E*thirteen brings 12-speed range to 11-speed bikes

Keen to benefit from the 511 per cent range of a 12-speed cassette, but don’t fancy investing in a full Eagle groupset? E*thirteen may have the conversion kit for you.

The TRS Plus 12-speed conversion kit enables riders to upgrade their existing 11-speed SRAM groupsets to 12-speed without having to change the entire groupset.

E*thirteen says its system is actually superior to a full Eagle conversion, providing a greater range than a 10-50t cassette for less weight. It achieves this by using a 9-46t cassette, a shorter chain and a smaller chainring.

The more compact drivetrain also increases ground clearance, making it less likely that you’ll strike components out on the trail – thus potentially avoiding costly repairs.

The TRS Plus kit contains all the tools and parts you need to convert your existing shifter and rear derailleur to 12-speed, along with a 12-speed cassette and chain. You’ll need an XD driver hub, too, so if you're running a Shimano 11spd on a SRAM system, you're out of luck.

You will also need to rebuild your shifter with the tools supplied (below). E*thirteen says it's pretty easy, but if you're not mechanically adept, take it to your favourite mechanic.

Australian RRP for the kit is $469.95 – a pretty decent deal when compared with the $800 for a full GX Eagle drivetrain.

Admittedly, SRAM’s new NX Eagle groupset is closer in price to the e*thirteen kit at $580: however, this lower end groupset is designed to fit on a Shimano freehub body, which makes NX Eagle a better option for 2x10 or 1x11 Shimano drivetrain conversions, rather than existing SRAM 1x11 setups.

For more information, visit www.dirtworks.com.au or www.bythehive.com.