Say Hello to the New Kid on the Block.

Designers at ROTOR stir the pot with a progressive 1x13 groupset that transcends disciplines from Road to MTB and beyond.

While component manufacturers across the globe eagerly raced to tackle the number twelve, you might have been duped into thinking that our designers here at ROTOR were taking things a little slow. And while we admit that we may have sat on the backburner through the beginning of the race, we're fans of the Tortoise-and-the-Hare approach to things. We let our patience, deliberate moves, and calculated approach lead us ahead, and our new 1x13 drives the point home. 

We craft the world's first 13-speed hydraulic groupset with simplified performance, and a clean shifting experience in mind. It features a modular platform that crosses from MTB to Road, Gravel, and Cyclocross, with a flexible choice of drivetrain components to match your ideal bike set-up. 

While the 1x drivetrain has taken the MTB world by storm, the perceived gear range and scale of power cadence available to the cyclist between gear shifts was off putting to those of us who prefer pavement. In theory, a 2x11 groupset offers a whopping 22-gears to take on any attack, and any pitch climb you might encounter — but you'd be a bit mistaken. Due to overlap of chainring and sprocket combinations, the Effective Gear Range lands at just 14, which is why we opted to focus on a smaller number.

When your average 2x11 drivetrain offers 14-gears, you might be wondering why we chose to focus on 1x13. Despite being one sprocket shy, our wide choice of chainring sizes (38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54) optimize gearing options, allowing our 13-speed cassettes can match — and even improve gear range and gear steps for the traditional 2x11 drivetrains, offering more of the gears you use, and skipping gears that go untouched.

The science behind the gear ratios.

The foundation of our faith in the one-by groupset configuration is firmly based in the Aero-Logic design of the world's first 13-speed cassette. We put the cyclists at the center of the re-designed 1x13 transmission by analyzing real user-data, thanks to our sophisticated INpower power measuring technology. This allows our engineers to process the primary data, and fine tune for our drivetrain design to deliver the optimum cadence range, and the best possible cycling experience.

 

What are the unique benefits?

 

1. Simplified shifting

Leave behind the anticipation for the challenging front derailleur shift in the crucial race moment to avoid chain loss or chain suck.

 2. Alternative

Exclusive 1x13 platform is a real alternative in range and gear steps to the traditional 2x11 drivetrains.

 3. Flexibility

Bigger gear range and more gear choices compared to existing MTB 1x12 systems.

 4. Modular platform

Unique 1x13 modular platform concept fits different cycling needs with the choice of shifters, cassettes, optimised direct mount chainrings and cranks.

 5. Lightweight

Simplified 1x chainring without front derailleur means reduced weight and mechanical complexity with improved aerodynamics.

 6. Hydraulic actuation benefits

• Maintenance free: Install, Bleed, Forget. No cables to replace, no batteries to charge.
• Internal routing ready.
• Lighter than battery powered and mechanical systems.
• Hydraulic technology with proven reliability.

Let's get down to the tech of it:

The table below shows the meters developed in a 53/39, and 11-28t two-by drivetrain (dividing chainring and sprocket size):

If we order them, it breaks down more like this:

However, we're pretty confident that no cyclist ever shifts between front rings 13 times with the corresponding shifts in the cassette. Instead, we are used to riding in the outer ring, and upshifting sprockets until a certain point. Then we shift down to the inner ring for optimal cadence. 

With 1x13, you can bypass the traditional challenges of a 2x front derailleur shift, enabling you to focus on fluid rear shifting, with a reduced chance of chain loss, or chain suck. 

1x13 Road / Gravel / Cyclocross

ROTOR 1x13 platform brings a real alternative to the classic 2x11drive trains.

Let’s compare a classic 2x11 (53/39 & 11-28) drive train with ROTOR 1x13 (50 & 10-39):

Furthermore ROTOR provides 4 different cassettes sizes to accommodate the different spectrum of riders: 10-36, 10-39, 10-46 and 10-52.

So if we can afford a smaller total range (still bigger than 2x) and look for smaller steps in between gears, we can choose the 10-36 cassette.

Total Range Equivalence Tables:

So, what about MTB drivetrains?

 

Cassette Steps - Technical info:

ROTOR 13s Cassettes

10-36: 10, 11, 12, 13 , 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 24, 27, 31, 36

10-39: 10, 11, 12, 13 , 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 24, 28, 33, 39

10-46: 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 22, 25, 29, 34, 39, 46

10-52: 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 22, 26, 31, 37, 44, 52

 

ROTOR 12s Cassettes

11-36: 11, 12, 13 , 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 24, 27, 31, 36

11-39: 11, 12, 13 , 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 24, 28, 33, 39

11-46: 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 22, 25, 29, 34, 39, 46

11-52: 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 22, 26, 31, 37, 44, 52