Ungreased chain? Now you can do a waxed chain video without the annoying chain prep stage to degrease it! I bought into the Silca system with bag to dip and the drip for touch ups. Quieter and cleaner.
Good to see you name checking and linking Trace Velo. His vids are the most in depth, the longest, the funniest, and also all that most of us can afford these (Brexit unemployed - parts unavailable) days. All I can afford anyway... Lotsa fun custom building a bike from Ebay and souping it up. Myself, I prefer to get premium quality older gear than the new but cheap Chinese stuff.
I got my bike in Shimano 105 and my dad's bike in the Sensah Empire 11 Speed. Both built by myself. The Sensah is actually good in terms of shifting performance, it's very responsive when you tune it right. the 105 is of course still quieter and smoother when it comes to shifting but the sensah is as responsive as the 105 in my opinion.
I bought the same groupset minus the disc brakes, and although I've only logged a couple hundred miles I think this stuff is an incredible bargain. When I've seen a component by component weight comparison sensah was lighter than 105. If your mechanically inclined you can put a pretty amazing bike together for a fraction of what you would pay for a bike from a major supplier.
@Dicky Mc I bought the brakes from Aliexpress for less than twenty dollars. They are dual pivot side pull brakes. The pads came with the carbon rims and frankly work really well. Easy to set up and they look nice too.
i run sensah shifters 11s with sram rival rd. I can attest it works... brilliantly. The mech lever feels much smoother than the sram i had. Running 2 years without problems at all. What starts from a temporary fix became a permanent choice on my bike
it's nice to see some of the component elitism wearing off and channels become more open without that overloaded "if it fails you will not have anyone to sue"
I was aware of Sensah and they will be major brand for EU/UK territory in a few years no doubt, the others I've never heard of so looking forward to your future reviews. I'm sure we all like the idea of cheaper components, especially if they work well ! £300.00 is amazing.
I've been running this groupset for a year now with no issues, great value for the money! I'd also recommend swapping out the brake pads if you want to use them properly, the standard brake pads aren't great!
I brought a pair of un-branded carbon clincher wheels from a Chinese supplier 7 years ago for £247.00 - from Ali Express. They worked perfectly, never went out of true and were pretty aero as well - being both 48mm deep. A bit off subject I know but - a lot of criticism about Chinese bike products can be quite unfounded I think. The Sensah group set looks really good for only £300! What's not to like!
I use a Sensah 1 x shifters and rear derailleur on my gravel bike and it works fine. I had to make some adjustments to the barrel adjuster to stop it moving but otherwise I’m happy. $180 AUD 👌
Well, inspired by this I’ve bought a new groupset for my 1990 Cannondale M800: several years ago it was converted to ‘sort of gravel’ with drops and bar end shifters. So I’ve gone for straight bars, 3x7 freewheel….yes, it’s that old! Current wheels are Mavic Oxygen M6CD - not light, but bombproof. The only original parts are the frame, seatpost and rear Dia-Compe U brake style on the seat stays. Everything else has been replaced.
I can also attest that this groupset is awesome!!! I've have this groupset and ultegra on two separate bikes. While I think Ultegra is better, Sensah is an excellent alternative to the massive shortage on shimano parts. Been running these for two years. Sensah also made great strides towards using metal instead plastic in places where it matters. Look at tracevelo's video for an in-depth review. Don't wait for your shimano parts to arrive 6 months late. Life's too short to be loyal to one brand.
I have used 2 sets (Indoors and outdoors) of the Sensah Empire Pro 12 Speeds groupset (Shifters+Front D+Rear D+Cassette+Chain) for more than a year. They are by far the best value components I have ever used in my two decades of cycling. Shifting can be finnicky but once correctly tuned, they shifted flawlessly. For my road disc bike, I used TRP Spyre SLC Flat mounts mechanical brakes which work but is not the best (considering Juin-Tech). On my mechanical, I used Mavic SSC brake calipers with Ksyrium wheels and they are a perfect combination for all day riding (52/36 - 11/28T). On my indoor Zwift/RGT Cycling, I have an unusual 53/34 Front and 11/32 which covers basically all forms of terrain simulation. They shifted well on my Tacx Neo and never had major issues with the accuracy. For their worth, they put the big brands to shame for value and functionality though finishing can be improved.
Been using this groupset for almost 5 months and still kicking and perfectly fine. I love also the shifters because of its accurate shifting. And the price also of this groupset which is very affordable when you build a project road or gravel bike.
