LTWOO ER9 & ERX - Electronic groepsets

[Serge_K]

Update. On 18 May, the 3rd er9 RD died, and i contacted my reseller. 24 May, i contacted my reseller about my own er9 RD, because there are clear issues with recharging. Long story short, charging it, more often than not, results in the battery actually discharging. Go figure. I have a standalone lithium battery charger so i'm now using that until i get a replacement. I know a thing or 2 about lithium batteries, and i tried several different batteries (the actual Ltwoo battery compartment) as well as several different sets of lithium batteries, in various states of charge: the problem isn't coming the lithium batteries.
May 30th, still no resolution on either of them. my reseller makes it sound like ltwoo is being difficult this time around (for the previous 2, they were more straightforward).

The previous 2 broken ones (contacted my reseller on 17 Apr), i still havent received (it's not entirely ltwoo's fault, because they're in a box with a new wheel, so that took time too, but still, that box has been in transit for almost 20 days now, and i still have no idea where it is. So 1.5 months and still no replacement.

My friend whose RD died on May 18th had a triathlon the following weekend. He's back on his older sworks di2, at least the er9 died on a casual training ride and not on race day...

We're all loving Chinese groupsets in my cycling group, and the behaviour of ltwoo makes it extra tasty.

[jonathanf2]

I don't know what to say, my ER9 is still working great. I use the whole gear range as well sprinting flats, hill climbing and fast descending. I rotate my 3 bikes, so it gets used every third ride. No issues with battery drain and I top off my batteries all the time. I'm almost tempted to get another groupset for my other road bike.

Maybe I'm just lucky or I'm using the right combination of batteries and app settings to keep it from imploding on itself!

[amacal1]

I don't know what to say, my ER9 is still working great. I use the whole gear range as well sprinting flats, hill climbing and fast descending. I rotate my 3 bikes, so it gets used every third ride. No issues with battery drain and I top off my batteries all the time. I'm almost tempted to get another groupset for my other road bike.

Maybe I'm just lucky or I'm using the right combination of batteries and app settings to keep it from imploding on itself!

More likely a QC issue affecting a large number of products from the same batch, even if a QC issue by an electronics supplier to Ltwoo and not necessarily by Ltwoo, itself. Also could be a possible design issue that was either solved or weaseled its way in through later design changes. Iterating the design quickly within the same model and model year could lead to all sorts of issues being fixed or un-fixed without any way for us to easily tell.

[jonathanf2]

More likely a QC issue affecting a large number of products from the same batch, even if a QC issue by an electronics supplier to Ltwoo and not necessarily by Ltwoo, itself. Also could be a possible design issue that was either solved or weaseled its way in through later design changes. Iterating the design quickly within the same model and model year could lead to all sorts of issues being fixed or un-fixed without any way for us to easily tell.

That's the problem, you don't know if you'll get a good groupset or not. Plus LTwoo seems to have a s**ty response to any issues. Maybe stress testing the groupset is necessary to tell if you have a good sample. I can have my kid spin the pedal while I shift the RD 1000 times and shift the FD 100 times! That way if it breaks, I can still return it for a refund!

[Sebastian]

Im at around 22.000 shifts. Another ride in torrential rain the other day. Still fine. Battery life is very good. I’m on my 4th charge IIRC.

[Serge_K]

I don't know what to say, my ER9 is still working great.

Your sample size is 1. Mine is 5.
Beyond that and more importantly, a groupset is supposed to work, rather than break for no reason, so I am hoping that you're not the only user on the forum whose groupset is working!
I keep posting about the issues with mine so that it's visible to others who can then decide where they spend their money. I expected it would be beta, but that's a farce of a product, not a beta. I mean the failure rate is 100pc, as the 5th group is not being ridden atm. If they were on point with warranty and support, I wouldn't necessarily mind too much, but they're not.
Would be nice to have polls on the forum though, to know who's riding what.

[zerstorer]

Have you tried using another charging source?

Some powerbanks will auto-cutoff moments after you connect and will result in the unit draining instead of charging. You need to find a steady USB power source or a powerbank that works.

This is not just a ltwoo issue, even my Magene powermeter reacts like this with some powerbanks.

Using a lithium charger for the 14500 definitely works but I have not encountered any issues charging through the RD once I get the right power source sorted out.

Ultimately always login via the app to check battery levels before riding out and you should not have any nasty surprises.

[Serge_K]

Have you tried using another charging source?

Some powerbanks will auto-cutoff moments after you connect and will result in the unit draining instead of charging. You need to find a steady USB power source or a powerbank that works.

