and when it breaks I'll be going T-Type anyway.
AXS is 100% waterproof. Doddy even froze his in water overnight and it still worked
@@EvansMTBSaga well that's some garbage armchair science...
Nice vid. Greetings from Germany ❤❤❤
The derailleur looks pretty calm in rough sections.. that's impressive, I was expecting it to move more but it did a very good job in my opinion. I wonder how it performs after 1000km/600ish miles.. SRAM worked for me perfectly out the box every time so far and Shimano always needed some time to work smoothly.. at least for 12 speed setups.. well.. I'd like to see a long term review of this drivetrain. I won't buy it but I'm interested to see what tektro/trp is capable of
I was keen on it because of the hall lock. But it's quite easy to mod a sram rear mech to have the same feature
Amizing video, in next project you can tray a Scott ginius(trail) or ransom ( enduro). I hope to see this in nexst video
8:11 no, you’re just a badass fit rider! It has nothing to do with the bike!
Had 2 VPP bikes. Old style (high) wasnt too bad for maintaining. The newer lower link VPP is very maintenance intensive and the pivot axel design is a major weak point. Made from weak aluminum and has a weird flange that is prone to cracking when servicing. My Tallboy spent 4 months out of past year broken down waiting on the pivot axel to come back into stock and ship. Love the LL VPP when working good but just bought a Horst Link bike for what thats worth.
Next upgrade fox black/gold suspension front en rear? ❤❤❤ love the content
That's the plan!! Not next though
Thanks for the video Evan 👍🙂
Love your videos dude, keep it up!
Great videos. I watched even though I’d likely never buy this drivetrain. I just really enjoy my SRAM transmission.
Transmission is a good one for sure!
I have only one thing to say about KMC: I have broken two of their e-bike rated E12 chains on my e-bike, and in both cases the chains were close to new, not to mention $80 each.
Dang! Dude I rode it today and had to pedal hard in the harder gears and the thing skipped on me twice! I was doing about 800 watts (didnt get to shift in time for a climb)
Try Yaban SLA1210 speed chains they're a wonder
Do you think the O’chain we’re not meant to know about made your experience better, for example the noise? And regarding the token, are you OK with telling us your weight with kit? Ta!🎉 Lastly, do you think the thingumy-Bob that bolts these things onto the drop-out is better than the one on the GX (it’s good on the XO1 and you buy one for a GX too)? I’m asking because of the gold lever thingy named after Aaron’s mechanic.
With the ochain can you do a comparrison to it and using a hub with higher/more degrees to engagement. I just dont get why that is any different but every reviewer says higher engagement is better (i personaly never agreed due to having bikes prone to pedal kickback)
Yeah I have some new wheels for this bike with pretty good engagement. Not Onyx level though
Horizon V2's..Had mine for coming on 2 years without any issues..Quality Wheels..!😎 And I'll stick with XT Thanks..ha!
Seriously the best for the price
XT is probably 1/2 that, I really think that o-chain thing is just a gimmick. Not needed
I think SRAMs transmission is the next height to reach. If i want mechanical classic drivetrain i can easly got for shimano xt, xtr or sram gx and still do everything. Transmission is the new standards imo
They're working on cable transmission. I've seen it in person and will be one of the first to buy
Wasn't the TRP wireless available when you filmed? That's what i would like to see.
I'd never heard of TRP here in the UK until I bought a Intense MTB which had TRP brakes. If the drive train is as good as the brakes, which in my opinion are very very good, then it should have absolutely no problems competing with Shimano and SRAM.
They will have problems at that price
😂far too expensive for me🤔running only 1x10 11-42 cassette and a 32t chainring😆its plenty of range for me👌it all wears out, and find deore cheaper to replace, and its smooth when set up nicely😎👍
I have similar thoughts. The lower level Shimano drivetrains are so good for the price I have a hard time getting anything else. I have an 11 speed deore drivetrain and have no need for more. Maybe some day I will be able to tell the difference.
Got the same on my hardtail, XT cassette, hope expander ring, new deore mech and a saint shifter, works perfectly. The saint shifter is nearly a decade old and still feels like new 😅
I notice you have the DB8 brakes - I've actually heard really good things if you swap to metalic pads and the thicker sram rotors. Would be interesting to hear more about them once you get to the brake portion of your build, and how they hold up with better rotors & pads, if they are on par with Code RSCs.
Yeah that's what I did in the High Low series. They were not great with 180mm rotors. I switched to SRAM hs2 200s with metallic pads and they're good
@@EvansMTBSaga ah sweet I’ll have to go back and watch. Going to give them a shot with 220 rotors and metallic on a dh bike soon
@@andremtb480do try out magura's thicker rotors they fade less in my experience
You should get a golden fork sticker and some custom bits and bobs
What about a golden fork? :)
Since you already doing the drive train, might as well do the DHR EVO brakes.
Ive got an old shimano xt 10 speed shifter, does 4 up 2 down. I hate that most shifters dont do this.
