Product news: After entering the subject of gears with the TRP DH7 at the Eurobike 2018, TRP is now following up with a new 12-speed gears. Like the DH7, the TRP TR12 is the result of working closely with five-time Downhill World Cup winner Aaron Gwin and his chief mechanic, John Hall.
With the new 12-speed TR12 shifting system, TRP brings race technologies from the downhill world cup to the trails. During development, the engineers incorporated the experience gained with the TRP DH2018 presented at the Eurobike in 7. The first downhill season for the DH7 with 300 racing days again brought valuable insights. Since there is already a good selection of cassettes, cranks and chains on the market, the new 12-speed gears are limited to the rear derailleur and trigger. Every rider has the opportunity to build his individual set-up around the TR12.
The new TRP TR12 rear derailleur has two main features. Named after Aaron Gwin's chief mechanic, John Hall, the Hall Lock is a lever integrated into the rear derailleur's mounting bolt that locks the entire rear derailleur from rotating about the mounting bolt when closed. When closed, the entire chain drive should run smoother and thus have more stability. According to the manufacturer, the result is improved shifting precision, especially when things get a little rough. Another advantage is the reduction in background noise. The Hall Lock can be opened to make it easier to remove the rear wheel or to adjust the rear derailleur.
Another feature of the TRP TR12 rear derailleur is the adjustable ratchet clutch. The background is the large selection of different "long-travel" frame and chassis options. Depending on the chassis and suspension travel, the distance between the bottom bracket and the rear derailleur can change and thus also affect the chain tension. The clutch has two integrated adjustment screws, which should allow the rider an individual balance between chassis and drive train. According to TRP, a minimal 1/8 turn is enough for a noticeable change. For the shifter, engineers focused on improving the release lever to make better use of the thumb's limited range of motion.
The shift lever and the rear derailleur are available in black, gold or silver. The weight of the components is given as 120 grams for the shifter and 282 grams for the rear derailleur. The products will be available from August 2020, the price of the TRP TR12 set will be EUR 299,00.
Website: www.trpcycling.com