While roaming the aisles at Sea Otter, I passed by an unassuming tent with a single mountain bike on a trainer and the words Archer Components on the canopy. Dismissing it as another seller of imported carbon goods I skipped it twice, then something caught my eye; it was a tiny, red-buttoned shifter tucked under a standard SRAM Level lever.
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Archer Components D1x features
- Works with Shimano and SRAM
- Smartphone app to pick gearing speeds and shift points
- 125g claimed weight
- Interchangeable Li-ion battery
- 1,000s of shifts per charge (dependent on rear derailleur)
- Fast and smooth shifting — claimed 50% faster than mechanical
- 100% repeatable shift points means you're in gear every time
- US production
Adaptable for all rear derailleurs
The Direct 1 by (D1x) system is entirely programmable for any rear derailleur, meaning it will work with any speed drivetrain as well as any brand. To achieve this flexibility, the D1x is tuned through an app from your smartphone.
A single charge is reported to deliver 1,000s of shifts — the exact number wasn't trail verified and is hugely dependent on the rear derailleur's spring tension (clutch derailleurs have a much higher spring rate).
The D1x looks to be a pretty simple system to install. A small rectangle box attaches, with two Velcro straps, under the driveside chainstay and a standard shift cable and housing protrude out the back to the rear derailleur.
The shifter body and buttons, and the function to micro-adjust the cable tension out on a ride should the derailleur hanger get bent or damaged, are still being finalized.
It's a light set up with a claimed weight of 125g for both the shifter and control box. For comparison, an 11-speed XX1 trigger with cable tips the scales around 110g and XX1 Eagle with cable comes in at 124g. Add housing to those numbers and it's likely the analog bits weigh more.
The D1x isn't the first of its kind with XShifter and Microshift's eXCD systems popping up in 2016.
Archer Components D1x price and availability
Want to ditch the cables and associated clutter on your single ring mountain bike? Estimated pricing is $350. No UK or Australian pricing was available.
Archer Components is aiming for delivery July 2017.