Rear derailleurs for the price of a month's rent, cassettes as expensive as white truffles - sometimes you wonder where all this is going with the cost of bike components? And then the modern E-MTBs with their brute power literally eat drive components for breakfast. Anyone shifting gears under full load on a mountain with 100 Nm of motor power will cringe nervously at the metallic clicking of the chain on the sprockets. Microshift strikes with the new Advent MX has taken a completely different approach and developed a groupset for riders who value solid function at an absolutely affordable price.
Microshift Advent MX - The facts at a glance:
- Gears: 10- or 11-speed (wide range up to 50 teeth).
- Material: Mix of chromoly steel and light alloy, optimised for E-MTB use.
- Technology: Improved clutch and stable parallelogram to prevent chain slap.
- Special feature: SpeedRamps for smooth shifting under load; replaceable individual pinions.
- Weight: Rear derailleur 358 g; cassette 489 g (HG version), shift lever 133 g (incl. shift cable)
- Price: 59.99 euros (rear derailleur) / 29.99 euros (shifter) / 129.99 euros (cassette)
The centrepiece: the cassette with new SpeedRamps
According to Microshift, the secret of the shifting precision lies in the new SpeedRamps. The cassette's 64 climbing aids have been optimised so that the chain glides smoothly from sprocket to sprocket even under heavy loads. Particularly sustainable: The most heavily stressed chromoly steel sprockets (11-28 teeth) are Individually replaceable. This means that the entire cassette no longer has to be thrown away just because the more frequently used gears are worn out. For better durability, Microshift also uses thicker chromoly steel for the 11-28 sprockets. The cassette is available for both HG and XD freewheels and is therefore compatible with a large number of wheels.
Stabiliser against chain slap
The new MX rear derailleur comes with a revised parallelogram and a reinforced clutch. The aim? Calm on the bike. The system is designed to stabilise the chain so effectively that chain slaps and drops are a thing of the past, even in the roughest of root carpets. The fact that the groupset is both 10-fold as well as in 11-fold configurations (up to 11-50T) makes it the perfect alternative for anyone who can do without the finer gradation of 12-speed drivetrains.
Light and shade: The Advent MX check
Advantages:
- Switching performance: Precise gear changes should also be possible under load - ideal for e-bikes.
- Sustainability: Individually replaceable sprockets increase the service life of the cassette.
- Price-performance ratio: High-end function at a fraction of the cost of a SRAM transmission or Shimano XT.
- Compatibility: Available for classic HG freewheels and even as an XD aftermarket option.
- Low maintenance: Robust mechanics, which should also forgive the full mud pack.
Disadvantages:
- Weight: Chromoly steel and a solid rear derailleur weigh a few grams more than the high-end competition.
- No 12-fold: If you are used to the fine gear gradation of a 12-speed cassette, you will have to adapt.
- Image: For "ice-cream parlour posers", the bling-bling factor of the big brands is missing.
The competition: who is fishing in the same waters?
Microshift skilfully positions itself between the entry-level class and the performance segment. These are the direct opponents:
- Shimano cues (Linkglide): Probably the toughest competitor. Also optimised for durability and smooth shifting under load (e-bikes). Cues offers 9- to 11-speed options, but often has a more clinical finish.
- SRAM NX/GX Eagle: The classic for 12-speed beginners. Offers more gears, but is significantly more sensitive to dirt and shifting errors under load than the robust Advent MX.
Stefan Frey
Editor