I posted about that before. originally i was trying to charge with a powerbank, but quickly realized it wasn't working. So yes, i've been using a wall socket with different high quality usb chargers and so on, i'm confident the issue is with the group / RD and not the juice. Also, i've handled 5 groups, i have 4 at home currently, so i know what works and doesn't, what should work but doesn't, and so on.
Ltwoo has asked if i have ridden in the rain, so presumably the charging issue has been linked to water exposure, which could explain why the new version has a USB C port in the FD. I'm speculating, because they're not exactly forthcoming w info, but it's the first time they ask a question.

For those with garmin devices, you can link the er9/erx w your head unit. tells you the level of charge of the battery, as well as which gear you're in, it's very neat.

[zerstorer]

I use my ltwoo er9 with hammerhead karoo2 but the battery level doesn't seem accurate or granular enough, only displaying low/mid/high.

Only the ltwoo app gives the exact percentage.
However you still need to be careful, sometimes the value displayed might not be correct.

Only the value you see when you plug and unplug a charging source is the accurate one.

Incidentally try swabbing the charging contacts with a isopropyl swab before you charge. Dirt and grime might affect the charging. I hope the next version will have some proper covers for the charging port.

I have 2 sets of ER9, one used for about 6mths on my gravel bike and another that I got last month for a new build. Both are fine at the moment

[rockerplates.de]

Your sample size is 1. Mine is 5.
Beyond that and more importantly, a groupset is supposed to work, rather than break for no reason, so I am hoping that you're not the only user on the forum whose groupset is working!
I keep posting about the issues with mine so that it's visible to others who can then decide where they spend their money. I expected it would be beta, but that's a farce of a product, not a beta. I mean the failure rate is 100pc, as the 5th group is not being ridden atm. If they were on point with warranty and support, I wouldn't necessarily mind too much, but they're not.
Would be nice to have polls on the forum though, to know who's riding what.

Hi Serge, this really sucks...sorry to hear that...

the problem with most of the chinese companies is, that the engineers usualy do not speak any english, they develop, that is it.
so if a problem occurs, you end up with someone who speaks english, but does not have any technical clue....therefore, they ask questions like, did you ride it in the rain, they may have a note in front of them, with questions they need to ask..they hardly understand the product...the salesperson usually do not have any interest in solving problems, as long as the sales are good...
My er9 was totally dead, nothing and they ask for a video...we have done several orders now, tries everything to help and at the end, they do not even trust us when filing a complaint......

[mux]

Any news when the L-TWOO eRX 'Blue' edition will hit the shelves



From youtube:

Fwiw, I've installed 5 er9 groups. All been flawless. Haven't ridden in the rain, people have had success with liquid electric tape around the RD plug to seal it. Everybody seems to have the new version with springs and not tabs in the battery. That was causing the group to die / go to sleep for no reason. The other problem for some is weather proofing, and this liquid tape thing seems to work. I don't think anybody has had problems beyond that. Bearing in mind that most people who install these groups are individuals who don't really know what they're doing, me included.

What's an  'RD' plug?

[amacal1]

What's an  'RD' plug?

Probably referring to the rear derailleur plug.

[strayan_rice_farmer]

Chirping in as someone who's had their ER9 since August.

done 4000+km, mostly dry riding with the occasional wet ride and it's given me no major issues.
I have shrink wrapped the RD plug and left the FD plug as is, regularly hose down the bike during the wash process and stood up to it just fine.

Only complaint so far is not being able to see the shifter battery level in the app.
I've had the right shifter battery go flat on me ~3000km? so had to change the RD shifting to the left shifter through the app, very handy.

Groupset is also fairly light with the Giant TCR in a M/L weighing in at 7.3kg without pedals. I'd say this groupset provides decent value during the aliexpress discount seasons.

[mux]

For some reason my hyperlink to a YouTube video showing up the new L-TWOO eRX 'Blue' edition update did not go through.

https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-gear/l-twoo-drivetrains-taipei-2024/

Also, why is LTWOO charging 100$ more for the option "with box". Is the version without box used in any way?

[jonathanf2]

For some reason my hyperlink to a YouTube video showing up the new L-TWOO eRX 'Blue' edition update did not go through.

https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-gear/l-twoo-drivetrains-taipei-2024/

Also, why is LTWOO charging 100$ more for the option "with box". Is the version without box used in any way?

Without box version is smaller, with all items bubble wrapped. I guess it's easier and cheaper for the vendors to ship it that way.