When it comes to the arms race that is drivetrain development, it’s usually a two-sided battle between SRAM and Shimano. SRAM, arguably, has the upper hand at the moment with its 1x12 Eagle drivetrain and 1x11 groups at every price point.
- BikeRadar’s 2016 Interbike coverage
- SRAM NX: the most affordable 1x11 drivetrain yet
- How to convert your bike to a 1x drivetrain
But there’s room for smaller contenders to muscle their way into the fray with aftermarket upgrade kits to give riders on 10- and 11-speed drivetrains more range for less money.
Wolf Tooth is launching a full frontal assault with the introduction of a 49t upgrade cog for 11-speed drivetrains that provides nearly all the range of SRAM Eagle in a much more affordable package.
GC 49T kit
Wolf Tooth’s latest wide-range kit is designed to work with 11-speed Shimano XT and SLX and Sunrace 11-42t cassettes, as well as SRAM’s entry-level NX cassette, which uses a Shimano-style freehub, rather than SRAM’s XD driver.
The kit consists of a massive 49t aluminum cog, an 18t cog, inner derailleur cage plate and an offset upper jockey wheel.
So why stop at 49? Why not go all the way to 50? According to Wolf Tooth, SRAM’s 11-speed rear derailleurs can handle a 49t cog, but not 50t without additional modifications.
The GC 49T kit is available now and retails for £100 / $130 / AU$170. Replacement 49t cogs will set buyers back £70 / $90 / AU$120.
ReMote dropper lever
This small Minneapolis, Minnesota, company is also taking the fight to dropper seatpost companies by launching a lever designed to work with nearly any cable-actuated dropper.
The ReMote has a 1x-specific design intended to mount in place of a front shift lever. The ergonomic aluminum lever pivots on a cartridge bearing for smooth operation. Another nice feature is the use of a plate to secure the cable, rather than a set screw, which tends to mangle the cable end.
Wolf Tooth offers the ReMote in a standard hinged clamp, as well as direct-mount versions for SRAM and Shimano brake levers.
The ReMote lever retails for £46 / $60 / AU$80.
Visit wolftoothcomponents.com for more information.