I hav been using the YBN 11 speed chain lubed with Squirt on my daily gravel bike for 6 months now. No issues and still lots of life left. I also encountered the same problem with the hoods, the left and right hoods are different (my right shifter is fitted with a left side hood😅😂) other than that my groupset works great on a day to day basis.
did it come dry or was it greased, I'm reading mixed reports from people saying theirs was greased, others that they were dry.... not sure if a particular version is dry?
Some VERY NICE bike parts to be had. Have some very decent Carbon Wheels costing €300 been riding without issue for 5 years..Various frames and bits over the past 8 or 9 years...always check carefully and buy from official store..great value, also surprisingly speedy delivery..tracked. Plus the bonus that the supplier doesn’t get paid until happy with the goods.
If you're stuck for older odd standard bike parts China can often get you out of a jam. ZTTO make italian thread ,hollowtech compatible BBs and ISIS BBs are also out there.....
I decided to try the veryyyyy cheap 11s sensah empire. It also comes with the aluminum piece in the shifter. I have it for only a month so far so I can’t comment on durability. But for now… INSANE quality for the price. Even raced on it. Flaw-less shifting. The upshift, I dare to say it, is better than my ultegra di2. The downshift works well, but I’m so used to Shimano it’s hard for me to comment on this SRAM like downshift. It could be double the price and still be Good value.
State Bicycle Company use Sensah on their built bikes (rebranded to "State"). Crankset is ProWheel, old company but became a supplier for built bikes here in Asia during the shortage of Shimano parts. Go all out, look for those hubs (like the Goldix and Fovno brands) that have adopted the DT Swiss star ratchet system after the DT Swiss patent expired 2015, even original parts can be dropped in.
The onirii BR-05 are the latest revision from a fairly reputable company and are apparently extremely competent for the price, about half that of of the juin tech. I would look into those to keep the value theme going 👍. Make sure to get the 05 though.
Running a Sensah 1x11 groupset on my road bike, albeit with a Sram Rival 1 crank (flat terrain all around) and it's working really well for the past year, no issues so far, shifting is quite crisp. Got it via amazon for 150€ I think 👍.
Hi Francis! I bought a real Pinarello frame a while back so I didn't have the budget to invest in a higher end groupset. I took a risk on a 12 speed Sensah groupset and honestly, once you get it set up, it feels, rides and shifts amazing! Looks great to with the carbon shifters! BTW The Nutt calipers aren't that great! I ride the Juin Tech cable actuated hydraulic disc brake calibers and they are really really good! You can set and fine tune the feeling of the brakes to your preference. They have that option. Something you usually dont have on fully hydraulic ones. Have fun with it mate!
GENUINE YBN chains are great. There's a site somewhere out there that reviews chain friction and YBN come out near the top. No grease is a huge advantage as it means you don't have to strip off the factory crap before you get to put your lube of choice on. I've had zero issues with my YBN.
YBN make some of the best chains on the market. Friction Facts' favorite 11speed chain is a YBN, which carriers a fair bit of weight as they're one of the only independent testers of chain efficiency in the world. One of the reasons they like them is is that they play nice with waxing/applying far superior lubes than the ones that come from factory (which are generally done to reduce liability over maximum efficiency).
The YBN chain is actually fairly well reviewed in some of those nerdy “fastest/most durable chain” tests. I’ve had the Empire 11 speed for a year now and it’s pretty good
The breaks, I would exchange right away... get Juintech F1's or BR-005 (ZRACE, Onirii) and make sure to use compressionless break housings. Using Sensah Empire 2x11 on an indoor training bike and the Sensah SRX 1x11 on Gravel build and works great for the price you pay...
@@Cade_Media I'm using the hydraulic cable actuated Juin calipers and they are very good but I'm sure they would be better if my hands would be bigger. I find that pressing from the hoods they are not as strong but when you pull the leavers from the hoods they are very good. My friend is 6'4" and he doesn't have the same feeling. It's not always better to be short.
Just want to chime in on the JuinTec F1: Got them last year for about 110 Euros and used them to move the mechanical groupset from my old Canyon on the new frame. My plan was to have them temporarily on the bike and sell them after Shimano would have sorted out their shortage of parts... Long story short, kept them, because they perform absolutely flawless. Bit more hand strength required than on hydraulics, but modulation and braking power is on par with Ultegra/GRX I got on my other bikes. Compressionless housing from Jagwire, as already mentioned, and voila. Looking forward to your review of the Sensah groupset. P.S. Hope my english isn't too funky, I'm german
Had a sensah 11 speed set of shifters set up for a gravel build i had few years back, worked really well and still worked fine when i sold the bike on. Would also note combined these with a set of trp spyre mechanicals and plenty of stopping power for my 16 stone.
