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Carbon-Ti X-Ring EVO machines modern 11 & 12sp 1x chainrings for 4-bolt cranks

Written by Cory Benson
Carbon-Ti X-Ring EVO 1x MTB chainring, 11speed 12speed 4-bolt 104BCD single mountain bike rings, ARAM Quarq power meter
11 Comments
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Italian component maker Carbon-Ti reshapes their 1x MTB chainring offering with new X-Ring EVO rings that bring full 11sp & 12sp compatibility to 4-bolt 104BCD spiders. While a lot of 1x mountain bike setups have moved to direct mount chainrings, there are still plenty high-end 4-bolt cranks needing an update with some modern narrow-wide rings.

My only petty gripe is the wanton omission of carbon OR titanium. Oh well.

Carbon-Ti X-Ring EVO 1x MTB chainrings

Carbon-Ti X-Ring EVO 1x MTB chainring, 11speed 12speed 4-bolt 104BCD single mountain bike rings, 34T

Carbon-Ti’s new CNC-machined alloy X-Ring EVO rings were developed specifically as a mountain bike upgrade for riders with premium 4-bolt 104BCD cranksets. Think… SRAM XX1 Eagle or Quarq Eagle power meters, SRM Origin MTB or XX1 power meters, or even the latest new no-kickback Ochain Active Spider. There aren’t a ton of mountain bikers with 12-speed drivetrains & 4-bolt cranks, but now they have a solid replacement chainring option.

Carbon-Ti X-Ring EVO 1x MTB chainring, 11speed 12speed 4-bolt 104BCD single mountain bike rings, full compatibility

The new X-Ring EVO rings use a refined narrow-wide tooth profile based on the X-Cinch design Carbon-Ti introduced on their direct mount X-Directrings two years ago. Tweaking the machined shaping and tooth design allowed Carbon-Ti to ensure complete Shimano and SRAM 11sp & 12sp compatibility with all chains.

Carbon-Ti X-Ring EVO 1x MTB chainring, 11speed 12speed 4-bolt 104BCD single mountain bike rings, narrow-wide tooth shape

The new shaping is also said to run more quietly, reduce friction, and “prevent premature wear”. The new X-Ring EVO chainrings also are better at self-cleaning in muddy conditions, while maintaining reliable chain retention.

Carbon-Ti X-Ring EVO 1x MTB chainring, 11speed 12speed 4-bolt 104BCD single mountain bike rings, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38T

The 7075-T6 aluminum rings are made in Italy by Carbon-Ti and feature direct threading for improved stiffness and a bit of weight reduction. The X-Ring EVO rings are available now in 30, 32, 34, 36, or 38T sizes for 70€ each (27-57g per ring depending on size). They are installed with most standard M8x0.75 male chainring bolts (not M8.5 XX1 bolts), or you can buy the Carbon-Ti alloy bolt kit for 15€ in one of seven ano colors to match your bike.

Carbon-Ti.com
Cory Benson
4,359 articles

Cory Benson is the EU Tech Editor of Bikerumor.com.

Cory has been writing about mountain bikes, enduro, cyclocross, all-road, gravel bikes & bikepacking for over 25 years, even before the industry created some of these names. Prior to Bikerumor, Cory was a practicing Architect specializing in environmental sustainability, has designed bike shops & bike components, and worked as a bike shop mechanic.

Based in the Czech Republic for 15+ years, he is a technical mountain biker, adventurous gravel rider, and short & medium-haul bikepacker. Cory travels extensively across Europe riding bikes, meeting with key European product developers, industry experts & tastemakers for an in-depth review of what’s new, and what’s coming next.

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Steve H
Steve H
4 years ago

The Shimano 12spd chain has a smaller internal width than the 11psd and SRAM 12spd and specially shaped internal chamfers so the chainring teeth are thinner / different shape – its the reason I paid extra for a 12spd specific WT ring and why people like WT and Absolute Black make specific 12spd shimano rings.

Realistically as market leaders, are they missing something or is this a bit of a bodge where it will physically fit a 12spd shimano chain but will therefore not work quite as well with the other, thicker chain types and doesnt take advantage of the internal chamfers on the chain.

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Greg
Greg
4 years ago
Reply to  Steve H

The Shimano 12 chain isn’t exactly as you describe. The space between the outer plates is similar to other 12sp chains. It’s just that the inner plates extend into the space between the outer plates. Therefore, if the “wide” part of the wider tooth is shorter front-to-back than the tooth itself (making a + shape when viewed from above), it should fit the Shimano 12 rings without hindering function of other chains.
Just my take. Pardon the messy explanation.

