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Re: LTWOO RX hydro sets Did you try overbleeding them? (bleeding without the bleed block in place, so you're adding extra fluid)
March 07, 2023, 07:52:35 AM 		1
Re: Groupset News expect L-TWOO eRX to be launched fairly soon

Projected pricing is 4500RMB for the levers, callipers and derailleurs. Wheel Top EDS TX should cost considerably less, quoted to start at the high 2xxx range for Rim brake and low 3xxx range for Disc brake in standard weight guises. Wheel Top is also expected to offer higher end 'ultra light' versions of their groupset to compete with eRX.

pre-production pics
March 13, 2023, 01:26:31 AM 		1
Re: LTWOO RX hydro sets I just saw this version of the Ltwoo hydraulic shifters being sold with alloy shift levers? I didn't see these on the official Ltwoo AliEx store either:

GR9 hydraulic:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804911363509.html

R9 hydraulic:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804911363509.html
March 14, 2023, 09:12:26 AM 		1
Re: Groupset News The official press conference wrapped up yesterday and media first impressions are trickling in

Weights
Left & right levers
L-TWOO quoted weight: 225g (each)
Biketo measured weight: 445.1g
雪大爷单车 measured weight: 223.1g (left), 222g (right)

FD
L-TWOO quoted weight: 150g
Biketo measured weight: 139.3g
雪大爷单车 measured weight: 139.1g

RD
L-TWOO quoted weight: 270g
Biketo measured weight: 275.6g
雪大爷单车 measured weight: 275.7g

Seatpost battery & cables
L-TWOO quoted weight: 62g (battery only)
Biketo measured weight: 85.1g
雪大爷单车 measured weight: 85.2g


Pricing
Big surprise is that there is a 3500RMB eR9 Alloy to sit below the 4500RMB eRX Carbon. Disregard their mechanical naming convention because both are 12s.


It's unclear how much heavier eR9 will be.

Testimonials
I'll briefly summarise this vlog from a LBS proprietor who was invited to the launch:
  • He mentions that the derailleurs are not the only determinant of shifting quality. The supplied chainring, chain and cassette on the Java test bikes are not the best so it's hard to make an apples to apples comparison with the established brands
  • FD sucks. He says that it feels like 'last gen SRAM' (not sure if he's referring to RED eTap A1 11s or Force AXS D1 here) where shifting under load especially uphill is difficult
  • RD is fine and shifts like 'last gen Shimano' (R8070?) but has chain slap issues (not enough tension?)
  • Lever buttons feel like a mouse click and aren't nearly tactile enough. Very mushy like SRAM pre-Rival/Force AXS D2.
  • Due to how the inner shift button is half embedded into the leading edge of the brake lever, riding over bumps and uneven surfaces results in frequent accidental shifts
  • You can see Joe Whittingham from China Cycling at 2:55 so you can look forward to his first impressions video
  • He shifts up and down the entire cassette range at 3:45 and 4:05
  • He says that the braking feels improved from the mechanical RX hydraulic he tried before

Function
I was mistaken by the shifting logic. As opposed to being SRAM style with a single button on either side, it's actually Shimano style with 2 buttons on each lever but laid out the other way around. Shifting layouts and derailleur adjustments are configurable in-app.
Left lever: Inner textured button shifts to big ring, outer smooth button shifts to small ring
Right lever: Inner textured button shifts to a smaller cog, outer smooth button shifts to a larger cog


Quote from: kbike on March 13, 2023, 08:41:59 AM
Direct mount hanger is a option for the rd. I can't figure out where a power cable goes for either derailleur. How do you charge the battery(s) what kind of battery.
We actually don't know if it's DM hanger capable until someone tries installing it. The callipers for example appeared to be PM at first but they're actually their own proprietary thing with different dimensions to work around patents.

The levers are semi-wireless and powered by CR2032 batteries while the FD and RD are powered by an 800mAh seatpost battery (for reference, BT-DN300 is 500mAh, EPS V3 is 720mAh and K-Force WE is 1100mAh). Charging is handled by a magnetic connector at the backside of the RD facing NDS.