Yep my 10 year old Saint shifter which was basically a re-baged xtr unit is 4 up 2 down and still works flawlessly.
My son and I have three bikes, soon to be four, converted to 10 speed because of that Saint shifter. 11-48 cassette is all you really need for the vast majority of riding where we live, even with a 32 tooth chainring.
My son and I have three bikes, soon to be four, converted to 10 speed because of that Saint shifter. 11-48 cassette is all you really need for the vast majority of riding where we live, even with a 32 tooth chainring.
That Trek will be mine, I plan to drive to pick it up,,, lol
I see the sram gx full drive train for $387 on Amazon. Thats what I got the nx on sale for a few years ago. I would just get this gx. Maybe consider the Trp if it was at $500, even then I don’t know. I have been doing nx on 3 different bike builds with no problem and I can switch the rear tire on all my bikes with no hub issues. I’m 59 , I think the nx and gx are fantastic technology. Enough for me, I don’t think I need $1500 drivetrains. Had the 6000 shimano on a new trek 7, the 10 tooth is good but not necessary when I hit the mountains in Marin ( so I don’t absolutely need the gx with the 10 tooth either).I thought the sram shifted a bit better then the shimano 6000. Maybe they are the same.
I love competition in the marketplace and want to see other companies bringing groupsets like this to market - but man, that price is just too much. I run a Box One/Two Prime 9 on my main trailbike and one of the reasons I was willing to give it a shot was it being less expensive than Shimano/sram. FWIW I'm really happy with the Prime 9 - once you get it dialed in it's incredibly bomb-proof, but I will say it doesn't shift quite as smooth/snappy as shimano or sram. But that's OK with me, it gets the job done lol
Two Hoosiers Cyclery is legit. And pretty awesome dudes too at their shop in Ogden Ut
I hear Hoosiers and I think Indiana. Surprised to hear you say they're in Utah haha
@@EvansMTBSaga Yeah that’s where they came from so their Two Hoosiers in Utah at a bike shop. Great guys
Great video. GOOOOOOLD!!! 🤪
I'm waiting for the Bosch/TRP wireless system to come out for my ebike.
Do the gold trp brakes!
I know GX has been the standard for drivetrains for a while, value and performance, but I'll like to start a official petition to move that crown over to Shimano Cues. Price to performance you cannot beat it. Performs alongside the best for so much less.
I will be sure to try that one out!
I've never heard anyone who's tried both say GX came anywhere near Shimano on value, though it is almost as good on performance.
It is not bad, it is better than chenese L Twoo, microshift (mine is terrible and only has one year) etc But is is far from shimano and Sram especially in long term. My 1996 XT works so good today ... and the 2006 2017 etc shimano. Tektro brakes for example are quite reliable, not powerfull but constant so they should evolve this TRP ...
I am curious about long term durability, please let us know later ! :)
I will keep riding it! I have no desire to ride my E-Bike now and grab this one every time
That clutch looks as weak as the SRAM AXS (from the side angle video). I’m a left foot forward rider and on the downhills the chain would beat up my right crank arm. Switched to the transmission and no issues and no marks on the new cranks.
I have an X01 cable and I feel the clutch is worn out pretty bad. Massive chain slaps lol. This one is about as good as a new SRAM clutch, maybe a tad better. We'll see if it holds up!
Santa kruz or Trek what would you say and is the Trek roscoe 9 a good purchase ?? I hope you could help me with that
Thanks and great video.
Price is insane, for the price I'd just spend the little extra for GX Transmission.
GX is garbage lol
Bro i thinking to start mountain biking with Rockrider St100 is it a good bike for beginners???
What about shifting 5 gears at once? Does that work?
Yeah it worked for me! Just gotta do it at the right time and not try and force it. Gotta be very light on the pedals
@@EvansMTBSaga thx, mate. Shimano's 4-gears-at-once (XT and XTR shifter) works pretty well; you don't have to be light on the pedals. And you can combine it with cheaper SLX parts.
Completely off the subject, but do you know any good riding spots on the west side? I live in Laveen right next door so I don't want to say where you live. I saw it on a video of yours. Your address for PO box any good routing spots nearby. I am used to south mountain
Been happy with my GX and I could replace it all including the crank for half the price that you paid for the trp
I’m entered! Great vid.
Thanks Jackson! Good luck
What tyres are you running on the Santa Cruz?
Maxxis Exo. Idk the model cuz I blacked out the logos haha
You should take a look at upsidedown fork like intend and push there are no reviews out there I think it would make an awesome video
Intend is just amazing. Enormously expensive, but if you are choosing something from 1000+$ options, intend perfoms so much better than RS or Fox products.
I have an Intend Infinity fork in my possession. Just waiting for the right bike to install it on
the disc on your front wheel is mounted backards
Not anymore
I think NX is a good enough system but I'm more of a shimano guy. I had a gx and shimano just respond better and better feel imo.
