TRP releases first electronic drivetrain with Bosch ebike implementation
TRP has released an electronic drivetrain in partnership with German motor brand Bosch.
The new E.A.S.I. A12 1×12 drivetrain has been designed for use with electric bikes that use Bosch’s Performance Line CX and SX motors.
Manual and automatic modes are available, with the latter said to keep you spinning the cranks at a consistent cadence whatever the load or speed.
The drivetrain is centred around the A12 ebike-specific rear derailleur, which is then paired with varying shifting components depending on the type of riding you do.
We’ve seen the new drivetrain at the Eurobike trade show but TRP is yet to release full details, with pricing also to be confirmed.
E.A.S.I. compatibility
TRP has partnered with Bosch for this drivetrain, with the rear derailleur being for electric bikes only.
The system takes advantage of Bosch’s updated eShift system, also released this week, which sees the drive motor momentarily reduce support during gear changes for crisper shifts and reduced mechanical wear.
It’s similar to SRAM’s AXS Transmission and Powertrain automatic shifting features, with the bike keeping a consistent cadence.
The system also implements Auto-Downshift, which automatically shifts down the cassette when you stop to give you the optimum gear to set off again.
In addition, the TRP setup has a similar feature to SRAM’s Coast Shift, called Roll Shift, which measures your rolling speed while coasting and automatically changes gears to match your speed.
While in the automatic mode, you can override the system to change gears manually, though both Bosch and TRP claim this shouldn’t be necessary.
TRP says the system allows you to focus more on the trail or road ahead and less on what gear you should be in.
E.A.S.I. A12
TRP says the new E.A.S.I. A12 derailleur has a cage release that allows for easy wheel removal by taking tension off the chain, similar to SRAM’s Cage Lock.
A clutch is also used in the derailleur, which is said to lead to a quiet ride by silencing chain slap.
Power is taken from the ebike’s main battery, reducing the amount of separate batteries that need to be kept charged.
The drivetrain is compatible with TRP’s range of 12-speed cassettes, including the gold EVO 12 cassette.
Get shifty
With the system being designed for all types of electric bikes, TRP has released hood-style shifters called Hywire for electric gravel bikes and a trigger called the CMD Shift Switch for electric mountain bikes.
Hywire
The Hywire levers uses a similar button setup as Shimano for shifting gears, with the inside shifter button requesting a harder gear.
An integrated master cylinder features inside the hood, with the system running on a newly formulated mineral oil.
A 5mm hydraulic hose is used, said to provide a firm bite, and the TRP brake calipers have been designed for 1.8mm-thick rotors.
Function buttons for pairing the hoods with the E.A.S.I. system feature on the end caps. A small green LED (not on in photo) indicates that the system is connected.
CMD Shift Switch
For electric mountain bikes, TRP’s CMD Shift Switch uses CMD, or Command, technology that utilises a wireless connection to communicate with the drivetrain.
It’s compatible with SRAM Matchmaker and Shimano I-Spec EV-mounted brakes, meaning less hardware is needed on the bar.
All this should make for a squeaky-clean cockpit with the right setup.
An audible click is made when pressing the triggers, with a small bit of feedback present that is said to allow for precise shifts over rough terrain.