LTWOO ER9 & ERX - Electronic groepsets

[SillyMochi]

So I picked up an er9 in the current sale. Wanna give it a try for an upcoming gravel build. I know, I know, given the reports of water-related damages to the RD and batteries, that's probably not the best idea - but I guess we all like to make life a bit hard sometimes 

If I remember correctly, I saw people talking about "weather proofing" their groupsets to keep potential wet ride damages to a minimum. Trying to seal up all contact points as good as they could. Can anybody who actually did this on their groupset comment on what exactly they did?

Cheers!

[jonathanf2]

So I picked up an er9 in the current sale. Wanna give it a try for an upcoming gravel build. I know, I know, given the reports of water-related damages to the RD and batteries, that's probably not the best idea - but I guess we all like to make life a bit hard sometimes 

If I remember correctly, I saw people talking about "weather proofing" their groupsets to keep potential wet ride damages to a minimum. Trying to seal up all contact points as good as they could. Can anybody who actually did this on their groupset comment on what exactly they did?

Cheers!

You can do either the heat shrink tube method or the liquid tape/rubber cement + dielectric grease to protect the battery cable contact points.

Even though I have 2 ER9 road bikes, I've been hesitant to go EGR on my gravel bike because I hose it down after every ride due to the dusty terrain in my area. There's no avoiding washing my bike.

[SillyMochi]

Thanks for the quick reply. Where exactly did you apply the grease? The heat shrink probably around the cable connections? If you happen to have a picture, I'd appreciate it!

[amacal1]

Thanks for the quick reply. Where exactly did you apply the grease? The heat shrink probably around the cable connections? If you happen to have a picture, I'd appreciate it!

The dielectric grease goes directly on the contacts and pins inside the plug.

I have an eGR and I elected not to use the rubber cement or any other glues or sealants. I just used dielectric grease on the ports.

But... eGR hasn't had water ingress issues that I'm aware of. Really, all the grease is doing, I think, is helping waterproof the electrical connections, not prevent water from getting INSIDE of the derailleur. The other methods are, I think, ways to try to keep water from getting inside of the derailleur. If it functions correctly, that should never be an issue.

[SillyMochi]

Okay, will wait for the delivery and check hands-on how to handle it.

Anybody know the size of the pulley wheels? Read they are pretty bad quality; might wanna replace them right away.

[amacal1]

Okay, will wait for the delivery and check hands-on how to handle it.

Anybody know the size of the pulley wheels? Read they are pretty bad quality; might wanna replace them right away.

Again, I can only speak for the eGR and not for the eR9. I found the bottom pulley was 14t, which was a strange size. The bearings were fine, but we're not sealed. Big miss on a gravel groupset, imo. They ran fine for hundreds of miles, but once I got them really wet they spun very poorly.  I replaced with some cheap Ali Express pulleys. 13t ran fine as a replacement, but recently re-replaced with a slightly better 14t pulley.

Again, the only real problem was the non-sealed bearing. You should be fine to start off with, so don't worry about replacing immediately. Wait until you get it and evaluate what you want to replace it with.

[SillyMochi]

Got a link to those better ones?

Can you only change the bottom one or why did you only change that one?

[amacal1]

Got a link to those better ones?

Can you only change the bottom one or why did you only change that one?

This is actually a question I asked to the eGR thread in the other side of the forum. I can't seem to easily change my upper pulley and I'm not 100% sure why. It's like it's held in with an e-clip or something instead of a screw. I was hoping someone else could tell me if they've replaced theirs. So far, I've had no answer. I think someone chimed in to say that the eR9 was not like that, though, and they are able to simply unscrew the hardware for their upper pulley.

[jonathanf2]

Okay, will wait for the delivery and check hands-on how to handle it.

Anybody know the size of the pulley wheels? Read they are pretty bad quality; might wanna replace them right away.

The upper jockey wheel is 11t and the lower jockey wheel is 12t. Also there's no leeway to go bigger unlike Shimano RD cages.The lower pulley wheel has narrow-wide teeth, so you need to properly align your chain. I've experimented using Ultegra jockey wheels, but honestly I'm fine with the Ltwoo stock ones, so I've just left them in. I don't road ride in the rain and prefer using my gravel bike during the wet and cold seasons...though I live in year round riding conditions! 

[amacal1]

but honestly I'm fine with the Ltwoo stock ones, so I've just left them in. I don't road ride in the rain and prefer using my gravel bike during the wet and cold seasons...though I live in year round riding conditions! 

Sounds like similar bearings to what are in my eGR pulleys. I also found them to be fine, and - to be clear - they held up well even for light rain and moisture. I only noticed a problem with my lower pulley having been soaked fully in deep puddles. My upper pulley is still fine despite being ridden in light rain, at least one heavy rain, and some damp/moist riding.

[jonathanf2]

Sounds like similar bearings to what are in my eGR pulleys. I also found them to be fine, and - to be clear - they held up well even for light rain and moisture. I only noticed a problem with my lower pulley having been soaked fully in deep puddles. My upper pulley is still fine despite being ridden in light rain, at least one heavy rain, and some damp/moist riding.

Fovno jockey wheels are my go-to wheels on my gravel bike using a GRX 812 RD + Garbaruk cage:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806461367775.html

Even with multiple washes and heavy use they still look good and spin smoothly.

For the ER9 though, I might consider switching to either sealed Shimano jockey wheels or I might try these Stone wheels, but they don't have an 11t option, only 10t/12t:

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802305982659.html

Lastly I don't touch alloy wheels or anything with ceramic bearing for off-road riding.

[JACQUES]

In April I was really kean on the eRX for a new build, in the en I got the eGR for my gravelbike and moved my Force AXS to the new road bike, that bike unfortuamely got stolen in September.

Im now again building a new road bike and Im impressed enough with the eGR that I now again want eRX for the new road bike. Currently this has the best looking shifter in my eyes and I realy like the ergonomics. But the current eRX really looks industrial wrt its front derailleur.

So again Im waiting for the new eRX "Blue" to be sold. I see its on its website, but nowhere available for sale.

No-one have more news when this will be actually for sale and why its taking so long?

[boxof13]

In April I was really kean on the eRX for a new build, in the en I got the eGR for my gravelbike and moved my Force AXS to the new road bike, that bike unfortuamely got stolen in September.

Im now again building a new road bike and Im impressed enough with the eGR that I now again want eRX for the new road bike. Currently this has the best looking shifter in my eyes and I realy like the ergonomics. But the current eRX really looks industrial wrt its front derailleur.

So again Im waiting for the new eRX "Blue" to be sold. I see its on its website, but nowhere available for sale.

No-one have more news when this will be actually for sale and why its taking so long?

Yeah right! I am also looking forward to the updated eRX. On their YouTube channel, they even already have the updated FD with what looks to be the new USB-C charging port. I am now considering an upgrade for either the new eRX or the new Magene QED. Though I don't know if I want to be on another first generation groupset. At least, by now, LTWOO should have figured a couple of things to improve upon their previous one(s).

[aramus1979]

for those interested - the eR9 brake levers work with the eGR rear derailleur and vice versa, the eR9 rear derailleur works with the eGR brake levers

[amacal1]

for those interested - the eR9 brake levers work with the eGR rear derailleur and vice versa, the eR9 rear derailleur works with the eGR brake levers

For shifting? If so, then that's awesome!!!

I'm guessing that the RD is the 'brains' of the whole thing. If that's the case, my guess is that you can't simply add an eR9 front derailleur to an eGR rear derailleur and have them work together as a 2x groupset. It would be interesting if you could somehow try that.