So what is the consensus on the ER9/ERX? I'm looking into buying it (ER9) since it is a great price at the moment. Seems like it works well when it works but has some downfalls. I don't mind tinkering with it to some extent and don't really want to mess with full internal routing with a mechanical group.
- Waterproofing issues- Grease the plugs seems to be a consistent solution
- need to buy decent batteries- What are the current demands on this to justify a specific battery over another
if you do these things it seems like it is a reliable group. Especially if you get it from a reliable seller like the 80 designer store and can actually get warranty support.
I can't justify spending almost 120% on the wheeltop eds group so this would be the limit in my budget, the next choice would be mechanical 11/12speed from ltwoo... What would be your guy's opinion?
This thread is now 78 pages long, so I don't blame you for not being able or willing to scour it. Having followed along for most of it, I'll do my best to summarize. I'll also state that I don't actually own an eR9/eRX, but I do own the 1x gravel version the eGR (different thread running in the cross forum).
It seems like, on the whole, most people are happy with it. As long as it works, it seems like a capable unit with good performance. A few people have had issues and are peeved, a few have had lots of issues - or, more accurately - or multiple units with the same issues and are much more put off and vocal about their displeasure. I don't dare call them outliers, but their vocal displeasure is not without some grain of truth.
The biggest issues is that you can't expect Ltwoo to directly step up and back their product. They put the work of supporting the product on the retailer. They must have some level of backing for their product, as some stores seem quite capable of issuing replacement parts and replacing troublesome units entirely. 80s Designer Store has been the store most talked about for stepping up and supporting users after sales. Other stores have been more spotty. I'll add my own experience that I thought I damaged a part in a crash and reached out to Ltwoo to buy a replacement. They weren't able to help me because they said they don't sell directly to consumers, at least I think they tried to say that but ultimately just kept putting me off. 80s Designer Store ultimately stepped up and offered to sell me the part. Kudos to them.
My own experience is with the eGR and I'm quite happy with it. I'm coming up on 800mi on mine over the last 6 months or so. Still works great, even after a crash that took out my derailleur hanger. Well, mostly. I think the bearings on the rollers were not adequate for a gravel groupset that might see dirt and water regularly, but that's a minor issue since those are easily replaceable. I paid mechanical groupset money for an electronic groupset that shifts as good as 800 mi as it did at 8 mi. What's not to like? I'm going to ride a mess load of gravel this winter and spring, I hope, so I'll have a more seasoned take on it in 6 more months. Honestly, it works great, so the only thing I can really report on is whether or not it still works in 6 more months.
Buy good batteries. They're not even expensive. Just find a reputable retailer. I bought from a US based retailer that sells for the flashlight and vape markets. Those markets have been around a while so lots of "reputable" brands with lots of history and reviews. Dont spend $XXX on a groupset and try to save $5 on the batteries. Even 'expensive' cells are CHEAP as dirt compared to the branded packs that SRAM and Shimano sell.
At the end of the day, you have to be aware that you're taking some amount of risk. You can't walk into a bike shop and get a replacement charging cable, or wire harness, or new derailleur next week. In the worst case, you might get shafted with a failed unit that won't be replaced for free. In even the best case, you might have a crash and be down for weeks while you wait for a replacement part, because it all comes from China and none of it is stateside. If you're willing to deal with that, then you can likely reap significant cost savings for, hopefully, just a little risk of inconvenience. If the potential for missing a race or event depends on whether or not you pinch your charging cable, then maybe stick to more mainstream brands.
