TRP says no to electronic groupsets with new EVO12 mechanical drivetrain

New premium mechanical groupset flies in the face of wider trends

TRP EVO.

TRP

Jack Luke

Published: March 22, 2023 at 12:55 pm

TRP EVO is a new mechanical 1x mountain bike drivetrain pitched as a premium option, going toe-to-toe with the likes of SRAM XO and Shimano XTR.

The outgoing TRP TR12 groupset only comprised a shifter and derailleur.

However, in a first for TRP, Tektro’s premium arm, EVO is available as a full groupset, including a new crankset and cassette.

The groupset is available in either 7-speed (EVO7) or 12-speed (EVO12) options.

The 12-speed groupset is designed as an all-rounder option for enduro or trail riding. Like SRAM’s similar XO1 DH drivetrain, the 7-speed groupset is designed specifically for downhill racing.

The groupset will cost $1,343 for its cheapest spec and is expected to launch in April.

TRP’s first full groupset

The crankset is available in either carbon or alloy options. - TRP

Previously, TRP focused solely on brakes and limited drivetrain components. But the new cassette and crankset see the brand release its first full groupset.

The crankset uses a 30mm spindle and is available in either forged alloy or carbon options.

TRP has licensed MRP’s Wave tooth profile for the 1x chainrings used with the crankset. The drivetrain is also designed to use a third-party KMC X12 chain.

A single 10-52t cassette is available. The 10 lower cogs are machined from steel. The two largest are made from aluminium. This mounts onto a Shimano Micro Spline freehub.

Updated shifter ergonomics and a stiffer derailleur

The ergonomics of the shifter and the derailleur construction have been updated. - TRP

TRP says the rear derailleur body and pivots have been strengthened. This is claimed to improve shift accuracy compared to the outgoing TR12 derailleur.

The Hall Lock is a feature unique to TRP drivetrains. Activating this locks a band clamp around the main mounting bolt of the derailleur. This prevents the derailleur from pivoting in rough terrain, which can exacerbate chain slap.

Deactivating it enables the derailleur to move freely, making for easier wheel swaps.

The new rear derailleur is a step up, aesthetically and mechanically, from the outgoing TR12 'drivetrain'. - Alex Evans

TRP has also updated the ergonomics of its shifter. The downshift lever can be adjusted to shift between one to five gears, depending on user preference.

The groupset will be on show at Sea Otter 2023, where further details will be announced.

Jack Luke

Deputy editor

Jack Luke is the deputy editor at BikeRadar and has been fettling with bikes for his whole life. Always in search of the hippest new niche in cycling, Jack is a self-confessed gravel dork, fixie-botherer, tandem-evangelist and hill climb try hard. Jack thinks nothing of bikepacking after work to sleep in a ditch or taking on a daft challenge for the BikeRadar YouTube channel. He is also a regular contributor to the BikeRadar podcast. With a near encyclopaedic knowledge of cycling tech, ranging from the most esoteric retro niche to the most cutting-edge modern kit, Jack takes pride in his ability to seek out stories that would otherwise go unreported. He is also particularly fond of tan-wall tyres, dynamo lights, cup and cone bearings, and skids. Jack has been writing about and testing bikes for more than six years now, has a background working in bike shops for years before that, and is regularly found riding a mix of weird and wonderful machines. Jack can also often be seen zooming about with his partner aboard their beloved tandem.
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