TRP are best known for its hugely powerful brakes, but the cycling component specialist has now entered the 12-speed mountain bike drivetrain market.
After three years of development, TRP has revealed a 12-speed shifting system for enduro and trail riders.
This new TRP12 shifter and derailleur follows the design trends first seen last year, when TRP debuted the DH7 downhill drivetrain.
Engineered to be compatible with a diversity of SRAM, Shimano, SunRace and e*thirteen cassettes, chains, cranks and chainrings, the TRP12 components are meant to be durable and quiet on the trail.
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Featuring a carbon-fibre cage and upper structure, with the remaining bits being forged aluminium, TRP claims a 282g weight rating for its new 12-speed derailleur. An 11T upper and 15T lower-pulley wheel combination rolls the chain.
The TRP derailleur will match cassettes sized 9- to 50t in size and has some clever design details. Targeted primarily at the trail and enduro market, TRP’s engineers were aware that chain slap could be an annoyance when speeding over technical terrain. Dropping a chain, due to insufficiency drivetrain tension, is even worse.
Mitigating the drivetrain’s noise factor, and keeping the chain securely in place, is TRP’s Hall Lock. This is a tightening lever adjusting the TRP12’s mounting tension by pressuring the B-knuckle, preventing the derailleur from bouncing around its own pivot point.
Beyond the Hall Lock, TRP’s 12-speed derailleur features a clutch system, similar to SRAM and Shimano’s drivetrains, to optimise chain tension. TRP’s clutch has a ratchet mechanism, instead of using a friction plate.
The shifter has been designed with ergonomics in mind and has 40-degrees of lever adjustability, whilst bearings create linear actuation. TRP’s 12-speed shifter is claimed to weigh only 120g.
Riders can opt to purchase either the derailleur (£240) or shifter (£120) individually. The bundled TRP12 kit retails for £330. TRP is offering its new drivetrain components in black, silver or gold finishes.