Got a sensah groupset 11 speed to build up a indoor set up for zwift and after running it for about 2 years I been very happy with it and would happily now run it on a bike outside Ps I wish all chains would come dry, it would save me degreasing them before I put it in my wax put.
It's awesome that the chain isn't lubed Francis, the factory grease/lube suck! You should always get rid of the factory lube and use a decent wax (fluid or dry) one instead!
I also received the sensah SRX in the ridiculous packaging. without manual. a manual for the crank can be downloaded. a qr code is printed on the crank arm for this purpose. the bottom bracket came without a spacer. It all works quite well. Time will tell if Sensah delivers the same quality as SRAM/Shimano.
I own the Sensex CRX Pro. the new aluminum lever doesn't break, it's true, but it wears off. for 3 thousand km I wiped it by about 1 mm ... I do not think that this will be a big problem, but the very fact that it is.
Thanks for shouting out Luke from Tracevelo. All I could think the whole time was ... "oh no a youtuber I like isn't crediting where he probably got his idea from"
Those cranks look interesting. Very much a Cannondale Si crankset look to them and the weight seems about right if you were to swap out those chainrings.
I have the Sensah 2x11 Empire on my winter / gravel bike. The front derailleur on my generation (March 2021) was just too stiff and so I swapped it for a SRAM FD which works perfectly - I’ve heard that later generations of FD are much better. My recommendation is to use Kevlar re-enforced brake outer space (KEB-SL) to have minimum slack on the braking. I got ZRace cable actuated hydraulic disc brakes with my set which were decent but I eventually upgraded to Juintech. These are great - still not as good as the fully hydraulic Ultegra on my road bike but more than good enough. Some how I got matching hoods :)
Those Nutt brakes work a lot better if you use 'compressionless' housing like the product from Jagwire. Without the upgraded housing, the braking is terrible. With it, the braking is adequate.
Been wanting to try the Sensah road group. I hear the 11sp is comparable to Ultegra R8000 weight wise. I've used the 11 speed mountain bike group on an all AliExpress parts MTB I did for my channel. it's not bad. My biggest complaint would probably be the cranks. The spindle is a separate piece. Being separate I had some issues keeping it tight and together. But some thread locker fixed that issue. Anyway thanks for the content. SUBSCRIBED
Yeah, you're going to want to replace those calipers. The juintech F1 calipers have a great reputation, and the Onirii br-05 are a new addition that is said to be just as good but much cheaper.
YBNs are rated really well. Molten Speed Wax only sells YBN pre waxed. Cycling Tips and Zero Friction Facts rate the 11 speed chains as the best. My personal experience is that the 11 speed SL version lasted longer than both Dura Ace and even Ultegra chains.
Trace Velo approved and I approve as well. I would get the Juintech F1 Brakes, which I'm still waiting on to put on myself with new compressionless brake housing. With all these supply chain issues, we are forced to think outside the box but on the positive side, the results are actually pretty acceptable to many's surprise. Just be careful if the cranks are aluminum. I would still use steel cranks. So I wouldn't get the "kit" like you did because some of the parts I don't like but ali express in general can have some bargains if willing to live with the pain points.
My theory is chain has no lube so who ever is installing can apply there lube of choice. Seems very handy for those who wax there chains, save having to clean it first!
Intrigued how this will go regarding the quality of the parts. With the bike prices here in Canada just rising from year to year and with the fairly limited brand options we have compared to Europe and the US, it would be interesting to see if this could be a good alternative for cheap builds (grab a reputable frame and use the cheaper components).
My gravel bike uses a groupset just like this, the Sensah SRX Pro 1x with Senicx cranks, and the Juin Tech F1 calipers his friend mentions in this video. Paired it with an AliExpress fully integrated frame and wheel set. At under $1,000 for the complete bike - all AliExpress parts - it’s phenomenal. Liked it so much I built a hardtail MTB using all parts from there as well. Does my Ultegra groupset work “better”? I guess. But my Ultegra groupset was almost as much as my entire gravel bike, and was more than my entire mountain bike build.
@@uberamd Thanks for the info. I'm essentially in a similar situation, I have 105 built road bike and looking to get a gravel bike. This years manufacturer models are usually 400$ more expensive than the same models from 2 years ago with the same components, so this seems like a good route to take.
