Spotlight: SLF Motion Evo Speed System oversized rear derailleur pulley cage
Spotlight is a new series on CyclingTips we’re using to briefly showcase new products we’ve just received, and/or products that require just a short review. This regular and short-form tech coverage replaces our previous Tech Round-Up series.
The stock pulley configuration on my SRAM Red eTap AXS rear derailleur features 12-tooth upper and lower jockey wheels, but the SLF Motion Evo Speed one uses 14-tooth upper and 18-tooth lower pulleys. 
The oversized pulley wheels reduce drivetrain friction by reducing how much each chain link has to articulate. 
The coated hybrid ceramic cartridge bearings sure seem like they spin with minimal friction, although the non-contact aluminum shields also don’t provide a whole lot of protection from the elements, either. 
If you end up ordering one of these, be sure to check the hardware; several of the bolts on my sample weren’t as tight as they should have been, nor was there suffienct thread retaining compound applied. 
The carbon fiber inner and outer cage plates are machined in the United States. 
SLF Motion offers the pulley wheels in several different colors, as well as a 3D-printed titanium version. 
The Evo Speed system is hardly inexpensive, but at least on paper, it’s comparable in terms of performance to what CeramicSpeed offers while also undercutting the price by a fair margin. 
The anodized-to-match thumb tab is a nice touch. 
SLF Motion includes a tool for a SRAM AXS rear deraileur. It’s not as nice as the one CeramicSpeed provides in its kits, though. This is basically just a modified socket but it does get the job done.
Berner pioneered the idea of oversized rear derailleur pulleys a decade ago, and while CeramicSpeed may have popularized the idea for the (well-heeled) masses with its OSPW, plenty of imitators have popped up since.
One of the nicer-looking ones we’ve encountered is the Evo Speed System from SLF Motion, which features CNC-machined aluminum oversized pulleys (14-tooth upper, 18-tooth lower), coated hybrid ceramic cartridge bearings, and true made-in-USA carbon fiber cage plates to maintain stock stiffness and shift performance.
Somewhat surprisingly, SLF Motion doesn’t provide any efficiency claims on its site, although if they’re comparable to CeramicSpeed, users can expect drivetrain friction savings somewhere in the neighborhood of 2-4 watts. That said, it’s perhaps worth noting that Luke Plapp recently used the company’s Evo Aero oversized pulley cage system during his winning Australian men’s elite time trial national championship, and given the attention to detail paid to his bike setup, one would hope that he did his homework here as well.
Given CeramicSpeed’s substantial head start in this category, you might think that SLF Motion’s pulley cage system would be substantially less expensive. Truth be told, it’s far from cheap with a retail price of US$495, although it comes with a six-year warranty and still undercuts the equivalent CeramicSpeed version by US$154.
SLF Motion offers the Evo Speed in a variety of configurations for Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo fitments, and in six different anodized pulley colors. If you’re feeling particularly flush, there’s even a version with 3D-printed titanium pulleys for a whopping US$895.
Price: US$495 (international prices based on current exchange rate)
Weight: 75 g (29 g heavier than stock)
More information: www.slfmotion.com
The post Spotlight: SLF Motion Evo Speed System oversized rear derailleur pulley cage appeared first on CyclingTips.