Some of the biggest news out of Sea Otter was the introduction of e*thirteen’s wide range cassettes. Not only would there be another option for true wide range performance other than the mighty SRAM, but e*thirteen will also be offering the technology for 10 speed drive trains as well…
Other than the finish, the technology hasn’t changed much since we saw the cassette last. Both the 10 and 11 speed cassettes use the XD free hub body with a two piece design. The first piece locks onto the free hub body with a threaded lockring like the ones used on their crank spiders. The second piece then locks onto the first with a detent system that guarantees it won’t come loose.
The larger cogs are all machined from aluminum, while the first seven are machined out of steel. The two cassettes share the same seven speed cluster, so technically you could upgrade to 11 speed by purchasing a new aluminum section. Gearing is set for 9-42 on the 10 speed, and 9-44 for 11. The cassettes are in a pilot run currently, with full production expected by October to the end of the year.
New for the wheel department is a hookless carbon rim that is 27 mm internally wide for both the LG1R and TRS+. While the two rims are the same width and dimensions, the side walls are different thicknesses based on their use for Enduro or DH.
Coming in at 1885 g for the LG1R, the rims aren’t meant to be silly light, but durable in the long run. The LG1R will be available in 650b only. Both wheels will have six different decal sets available to match popular paint schemes.
The wheels will ship with e*thirteen’s aluminum valves and new tubeless tape which they found to be slightly better than the previous version at stretching to fill the rim cavity. e*thirteen’s Tire Plasma should finally be available soon as well plus it will also be available in single use packs.
Remember that new Evil Insurgent that only has the two lower bolt holes for the ISCG mounting pattern? We have a feeling that this new lower only LG1 Guide was designed with it specifically in mind. For that bike or any bike where the upper guide isn’t needed, the lower only guide is an easy choice.
The LG1 Lower is part of an entirely new range of chain guides with new rollers and upper guides with tool free openings to remove the chain.
Finally, e*thirteen’s LG1R and TRSr carbon cranks are in final testing and should be available soon. Available in both Standard and Boost sizing, the difference is in the spider only so the crankset can be switched back and forth. Each crank also sees an updated APS adjuster that will make it easier to dial in bottom bracket preload.