That box looks in pretty good shape compared to Bike24 packages sent from Germany to Singapore here. I have received boxes where the holes are big enough to put my hand through. I am gobsmacked that I haven't lost anything in transit so far.
I have the Sensah SRX gravel groupset. Really nice shifts crisply across the huge 11-44T cassette i have. One really annoying problem, there isn't a mechanism to stop accidental downshifting on really bumpy descents as the brifter is all one piece.
Also have the Sensah Pro 1x 11s groupset on my bike. The 1x shifting is very very good for the price but the brakes are terrible (hydraulic/mechanical). That chain didn't make it on the bike as it was super noisey just dropping the rear wheel from an inch off the ground, just placed a Shimano chain on.
all parts looks ok ,but the break calipers you wont get satisfied,get juintech f1 instead,lube the cables,and dont put too much bend on the cables when routing,and youll be ok.
Its worthwhile to go with a cable actuated hydro brakeset with this. Just make sure that you use good compressionless cables. Funny thing though is that friends with high end brand name disc brakes complain of squealing brakes or rubbing rotors is something that I have not experienced yet with mine. For the money, this stuff works amazingly well. Apparently YBN also makes chains for Campagnolo.
I bet that brake system is Shimano. I have same problem of disc rubbing in my 105 Mechanical Hydraulic groupset. So fucking annoying but gives me the peace of mind it would stop even in long descends and emergency stops, unlike those mechanical pull disc brakes fitted in some low end bikes that let my mate bang his bike in the rear end of a pick up who suddenly stop and me using the Shimano 105 just skid a little bit and didn't hit the truck.
Just send a message about the hoods ruber through the Sensah store, they'll probably send you a pair of the "non grippy" rubber for free. And get a Shimano/KMC 12 speed chain, YBN chains streches like they are made of butter !
Juin tech brakes! And use shimano chain, cassette and chainrings for perfect shifting. 11s. So only sensah shifters and rear deraileur for a great setup
Give the chain a measure using a chain checker, seen a few cases before where people I know have bought chains from 'China', and have come stretched... Interesting to see the outcome, but also from a safety point of view so it doesn't just snap first ride
Ungreased chain? Now you can do a waxed chain video without the annoying chain prep stage to degrease it! I bought into the Silca system with bag to dip and the drip for touch ups. Quieter and cleaner.
Haha, same thought: that is the second where I stopped the video to react 🙂
Yep, thought the same: ready for waxing straight out of the box. Nice
Best thing about waxing so far has been the lack of mess and oily rags... 👍
That’s exactly what I thought been waxing my chains for years and buying a new ungreased chain would save a lot of messing about
YBN are recommended by the zero friction guy for waxing. Apparently they last about 50% longer than shimano's Dura Ace, too.
Good to see you name checking and linking Trace Velo. His vids are the most in depth, the longest, the funniest, and also all that most of us can afford these (Brexit unemployed - parts unavailable) days. All I can afford anyway... Lotsa fun custom building a bike from Ebay and souping it up. Myself, I prefer to get premium quality older gear than the new but cheap Chinese stuff.
I got my bike in Shimano 105 and my dad's bike in the Sensah Empire 11 Speed. Both built by myself. The Sensah is actually good in terms of shifting performance, it's very responsive when you tune it right. the 105 is of course still quieter and smoother when it comes to shifting but the sensah is as responsive as the 105 in my opinion.
I bought the same groupset minus the disc brakes, and although I've only logged a couple hundred miles I think this stuff is an incredible bargain. When I've seen a component by component weight comparison sensah was lighter than 105. If your mechanically inclined you can put a pretty amazing bike together for a fraction of what you would pay for a bike from a major supplier.
@Dicky Mc I bought the brakes from Aliexpress for less than twenty dollars. They are dual pivot side pull brakes. The pads came with the carbon rims and frankly work really well. Easy to set up and they look nice too.
Good video, TraceVelo also went through the different cable operated disc brakes from AliExpress as well. 👍
i run sensah shifters 11s with sram rival rd. I can attest it works... brilliantly. The mech lever feels much smoother than the sram i had. Running 2 years without problems at all. What starts from a temporary fix became a permanent choice on my bike
love how Trace Velo is starting to catch some peoples attention - nice plug for a top lad!
it's nice to see some of the component elitism wearing off and channels become more open without that overloaded "if it fails you will not have anyone to sue"
I was aware of Sensah and they will be major brand for EU/UK territory in a few years no doubt, the others I've never heard of so looking forward to your future reviews. I'm sure we all like the idea of cheaper components, especially if they work well ! £300.00 is amazing.
