Chinertown
Chinese Carbon Road Bikes => Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components => Topic started by: raisinberry777 on May 04, 2024, 01:45:36 AM
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From LTwoo's 2024-25 catalogue, looks like all the rim brake levers will be refreshed to match the design of the hydraulic levers (with the Campagnolo-style thumb shifter than the older Shimano Sora-style thumb lever in the awkward spot).
(https://i.imgur.com/dzwtkPj.png)
Mechanical derailleurs getting a refresh too - different graphics but hard to see what's changed mechanically.
(https://i.imgur.com/SV314FT.png)
R9 gets the holographic decal treatment
(https://i.imgur.com/vyOR8Fx.png)
More minimal design continues down through the product line:
(https://i.imgur.com/Rd4U2xI.png)
A slight graphical refresh on the gravel rear derailleurs but looks mostly the same
(https://i.imgur.com/StSqf1N.png)
Still no sign of an electronic rim brake lever so Wheeltop likely to be the only Chinese player in that space for a little while unless Sensah springs a surprise.
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New mechanical rear derailleurs coming too:
(https://i.imgur.com/LFhwSHv.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/fCUyOXl.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/gZYTazQ.png)
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A pity there's no sign of increased cassette clearance. I'd like to see a 2x which gets to 36 at least.
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Do ltwoo have unique cable pull ratios?
Those derailleurs are all definitely exactly the same thing with different stickers
U can just use the gravel mech if u need more range
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Do ltwoo have unique cable pull ratios?
Those derailleurs are all definitely exactly the same thing with different stickers
U can just use the gravel mech if u need more range
Ltwoo uses the Shimano 11/12 speed pull ratio. Though Shimano mechanical shifters have dropped in price significantly. I don't think I'd even opt for Ltwoo or Sensah at this point for mechanical.
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Kind of disappointed by this refresh, seem to be mostly a cosmetic refresh and the internal were not change. You cannot do the gear dumping into harder gears like the hydro version and Campy. Was so excited to have a rim brake Chinese Campag clone, but this is not it :-\
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Wait, these do not use the same thumb shifter as the hydraulic R9 and RX?
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Wait, these do not use the same thumb shifter as the hydraulic R9 and RX?
They do. For some odd reason they chose not to show them in the pics.
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They do. For some odd reason they chose not to show them in the pics.
The reason isn't odd, it's to make the uninitiated people buy the product because it looks just like a regular set of shifters on the pictures
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But if it is the same style thumb shifter as Hydro R9/RX why could you not shift multiple gears at once as Alex Jones mentioned?
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But if it is the same style thumb shifter as Hydro R9/RX why could you not shift multiple gears at once as Alex Jones mentioned?
My guess is they kept the internals of the shifter and just changed the lever design. Probably costed too much to engineer the shifting mechanism into the mechanical mold or maybe it has some patent reason. I was so excited to see them at first thinking I could finally get Campy slam shifting with Shimano hardware on rim brakes (always wanted it ever since I used a Campy shifter). Imagine my surprise when I received them, and they would only do 1 shift into the harder gear
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It's a shame they did not learn from Campagnolo's mistakes on how to optimise lever ergonomics for a single shift down. This is very much like Campagnolo's early Powershift levers (the 2011-2014) which are pretty generally disliked for the same reason - the lever is in the same position as the Ultrashift levers but can only do the first shift to a harder gear (which L-Twoo seem to have done here). When they revised it in 2015 to be more like the EPS thumb lever (which sits much lower and is angled in) it significantly improved the ergonomics (I'd even say they're one of my favourite mechanical shift levers of all time).
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My guess is they kept the internals of the shifter and just changed the lever design. Probably costed too much to engineer the shifting mechanism into the mechanical mold or maybe it has some patent reason. I was so excited to see them at first thinking I could finally get Campy slam shifting with Shimano hardware on rim brakes (always wanted it ever since I used a Campy shifter). Imagine my surprise when I received them, and they would only do 1 shift into the harder gear
Maybe there is just a mechanical blockage inside the new style brake levers. Similar to what campy did in Ekar.
I almost doubt they could mount old mechanism inside the new style levers, because the position of the downshift lever is completely different in new vs old.
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Maybe there is just a mechanical blockage inside the new style brake levers. Similar to what campy did in Ekar.
I almost doubt they could mount old mechanism inside the new style levers, because the position of the downshift lever is completely different in new vs old.
