E*thirteen will soon release two new carbon fiber cranksets aimed at trail, enduro, and even downhill applications - James Huang / Immediate Media
Although the new carbon fibre crankarms might look thick, they're basically no wider than existing aluminium ones - James Huang / Immediate Media
E*thirteen will use the same 30mm-diameter aluminium spindle and three-sided, one-degree tapered interface on the new carbon fibre cranks as it uses on other models currently - James Huang / Immediate Media
The latest Guiderings from e*thirteen feature a sleeker all-black finish and new forged-and-machined construction - James Huang / Immediate Media
E*thirteen says its new carbon fibre backplates are still undergoing testing but in the meantime, even the standard guides get some major upgrades - James Huang / Immediate Media
Both the LG1 and TRs chain guides get new dual-density sliders that supposedly run quieter and wear longer than single-density construction - James Huang / Immediate Media
The slick new upper sliders can now open with the flick of a finger, too, for faster chainring swaps and easier maintenance - James Huang / Immediate Media
Whereas once we had toothed pulleys, and then smooth pulleys, and then straight slider boxes, now we're back to smooth pulleys again. E*thirteen says these soft rubber rollers are just flat-out quieter than other options - James Huang / Immediate Media
E*thirteen created quite a stir with its radical EXP 9-42t cassette, which will fit on the same freehub body as SRAM's XX1 cluster but provide an even wider range - James Huang / Immediate Media
The new e*thirteen EXP cassette is made from three parts. The largest three cogs are machined from a single hunk of aluminium while the smaller steel cogs are similarly machined as two separate hunks and then bolted together. The steel and aluminium subassemblies then twist and lock together similar to how a camera lens attaches to an SLR body - James Huang / Immediate Media
Time will tell how well e*thirteen's new cassette will actually shift under load, or how well those three biggest aluminium cogs will wear - James Huang / Immediate Media
Some of our favourite things at the e*thirteen booth at Sea Otter were these ingenious chain guide spacers. Instead of trying to juggle a trio of tiny washers, now you just have to deal with one aluminium shim. Brilliant - James Huang / Immediate Media
E*thirteen's new Plasma valve stems are designed with a larger internal bore than typical for easier tubeless tire setup - James Huang / Immediate Media
Innovation is alive and well at e*thirteen. At this year’s Sea Otter Classic, e*thirteenshowed off a new line of carbon fiber cranks, a radical EXP extended-range cassette and even some clever new chain guides.
New EXP cassette offers massive 9-42t range
Most buzzworthy was the new EXP cassette, which fits on the same XD driver body as a SRAM XX1 cluster but offers an even greater 9-42t gear ratio spread. Key to the expanded range is the novel cassette configuration. At least on the prototype shown, e*thirteen machines the largest three cogs from a single block of aluminum, which is then affixed to the driver body with a cylinder-like lockring.
E*thirteen created quite a stir with its radical exp 9-42t cassette, which will fit on the same freehub body as sram's xx1 cluster but provide an even wider range: e*thirteen created quite a stir with its radical exp 9-42t cassette, which will fit on the same freehub body as sram's xx1 cluster but provide an even wider range
The new e*thirteen EXP cassette will be made in both 10-speed and 11-speed configurations, both with a massive 9-42t range
From there, the additional six (or seven) steel cogs are attached directly to the machined aluminum spider via a rather clever twist-and-lock interface – not unlike how a lens is attached to an SLR-style camera.
The new EXP cassette is still in prototype form and there are lots of answered questions, such as how well it’ll shift, how much it weighs, and how well it’ll wear. The idea of a truly wide-range cassette option for existing 10-speed drivetrains is very enticing, though, and we certainly wouldn’t mind another option for 1x11 users, either. Stay tuned.
The new e*thirteen exp cassette is made from three parts. the largest three cogs are machined from a single hunk of aluminum while the smaller steel cogs are similarly machined as two separate hunks and then bolted together. the steel and aluminum subassemblies then twist and lock together similar to how a camera lens attaches to an slr body: the new e*thirteen exp cassette is made from three parts. the largest three cogs are machined from a single hunk of aluminum while the smaller steel cogs are similarly machined as two separate hunks and then bolted together. the steel and aluminum subassemblies then twist and lock together similar to how a camera lens attaches to an slr body
The new cassette features some rather clever engineering. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to show you the really juicy bits
Carbon cranks on the way
E*thirteen also showed off two new cranksets: the trail/enduro-oriented TRSr and the downhill-approved LG1r, both of which use the same hollow carbon fiber crankarms but with different-length 30mm-diameter aluminum spindles.
E*thirteen will soon release two new carbon fiber cranksets aimed at trail, enduro, and even downhill applications: e*thirteen will soon release two new carbon fiber cranksets aimed at trail, enduro, and even downhill applications
The new carbon cranks from e*thirteen are supposedly quite light but very tough
E*thirteen has yet to finalize either model’s claimed weight but says they’ll fall roughly in between the latest Shimano XTR and Race Face Next SL cranks, which would put them at around 500g or so. Likewise, retail prices are yet to be determined. E*thirteen says both cranksets will be available some time this winter.
Accompanying the new crankarms are update Guidering direct-mount chainrings, which now use forged-and-machined construction for better durability plus a sleeker all-black finish to replace the previous version’s partially raw look.
The latest guiderings from e*thirteen feature a sleeker all-black finish and new forged-and-machined construction: the latest guiderings from e*thirteen feature a sleeker all-black finish and new forged-and-machined construction
The Guidering direct-mount chainrings get updated with an all-black look and forged-and-machined construction that should wear better than the original
New chain guides
Finally, there are also a couple of new chain guides on the way.
The updated TRS+ model features a dual-density upper guide and a polycarbonate mini-bashguard while the downhill-targeted LG1+ tacks on an additional lower roller guide and a markedly beefier bash plate.
Both the lg1 and trs chain guides get new dual-density sliders that supposedly run quieter and wear longer than single-density construction: both the lg1 and trs chain guides get new dual-density sliders that supposedly run quieter and wear longer than single-density construction
The new chain guides are built around aluminum backplates with extra-long ISCG05 slots to accommodate a wide range of frame and drivetrain setups
Both are built around thick aluminum backplates with extra-long ISCG05 slots to accommodate a wide range of frame and drivetrain configurations. According to e*thirteen, the new dual-density sliders and rollers run quieter than before while the new plastics used throughout are also more resistant to the aggressive solvents often found in dry chain lubes so they won’t get brittle over time.
Another particularly neat feature on both is the quick-release upper guide, which opens up with the flick of a finger for easier chainring swaps and maintenance.
The slick new upper sliders can now open with the flick of a finger, too, for faster chainring swaps and easier maintenance: the slick new upper sliders can now open with the flick of a finger, too, for faster chainring swaps and easier maintenance
The upper guides flip open for easier maintenance
Both of the new guides should arrive in stores in about a month. Retail price for the TRS+ is US$90; the LG1+ will cost US$150.
James Huang is BikeRadar's former technical editor. After leaving BikeRadar in 2016, he worked at CyclingTips and Escape Collective. He now runs the Substack cycling publication N-1 Bikes.
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