I've been running this groupset for a year now with no issues, great value for the money! I'd also recommend swapping out the brake pads if you want to use them properly, the standard brake pads aren't great!
Thank you for your support
Chains come with more of a protective coating rather than a lube anyway. I always remove the factory crap thoroughly before treating.
Yes absolutely, get rid of that thick grease
I brought a pair of un-branded carbon clincher wheels from a Chinese supplier 7 years ago for £247.00 - from Ali Express. They worked perfectly, never went out of true and were pretty aero as well - being both 48mm deep. A bit off subject I know but - a lot of criticism about Chinese bike products can be quite unfounded I think. The Sensah group set looks really good for only £300! What's not to like!
I use a Sensah 1 x shifters and rear derailleur on my gravel bike and it works fine. I had to make some adjustments to the barrel adjuster to stop it moving but otherwise I’m happy. $180 AUD 👌
If you're really going to use mechanical or even hydro-mechanical disc brakes you must _must_ MUST use compression-less cable housings
Well, inspired by this I’ve bought a new groupset for my 1990 Cannondale M800: several years ago it was converted to ‘sort of gravel’ with drops and bar end shifters.
So I’ve gone for straight bars, 3x7 freewheel….yes, it’s that old! Current wheels are Mavic Oxygen M6CD - not light, but bombproof. The only original parts are the frame, seatpost and rear Dia-Compe U brake style on the seat stays. Everything else has been replaced.
I can also attest that this groupset is awesome!!! I've have this groupset and ultegra on two separate bikes. While I think Ultegra is better, Sensah is an excellent alternative to the massive shortage on shimano parts. Been running these for two years. Sensah also made great strides towards using metal instead plastic in places where it matters. Look at tracevelo's video for an in-depth review.
Don't wait for your shimano parts to arrive 6 months late. Life's too short to be loyal to one brand.
Love it! If people start buying them it means good staff will be more available and cheaper because of the competition 😄
Could just be more demand and higher prices. Ouch
I have used 2 sets (Indoors and outdoors) of the Sensah Empire Pro 12 Speeds groupset (Shifters+Front D+Rear D+Cassette+Chain) for more than a year. They are by far the best value components I have ever used in my two decades of cycling. Shifting can be finnicky but once correctly tuned, they shifted flawlessly. For my road disc bike, I used TRP Spyre SLC Flat mounts mechanical brakes which work but is not the best (considering Juin-Tech). On my mechanical, I used Mavic SSC brake calipers with Ksyrium wheels and they are a perfect combination for all day riding (52/36 - 11/28T).
On my indoor Zwift/RGT Cycling, I have an unusual 53/34 Front and 11/32 which covers basically all forms of terrain simulation. They shifted well on my Tacx Neo and never had major issues with the accuracy.
For their worth, they put the big brands to shame for value and functionality though finishing can be improved.
Interesting video. Would love to see you push this grouppo to it’s absolute limit and compare it to the other grouppos like SRAM.
Been using this groupset for almost 5 months and still kicking and perfectly fine. I love also the shifters because of its accurate shifting. And the price also of this groupset which is very affordable when you build a project road or gravel bike.
Tracevelo will be pricking his ears up here! haha
Good video Francis. I was intrigued by this stuff when I saw it on ali express - particularly the crankset as the chainrings look nice.
would recommend tracevelo youtuber
I'm using Sensah SRX Pro on my gravel bike still working good after 1000 miles.
Interesting video on the groupset, looking forward to seeing the bike build 👍nice one Francis.
YBN chains are some of the best you can buy. They are first choice for many in the know….
Well that's good!
Zero Friction in Australia are selling treated 11 speed YBN chains for over £200!!! :-o
Can concur, have used 10spd ybn chains in the past, light and shifted well.
I hav been using the YBN 11 speed chain lubed with Squirt on my daily gravel bike for 6 months now. No issues and still lots of life left. I also encountered the same problem with the hoods, the left and right hoods are different (my right shifter is fitted with a left side hood😅😂) other than that my groupset works great on a day to day basis.
YBN are decent chains. I heard a rumour that YBN was making chains at some level for Shimano.
I like the Squirt lube too. My favorite of the many Ive tried.
I've bought multiple ybn chains and they all were well greased. Zero Friction Cycling rates them as one of best value in their tests
did it come dry or was it greased, I'm reading mixed reports from people saying theirs was greased, others that they were dry.... not sure if a particular version is dry?
