If you were wanting electronic shifting for your mountain bike, the first reason that comes to mind might be performance. The upcoming Microshift eCXD group is giving you two more – it offers a massive battery pack that doubles as auxiliary power and it’s affordable.
The rear derailleur and shifter combo is a dedicated 1×11 system, so there’s only one wire to run and no front derailleur to inspire synchronized shifting complications. It’s got a decently wide range, lets you trim the system easily, and should come in under $600.
The system’s battery is housed in the oversized shifter pod, meaning just a single wire runs from it to the rear derailleur. Simple two button operation shifts up or down.
You may notice that a LOT has changed on the eXCD system since we saw an early prototype at last year’s Taipei Cycle Show. Aesthetically, it’s looking way more finished, and they say it should be available for sale this year. It now has a standard USB port on the side of the battery/shifter that’ll allow you to plug your phone or whatever in and charge while you ride. Or, add the additional in-steerer pack and gain more charging options, including increasing the total power available for shifting…useful if you’re planning a long trek.
But, the standard battery pack has been drastically improved since the first iteration, too. Originally, they were claiming 6,000 shifts per charge. Now, that number is 10,000 shifts with the clutch on, and up to 16,000 shifts with the clutch off.
The derailleur also looks far more polished. Shifting on this demo was a little slow, but they told us they’re finalizing the programming and that it’ll be competitively quick.
To make the most of it, there’s a new 11-46 wide range cassette that’ll work here or with any other 11-speed group…
…like the new XLE11 mechanical group, giving you a budget option for upgrading your drivetrain.
Another way to use those mountain bike cassettes and rear derailleurs is with their new SB-M110 dual control drop bar levers, which are designed specifically for 1×11 mountain bike parts and lets you build that monster cross gravel killer you’ve been dreaming of.
For the kids, they’ve redesigned their twist shifter to show both the numbers and a graphical representation of what those numbers mean. In addition to rabbit and turtle, the cyclist tilts to face up or down, showing which numbers correspond to climbing, descending or anything in between. Clever.
