TRP TR12 £310 (mech & shifter only)
TRP say their 12-speed mech/shifter combo is designed to work with cassettes up to 10-50t, which rules out Shimano and SRAM’s latest 51t and 52t offerings. However, while we tested the TR12 with a 10-45t Shimano cassette, we also tried it with a 10-51t version and encountered no problems shifting to or from the largest sprocket (although using this cassette would invalidate the warranty). The mech has a ratchet clutch with adjustable tension, and also boasts TRP’s unique ‘Hall Lock’, designed to increase stability and reduce noise. For better ergonomics, you can adjust the position of the shifter’s upshift paddle through a 40-degree range to suit your preference.
Set-up, including gear indexing, was easy, and the mech’s B-tension and chain length marker guides proved useful reference points, especially compared to SRAM’s tricky B-tension set-up. On the trail, our mech’s main pivot creaked when pedalling, but this didn’t affect performance. TRP’s recommended fix of applying anti-seize cured the noise but isn’t something we feel you should need to do. The clutch’s factory setting was quite loose, too, permitting excessive chain slap. Adding enough tension to stop this made shifting too stiff and we couldn’t find a good compromise. However, the mech remained straight and play-free during testing. The upshift angle adjustment was useful but the cable-release paddle was too far away for our thumb to comfortably reach, which made shifting noticeably more awkward than on the Shimano and SRAM drivetrains here. Although the TR12’s robustness bodes well, it just doesn’t perform as well as we’d hope at this price. www.upgradebikes.co.uk