@@fastasasloth I've had four ybn chains and all well greased. Not sure why that one on Luke's channel was dry
TraceVelo did a video covering the Nutt and the other brake system you mentioned... well worth a look.
Some VERY NICE bike parts to be had. Have some very decent Carbon Wheels costing €300 been riding without issue for 5 years..Various frames and bits over the past 8 or 9 years...always check carefully and buy from official store..great value, also surprisingly speedy delivery..tracked. Plus the bonus that the supplier doesn’t get paid until happy with the goods.
If you're stuck for older odd standard bike parts China can often get you out of a jam. ZTTO make italian thread ,hollowtech compatible BBs and ISIS BBs are also out there.....
I decided to try the veryyyyy cheap 11s sensah empire. It also comes with the aluminum piece in the shifter.
I have it for only a month so far so I can’t comment on durability.
But for now… INSANE quality for the price. Even raced on it. Flaw-less shifting. The upshift, I dare to say it, is better than my ultegra di2.
The downshift works well, but I’m so used to Shimano it’s hard for me to comment on this SRAM like downshift.
It could be double the price and still be Good value.
Crankset is nice. Cannot say anything else. Athletically pleasing. Shocked this gruppo actually looks an option. Even if for winter , an option
Im running some $100 3x10 levers and these are the best shifters I ever had and no issues with them.
State Bicycle Company use Sensah on their built bikes (rebranded to "State").
Crankset is ProWheel, old company but became a supplier for built bikes here in Asia during the shortage of Shimano parts.
Go all out, look for those hubs (like the Goldix and Fovno brands) that have adopted the DT Swiss star ratchet system after the DT Swiss patent expired 2015, even original parts can be dropped in.
We've got bikes here at my lbs (in Australia) with hydraulic Nutt brakes and they're actually used for e scooters.
The onirii BR-05 are the latest revision from a fairly reputable company and are apparently extremely competent for the price, about half that of of the juin tech. I would look into those to keep the value theme going 👍. Make sure to get the 05 though.
are they the same as the Z-race BR-005?
@@abedfo88 yep they should come from the same assembly line, with a different name printed 👍
excited to see how this progresses... good luck!
Unlubed chain sounds pleasent - no degreasing required - waxable out of the box. I am going to order these chains. Thank you for the video
Make sure you have enough space on the rd and rear wheel spokes. It tends too close to the rear wheel.
the friction freaks always strip all the factory lube off of new chains, so no lube on the chain is a plus for some folks, me included.
YBN is a OEM producer from taiwan. Produce for most big brands.
Good luck with your Empire, a bit fiddly to set up first time but my 11 speed works great👍 looking forward to seeing it in action.
Running a Sensah 1x11 groupset on my road bike, albeit with a Sram Rival 1 crank (flat terrain all around) and it's working really well for the past year, no issues so far, shifting is quite crisp. Got it via amazon for 150€ I think 👍.
Nice. I get quite a bit of bike stuff from Ali Ex... most companies are pretty good and quick. A few leave something to be desired...
Hi Francis! I bought a real Pinarello frame a while back so I didn't have the budget to invest in a higher end groupset. I took a risk on a 12 speed Sensah groupset and honestly, once you get it set up, it feels, rides and shifts amazing! Looks great to with the carbon shifters! BTW The Nutt calipers aren't that great! I ride the Juin Tech cable actuated hydraulic disc brake calibers and they are really really good! You can set and fine tune the feeling of the brakes to your preference. They have that option. Something you usually dont have on fully hydraulic ones.
Have fun with it mate!
GENUINE YBN chains are great. There's a site somewhere out there that reviews chain friction and YBN come out near the top. No grease is a huge advantage as it means you don't have to strip off the factory crap before you get to put your lube of choice on. I've had zero issues with my YBN.
Zero Friction Cycling
Was expecting a @tracevelo shoutout and you did not disappoint
Just as I was typing Trace Velo into the comments you go and mention him 😄 He tried those Nutt brakes about 6 months ago.... oh dear
Sensah empire pro is actually a good groupset here in the Philippines some say its like 105 but lighter than ultegra
Harry Mac is a fun, positive guy
YBN make some of the best chains on the market. Friction Facts' favorite 11speed chain is a YBN, which carriers a fair bit of weight as they're one of the only independent testers of chain efficiency in the world. One of the reasons they like them is is that they play nice with waxing/applying far superior lubes than the ones that come from factory (which are generally done to reduce liability over maximum efficiency).
