Tech Round Up: Hope Dropper Remote, TQ Motor Chainrings, a Printed Bash Guard & More
Here at Bikerumor, we get heaps of information on new components sent to us on a daily basis. We do our best to share all that with our readers, but time is not always on our side! Excuses aside, here are some interesting bits and pieces from the mountain bike world that have recently been launched, or are set to launch later this year.
New Hope Rotors and Dropper Remote
Teased at Sea Otter was Hope Technology’s dropper remote, due to be released at the end of June. Details are thin on the ground, but it certainly looks to be a cnc-machined piece, boasting a relatively large bearing for the lever to pivot about. We’d hope for this to be launched with a full range of anodized colors.
More official are Hope’s new Floating Rotors, now available in the Centerlock variation. Available in 140mm, 160mm, 180mm , 200mm, 203mm and 220mm diameters, all of Hope’s floating rotors are 1.8mm thick. Additional stiffness and heat dissipation properties afforded by the aluminum carrier negate the need for a thicker braking surface.
Bearing that in mind, Hope has now upgraded all of its fixed rotors to 2.3mm. These rotors that lack the aluminum carrier rely on the thickness of the braking surface for stiffness, strength, vibration damping and thermal stability.
All of Hope’s brake rotors are laser cut for the high accuracy permitted by the technique, and the low distortion it induces. It is also said to help prevent oxidation of the surfaces. The rotors are then heat treated to increase their lifespan, and to maintain their performance with all brake pad materials.
Also new and noteworthy is the upcoming addition of a Hope eBike magnet, designed for use with eBike speed sensors. It bolts directly onto the hub’s disc mount, and is compatible with any 6-bolt rotor; a Centerlock option is on its way, too. Hope plan to offer a few different options to suit different eBikes. This one is due to be available by summer, and will be available in all 6 anodized colors.
SQ Lab 50X Flat Pedals
SQ Lab’s latest flat pedals are available in three axle lengths, in a bid to help riders of all shapes and sizes achieve proper alignment between the knee and foot position on the pedal. The ergonomics specialists offer the 50X Composite Pedal in axle length offsets of -5mm (Size S), 0mm (Size M), and +5mm (Size L).
The more widely spaced pedals could be a good option for riders who often find themselves catching their heels on their chainstays. SQ Lab says, “The three different axle lengths provide a physiologically natural foot position on the pedal: Suitable for larger feet, a V-shaped foot position or larger sit bone distances, which usually require a higher Q-factor”.
The SQ Lab 50X pedal has a 110mm x 105mm platform made from plastic, reinforced with 30% fiberglass. A pair weighs a claimed 429g. The brand are the first to admit this isn’t the lowest profile or lightest pedal going; they position the 50X as a heavy-duty pedal with outstanding grip. The platform offers a slight concavity, and there are 11 pins per side.
Internally, the 50X pedals spin on a CrMo axle, with Japanese sealed precision ball bearings on the outboard side, and German-made IGUS bushings on the crank arm side.
The SQ Lab 50X pedals retail at $89.99 USD, 79,95 € or £69.99.
Formula Two-Piece Brake Lever
Italian suspension and brake manufacturer, Formula, has introduced a new two-piece lever for its Cura, Cura 4, and Cura X brakes. The new lever is presented as an upgrade to the stock levers on the aforementioned brakes, offering tool-free reach adjustment as well as adjustment of “lever feel”, which we presume to mean lever throw. The lever also sees the additions of small perforations in a bid to aid grip, especially in wet conditions.
Keen on the use of acronyms, Formula has named the new component the “TFRA/FCS Brake Lever Kit”. That’s the Tool-Free Reach Adjust/Feeling Control System Brake Lever Kit. It retails at €85.80.
Wolf Tooth Chainring for TQ HPR-50 Equipped eBikes
Wolf Tooth Components has released a new direct mount chainring specifically for TQ HPR-50 equipped eBikes; the Trek Fuel EXe, for example. The eBike chainrings are available in 30T and 32T sizes, with options for either Drop-Stop B or Drop-Stop ST tooth profiles. The latter tooth profile is compatible with all 9-, 10-, 11-, and 12-speed chains, including the new SRAM Eagle Transmission T-Type chains.
This is just the first in a series of eBike chainrings that Wolf Tooth Components has planned for this year; the brand will soon have options for Shimano, Bosch, and a few other eBike motors.
This one, designed for the TQ HPR-50 Motor, is cnc-machined from 7075-T6 aluminum, and retails at $84.95 USD (£77).
Shimano Brake Rotors
Last summer, in conjunction with the launch of the new 105 group, Shimano introduced two new Centerlock disc rotors that promised a quieter, more consistent braking performance. Those rotors are the RT-CL900 and RT-CL800. The news here is that both of these rotors are now available in MTB appropriate diameters; 180mm and 203mm.
The new rotor design claims to use a “more robust alloy carrier and optimized arm shape that reduces heat deformation of the rotor during hard braking”.
Both rotors get Shimano’s proprietary IceTech FREEZA technology, wherein an aluminum core that extends inward, beyond the braking surface, is sandwiched by the stainless steel braking surfaces. This cooling technology is said to result in overall heat reduction of up to 140ºC and a 10% increase in brake pad life. The main difference between the two is the addition of a black heat dissipation paint on the cooling fins of the RT-CL900.
Reev Components 3D Printed Bash Guard
Made entirely in the US is this unusual looking bash guard from Reev Components. The Mud Rock’R is a 3D printed bash guard, made up of a 70% nylon and 30% carbon fiber blend. It mounts in the traditional fashion, directly to ISCG-05 tabs. The custom design is intended to protect your chain and chainring from mud and debris at this critical point in the drivetrain. It is available direct from Reev Components in 30T, 32T, 34T and 36T options, retailing at $39.99 USD.
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