Quick gravel ride comparison - Wheeltop GeX vs LTwoo eGR

[jonathanf2]

This week I've been able to ride both groupsets on two different gravel bikes and just want to give my quick summary comparison of the two, since both groupsets have been out for awhile. 

Ease of installation: GeX
No cables no hassle. It took about an hour to do the install and conversion. Also it's not really necessary to access the high/low screws since alignment can be done via the app.

Shifters: eGR
eGR shifters have a more pronounced hood shape, has closer brake lever reach and easier access to the mineral oil screw to bleed/top off oil. Shift buttons also have better haptics with the eGR. Though for screw clamp access, Wheeltop has more convenient access to tightening/loosening the screw.

Performance: eGR though GeX is very close.
Riding both systems back-to-back, I have to give the nod to eGR. Shifting feels precise especially under load while riding uphill trails. Also the ergos of the eGR just makes the off-road experience a bit easier. GeX loses slightly because of the small shifters and long lever reach. It makes riding on rough terrain not as comfortable. Also race mode on GeX for shift speed feels slower versus the medium speed setting on eGR. eGR just shifts faster and can even go faster in high. In terms of index precision, both are very good.

App: eGR
The best feature about the LTwoo app is real-time shift fine-tuning. You can see immediately when the rear derailleur moves away/closer to the cassette cog. With both apps I had no issues with fine-tuning.

Battery life: GeX
I didn't ride my eGR bike for a few weeks, only to discover the batteries were down to 10%! The GeX battery is more stable and hassle free. While the LTwoo can fluctuate in terms of battery performance.

Gear range: GeX
The long cage on the GeX can clear 52t cog no problem. Even though eGR is rated for 46t, 50t is easily achieve. Still GeX can do the big cassette gearing with b-screw to spare.

Overall: Between the two, it's a bit of a toss-up. GeX I'd recommend towards less technical cyclists. It's easier to install and while the shifter design isn't great, it's not a deal breaker. For those who prioritize performance, app fine-tuning and shifter comfort, I'd get eGR.

Both are very close, so I would just base the decision on what you prioritize in a gravel groupset. 

[darario]

You should add that eGR shifts 10-12 speed and GeX 3-14 what could be a game changer.

[jonathanf2]

You should add that eGR shifts 10-12 speed and GeX 3-14 what could be a game changer.

Most definitely! I know a cyclist who picked up the GeX mainly for his 1x folding bike. For an application like that, the 3-14 speed selection is a game changer for all sorts of bike setups. Also 13 speed cassettes are slowly trickling in on AliExpress, but nothing very high end just yet.

I did find removing and installing the rear wheel with GeX to be more complicated compared to eGR. GeX has a more traditional RD mounting setup, while eGR uses a similar Shimano shadow plus linkage.

Between using the two groupsets, it's hard to say if one is better than the other. GeX has simplicity and flexibility to its advantage, but I do feel the eGR specifically for gravel handles better. That's why I think it comes down to individual usage and which groupset works best.

[jonathanf2]

I've been riding the GeX and eGR back-to-back the last week and I have to say, the Wheeltop shifters are a real downer. I have fairly long fingers and that lever reach just sucks. By far LTwoo electronic shifters are ergonomically much better with deeper hoods and shorter lever reach. In addition GeX RD shifting just isn't that fast. It does the job and would be fine if you didn't know any better, but eGR shift actuations are quicker, more precise and even makes a cooler servo sound! Also I think the LTwoo app allows for better RD indexing since you can dial everything in real-time.

For the purpose of pure gravel, my vote is now heavily in favor of the eGR. Unless you really need 3-14 speed cassette compatibility or need the flexibility of full wireless, then go GeX. Though with the upcoming release of LTwoo eTX and full wireless, if shift speeds are the same and there's flexibility with flat and drop bars shifting, eTX might be the new go-to for Chinese full wireless 1x.