Quote from: jonathanf2 on March 16, 2023, 09:48:00 AM
Does that mean this hanger will be used for both gravel & road with a fairly big cassette clearance?
RD max capacity is still rated at 32T as opposed to the industry standard 34T. I'm sure that while an 11-34T cassette could fit, a 36T like CS-HG710-12 certainly wouldn't.

Personal thoughts
Even though they are the best 'put together' of the 3 upstart groupset manufacturers, it is still painfully obvious that this is a small operation prone to amateur mistakes. For example, L-TWOO's press conference presentation deck and website marketing material for this launch was riddled with typos and inaccuracies. They incorrectly spelled the word for brifter, the battery capacity was wrongly labelled at 850mAh and the eR9 was originally listed as 11s leading some to believe that 12s function would be software locked for eRX only.

And if you thought that getting your hands on a groupset abroad is difficult, local distribution isn't much better. For instance, they decided to setup a new WeChat account to handle all eRX direct pre-sales (unbelievably inane imo) which would quickly be disabled for overactivity because they used a personal account as opposed to an enterprise account. Lastly, they decided to respond to people who felt that the 4500RMB pricetag was too steep by joking that it was a more of a 'you' problem (1:55) [EDIT: now cut from the video...I guess they aren't that tone deaf] so don't expect price cuts any time soon. However, Chinese Shimano resellers have already responded by slashing the price of R7170 'small kits' so we may well see a price war unfold in the future.

Misc
L-TWOO has also started supplying Hydraulic R7 Alloy 10s to OEMs
March 16, 2023, 10:49:40 AM 		1
Re: Groupset News I don't think anyone is expecting the new LTWOO groupset to be as good as Di2/eTap. However, like most budget alternatives, customers seem to still expect 80-90% performance/quality for only half the price. Time and time again this expectation only leads to buyer's remorse.

It's the very reason I prefer a 2nd-hand Shimano Ultegra/105 mechanical groupset versus the stuff from both LTWOO and Sensah. Small moving pieces and components leave more room for failure than, say, a static Chinese bike frame.
March 19, 2023, 03:21:35 PM 		1
Re: Clipless shoes
Quote from: cestmoi on March 22, 2023, 02:25:17 AM
... so I can't yet give you a report. I'll hopefully get out on them today or tomorrow and let you know.

I look forward for your feedback, my winter shoes are at the end of their life.
I hope you'll get horrible conditions, for a proper test ;)
March 22, 2023, 07:07:08 AM 		1
Re: Need front derailleur recommendations
Quote from: Flying Trunk Monkey on April 11, 2023, 11:13:03 PM
While I'm sure I could fab a workaround to use a clamp mount FD, the seatpost tube doesnt have a round profile in the this area.

Also, if anyone knows what the untapped third hole below and inline with the two tapped direct mount frames holes is for I'd like to know too.

Di2 battery connection wire comes thru that hole if you are running Di2. Ultegra R8000 braze on FD is definitely the way. I can feel the difference between R7000 fd and Ultegra fd. The Ultegra front shifting is so much better imo.
April 12, 2023, 12:03:28 AM 		1
Re: LTWOO RX hydro sets I sent videos of my GR9 group with Ltwoo shifter vs a shimano shifter to both 80 Designer Store (who I bought from) and Ltwoo official store on Ali. Ltwoo seemed really interested in making sure vendors provide after sales support.

After watching the videos they concluded it is a bad shifter and will be sending me a new one. I just cover the $10 shipping fee. I’m ok with that. I’ve had stateside warranties that were worse.

I guess I’ll just have to ride my mtb til the new shifter gets here.
April 14, 2023, 07:03:25 AM 		1
Re: LTWOO RX hydro sets More variations of hydraulic LTwoo groupsets are starting to drop on AliExpress. Now there's GR7 1x10 hydraulics now available.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805279623183.html

Though you can get GRX 400 shifters/calipers for not much more:

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805058833940.html

I really need a better side hobby instead of surfing AliExpress late at night! Lol
April 17, 2023, 11:08:06 AM 		1
Re: Groupset News Production version of the Sensah levers at Shanghai bike show
April 27, 2023, 03:01:45 PM 		1