Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
If you are not bored already with the Wheeltop EDS OX2.0 system... 
Let me first tell you how Shimano Di2 (MTB) and SRAM AXS electronic drivetrains do work. These big players don't give a s*it for the system flexibility. Currently, the drivetrains from the Big Two are all 12-speed and require expensive system components to work perfectly. If you install a SRAM AXS wireless derailleur then the cassette must be SRAM, too. The user (or a mechanic) installs the AXS derailleur and precisely aligns the derailleur guide pulley with the smallest cassette cog. As the cassette sprockets are precisely spaced, there is only one global adjustment for the derailleur. Say, you use the "SRAM AXS upgrade kit" that works with derailleur hangers. Say, your derailleur hanger got slightly bent. Yes, you can electronically adjust the derailleur but only for the smallest cassette cog; the spacing between the cassette sprockets won't change. And, if it is 12 speed, it is 12 speed. You cannot upgrade your bike with the latest SRAM 13-speed cassette. (It is similar to Shimano Di2 conceptually).
The flexibility of Wheeltop EDS OX2.0 is a blessing and a curse at the same time. Yes, you can use any cassette. Yes, you can micro-tune the derailleur the way the device knows the exact position of each cassette sprocket, 3-14 speed drivetrains, 10-52T being the largest cassette. Where is the curse then? The documentation and the app, which are not clear enough.
It all starts with precisely aligning the derailleur guide pulley with the smallest cassette sprocket (as for any derailleur!) It is done with the H-screw (high limit screw, not the L-screw as I wrote for several times). Now, if your cassette is a Shimano, theoretically the derailleur should work with the default settings (you need to do some adjustments for SRAM cassettes). So, you happily set off for a check ride and discover you cannot shift to certain gears anyway. OK, you need to do fine tuning or micro calibration for the problematic gears. You basically do it with a smartphone app. Why is it cumbersome?
The guide pulley must be aligned with the respective cassette sprocket. If some gear is not shifted into, you adjust this one not any other!
-------------
Many people publish OX2.0 tutorials on YT. However, the subject is so extensive that the authors give up explaining such little but vital facts. It all makes things very confusing until you have spent enough time figuring out how the system actually works.
Necessary to mention, you can do fine tuning using the shifter. The intention is to be able to fine tune the derailleur as you are riding. The problem is nobody understands how it is done The most popular comment of the tutorial authors is "it doesn't work very well" It probably does but we cannot understand how to do it properly
OK, enough rant! I'm setting off for a 50 miler today and hope for a perfect ride!
My table of the derailleur adjustments. The gears are listed from the granny gear (1st) to the hardest gear (11th), The major adjustment was done for Gear 10 (down from 170). (The adjustments to 9th and 8th were minimal). No adjustments for 1st-7th.
End-note: If anyone owns a 12-speed SRAM drivetrain, I would recommend going with SRAM. Otherwise, Wheeltop is a sweet alternative!
Let me first tell you how Shimano Di2 (MTB) and SRAM AXS electronic drivetrains do work. These big players don't give a s*it for the system flexibility. Currently, the drivetrains from the Big Two are all 12-speed and require expensive system components to work perfectly. If you install a SRAM AXS wireless derailleur then the cassette must be SRAM, too. The user (or a mechanic) installs the AXS derailleur and precisely aligns the derailleur guide pulley with the smallest cassette cog. As the cassette sprockets are precisely spaced, there is only one global adjustment for the derailleur. Say, you use the "SRAM AXS upgrade kit" that works with derailleur hangers. Say, your derailleur hanger got slightly bent. Yes, you can electronically adjust the derailleur but only for the smallest cassette cog; the spacing between the cassette sprockets won't change. And, if it is 12 speed, it is 12 speed. You cannot upgrade your bike with the latest SRAM 13-speed cassette. (It is similar to Shimano Di2 conceptually).
The flexibility of Wheeltop EDS OX2.0 is a blessing and a curse at the same time. Yes, you can use any cassette. Yes, you can micro-tune the derailleur the way the device knows the exact position of each cassette sprocket, 3-14 speed drivetrains, 10-52T being the largest cassette. Where is the curse then? The documentation and the app, which are not clear enough.
It all starts with precisely aligning the derailleur guide pulley with the smallest cassette sprocket (as for any derailleur!) It is done with the H-screw (high limit screw, not the L-screw as I wrote for several times). Now, if your cassette is a Shimano, theoretically the derailleur should work with the default settings (you need to do some adjustments for SRAM cassettes). So, you happily set off for a check ride and discover you cannot shift to certain gears anyway. OK, you need to do fine tuning or micro calibration for the problematic gears. You basically do it with a smartphone app. Why is it cumbersome?
- A numerical change of a gear setting requires a subsequent gear change (you might think entering a value and confirming would do the adjustment immediately but it does not). Very confusing.
- The gears are numbered from the smallest cassette sprocket. Yes, you can reverse the numbering by the Gear Mirror option. Then you understand the fine tuning even less
- Now, let us assume you are in Gear 9 (third smallest on a 11-speed cassette). An attempt to upshift to Gear 10 does not move the chain and the upshift does not occur...
- Should you adjust the position of Gear 9 or Gear 10...?
- You would probably think: "Let us move the position of Gear 9 towards the Gear 10, so the chain drops onto Gear 10 more easily!". Wrong.
- To do a gear change, you need to move the guide pulley the way it is aligned with the sprocket to which you intend to shift. Cannot go from 9 to 10? Move the setting of Gear 10 towards the smaller sprockets! Do not touch the Gear 9!
The guide pulley must be aligned with the respective cassette sprocket. If some gear is not shifted into, you adjust this one not any other!
-------------
Many people publish OX2.0 tutorials on YT. However, the subject is so extensive that the authors give up explaining such little but vital facts. It all makes things very confusing until you have spent enough time figuring out how the system actually works.
Necessary to mention, you can do fine tuning using the shifter. The intention is to be able to fine tune the derailleur as you are riding. The problem is nobody understands how it is done
The most popular comment of the tutorial authors is "it doesn't work very well" It probably does but we cannot understand how to do it properly OK, enough rant! I'm setting off for a 50 miler today and hope for a perfect ride!
My table of the derailleur adjustments. The gears are listed from the granny gear (1st) to the hardest gear (11th), The major adjustment was done for Gear 10 (down from 170). (The adjustments to 9th and 8th were minimal). No adjustments for 1st-7th.
End-note: If anyone owns a 12-speed SRAM drivetrain, I would recommend going with SRAM. Otherwise, Wheeltop is a sweet alternative!
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