The YBN chain is actually fairly well reviewed in some of those nerdy “fastest/most durable chain” tests. I’ve had the Empire 11 speed for a year now and it’s pretty good
Nice shout out to Trace Velo (his name, as always... is Luke)
I’ve bought the same groupset, same impressions, I’m still waiting for the frame…so I hope you’ll find it works well 😁🤞
The breaks, I would exchange right away... get Juintech F1's or BR-005 (ZRACE, Onirii) and make sure to use compressionless break housings. Using Sensah Empire 2x11 on an indoor training bike and the Sensah SRX 1x11 on Gravel build and works great for the price you pay...
I want to see how bad they are first
@@Cade_Media I'm using the hydraulic cable actuated Juin calipers and they are very good but I'm sure they would be better if my hands would be bigger. I find that pressing from the hoods they are not as strong but when you pull the leavers from the hoods they are very good.
My friend is 6'4" and he doesn't have the same feeling. It's not always better to be short.
Just want to chime in on the JuinTec F1:
Got them last year for about 110 Euros and used them to move the mechanical groupset from my old Canyon on the new frame.
My plan was to have them temporarily on the bike and sell them after Shimano would have sorted out their shortage of parts...
Long story short, kept them, because they perform absolutely flawless. Bit more hand strength required than on hydraulics, but modulation and braking power is on par with Ultegra/GRX I got on my other bikes.
Compressionless housing from Jagwire, as already mentioned, and voila.
Looking forward to your review of the Sensah groupset.
P.S.
Hope my english isn't too funky, I'm german
@@Cade_Media ... just be sure to use compression-less cable housings
TraceVelo/Luke has the best AliExpress bike videos!
Had a sensah 11 speed set of shifters set up for a gravel build i had few years back, worked really well and still worked fine when i sold the bike on. Would also note combined these with a set of trp spyre mechanicals and plenty of stopping power for my 16 stone.
The hoods are small because it’s a mechanical break system. Same on my 105.
Got a sensah groupset 11 speed to build up a indoor set up for zwift and after running it for about 2 years I been very happy with it and would happily now run it on a bike outside
Ps I wish all chains would come dry, it would save me degreasing them before I put it in my wax put.
It's awesome that the chain isn't lubed Francis, the factory grease/lube suck! You should always get rid of the factory lube and use a decent wax (fluid or dry) one instead!
Apart from the brake calipers being heavy, you could just buy some TRP spyres and still have a really good groupset for the price right?
I also received the sensah SRX in the ridiculous packaging. without manual. a manual for the crank can be downloaded. a qr code is printed on the crank arm for this purpose. the bottom bracket came without a spacer. It all works quite well. Time will tell if Sensah delivers the same quality as SRAM/Shimano.
Really looking forward to seeing how this works out!
I own the Sensex CRX Pro. the new aluminum lever doesn't break, it's true, but it wears off. for 3 thousand km I wiped it by about 1 mm ...
I do not think that this will be a big problem, but the very fact that it is.
Built my son a flat bar gravel bike with sensa mtb groupset and it works really well to be fair. Looking forward to what you think of yours.
Thanks for shouting out Luke from Tracevelo. All I could think the whole time was ... "oh no a youtuber I like isn't crediting where he probably got his idea from"
I got the idea from Harry!
(the guy on facetime)
perhaps we should all be thanking Linus tech tips for the real inspo though
Hey Francis, check out zero friction cycling if your worried about the ybn chain.
Seems I lucked out there!
@@Cade_Media yep there a good chain thats for sure. I'm looking forward to seeing what this complete groupset is like
Thats mental £300 for a full groupset, I need to catch up on the videos to see how you get on with it. All very interesting
YBN chains for the win! Always easy to come by in Taiwan - never had a single issue with this chain, easily comparable to a KMC chain.
interesting that you received yours without the packaging. I've seen other videos where its all in a nice box from Sensah
The shifters were fixed like a year and a half ago with the 2x11. I own that groupset.
Someone has been watching Trace Velo’s videos
how the heck you knew I was thinking about the hole just as you mentioned it!
👀
Those cranks look interesting. Very much a Cannondale Si crankset look to them and the weight seems about right if you were to swap out those chainrings.
As for YBN, it's arguably the best brand on the market. The fact that it is not greased is a bliss in my opinion.
It's great if you do the wax dipping thing like I do. Less to clean up before you dip for the first time!
is there a particular version of the chain that isnt greased? some folks have stated that theirs came with grease? thanks...
