e*13 Sidekick Hubs Promise to Remove Pedal Kickback with ‘Revolutionary’ Drive System

Advantages

To validate the system, e*13 has completed in depth testing with a workforce of extraordinarily gifted racers together with Aaron Gwin, Rónán Dunne, Rémy Métailler, Fabien Barel, and extra. Utilizing a BYB telemetry system with a 1000Hz/sec sampling charge, e*13 discovered that the Sidekick permits riders to spend 7% extra time within the mid-stroke of the suspension vary (11-70%), whereas permitting 44% extra (cumulative) use of the shock journey in that vary.

Sidekick was additionally accountable for 20% much less crank motion than a standard hub, which is the place the elimination of pedal kickback comes into play.

Claimed Rider Consolation & Pace Advantages

• Assists riders to keep up a impartial place on downhills
• Flat pedal riders will expertise much less kickback on the pedals, offering a planted really feel with extra consolation and management
• Eliminates drivetrain clatter and chain vibration when descending
• Permits for smoother and quieter shifting 
• Whisper quiet when freewheeling
• Diminished drag equals free rolling velocity

Claimed Suspension Efficiency Advantages

• Eliminates pedal kickback in practically all conditions, giving a “chainless” really feel whereas descending
• No change is required in rear shock compression and rebound tune
• Simplifies suspension setup window by permitting free suspension motion (no pedal kickback!)
• Extra energetic suspension whereas braking
• Spend as much as 50% extra time within the mid-stroke (candy spot) of rear wheel journey giving the sensation of extra out there journey

How Does Sidekick Examine to Different Merchandise like Ochain?

I requested this query to e*13 co-owner and engineer, Greg Thrash, because it appeared like two merchandise with a really comparable purpose. In line with Greg, “probably the most vital distinction is how the 2 units mitigate kickback… with Sidekick, the cassette has to rotate by means of the deadband earlier than the ratchet can interact, so there may be zero resistance to chain motion throughout that interval. With O-chain, these actions are resisted by a spring. So quick, dramatic suspension occasions that feed stress into the chain don’t have an effect on the suspension with Sidekick, whereas with O-chain, they might be blunted by the spring however are nonetheless current.

A secondary impact, however most likely what you discover probably the most, is that the traditional chain vibration and noise you understand as you journey over tough surfaces simply isn’t there for the reason that cassette can rock on the axle freely each ahead and backward with none intermittent ratchet engagements.

On prime of that the hub is almost silent. There’s a single pawl within the system that makes it work, but it surely has a really mild spring activating it, so you possibly can’t hear it working over the sound of your tires on the bottom.

Between the tremendous low drag pawl and your suspension working higher, your bike appears to roll tremendous quick, corners higher, carries extra velocity; the whole lot appears to work higher.”

Who’s Sidekick for?

A lot of these causes are additionally why e*13 is advertising and marketing this to extra than simply downhill racers. Promoting it as helpful for the whole lot from aggressive short-travel path bikes to full DH bikes, in addition to Class 1 ebikes, the Sidekick system has advantages for a variety of riders. Particularly, improved suspension efficiency, decrease drag, much less noise, and decreased fatigue.

What About Excessive Engagement Hubs?

It appears the bike business has been pushing relentlessly towards increased and faster-engaging hubs. The Sidekick system appears to fly within the face of that, so what provides? In line with e*13, whereas these high-engagement hubs may allow you to out of a good technical spot, they received’t enhance suspension efficiency. Actually, they may damage it stating, “whereas coasting at 15 mph (25 kph) a hub with 1-degree engagement can interact over 1000 occasions per second, resulting in vital pedal kickback and poor suspension efficiency. A hub with 18-degree engagement in the identical situation can interact over 60 occasions per second, additionally leading to a excessive chance of pedal kickback.”

Hub Development

None of this issues if the hub isn’t as much as the duty, so e*13 spent lots of time obsessing over the main points to make Sidekick sturdy sufficient to face as much as the world’s prime racers. A metal axle ensures the hub is stiff sufficient and robust sufficient for World Cup DH abuse, and a captive thread endcap system permits for tool-free cleansing and upkeep. The ratchet ring is replaceable together with all components for serviceability.

