E-Thirteen presents the brand new TRS+ cassette with 12 sprockets, leaving the competition behind in terms of range and weight - albeit only by a very narrow margin in some cases. The sprocket set with 9-46 teeth weighs just 333* grams and delivers 511%, which is more than Sram Eagle (maximum 10-50 teeth, 500%, 367* grams) and E-Thirteen. the new Shimano XTR (maximum 10-51 teeth, 510 %, 370* grams).
The price of 300 euros is roughly on a par with the current street price of a Sram X01 Eagle cassette and almost 100 euros below the manufacturer's original price recommendation. But that's not all: The real highlight from E-Thirteen is the conversion kit, which can be used to upgrade any older Sram 11-speed drivetrain from the GX groupset upwards to a 12-speed gearbox.
There is currently no cheaper way to enjoy 12-speed derailleur gears for your bike than with the conversion kit from E-Thirteen, because they are expensive. At least relatively expensive. The 1x12 pioneers from Sram laid the foundations with the NX Eagle The cheapest version is currently available, costing 410 euros for the complete drivetrain. However, for reasons of compatibility with Shimano freehub bodies, this only has 455% - hardly an option for bikers who currently ride a high-quality (lightweight) 1x11 drivetrain from Sram and want to switch to 12 gears without horrendous costs or a significant increase in weight.
Tuning: Convert 11-speed gears to 12-speed operation
With the new TRS+ 12-speed cassette, E-Thirteen is ready to help all those who don't want to replace the entire drivetrain. Along with the new cassette, the accessories specialist also supplies a conversion kit for Sram 11-speed drivetrains! Just swap a cog in the shifter and a spacer in the rear derailleur and the 11-speed version of the Sram GX, X1, X01 or XX1 is transformed into a 12-speed drivetrain. The high bandwidth of the cassette included.
The conversion should be so simple that you can do it yourself at home. The manufacturer provides detailed installation instructions, including an installation video, on its website and specifies a working time of one hour. The manufacturer's support team is available to answer any questions. If you buy the kit from a specialist retailer, you can of course have it installed there at your own expense.
Structure and data: the E-Thirteen TRSR 12-speed cassette 9-46 at a glance
The cassette itself consists of a total of four parts. The two largest sprockets are milled from an aluminium block and are fixed to an XD freehub body with a retaining ring. In contrast to previous versions, no special tools are required for this. This is followed by a plastic spacer sleeve before the remaining sprockets (made of steel) are engaged in the aluminium body using a chain whip (ideally with a thin 12-speed chain) or - even better - a sprocket puller. Both sprocket bodies are screwed together with a small screw and secured against unintentional relative movement. Both tools or two chain whips are required for disassembly.
E-Thirteen's decision to use the 9-46 cog spacing for the 12-speed cassette is justified by the lower weight and higher ground clearance. Thanks to the small 9-speed sprocket, a 10% smaller chainring can be used at the front without having to sacrifice the long final gear ratio. At the same time, you still gain bandwidth at the other end of the gear scale. And small chainrings can be lighter than large ones. All parts of the cassette will be available individually as spare parts.
* BIKE measured values
The E-Thirteen conversion kit and the TRS+ 12-speed cassette are now available from specialist retailers and from the in-house Online shop.
Sebastian Brust
Editor
