TRP Evo 12 drivetrain in the long-term test: The TRP flashes gold, but is it also good & durable?

One thing is for sure: if gansta rappers from the early 2000s suddenly developed a bike obsession, they would hang these shifters around their necks instead of dollar signs. Because the TRP Evo 12 is perhaps the drivetrain with the highest bling factor on the market. However, the underdog also wants to impress with functional technology against the established competition from Sram and Shimano. Twelve gears, 520 per cent gear range and a weight of 1655 grams are close to XTR and XX Transmission on paper. TRP is only dispensing with electronic shifting for the time being. The exciting question, however, is: Can the shifting also convince in continuous use?

>> This is the new TRP Evo 12: Read all about the technical features and a first ride impression in our detailed new presentation

>> How the TRP Evo 12 is made: A visit to Tektro in Taiwan and a look behind the scenes of the development department

TRP Evo 12 at a glance

• Twelve courses
• Bandwidth: 520 per cent
• Mechanical gearstick with classic derailleur hanger
• Complete set consisting of cassette, rear derailleur, chain, trigger, crank
• Weight (complete set): 1655 grams
• Colours: Gold, Silver
• Price: approx. 1100 Euro

Shifting when new: Better than Shimano & Co.

Cleanly adjusted and with a fresh derailleur hanger, the TRP Evo 12 is simply that: a top-functioning mechanical groupset. The gear changes themselves are rather crisp and direct, the shifting feel is between Shimano's rather smooth XTR shifting and Sram's old and super-direct XX or X0 groupset. A transmission or Shimano's new Linkglide groupsets shift noticeably slower but also softer than the TRP.

The levers fit most of the testers well, shifting into a lighter gear requires a little force, but also feels very defined. Only very occasionally does the shifting get confused and then acknowledges the gear change with a louder bang than just a light click. Although the TRP might not be able to outperform the top gear systems from Shimano and Sram in a direct comparison, the shifting works so well that you have to be very sensitive to even feel the shortcomings when changing gears.

Minor points of criticism: Some testers found the ribbed gear lever slippery in wet conditions. And when shifting into a heavier gear (only one gear possible at a time), the shifting process is only initiated when the shift lever is released again. Shimano and Sram shift as soon as the pressure point is passed. This seems more direct and faster in comparison, although the actual shifting process on the TRP is by no means slow. Nice: The shifting doesn't rattle much downhill, which is probably due to the special mechanism (Hall-Lock) that TRP has adopted from the downhill shifting.

Good to know: TRP, Shimano & Sram in the fact check

If you need a few more quartet facts for an overview: Here they are. TRP's Evo 12 is slightly heavier on the scales in the BIKE test lab than Shimano's XTR groupset, which is mainly due to the more massive rear derailleur and the slightly heavier crank. However, Sram's classic Transmission is the heaviest, but without the derailleur hanger it scores highly in terms of durability and ease of servicing. However, it is also significantly more expensive than XTR and TRP, although the market price (see below) has already fallen significantly from the original RRP. If you want a lighter transmission, you'll have to go for the even more expensive XX SL version, which costs around €2000 on the market.

Market prices and weights in comparison

• TRP Evo 12: 1655 g / approx. 1100 Euro
• Shimano XTR: 1577 g / approx. 1050 Euro
• Sram XX Transmission: 1726 g / approx. 1500 Euro

>> All about Sram's new transmission technology here in the detailed new products article

>> Sram or Shimano: Here we compared the classic twelve-speed groupsets of the two top dogs before the transmission

TRP Evo 12 for e-bikes?

Unlike Sram's Transmission or Shimano's Linkglide, the TRP Evo 12 is not a drivetrain specially optimised for e-bikes. Both groupsets mentioned shift with a slight delay but are particularly smooth and quiet. Few but defined climbing aids prevent the drivetrain from getting bogged down under heavy loads on the climbs. To put it simply: you can hammer in the next gear without hesitation, even under full load on nasty ramps.

With TRP, as with Shimano, a little sensitivity is required. No change for most bikers, who take some pressure off the crank when shifting anyway. However, if you simply pedal and shift anyway, you will occasionally get a loud bang with the TRP. This happens more often on an e-bike, especially when going uphill, if you don't take at least a little pressure off the gears when changing gear. The effect was already clear on our light e-MTB test bike with Fazua Ride 60; full-power e-bikes are likely to put even more strain on the gears.

In constant use: Defects on derailleur pulleys & rear derailleur, cassette overhauled

Unfortunately, the TRP Evo 12 still left a few question marks in our long-term test. However, it has to be said that the version we were able to test on the classic mountain bike in particular was a derailleur from the very first series. TRP claims to have already made improvements to some components. Nevertheless, the list of defects is somewhat longer than, for example, in the brilliant endurance test of Sram's noble XX SL transmission.

Specifically: After a rather dry summer and only around 900 kilometres on a Trek Supercaliber, the derailleur pulleys had to be replaced. The rear derailleur showed damage on the inside, apparently caused by collisions with the cassette. Also noticeable in the age of electric shifting: We had to readjust the tension again and again, especially when the bike had been in a hot car for a while. Without having a direct comparison: But we never noticed this so clearly with Shimano's XT and XTR.

In the meantime, TRP has also had the cassette replaced, as the first version was still pre-series. Unfortunately, in our opinion, the standard cassette made the shifting lose some of its definition. The crisp shifting feel is no longer quite as effective. However, the standard cassette should provide better durability. However, there were no serious problems such as broken cassette teeth, cracked or excessively elongated chains to complain about after around 2000 kilometres on two test bikes.

It's just a pity that the golden finish of the derailleur has already taken quite a battering from just one slip. Of all things, the coloured part of the parallelogram and the lever for the rear derailleur damping are the most exposed components and the first in the line of fire in the event of a fall. Due to the system, there are also problems with shifting precision after crashes if the derailleur hanger has been damaged. However, this is familiar from most other shifting systems.

BIKE summary of the TRP Evo 12

With rather crisp, fast shifting, a classic derailleur hanger and no electronics, the TRP Evo 12 is more of an exotic alternative to the Shimano XT or XTR - Sram's Transmission has a very different approach. The shifting performance of the TRP is at a good level when new, but our models still suffered from teething troubles when it came to durability. Nevertheless: A visually successful alternative on the market with a fair price that almost reaches the level of Shimano. This makes the TRP an exciting tuning part for individualists. - Adrian Kaether, Test and Technology Editor