Author Topic: Mechanical Groupset for Commuter Bike (1x12?I'm going to build) recommendation?  (Read 644 times)

Terrapin

Dear all,

I'm going to build an cheap commuter bike based on the Seaboard GR02 frame and I'm looking for a cheap mechanical groupset with hydraulic brakes.

Are there any recommendations for Chinese groupsets or should I stick with Shimano 105 / Sram Apex?

regards
terrapin



Serge_K

trace velo just published a glowing review of LTWOO mechanical shifting + hydraulic brakes. So glowing it's making me reconsider whether 2nd hand shimano 105 is the way to go, or if i should just make my life easier and buy LTWOO new from aliX. Also, it's using shimano clicks, so you can use ltwoo shifters and shimano 11s FD & RD, for eg. in europe you can find shimano 11s 105 RD for 40 eur new, so if you plan to ride your bike a lot, maybe using a shimano RD is worth it? idk. Shimano FD also tend to work better than pretty much anything else ever made.
Fast on the flat. And nowhere else.

jonathanf2

I won't touch LTwoo mechanical again, mainly because the thumb trigger gets in my way. Another issue with Ltwoo is the convoluted shifter cable placement in the hoods.

My first preference for mechanical is Shimano. Shift precision is usually spot on and shift cable placement is easy. Second choice would be Sensah. Shimano has the best index precision, but Sensah can shift very well under load while in low gears. Sensah shift cable routing is slightly easier than Ltwoo (though not as good as Shimano). Sensah Team Pro shifters can be used with Shimano derailleurs and you can pick up a GRX RD for 1x (which should still work on 12 speed) on AliEx for fairly cheap.

hagerd

I have the Ltwoo 1x12 mechanical gravel groupset, I've put maybe 5000km on it without issue, works great. I actually prefer the thumb shifter now, i really like the ergonomics of it.

coffeebreak

In Trace Velo's world everything is absolutely fantastic, quality is absolutely amazing and works absolutely well until it doesn't. Honestly though he must be blind because you can literally see cheap quality paint/finish.

I had had those absolutely fantastic cheap LTWoo mechanical groupsets (10 and 11s) as well as Sensah 11 speed TeamPro shifters. The derailleurs too are just about okay with slop built in them. My LTWoo shifters had paint starting to wear out in roughly 150 miles. Both 10 and 11 speed shifter's downshift lever was sloppy and spongy. The 10 speed lever won't sit in its place well right out of the box. Funnily I bought the 10s first, went through all these problems and yet gave the 11s version a try only to face same problems again. Clearly I don't learn from mistakes.

As for Sensah, the front shifting was terrible - I never managed to shift well on the front even though I was using Ultegra R8000 FD. The rear shifting was okay but not crisp, again with Ultegra R8000 RD. And then the all-in-one lever is troublesome too. There is a mechanism in it that prevents accidental braking while shifting, that mechanism is iffy at best. On couple of occasions it thought I was shifting even though I wasn't and refused the brake press and I had to frantically press lever. Never again.

A used, abused 105 R7000 shifter set/groupset is superior to both, not even a contest. Save your money, headache and frustration and go for 105. If you manage Ultegra on the cheap, even better. Things like shifters, you buy once you buy right. These are the biggest difference-makers in your build.

As for SRAM Apex, its one step below 105 and is evident. I am fairly certain it would still be better than LTWoo or Sensah. No experience with it but I do have with Rival and it is excellent. I just prefer Shimano's shift style and mineral hydraulics.

jonathanf2

In Trace Velo's world everything is absolutely fantastic, quality is absolutely amazing and works absolutely well until it doesn't. Honestly though he must be blind because you can literally see cheap quality paint/finish.

As for Sensah, the front shifting was terrible - I never managed to shift well on the front even though I was using Ultegra R8000 FD. The rear shifting was okay but not crisp, again with Ultegra R8000 RD. And then the all-in-one lever is troublesome too. There is a mechanism in it that prevents accidental braking while shifting, that mechanism is iffy at best. On couple of occasions it thought I was shifting even though I wasn't and refused the brake press and I had to frantically press lever. Never again.

I like Trace Velo's channel, but I only watch it for entertainment. He sometimes does things that make me scratch my head. For example in his latest video, he was complaining about shift performance with the LTwoo RD and then showed the routing underneath his bike. He wasn't using any plastic guide tubes and it was just straight shift wire rubbing on the frame. No wonder his shifting was off and I didn't think it was necessary to go full cable housing.

I think the Sensah carbon levers are actually higher quality than the alloy version. The two carbon Team Pro shifters I was using felt great especially with the FD. Very strong, defined shift clicks. Braking and shifting wasn't an issue for me either.

00Garza

If you can swing it, stick to shimano/Sram.

My Ltwoo Gr9 came with a malfunctioning shifter. Had to wait a few weeks for it to get replaced.
Replacement works fine. Shifting over time has gotten worse and doesn't stay right for long after indexing. Not terrible...just not great.
A while ago, the rear brake starting dragging when temps rose. Probably just needing a bleeding, but I went ahead and replaced them with GRX calipers.

If I could do it all over again, I'd save up a little for a GRX/Tiagra build.

coffeebreak

I like Trace Velo's channel, but I only watch it for entertainment. He sometimes does things that make me scratch my head. For example in his latest video, he was complaining about shift performance with the LTwoo RD and then showed the routing underneath his bike. He wasn't using any plastic guide tubes and it was just straight shift wire rubbing on the frame. No wonder his shifting was off and I didn't think it was necessary to go full cable housing.


He goofy like that, true. In some earlier videos too he has done silly things.

Serge_K

I like the guy. He rides a lot, and thanks to him I've felt comfortable buying and testing Chinese stuff, and he's not making videos just to get views, every time there's something quite actionable. For example, his testing of brake pads was excellent.
Fast on the flat. And nowhere else.

Nkearb

In Trace Velo's world everything is absolutely fantastic, quality is absolutely amazing and works absolutely well until it doesn't. Honestly though he must be blind because you can literally see cheap quality paint/finish.

In his latest bike build with that red OG Evkin frame, the man literally chooses to do a sponsorship with this company and sell a frame with his branding... and he had sampled exactly one frame and it had structural damage.

jonathanf2

In his latest bike build with that red OG Evkin frame, the man literally chooses to do a sponsorship with this company and sell a frame with his branding... and he had sampled exactly one frame and it had structural damage.

To be fair, he did mention it was most likely damaged during shipping. Though OG Evkin have been reported on this forum for ghosting customers with frame issues.

courdacier

Sensah SRX pro with used 10-sp SRAM brifters would be my recommendation.