Home > Bike Types > Mountain Bike

SRAM introduces universal derailleur hanger concept, and it’s brilliant…

universal derailleur hanger concept for any brand bike or derailleur
28 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

If you’ve ever bent or broken a derailleur hanger and been stuck without a replacement for days (or weeks!), then you know why this is long overdue. SRAM has introduced a Universal Derailleur Hanger concept, and word is Trek and other major brands are on board. The idea is simple: Create a single hanger design that works on any bike for any derailleur. In reality, the mounting point and shape for the derailleur interface has been standard forever. But bikes have not, with every brand using their own design. And sometimes multiple designs. Which means it’s virtually impossible for bike shops to stock everything you’ll need. Which means it’s often days or weeks before you can get a replacement. Which is why we always recommend having a spare on hand at all times, anyway.

what is the universal derailleur hanger standard from sram

The UDH, or Universal Derailleur Hanger, from SRAM is brand agnostic, and they want that to be clear. This isn’t a SRAM thing, it’ll work with Shimano, Box, MicroSHIFT, TRP and every other modern derailleur out there. And soon, there should be more big bike brands signing on. Which means there may come a day when you can walk into any shop and grab a replacement in minutes and get back on the trail.

We talked to a SRAM rep at Eurobike to get the scoop, and this video tells a little about how it can work…right after a few other updates for eMTB fans. But this UDH isn’t an e-bike specific thing. It does, however, appear to be primarily aimed at mountain bikes for now.

What makes this concept even better are the built in safety features it has. Hit something hard, and it can rotate backward to help protect your derailleur. It’ll also ensure perfect alignment during installation, and help the chain skip back onto the cassette should it fall off the small cog. It’ll be interesting to see it in action, updates as we get them…

SRAM.com

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

28 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Allen Crane
Allen Crane
5 years ago

Best innovation since the wheel

John
John
5 years ago

Just buy a replacement derailleur hanger specific to your bike at the time you buy the bike. Put it in your saddle bag with your tire levers and CO2 cartridge (weighs almost nothing) or keep it with your other bike parts and gear. It’ll save you a ton of aggravation the day you actually need it.

If you can’t order one through your bike shop or manufacturer, check out wheelsmfg.com or derailleurhanger.com.

K-Pop is dangerous to your health
K-Pop is dangerous to your health
5 years ago
Reply to  John

Yeah but, common sense is a big ask for most cyclists.

Tim
Tim
5 years ago
Reply to  John

Good advice, but moving forward, having just one derailleur hanger industry-wide would be great. We will still all need to carry one with us, though, just like you said!

Padrote
Padrote
5 years ago
Reply to  John

Wow I never thought of that, thanks!

dockboy
dockboy
5 years ago

As much as I like this, I can’t help but think of this comic:

https://xkcd.com/927/

Bill B
Bill B
5 years ago

This may be a great product. But, calling this “universal” is more than a bit of a stretch. There’s no mention of backward compatibility and all manufacturers have to design their future frames to use it. Is that really any different from picking any existing replaceable derailleur hanger and saying, “This is universal, now design your frames to use it?

Ride Ted
Ride Ted
5 years ago
Reply to  Bill B

@Bill B, it’s fully backward compatible with all of today’s (and yesterday’s) derailleurs). And it is a *new design* because it has a bunch of new advantages (keeps chain on better, can rotate backwards to prevent breakage). It’s also stronger/stiffer laterally to increase shifting accuracy. It’s open to anyone to use. Yes, it will only be available on new frames going forward. So it won’t affect anyone negatively. When you buy a new bike in 2020 and beyond it will likely have this hanger on it. And it will be much better tech than the one you currently have, and if it breaks, you can easily get a replacement at a local shop.

Sebastian Kotze
Sebastian Kotze
5 years ago
Reply to  Ride Ted

I think Bill means that it’s not backward compatible with older FRAMES, not derailleurs…

Mark R
5 years ago
Reply to  Bill B

You mean like Campagnolo, Shimano, Suntour, and many others did with frame drop outs before replaceable hangers became a necessity?

Mark
Mark
5 years ago

Universal, eh? How well would it work to make a standard 5mm QR equipped bike?

And even as the weakest link, isn’t that what replaceable hangers were supposed to be in the first place? Even if it does sacrifice itself when, say the derailleur gets bashed on a rock, it’s still not going to prevent any further damage done by the dangling derailleur. One just has to hope it doesn’t go into the spokes.

