LTWOO ER9 & ERX - Electronic groepsets

[jonathanf2]

Not really an ER9/X issue, but the other day when doing a climb segment, I heard a loud pop and realized 3 of 4 rivets on my front derailleur hanger had popped off. It happened when I was shifting from the big to small chainring. It's the same issue that occurred with Trace Velo's Trifox X18 frameset. My TFSA frameset is using the same FD hanger with 4 rivets. My guess is that the extra weight/torque of the ER9 FD + chain catcher I'm using eventually wore out the rivets. Luckily I was able to ride back home. So I cleaned up the frame, added an adhesive back to the hanger and re-riveted it back in place. The new rivets are stainless steel and I opted not to epoxy the hanger onto the frame. From a few YT videos I saw, even epoxied FD hangers can break, tearing off part of the carbon.

Anyways, it's probably something to keep an eye on, especially if you're using an older frameset.

[erallen30]

This groupset is more expensive than Shimano 105 di2. Have no idea why anyone would buy it.

[Sebastian]

This groupset is more expensive than Shimano 105 di2. Have no idea why anyone would buy it.

Not sure about pricing now. But er9 wasn't even remotely close to 105 Di2 when I bought it. I got the upgrade kit for 460EUR incl shipping and customs/taxes. Even if I had bought 105 Di2 with some used parts, I would have landed at +700EUR. That's why I gave it a chance.
With ERX it's a different story. I don't think the bits of cosmetic carbon fiber and miniscule weight difference justify the up in price.

[jonathanf2]

For all the issues I've had with the ER9 which I've documented on this thread, I've been able to resolve all of them. I would still buy the groupset based on price and features. I'm running 2 bikes with the ER9 and riding both of them several times a week. I paid less than $400 USD for each groupset. So far they're performing quite well.

[Serge_K]

This groupset is more expensive than Shimano 105 di2. Have no idea why anyone would buy it.

i bought an erX 2 days ago, new, for 210 eur. from a dude on a french ebay-like website who thought he had bought a tablet because the box looked all fancy.
Given the rate at which the RDs have been dying on me, i figured it would get used

[Sebastian]

i bought an erX 2 days ago, new, for 210 eur. from a dude on a french ebay-like website who thought he had bought a tablet because the box looked all fancy.
Given the rate at which the RDs have been dying on me, i figured it would get used

I admire your undying enthusiasm for this groupset
If I was in your shoes, I'd probably have tried to cram together a used Di2 groupset already.

[Serge_K]

I admire your undying enthusiasm for this groupset
If I was in your shoes, I'd probably have tried to cram together a used Di2 groupset already.

I know
I'm a contrarian, i do contrarian things. Others would say i just like to fuck myself
My current view on ltwoo electronic is: when it's not broken, it's pretty great for the riding i do. I like that a new RD is c.150 eur. The only thing that's not been reliable & not good with all the bikes i've launched in the wild is the RD. So, i keep running the experiment.
Now, i wouldnt use this in the rain. to commute. on really bad roads. on a gravel bike. to race. if i can't fix my bike myself. if i want something reliable. if i want to make my life easier. And so on.
I'm about to build bikes for friends who live far away from me: i'm telling them to buy shimano

[erallen30]

Not sure about pricing now. But er9 wasn't even remotely close to 105 Di2 when I bought it. I got the upgrade kit for 460EUR incl shipping and customs/taxes. Even if I had bought 105 Di2 with some used parts, I would have landed at +700EUR. That's why I gave it a chance.
With ERX it's a different story. I don't think the bits of cosmetic carbon fiber and miniscule weight difference justify the up in price.

Once you consider full groupset pricing the 105 di2 is cheaper.

[Sebastian]

Once you consider full groupset pricing the 105 di2 is cheaper.

Not where I live. Dunno about your domestic market. But a full 105 Di2 groupset is basically 1000EUR in Germany. er9, a ZTTO lightweight cassette, chain and crankset is somewhere between 6-700. Also, most of us probably have some stuff in the parts bin. I reused a Sram crankset I still had and used er9 with my existing 11sp components before upgrading to 12sp. Why would I buy a groupset with cranks and a cassette that I don’t want?

[SirBikealot]

Once you consider full groupset pricing the 105 di2 is cheaper.

not even close. Got my er9 with super lightweight 11spd casette, Ultegra chain, chainrings AND Magene 505 base powermeter for 725€ including postage, import taxes etc.
105 di2 WITHOUT powermeter is at 1090€ right now.

[kbernstein]

seems like 105 di2 isn't on sale as often as it used to, but i'm pretty sure we've seen it under 800€ on ali. 856€ confirmed on bike-components.de in september 2023

[SirBikealot]

seems like 105 di2 isn't on sale as often as it used to, but i'm pretty sure we've seen it under 800€ on ali. 856€ confirmed on bike-components.de in september 2023

1090€ is from bike-components.de today

[jonathanf2]

SRAM and Shimano electronic has no appeal to me. Proprietary parts, fixed cassette speed and replacement components are still $$$. Cassette speed flexibility is a big selling point for me with LTwoo. Also I'm willing to overlook the slight annoyance of routing battery cables and battery holder in the seat post for easy to find replaceable batteries. Also I have to give credit to LTwoo, their app and gear fine-tuning is actually really good.

Even if someone gave me 105 or Ultegra Di2 for free, I'd probably just sell the groupset to a Rapha coffee ride dentist, pocket the difference and stick to LTwoo. Though I get it, some roadies want to impress impress their boyfriends at the Sunday group ride with name brand accessories. Nothing wrong with that! 

[amacal1]

... fixed cassette speed and replacement components are still $$$. Cassette speed flexibility is a big selling point for me with LTwoo. Also I'm willing to overlook the slight annoyance of routing battery cables and battery holder in the seat post for easy to find replaceable batteries. Also I have to give credit to LTwoo, their app and gear fine-tuning is actually really good.

Yes, I have to admit, a bit part of the appeal to me about the Chiner e-groupsets is that you can basically use any cassette of any size (within the limits) and absolutely go nuts and dial it all in electronically.

Obviously these groupsets need to work and last long enough to justify their cost, but assuming that bar is met, they represent not just tremendous value BUT ALSO tremendous capability! Again, they still need to work. So far my Ltwoo eGR has been flawless. I suppose it will continue to be flawless right up until the point that some flaws appear.

[Sebastian]

If I could have gotten a full 105Di2 groupset for under 800quid. Sure. I probably would have and sold on what I wasn’t gonna use myself. At that price point, there’s not much reason to go with a largely unproven obscure Chinese groupset. Don’t get me wrong. I like my er9. And it’ll hopefully continue to work for a long time. But I’d expect the shifting performance of 105Di2 to be on another level. Especially if you pair it with the respective 105 cassette and cranks. Just saying.