It is possible, but I doubt it. I looked at the internals of the R9 Hydro vs R9 Mechanical and the shifting mechanism/gears are completely different. The R9 Hydro has something more akin to Campy Ultrashift mechanism while the R9 Mechanical has something more akin to Campy Powershift internals (think 2015 Veloce). The Campy Powershift levers only did 3 up and 1 down.
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First shots I've seen of the new RD-R60XX-M series derailleurs, here's the RX version from Spiro Bicycles in Colombia:
(https://i.imgur.com/cjfSUrQ.png)
Looks pretty sleek.
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Does anyone know if LTwoo added reach adjustments in the new shifter? There isn't in the old mechanical shifter.
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The new design does indeed have the Campy style thumb shifter. I've been talking to L-Twoo and am working on getting my hands on a new set to try out.
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Yes, it is the same shape/design, but operation is a bit different between mechanical and hydraulic brake versions.
In the hydraulic version you can shift multiple gears in one push in both directions.
But the mechanical brake version is different, the thumb lever only shifts one cog at the time.
I received R9 mechanical a few weeks ago, haven't mounted them on the bike yet...
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I should have the new RX mechanical version on the way next week. Looking forward to getting it on the bike and seeing how it compares to the Sensah Empire pro I've been using the last couple seasons.
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In the hydraulic version you can shift multiple gears in one push in both directions.
But the mechanical brake version is different, the thumb lever only shifts one cog at the time.
The hydraulic shifters have also been updated so that the thumb lever only shifts one cog at a time.
I have an older R9 hydraulic set where the thumb lever can do shift multiple gears, but the R9 hydraulic set that I bought recently can only do one at a time.
The logo on the larger shift paddle is different on the two versions.
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The hydraulic shifters have also been updated so that the thumb lever only shifts one cog at a time.
I have an older R9 hydraulic set where the thumb lever can do shift multiple gears, but the R9 hydraulic set that I bought recently can only do one at a time.
The logo on the larger shift paddle is different on the two versions.
Did the max cassette size change? I'm seeing listings saying its now 50t plus capable.
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Did the max cassette size change? I'm seeing listings saying its now 50t plus capable.
Mine is the road R9, not the gravel GR9. The RD in my new group looks the same as the one from the old group, so max 32T by spec. But I'm using Shimano derailleurs, so haven't inspected in detail or tested the claim.
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The hydraulic shifters have also been updated so that the thumb lever only shifts one cog at a time.
I have an older R9 hydraulic set where the thumb lever can do shift multiple gears, but the R9 hydraulic set that I bought recently can only do one at a time.
The logo on the larger shift paddle is different on the two versions.
Wow I hate when manufacturers take features away on new versions like that. Kind of takes away the whole appeal of the LTwoo shifters (being Campag style shifting but works with Shimano pull). I wonder if it was due to a patent issue. Better load up on the old version while they're still available, I guess.
Someone should ask one of their reps why they did that if given a chance at trade shows.
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Lol I ordered some groupsets listed as 2022 in hopes of stocking up on the rapid release versions before they become harder to find but was sent 2024/2025 versions of the shifters. It's Joever :'(. Seems like you even can't get the Campag-style release ones anymore.
New version definitely seems to shift lighter (less force required to actuate), but I still liked the old version better. Shifting mechanism 100% changed on the 2024 refresh (see pics, left is old version).
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Bummer. I wonder if they had some kind of patent issue.
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Pardon my ignorance on this. Which version or model would be electric shifters but mechanical Rim brake?
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Pardon my ignorance on this. Which version or model would be electric shifters but mechanical Rim brake?
None - L-Twoo doesn't offer that.
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None - L-Twoo doesn't offer that.
Thanks
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@AlexJones
Where did you order your groupsets from? I'd like to get my hands on some too.
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Anyone with link or contact info to get this newest version of RX mechanical?
Thanks
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@AlexJones
Where did you order your groupsets from? I'd like to get my hands on some too.
"LTWOO Official Store" on AliExpress.
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For a laugh and to use up some spare parts I've ordered the R7 10-speed rim brake, mechanical groupset in the 2024 version.
Having used a variety of Campag groupsets in the past it will be interesting to see how this feels in comparison.
65 USD on AliExpress for shifters, FD and RD - certainly pretty cheap. Shame that the newer FD (with the tension adjusting screw) and RD (shadow style) don't seem to be available on AliExpress yet but maybe that's a later upgrade.