Anyone have experience with wireless electronic derailleurs?
 

I just saw a YT video by one of my favorite reviewers testing out 2 competing manufacturers - seems like a cool upgrade, but didn’t even know such a thing existed

anyone either looking at one or have experience using it?

thanks

I’ve used the SRAM AXS 1X system a few years on a mt bike. Wireless shifter and rear derailer. It was a simple upgrade as the bike came with a SRAM 12 spd system, so really just swapping the shifter and rear derailer, then pairing. It’s worked perfectly for 3-4 years.

I have used SRAM GX AXS 12 speed on the Vado 5.0 for a couple years now and it has been good. It was a little bit of faff to get everything properly aligned and shifting but it works fine. I am probably eventually going to swap over to the new XT DI2 wireless stuff because I like Shimano better but I don't know if Zirbel will do a shifter for it and their SRAM Shifter while expensive with the BlipBox is really really nice and super minimalist.

On your current bike I would leave it as is but your next e-bike I think it is well worth it assuming you are good with charging as compared to Di2 (wired) the battery doesn't quite last as long as I would want and doesn't hold charge for longer periods (which is fair and fine). I cannot speak to the new wireless Di2 in terms of longevity but knowing Shimano they have been testing it a lot and doing their best to make it ready to go whereas SRAM likes to get things out faster and let the public do a little more R+D for them but AXS is pretty dialed at this point.

SRAM is what was tested in a video I saw against another product which was half the cost - m not experienced enough yet to consider but wanted opinions

Shimano just recently introduced their versions for mountain and gravel.

Wireless is an advantage for assembling the bike, and I did not have to buy any extra dongles or anything for my SRAM AXS T-type Eagle to work with my Garmin, but fundamentally it doesn't really change anything.

Two years SRAM AXS 1x12 on my gravel ebike L/R shifters integrated in the brake levers. Also AXS 1x12 on my mtn bike with a single rocker type shifter. I converted the mtn bike with a kit from SRAM, after a year of manual shifting. Did not mind losing the cable and mechanical shifter. Fine adjustment is done via the app so shift whispering skills languish (except for all the other bikes). SRAM has good support videos, which helps a lot.

In sum, very happy with both.

Shimano Di2 2x12 speed and Wheeltop 1x10 on my wife's bike. All flawless performance. The Wheeltop EDS with the thumbshifter is very cool, and at $400 US, it's a good deal.I think it's configurable for more speeds than exist today, like up to 14. The RD is bit heavy compared to the Shimano.

It is good stuff but would I as a newer consumer upgrade with little knowledge on bikes (and no that is not intended as insult or an attack on anyone), probably not. I might consider it if I was buying a bike but your money is better spent on touch points like grips, pedals and a Kinekt seatpost that can transfer to other bikes. I would also use it for cycling clothing like gloves and helmets which are important for safety (and the gloves can help with comfort as well).

Upgrades are generally more expensive because you are buying single items whereas say Specialized or Trek or some other large bike company is buying thousands or more of those items so they are getting a better deal that they can pass on to you plus it comes with the bike built up by a shop so it is ready to go with all the support and warranties and you can just get out and ride. I am not saying one could or shouldn't upgrade certain bikes but the people who buy bikes to upgrade are overspending and there is just no need for that.

Wireless (SRAM) since early 2018.

I just saw a YT video on the Aventure M with auto electronic shifter and also auto hill assist - very cool

bc2025 Why not post a link to the video, instead of being vague like "one of my favorite reviewers"? ;-)

Then, referring vaguely to "another product at half the cost"

We can only vaguely reply then. Yes, you will have certain people that will rip apart anything they don't consider to be the best, but at least the rest of us know what you're looking at.

My experience in auto-shifting is only in the muggle bike world so far. Road bikes with the shifting motor built into the derailleur and a little cable going into the bike to tap into a remote battery. The problem is that when those batteries die, you're done; you've got a single speed. They're refining them so that they give noticeable warnings as the battery discharges. These things should not be an issue on eBikes though, as they have a robust power system. Even when the bike's battery is dead enough to not power the motor, there's plenty left for small electronics like the display and electronic shifting.

This is what Aventon was getting at in the ad copy for the Aventure M:
Source: https://www.aventon.com/products/ave...44347513700547

They also have automatic assistance setting, which I'm not sure how that is different than torque sensing. My Yamaha Wabash RT has it and reviewers seem to love it, but I don't. I like to manually be able to control how much more torque it gives. When I want a little more, I either pedal harder or tap the button to go up an assist level.

On the other hand, I've been riding bikes for 40 years and shifting them for 30. I'm technically-minded and have an intuitive understanding of how bike gearing works. A lot of people don't. Maybe this is a good thing for them.

You have to remember that a lot of these reviewers are compensated by the manufacturers. Usually the ones with really polished videos. ;)

FWIW my ebike and the SRAM AXS system do not communicate or share power supply. The derailleur has its little rechargeable battery and the shifters are each powered by a common button cell.

AXS will communicate with a bike computer and my Garmin shows charge status for all three components. Helpfully, it also shows selected gear, giving tooth counts and ratio. (If you're mental, you can see how many shifts per ride in Connect.) Separately, the shifters and derailleur have a little blinky code warning of low battery state. One must look to see it of course.

The derailleur battery needs charging roughly monthly and the shifter batteries last two years. Guess if the derailleur battery were to go flat one would be in the chosen gear the rest of the ride. Unlike a broken shift cable that sends the derailleur to the smallest cog. Is one better? IDK. Can one keep a spare cable/spare battery in their kit? That's a big 10-4. Changing a battery is quicker than stringing and adjusting a cable.

Electronic shifting has been out for quite awhile. Wirelessly too. Though I'm not sold on being completely wireless. Too many batteries to deal with for each individual component. I'm already charging five or six other things I use on my bike. I don't need more. But it looks like when I get a new bike, I'm going to have to just learn to "deal with it".

You seem to be asking about the newer and lower cost stuff that's come on the market recently. Sure it probably works well when new. But will it last as long as Shimano or SRAM's electronic stuff does? That's still yet to be seen.

To your point!
take it for what it’s worth, but I liked what I saw, despite some functional drawbacks