Well it isn't actually FR stuff, it's more trail oriented. And yes it proprietary, but I'm honestly sick of hearing this damb argument about shimano sucks yadda yadda. And I'm not a shimano fan.. but give it up already people shimano is making it and people will buy it. Let em buy it, that's why there are different companies so you can buy what YOU want! So go buy it and freakin stop arguing about something that unfortunately isn't going away.