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Steve H
Steve H
4 years ago
Reply to  Greg

I understand what you mean, but it doesnt address the reduced inner width of the chain I mentioned and also why the market leading chainring producers havent seen fit to be able to offer only one tooth design for their whole range and instead have gone to the length of making a 12spd shimano specific design.

I wouldnt think either of those companies would do this without good reason, the increase in inventory is huge just to start.

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absoluteBLACK
absoluteBLACK
4 years ago

Hi,
While normally we don’t comment under competing products I think this is a very important topic to address and remove the possible confusion.

The reason we are making specific Shimano 12spd compatible rings is because the chain is actually different compared to Sram 12spd. External diameter is very similar but this is where similarity ends. If you try to put Shimano 12spd chain with their quick link on Sram 12spd compatible chainring, chain will derail or get stuck on that quick link. Moreover, in the mud there will not be enough clearance for the chain to operate correctly. To visualize this take in account that Sram compatible ring’s thick tooth thickness is around 3.6mm where for Shimano 12spd it should be around 3.2mm to work properly.

It is however “possible” to use Shimano 12spd chain with Shimano 12spd compatible chainring on Sram 12spd drivetrain. And Sram 12spd chain with Sram compatible ring on Shimano 12spd drivetrain. This is because external diameter of both chains is very similar. Chainring always needs to mach the chain.

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Marco Monticone
Marco Monticone
4 years ago
Reply to  absoluteBLACK

Dear absoluteBLACK,
thank you very much for your consideration and your kind comment.
We think it would be more serious at least to buy and test a product of another brand before criticizing it.
Have a nice weekend.
Best regards from Italy.

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Nick
Nick
4 years ago
Reply to  Marco Monticone

Marco,
I see an explanation as to why a chain and chainring must work in conjunction with each other, but no criticism of the product in question…

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Marco Monticone
Marco Monticone
4 years ago
Reply to  absoluteBLACK

Carbon-Ti has been making chainrings for over 15 years.
About the development of this product we detected and studied Shimano 12s, SRAM 12s and many other chains. We did a lot of simulations with different tooth designs.
We have chosen the best results from the simulations and realized prototypes used by our testers for a total of tens of thousands of kilometers in each conditions. Each different type was subsequently analyzed and detected in detail.
We found the best solution that offered the advantages of a complete compatibility, wear and reliability of use in any condition.
There was a long study that lasted a lot of time. It would have been much easier to make different specific chainrings for each group.

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Steve H
Steve H
4 years ago
Reply to  Marco Monticone

Would you care to comment on my questions that I started this conversation with?

I think there is too much discussion about the SRAM 12spd chain which makes no claims to have a different internal width or design – this is specifically about the Shimano 12spd design you state this ring works with.

– How can your chainring work correctly with the 12spd Shimano chain and with other chain types when the shimano chainring has a specific inner plate design and reduced inner width?

– Does this mean you have chosen the width of your chainring teeth as a compromise to suit both type of chain – e.g. you are manufacturing with 3.2mm thicker teeth so it can be used with all chain types, but is it then not the correct size for older chains such as 10 and 11spd speed shimano and sram?

Why am I so interested? – A friend couldnt physically fit his 12spd Shimano chain on a chainring designed for the other chain types as it was too narrow.

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Marco Monticone
Marco Monticone
4 years ago
Reply to  Steve H

Of course most of “not specific” MTB chainrings designed for SRAM Eagle 12s or for previous 11s chains cannot be compatible with Shimano Hyperglide + chains which differ in internal thickness (especially of the chain-link) and in some details of the link shape.
I cannot now explain here the changes we have made to make this compatibility possible, I think you can trust me if I tell you that our chainring works well with both systems.
Otherwise you could buy and test it.

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Tom
Tom
4 years ago
Reply to  Marco Monticone

So it seems to me what you made is basically 3.2mm tooth thickness like for Shimano 12spd and called it compatible with everything.
My experience is that if my sram ring is worn to 3.3mm down from 3.6mm it will start dropping chain in rock gradens and it’s ready to be replaced.

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Marco Monticone
Marco Monticone
4 years ago
Reply to  Tom

Hi Tom, I understand your consideration, but our new chainring is not a SRAM chainring.
It is born with the goal of working well with a reduced thickness of the wider teeth.

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