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Amazing TITAN carbon fiber derailleur cage concept gets zirconia bearings, sapphire covers

titan carbon fiber rear derailleur pulley cage with oversize pulley bearings
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We’ve seen some insane modifications to rear derailleurs before, but they’re mostly the work of artisans and probably not intended for daily use. And there are plenty of boutique machined alloy or carbon caged pulley system upgrades from the likes of Kogel, CeramicSpeed, and even Muc-Off.

But this beauty from Elilee-Titan takes things to a new level, with looks that elevate the derailleur as a whole while potentially offering real performance benefits, too.

titan carbon fiber rear derailleur pulley cage with oversize pulley bearings

They call it a “high-end carbon jockey wheel” (and also “TITAN”) and it’s compatible with Shimano 9150/9100/8050/8000 road rear derailleurs. It features a 13-tooth upper wheel, and 14-tooth lower wheel. But those aren’t any ordinary wheels.

For starters, the guide wheel (top) is made of 3D-printed carbon fiber. They say it’s not only lighter than a metal wheel, it also produces much less chain noise. And because they’re using printed carbon versus molded, they can produce much more complex shapes.

titan carbon fiber rear derailleur pulley cage with oversize pulley bearings

The cage is made with NTPT carbon, which is a brand, standing for North Thin Ply Technology. Essentially, it’s ultra-thin carbon fiber plies pressed together under high pressure to create dense, yet extremely light, blocks of solid carbon. These are then machined into shape, and for the TITAN, it’s one heckuva shape.

titan carbon fiber rear derailleur pulley cage with oversize pulley bearings

The other outstanding feature of the design is the oversized rings supporting the pulley wheels. It’s not just for aesthetics, it offers several performance benefits.

First, they say it allows them to use an oversized bearing, which rolls more smoothly and is stiffer, and with less play so shifting should be more precise. And they use premium SKF Zirconia Ceramic Bearings, with an extremely high P5 precision grade. Not only will those roll very smoothly, but they’re self lubricating, so you won’t need to worry about grease.

titan carbon fiber rear derailleur pulley cage with oversize pulley bearings

But wait, there’s more…

To protect the extremely high end bearings, they add sapphire covers for the bearings, allowing you to see the moving parts inside while also protecting them even from high pressure water spray.

As such, the bearing and regulating wheel have a lifetime warranty…and how they replace it is as unique as the design. If the regulator wheel wears out, just slide it off and they’ll  end you a new one to slide on. The bearing remains in place, you just slide the new wheel over it.

Claimed weight is 53g, and for now it’s only for the latest Shimano 11-speed road rear derailleurs. Word from Topcarbon is they’re for sale, but sold out and available for pre-order, but we’re waiting to hear back on price and where to order. Stay tuned…

UPDATE: We originally listed this as being from Topcarbon, but the product is from Elilee-Titan. We will update with a product page when it’s available.

UPDATE 2: You can buy it on Alibaba, retail is $498.00 US.

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16 Comments
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Miclaroc
Miclaroc
3 years ago

They could really use better photos these are worthless

mudrrr
mudrrr
3 years ago

Sold out? How many did they make? A search of this company turns up nothing.

mudmudmud
mudmudmud
3 years ago

Found their Facebook page

Matt
Matt
3 years ago
M.K.
M.K.
3 years ago

If you care about weight that much, then don’t ride Shimano: they are the heaviest groupset brand. For example switching your shifters, rim brake calipers and both derailleur from Shimano 105 to the similarly priced Campagnolo Centaur will save you +- 200g. Or do the same to the similarly priced Sram Rival and you will save +- 300g!

Shimano cranks and cassettes are the lightest of the 3 though, so a real weight denies combines those with a Sram groupset.

Greg
Greg
3 years ago
Reply to  M.K.

Sram cassettes and cranks are quite a bit lighter than Shimano… Or are you still talking 105/Rival level? At the top, Sram is king of the weight weenie game. (But I still hugely prefer Shimano)

beanlanda
beanlanda
3 years ago
Reply to  M.K.

If you already have ultegra derailleur then you can gain almost a watt

thmnorm
3 years ago

I agree about the bad photos; and I have to wonder how even the toughest carbon is going to stand up to the chain over even hundreds of miles, much less thousands.

Seraph
Seraph
3 years ago

Let me know when they’re available for XX1 Eagle AXS.

Gerald
Gerald
3 years ago

With 13+14 toothed pulleys, does this mean you are wasting watts if you downshift to your 11+12 rear? To mount this unit to your derailleur are zircon encrusted tweezers required?

Wm.J.Townsend
Wm.J.Townsend
3 years ago

$329ea/10 units minimum. I assume that’s distribution wholesale. At least $500 retail? Must be black Friday pricing…

Peter
Peter
3 years ago

But why? best, it gives you 2 – 3W

Tom
Tom
3 years ago

I’m betting these things will cause no end of issues, from bearing contamination to poor shifting and durability problems.

Hexsense
Hexsense
3 years ago

I facepalm every time I see triathlete get all these fancy marginal gains ceramic bearing stuff and then ride majorly slow Continental Gatorskin or some other heavy duty tires. If you are going to throw money for marginal gains, at least get major gain Vittoria Corsa Speed or similarly fast tires first.

ATTA
ATTA
3 years ago

I think they forgot the Dylithium cyrstal and the thinking-aluminium casing

Tyler
Tyler
3 years ago

there are no tires pictured, though…

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