With the TRP (Tektro Racing Products) brand, Tektro is pursuing a more sporty approach, as evidenced by the involvement of downhill superstar Aaron Gwin and Rampage rider Brendan Fairclough. The Taiwanese company's figurehead, Aaron Gwin, has already been riding successfully for several years. TRP brakes on the road. Last year, the brake specialist surprised everyone by expanding its product range. The TRP DH7 was the first mountain bike drivetrain from Taiwan. The special downhill drivetrain with seven gears was also used by Aaron Gwin.
The DH7 is now followed by the 299 Euro TR12 circuitwhich includes a completely redesigned rear derailleur and a twelve-speed trigger. With this setup, all common Twelve-speed cassettes from Shimano, Sram or third-party suppliers such as E13 or KCNC with a maximum of 50 teeth. But what makes this 1x12 drivetrain so special?
TRP TR12: What makes the new MTB drivetrain special
In order to distinguish Sram and Shimano gears TRP relies on special details for the rear derailleur. For example, two friction dampers are installed to stabilise the rear derailleur and effectively prevent chain slap. With the so-called Hall-Lock, the main pivot point can be fixed to the mounting in the derailleur hanger. A lever is used to switch the function on and off quickly to remove the wheel. The friction damper for the rear derailleur cage can also be quickly activated or deactivated. In addition, the damping force of the TRP 12-speed rear derailleur individually.
TRP TR12 - the facts at a glance
- Price: 299 Euro
- Weight rear derailleur: 282 grams (manufacturer's specification)
- Weight of gear lever: 120 grams (manufacturer's specification)
- Colours: black, gold, silver
- Availability: from August 2020
- Distribution: MCG
BIKE has already had the opportunity to ride the TRP TR12 drivetrain and the new DH-R Evo brakes extensively. Read our ride report from BIKE 6/2020
As usual, the shift lever comes with two thumb levers, whereby the larger one can be adjusted in angle just like the more expensive Sram groupsets. The large levers offer a good contact surface. While the large lever is very easy to reach for shifting into easier gears, you have to reach all the way round the large lever to get to the small one. Both buttons are pressed from the front from the rider's perspective and not slightly from below as with Sram. In return, the lever feedback is crisp and the lever travel is short. During testing, however, we occasionally had the problem of the chain jumping on the cassette when shifting into harder gears under load, but this could also be due to the cassette. The weight of the TRP drivetrain is on a par with Shimano XT and Sram GX.
The new Evo brakes (details 3, 4), which have been revised in all respects, were powerful and very easy to modulate. The ergonomics of the long levers were also impressive. Price 199 euros per brake.
What the BIKE editors' testers say about the new TRP TR12 drivetrain:
Peter Nilges, BIKE Test Manager: Especially when shifting into harder gears, you get that sports car feeling. The TRP shifts the chain to the smaller sprocket with short travel on the lever. The somewhat clunky shifter housing and the ergonomics of the levers still have room for improvement.
Tobi Brehler, BIKE tester: Compared to the top groupsets from Sram, you definitely need more manual force, especially when shifting to larger sprockets. However, the operating forces can still be influenced by the strength of the friction damper on the rear derailleur.
Max Fuchs, BIKE volunteer:
I really liked the crisp and precise feedback on the gear lever. Although you need a little more force, you can really thunder the gears in. The shift travel is pleasantly short.
You can find this article in BIKE 6/2020. You can read the entire digital edition in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or the print edition in the DK shop reorder - while stocks last:
