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Fd owl 12x1 - Innovative drive from Box Components

Stefan Frey

 · 31.03.2017

fd owl 12x1 - Innovative drive from Box ComponentsPhoto: Box Components
fd owl 12x1 - Innovative drive from Box Components
Gear manufacturer BOX came around the corner with a bang at the Crankworx festival in New Zealand and presented its new 12x1 drivetrain - with 12 chainrings/sprockets at the front for the first time.

BOX Components is turning the gearing tables: instead of putting more and more sprockets on the freewheel, the Americans are adapting a twelve-speed cassette to the crank with fd owl 12x1.

The 12-speed cassette is adapted directly to the crank.Photo: Box Components The 12-speed cassette is adapted directly to the crank.

The most important features:

  • 12 gears (11-52T)
  • Material: 6061-T6 aluminium
  • Front derailleur material: carbon/nylon composite
  • Sealed precision inverter
  • 145mm BB12 bottom bracket
  • Patented zero friction technology
  • Colour & Finish: Matte & Gloss Black
  • Crank weight: 170g
  • Cassette weight: 455g
  • Weight front derailleur: 215g
  • Incl. sprocket and spacer for hourly Shimano freewheel
  • Price 549 Euro
"Think outside the box": BOX Components is breaking completely new ground with fd owl 12x1.Photo: Box Components "Think outside the box": BOX Components is breaking completely new ground with fd owl 12x1.

Revolutionary concept

The revolutionary drivetrain concept with 12 gears (11-52 teeth) at the front and a chainring at the rear (optionally 32, 34, 36, 38 teeth) makes it possible to tackle even the steepest climbs thanks to the high gear range (520 %).

The technology used at Box also on Box One rear derailleur has been adapted to the front derailleur. This is made possible by the Zero Friction technology developed by Box, in which a longer, low-friction lever arm has been attached to the front derailleur, which shifts continuously at a 45° angle from the largest to the smallest blade.

The bottom bracket had to be extremely widened for the cassette.Photo: Box Components The bottom bracket had to be extremely widened for the cassette.

New standards

"With our 12x1 groupset, we are setting new standards in drivetrain technology. With a wider bandwidth directly at the power transmission, we enable a greater variety of gears. In addition, with only one chainring on the hub, we prevent the risk of damaging the derailleur hanger or possibly the rear derailleur in the event of a collision, a further development of our Pivot Tech technology," says M. Yanus, engineer at Box-Components.

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The scope of delivery includes the special wider crank from Box with the 145 mm wide axle, the twelve chainrings and the front derailleur. The crank is compatible with the standard bottom bracket widths. Whether it will soon also be possible to use a 12-speed cassette at the front and rear for an even wider range has not yet been announced by the manufacturer. We are eagerly awaiting the first test samples.

fd owl 12x1: Switching gears with a wink.Photo: Box Components fd owl 12x1: Switching gears with a wink.
Stefan Frey

Stefan Frey is from Lower Bavaria and loves the mossy, loamy trails of the Bavarian Forest as much as the rugged rock of the Dolomites. For technical descents, he is prepared to tackle almost any ascent - under his own steam. As an accessories specialist, he is the first port of call for questions about equipment and add-on parts, while as head of copywriting he sweeps the language crumbs from the pages of the BIKE print editions.

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