Dominic
Dominic
5 years ago

Fat lot of good it does for all the bikes already out here in the world. Whls Mfg is at over 300 and they don’t have everything even from brands as big as Schwinn.
This is literally three decades overdue.

BBB
BBB
5 years ago

Will it require a compatible rear derailleur with 8.99mm mounting bolt?

Jason R Etter
Jason R Etter
5 years ago
Reply to  BBB

LOLOLOLOL!

Jason R Etter
Jason R Etter
5 years ago

It sounds like a great idea. Maybe in 10 yrs when the current crop of bikes are outdated and have gone back to short top tubes, 71deg head angles and 26″ wheels everyone can be on this system . I really don’t see how it helps anyone who is remotely prepared though. We already have an extra hanger with us. I suppose it can help the unprepared when they go into their local bike shop to pick one up. That’s not going to save them from walking their bike to the end of the trail (or beginning depending on where they are) and throwing a day of riding away.

JSPA
JSPA
5 years ago
Reply to  Jason R Etter

It means anyone who rides prepared can offer theirs to just about anyone else, the way you’d offer a patch kit. On the trail, because you’re near the end of your ride, or you’re riding the tow path that day, or just to be nice. And a group of weight weenies can carry one or two per group, not one per person. I’m guessing at least as many people will buy one “just in case” as do now (and likely from their LBS); knowing it will DEFINITELY get used in the next few months will get them over the extra cost / extra weight / requires forethought hump.

Grumpy Biker
Grumpy Biker
5 years ago

Wow. I hope I don’t run into any of you negative Nancy’s out on the trail soon.

Why are cyclists always some sort of breed? Sheesh. Just enjoy the tech.
Not everyone buys their bike brand new from a shop and wants to pay for an extra hanger “just in case” for their specific bike.

It’s good to see a brand thinking outside the box a little. I applaud it.

Everyone commenting above needs to (deleted) go for a ride. Bad attitudes and all.

chris scott
chris scott
5 years ago

Cool. Now fix the bottom bracket problem.

Brian
Brian
5 years ago
Reply to  chris scott

SRAM did that already, it’s called DUB.

Dominic
Dominic
5 years ago
Reply to  Brian

he said FIX

Carl
Carl
5 years ago

Yeah, you should carry a spare but have you ever been having a REALLY bad day or had a bad day before and never got a chance to restock? Found yourself on a ride where you ended up leaving your spare at home or in the other bag? Provided brands go for this (actually useful) design as readily as flat mount we’ll be set.

Dave
Dave
5 years ago

Trek is on board with SRAM? Hmmm…
Dear SRAM: Please make these things stronger than the cheapies that come standard on some bikes.
I learned the hard way, bending three on two bikes (different years), two w/o ever feeling any contact. I soon learned to buy my spares from wheelsmfg.com as they’re strong enough to withstand minor contact w/o damaging the derailleur, yet won’t bend under the pressure of tall grass or a gust of wind.

TIMOTHY KRAMER
TIMOTHY KRAMER
5 years ago

GREAT FOR BIKE SHOPS, NOW i DONT HAVE TO STOCK THREE BOXES FULL OFF HANGERS AND STILL NOT HAVE THE RIGHT ONE FOR A PARTICULAR BIKE

tim k all lowercase
tim k all lowercase
5 years ago
Reply to  TIMOTHY KRAMER

THAT IS GREAT NEWS TIMOTHY KRAMER! 😀

TiMoThY kRaMeR eVeRy OtHeR lEtTeR cApItAlIzEd
TiMoThY kRaMeR eVeRy OtHeR lEtTeR cApItAlIzEd
5 years ago

LoL tHaT uSeRnAmE

Joe
Joe
5 years ago

A good next step in bike design. Until this or similar is more widespread these are a good idea in group rides – https://wheelsmfg.com/emergency-hanger.html – I keep one in my tool bag as it’ll fix any of the 3 bikes I ride most regularly, or a friend’s bike.

Quintar Verbum
3 years ago

Having just suffered a bent hanger on a new bike and found my particular model of hanger is not available for sale (or even shipped here, despite being the country of manufacture), I can see the point of this. I just hope it works.

Andrew
Andrew
1 year ago

I mean it’s neat, but I’m not sure how many people have old 11 speed xx1 derailleurs (which was superseded by 12 speed in 2016) and UDH frames (released in 2019). Buying a new one just to convert it seems to defeat the purpose.

I’m sure the one person who has the above combo will respond here though

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.