When it comes to mountain bike drivetrains, two brands that start with the letter S tend to dominate. A few years ago TRP started developing their own 7-speed derailleur and cassette for DH racing, and this year they released their first full 12-speed drivetrain for trail bikes with everything from crank to cassette. Last week I got out for a quick test spin on the new group, and here’s what I learned.
TRP EVO 12 specs
The TRP EVO 12 is a premium drivetrain that can be configured in a number of ways with various finishes and sizes available. I tested a group with the top-end Gold/Black finish on a Commencal T.E.M.P.O. trail bike for a quick lap on the trails at Fort Ord near Monterey. The bike was set up with a 34t chainring up front and a 10-52t cassette in the rear. While brands like Box and Microshift sell partial MTB drivetrain systems with shifters and derailleurs, TRP is making everything including the cranks and even the bottom bracket. Only the 12-speed TRP chain is made by KMC and is configured to match the group.
The derailleur features a clutch system to minimize chain slap, and TRP says the cage is designed to make rear wheel swaps easy. While I haven’t had a chance to test the latter claim yet, Singletracks should be getting a group for long-term testing soon to confirm. The TRP EVO 12 derailleur is capable of shifting into an easier gear up by one to five gears at a time. (Downshifts Shifting to a smaller cog is limited to one gear at a time.)
TRP EVO12 ride impressions
Right out of the gate the TRP EVO12 shifts well, with a definitive feel more similar to a Shimano drivetrain than a SRAM. Shifting up a single gear is smooth and quiet, while jumping multiple gears is a little noisy. Still, even when I shifted five gears at once the cassette didn’t miss a beat, even under load.
The derailleur clutch did a great job keeping the chain quiet even over washed out descents. My test bike didn’t have any sort of chain retention device and that was just fine; the TRP EVO 12 chainring with Wave tooth profiles held the chain tight.
I used every bit of the 520% range on the cassette due to the steep climbs on my test route. The 34t chainring is likely too big for me and/or the trails at Fort Ord, so a 32t or even 30t would have been a better match. More than once I was in the largest cog but wasn’t sure, so I pressed the shifter for “just one more.” Of course there wasn’t another gear, and fortunately the system didn’t allow me to throw the chain over the cassette and into the spokes.
The TRP EVO12 shifter paddles appear to be slightly larger than those from SRAM and Shimano. I’ve been riding bikes with Shimano shifters lately and one thing I miss about the TRP shifter is the ability to downshift using the back of the paddle; you can only downshift by pressing the front of the lever forward using your thumb.
Overall the TRP EVO12 drivetrain worked flawlessly during my test ride. Of course there’s no such thing as a perfect mountain bike drivetrain so I’m looking forward to spending more time on the group, and also seeing how easy it is to install and tune. Look for a more detailed, long-term review later this year.
- Price: About $1,300 as tested (includes bottom bracket, cassette, carbon crankset, chain ring, derailleur, shifter, and chain)
- Buy from trpcycling.com
Thank you for the article: more competition is good, especially with only two significant drivetrain makers. I am confused in the article, though, by the terms downshifting and upshifting. You said that the TRP can downshift only one gear at a time but upshift one to five gears. When referring to shifting gears in vehicles, it is understood that downshifting takes you to a shorter ratio with more torque multiplication: low gear. Down = lower. Does the TRP system operate this way, or are you using the terms opposite of convention? I get that, observing the cassette from above, the chain could be described as moving ‘up’ and to the left to the larger diameter cogs when changing to a shorter gear/lower gear, but the chain is moving equally downward on the lower halves of the cogs. (Not to mention how the front derailleur works). It would seem best to stick with similar terms for bicycles as for motorbikes, cars etc.
I guess I am using the terms opposite of convention? 🤷♂️
Would love to hear from others on this. I’m most familiar with bicycles, and up/down to me refers to the chain position on the cassette.
I am with Flyinlow: Downshifting is to an easier gear and upshifting is to a harder gear.
Count me as another one who agrees with Flyinlow.
“Shift down” means to me a lower gear (easier), as in 1st gear is the lowest of the gears. This is the first I’ve ever heard anyone refer to it the other way.
Thanks for the feedback. I’ll be sure to clarify in the future.
$1300. Jebus!
Why do manufacturers think a 34T up front is a good idea? Even with a 52 in the rear???
Just go to the Taipei bike show. Put one in your suitcase call it done for 200 USD
This costs more than my bike 😂