At 452g for a Increase hub, the Sidekick hub is on the heavier facet, but it surely’s possible much less added weight than the additional chain and pulley to create a high-pivot body design. J-Bend hubs will probably be out there to construct into your personal wheelset, or e*13 will provide full builds with their new Grappler Flux and Sylvan rims as nicely.

Hubs and wheelsets will probably be provided in all fashionable sizes and freehubs to suit most bikes and drivetrains.

Sidekick Hub Specs

• Driver: XD, Microspline, HG, mini-HG, 7-speed built-in cassette
• Measurement: Increase, Tremendous Increase, 157x12mm, 148mm DH 
• Axle Materials: Metal 
• Spoke depend: Increase, Tremendous Increase 28h, 32h / 157x12mm, 148mm DH 32H 
• Spoke sort: J-Bend
• Bearings: 6903 / 6808
• Engagement: 12° / 15° / 18° Adjustable Deadband
• Materials: AL 6061-T6
• Weight: Increase (XD) 452g / Tremendous Increase (XD) 450g / 157x12mm (7-speed) 652g / 148mm DH (mini-HG) 459g
• Shade: Black/Sterling Silver
• MSRP: 499.95 $/€ (UK £469.95), 589.95 $/€ w 7-speed built-in cassette (UK £559.95)

New Rims and Wheels

It wasn’t sufficient to only have a revolutionary new hub system, e*13 wished to supply the entire package deal as nicely. That’s the place the brand new Grappler Flux and Sylvan rims are available in.

The Grappler Flux rims are designed for “huck-proof sturdiness” whereas the Sylvan rims are designed for aggressive path, All-Mountain, and light-weight e-bikes.

Grappler Flux Rims and Wheels

Grappler Flux Options

• Low-profile designs: 17.5mm peak Enduro carbon, alloy, and DH alloy / 20mm peak DH carbon
• 30mm Inside Width: Supplies distinctive lateral stability whereas optimizing fashionable tire profiles
• Obtainable in high-modulus carbon or welded 6069-AL constructions
• Optimized Carbon Layups: Particularly designed for DH and EN rims to steadiness sturdiness, weight, and distinctive compliance
• Hookless Flanges: Provide set-and-forget tubeless safety and resistance to affect injury

Grappler Flux Advantages

• Engineered compliance reduces affect forces and vibration, enhancing consolation and lowering rider fatigue
• Tuned compliance improves traction and monitoring and reduces wheel deflection in tough terrain, with out compromising a high-performance journey really feel
• The identical legendary toughness of our World Cup LG1 and Grappler rims
• Lifetime free alternative coverage on carbon rims / 5-year crash alternative on alloy
• Appropriate for each mountain and class-1 e-bike use

Grappler Flux Sidekick Enduro Wheel Tech

• Weight Carbon: Entrance 900g / Rear 1160g 27.5”, 1200g 29” (Increase, XD) 
• Weight Aluminum:  Entrance 906g / Rear 1187g 27.5”, 1206g 29” (Increase, XD) 
• Spokes/Nipples: Sapim D-Mild / Safe Lock Alloy  / 28H/28H – F/R
• Rear Config: Sidekick Increase 148×12 / Tremendous Increase 157×12  – Metal Axle 
• Entrance Config: Sidekick Increase 110x15mm 
• Driver: XD / Microspline (HG Avail.) 
• Valves: Fast Fill Presta Tubeless Valves
• Sizes: 29” Entrance, Rear 27.5”/29” 
• Grappler Sidekick Flux Carbon MSRP: Entrance 799.95 $/€ – Rear 1199.95 $/€ (UK F/R £729.95/£1099.95)
• Grappler Sidekick Flux Aluminum MSRP: Entrance 379.95 $/€ – Rear 649.95 $/€ (UK F/R £349.95/£589.95)