I don't have a lot of experience with XT. Deore is good, very light lever presses
@@ninjazzrhythm400 nx is plastic crap. You are lucky when it survives 1 full season.
I love TRP, use their brakes on two bikes, but with that price ifs hard not to run T-Type 😬
I will try TRP brakes next!
@@EvansMTBSaga yeeee!!! 🙌
trp drivetrains are awesome imo
My fox 36 is also extremly harsh on my Specialized Status 160, and it never goes above 80 percent travel even with 30 percent sag. Do you have any clue how to fix this? thanks
Use some tokens and run it around 25
Not the low engagement cranks 😬
100% you should get gold trp brakes
They should arrive today!
@@EvansMTBSaga sick can’t wait to see them on the Bronson!
Yea I'm riding a set of TRP Slate Evos on one of my bikes and while those are quite a bit cheaper they're not bad. I've been keen to get my hands on the DH-R Evo to see how they perform!
What happened to the previous raffles?
Click the link and you can see
Can u do an upgrade episode on a norco torrent s2 pls Bcs u used to do a bunch of hard tails
Does it up shift 3 years at a time like xtr ?
It does 5 gears like promised, but you have to be careful and precise when you do it
Can you please please do a long, like at least 10min video where you compare Polygon to Santa? I heard you saying "upgraded Polygon was not as good as base level Santa". Please elaborate to us much as you can.
I am a firm believer that bike for 5500 eur with NX groupset and Rhythm or Performance 38 Fox is a joke. How is Santa able to charge so much for their bikes and people still buy them in tons. What is there what naked eye doesn't see beyond much cheaper components on Santa and their VPP suspension.
I watch your videos because you siad multiple times that you want to try as many bikes as possible. I think you did Trek not a fair comparison, little time to ride, not enough chance. Keep up the work, but I'd like to elaborate on Santa vs cheaper, better equipped bikes.
I will think about it. But it comes down to engineering, research & development. Santa Cruz is pushing the envelope on that and it really shows with how the stock bike feels
@@EvansMTBSaga that's what "bugs" me. 2x price difference for a "better" feel... Can an average rider feel the "feel "? Or people buy Santa and just "invest " the money in what you mentioned just trusting the brand, without feeling what they supposed to
TRP. Very nice 🤙
Yeah dude turned out good! I was thinking it would have problems
@@EvansMTBSaga Their brakes are CRAZY good as well. TRP DH-R EVO 4 piston. You'll be very tempted. And they're Gold
That is one of the next planned videos! I have them in the mail right now
@@EvansMTBSaga Love it. Same mind set ❤️🤙
I ditched the TRP DHR Evo brakes but I'm still running two derailleurs and one shifter, I replaced my original TRP tr12 shifter by a GX since it started making clicking noises and has weird loose ends in between gears, the brakes were just to inconsistent after a couple of bleeds.
Now on the lewis LH4 on both bikes.
I LOVE GOOOLD!!!
What about used Sram XX1 gold parts?
Price for this is well out!
Yeah really charging for the kashima look lol
How often do ya fall when ya go out on rides?
Very rarely! But I don't wanna jinx it haha
Looks like you could use a Shimano chain
Btw. when will you put your dirty hands on Box Components stuff? They have really good derailleurs and they might be made in the USA.
I used box stuff in the very beginning of my channel. That specific model was junk, I understand it's discontinued now though.
I have a long history with Box going back to my BMX days and its always been crap Taiwan catalog stuff. In BMX, Box is considered a premium brand too 😂
@@EvansMTBSaga I love my downhill shifter. And they are really cheap second hand. If you order it from the official webshop, it is fairly expensive! So I hope that 11 speed will be fine too. The shifter costs about the same as an XTR derailleur!
Expensive is not the right word
you know that KMC makes chains for Shimano?
I did not, I don't use Shimano drivetrains or brakes. SRAM fan boy 😂
The build is coming together. I definitely like the gold on there. But one major problem with the TRP....CABLES!
Whats wrong with cables?
I'm still waiting on wireless brakes 😂
@@B1KER cables become problem? Really?
@@Valentin359 The wireless cockpit. So clean. 😍
Hi sir
Love you Big fan
Love from kerala india❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
Keep going
please pin
Chain slap central. Looks cool but at that price foggedaboutit
Oh man I've seen wayyyyy more chain movement in footage of me running GX. Times where the chain is hitting the ground haha
R u gonna test out some new kickback wheels sets?
Not for the forseeable future. I've tried reaching out to e*13 before and no response, and I can't afford those wheels
@@EvansMTBSaga ok, it'd b interesting fs
top came on my bike and wow its really quiet
Nobody has finished this video when I commented
Dose anyone know...if you can run 2 or 3 ring up front with 12 speed in tha back on a MTB ???
that gold does look nice on that bike...🚲❣️
Intend fork and Shock on the BRONSON ?
Get the trp dhr evo brakes best brakes you can buy