Ultra-wide 9-42t range for 1x10 or 1x11 drivetrains
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E*thirteen will soon release two new carbon fiber cranksets aimed at trail, enduro, and even downhill applications(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
Some of our favorite things at the e*thirteen booth at Sea Otter were these ingenious chain guide spacers. Instead of trying to juggle a trio of tiny washers, now you just have to deal with one aluminum shim. Brilliant(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
Time will tell how well e*thirteen's new cassette will actually shift under load, or how well those three biggest aluminum cogs will wear(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
The new e*thirteen EXP cassette is made from three parts. The largest three cogs are machined from a single hunk of aluminum while the smaller steel cogs are similarly machined as two separate hunks and then bolted together. The steel and aluminum subassemblies then twist and lock together similar to how a camera lens attaches to an SLR body(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
E*thirteen created quite a stir with its radical EXP 9-42t cassette, which will fit on the same freehub body as SRAM's XX1 cluster but provide an even wider range(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
Whereas once we had toothed pulleys, and then smooth pulleys, and then straight slider boxes, now we're back to smooth pulleys again. E*thirteen says these soft rubber rollers are just flat-out quieter than other options(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
The slick new upper sliders can now open with the flick of a finger, too, for faster chainring swaps and easier maintenance(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
Both the LG1+ and TRs+ chain guides get new dual-density sliders that supposedly run quieter and wear longer than single-density construction(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
E*thirteen says its new carbon fiber backplates are still undergoing testing but in the meantime, even the standard guides get some major upgrades(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
The latest Guiderings from e*thirteen feature a sleeker all-black finish and new forged-and-machined construction(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
E*thirteen will use the same 30mm-diameter aluminum spindle and three-sided, one-degree tapered interface on the new carbon fiber cranks as it uses on other models currently(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
Although the new carbon fiber crankarms might look thick, they're basically no wider than existing aluminum ones(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
E*thirteen's new Plasma valve stems are designed with a larger internal bore than typical for easier tubeless tire setup(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
Innovation is alive and well at e*thirteen. At this year’s Sea Otter Classic, e*thirteenshowed off a new line of carbon fiber cranks, a radical EXP extended-range cassette and even some clever new chain guides.
New EXP cassette offers massive 9-42t range
Most buzzworthy was the new EXP cassette, which fits on the same XD driver body as a SRAM XX1 cluster but offers an even greater 9-42t gear ratio spread. Key to the expanded range is the novel cassette configuration. At least on the prototype shown, e*thirteen machines the largest three cogs from a single block of aluminum, which is then affixed to the driver body with a cylinder-like lockring.
The new e*thirteen EXP cassette will be made in both 10-speed and 11-speed configurations, both with a massive 9-42t range
From there, the additional six (or seven) steel cogs are attached directly to the machined aluminum spider via a rather clever twist-and-lock interface – not unlike how a lens is attached to an SLR-style camera.
The new EXP cassette is still in prototype form and there are lots of answered questions, such as how well it’ll shift, how much it weighs, and how well it’ll wear. The idea of a truly wide-range cassette option for existing 10-speed drivetrains is very enticing, though, and we certainly wouldn’t mind another option for 1x11 users, either. Stay tuned.
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The new cassette features some rather clever engineering. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to show you the really juicy bits
Carbon cranks on the way
E*thirteen also showed off two new cranksets: the trail/enduro-oriented TRSr and the downhill-approved LG1r, both of which use the same hollow carbon fiber crankarms but with different-length 30mm-diameter aluminum spindles.
The new carbon cranks from e*thirteen are supposedly quite light but very tough
E*thirteen has yet to finalize either model’s claimed weight but says they’ll fall roughly in between the latest Shimano XTR and Race Face Next SL cranks, which would put them at around 500g or so. Likewise, retail prices are yet to be determined. E*thirteen says both cranksets will be available some time this winter.
Accompanying the new crankarms are update Guidering direct-mount chainrings, which now use forged-and-machined construction for better durability plus a sleeker all-black finish to replace the previous version’s partially raw look.
The Guidering direct-mount chainrings get updated with an all-black look and forged-and-machined construction that should wear better than the original
New chain guides
Finally, there are also a couple of new chain guides on the way.
The updated TRS+ model features a dual-density upper guide and a polycarbonate mini-bashguard while the downhill-targeted LG1+ tacks on an additional lower roller guide and a markedly beefier bash plate.
The new chain guides are built around aluminum backplates with extra-long ISCG05 slots to accommodate a wide range of frame and drivetrain setups
The upper guides flip open for easier maintenance
Both of the new guides should arrive in stores in about a month. Retail price for the TRS+ is US$90; the LG1+ will cost US$150.