Grappler Flux Enduro Rim Tech

• Weight: Aluminum 587g-586g / Carbon 560g-580g (27.5”-29”)
• Wheel Measurement: 27.5” / 29” 
• Inside Width: 30mm 
• Spoke Depend: 28H / 32H 
• Valve Gap: Presta
• Joint: Aluminum-Welded 
• Bead Kind: Hookless
• Materials: 6069-AL / Excessive-Modulus Carbon
• MSRP: Aluminum 129.95 $/€ (UK £119.95)/ Carbon 539.95 $/€ (UK £489.95)

Grappler Flux DH Wheel Tech

• Weight Carbon: Entrance 1000g / Rear 1170g 27.5”, 1210g 29” (157×12, mini-HG) / 7-speed cassette +180g
• Weight Aluminum: Entrance 1009g / Rear 1177g 27.5”, 1219g 29” (157×12, mini-HG) / 7-speed cassette +180g
• Spokes/Nipples: Sapim D-Mild / Safe Lock Alloy / 28H F, 32H R
• Rear Config: Sidekick 157x12mm / 148mm DH – Metal Axle 
• Entrance Config: Sidekick Increase 110x20mm 
• Driver: 7-speed Built-in Cassette / mini-HG 
• Valves: Fast Fill Presta Tubeless Valves
• Sizes: 29” Entrance, Rear 27.5”/29” 
• Grappler Sidekick Flux Carbon MSRP: Entrance 849.95 $/€ – Rear 1349.95-1499.95 $/€ (UK F/R £769.95/£1249.95-£1389.95)
• Grappler Sidekick Flux Aluminum MSRP: Entrance 379.95 $/€ – Rear 659.95-799.95 $/€ (UK F/R £349.95 / £599.95-£699.95)

Grappler Flux DH Rim Tech

• Weight: Aluminum 587g-609g / Carbon 580g-600g (27.5”-29”)
• Wheel Measurement: 27.5” / 29” 
• Inside Width: 30mm 
• Spoke Depend: 28H / 32H 
• Valve Gap: Presta
• Joint: Aluminum-Welded 
• Bead Kind: Hookless
• Materials: 6069-AL / Excessive-Modulus Carbon
• MSRP: Aluminum 129.95 $/€ (UK £119.95) / Carbon 569.95 $/€ (UK £519.95)

Sylvan Race Rims and Wheels

Sylvan Race Carbon Rims

• Constructed from high-modulus carbon fiber with a 23mm profile peak and a decade-honed customized layup
• Embody a intelligent valve dock for improved tubeless sealing on uneven rims
• Weighing simply 450g (29”), affect energy was examined at 7x earlier TRS race carbon rims
• Backed by a lifetime free rim alternative guarantee

Sylvan Race Alloy Rims

• 6069-AL development, that includes welded joints and angle-drilled spoke holes
• Low profile 20mm sectional peak for distinctive compliance
• Weighing in at 567g (29”), they present practically a 4x enchancment in affect energy over former TRS Plus rims
• Dramatically enhance journey really feel and management
• Backed by a 5-year crash alternative coverage

Sylvan Sidekick Wheel Tech

• Weight Carbon (29”): 800g/1060g (Increase, XD Driver)
• Weight Alloy (29”): 920g / 1180g  F/R (Increase, XD Driver)
• Spokes: Sapim D-Mild 28H/28H – F/R 
• Rear Config: Sidekick 148×12 Increase or 157×12 Tremendous Increase – Metal Axle 
• Entrance Config: Sidekick SL 110×15 Increase
• Driver: XD / Microspline (HG Avail.)
• Valves: Fast Fill Presta Tubeless Valves 
• Sizes:  29” Entrance – 27.5”/29” Rear
• MSRP Carbon: Entrance 779.95 $/€ (UK £709.95) – Rear 1119.95 $/€ (UK £1019.95
• MSRP Aluminum:: Entrance 379.95 $/€ (UK £349.95) – Rear 629.95 $/€ (UK £569.95)