I have the Sensah 2x11 Empire on my winter / gravel bike. The front derailleur on my generation (March 2021) was just too stiff and so I swapped it for a SRAM FD which works perfectly - I’ve heard that later generations of FD are much better. My recommendation is to use Kevlar re-enforced brake outer space (KEB-SL) to have minimum slack on the braking. I got ZRace cable actuated hydraulic disc brakes with my set which were decent but I eventually upgraded to Juintech. These are great - still not as good as the fully hydraulic Ultegra on my road bike but more than good enough. Some how I got matching hoods :)
Been using mine for over a year recently go the oversized pulley one it works great for the money
Those Nutt brakes work a lot better if you use 'compressionless' housing like the product from Jagwire. Without the upgraded housing, the braking is terrible. With it, the braking is adequate.
Hopefully these are the updated version, as the ratchet in shifter can break. Luke on Trace Velo discovered this issue when he bought Empire.
I should really watch whole video before commenting.
Been wanting to try the Sensah road group. I hear the 11sp is comparable to Ultegra R8000 weight wise. I've used the 11 speed mountain bike group on an all AliExpress parts MTB I did for my channel. it's not bad. My biggest complaint would probably be the cranks. The spindle is a separate piece. Being separate I had some issues keeping it tight and together. But some thread locker fixed that issue. Anyway thanks for the content. SUBSCRIBED
Yeah, you're going to want to replace those calipers. The juintech F1 calipers have a great reputation, and the Onirii br-05 are a new addition that is said to be just as good but much cheaper.
YBNs are rated really well. Molten Speed Wax only sells YBN pre waxed. Cycling Tips and Zero Friction Facts rate the 11 speed chains as the best. My personal experience is that the 11 speed SL version lasted longer than both Dura Ace and even Ultegra chains.
Trace Velo approved and I approve as well. I would get the Juintech F1 Brakes, which I'm still waiting on to put on myself with new compressionless brake housing. With all these supply chain issues, we are forced to think outside the box but on the positive side, the results are actually pretty acceptable to many's surprise. Just be careful if the cranks are aluminum. I would still use steel cranks. So I wouldn't get the "kit" like you did because some of the parts I don't like but ali express in general can have some bargains if willing to live with the pain points.
The 11 speed can shift a 10 speed GX rear derailleur and a SRAM Force 22. Done it. Easy.
My theory is chain has no lube so who ever is installing can apply there lube of choice. Seems very handy for those who wax there chains, save having to clean it first!
Intrigued how this will go regarding the quality of the parts. With the bike prices here in Canada just rising from year to year and with the fairly limited brand options we have compared to Europe and the US, it would be interesting to see if this could be a good alternative for cheap builds (grab a reputable frame and use the cheaper components).
My gravel bike uses a groupset just like this, the Sensah SRX Pro 1x with Senicx cranks, and the Juin Tech F1 calipers his friend mentions in this video. Paired it with an AliExpress fully integrated frame and wheel set. At under $1,000 for the complete bike - all AliExpress parts - it’s phenomenal. Liked it so much I built a hardtail MTB using all parts from there as well. Does my Ultegra groupset work “better”? I guess. But my Ultegra groupset was almost as much as my entire gravel bike, and was more than my entire mountain bike build.
@@uberamd Thanks for the info. I'm essentially in a similar situation, I have 105 built road bike and looking to get a gravel bike. This years manufacturer models are usually 400$ more expensive than the same models from 2 years ago with the same components, so this seems like a good route to take.
Harry seems like the guy to talk to about all this.
definitely
No grease on the chain saves the ultrasonic clean before the hotwax!
That box looks in pretty good shape compared to Bike24 packages sent from Germany to Singapore here. I have received boxes where the holes are big enough to put my hand through. I am gobsmacked that I haven't lost anything in transit so far.
😂
I have the Sensah SRX gravel groupset. Really nice shifts crisply across the huge 11-44T cassette i have. One really annoying problem, there isn't a mechanism to stop accidental downshifting on really bumpy descents as the brifter is all one piece.
Also have the Sensah Pro 1x 11s groupset on my bike. The 1x shifting is very very good for the price but the brakes are terrible (hydraulic/mechanical). That chain didn't make it on the bike as it was super noisey just dropping the rear wheel from an inch off the ground, just placed a Shimano chain on.
Mine came in a proper box was really well presented.
all parts looks ok ,but the break calipers you wont get satisfied,get juintech f1 instead,lube the cables,and dont put too much bend on the cables when routing,and youll be ok.
The mismatched shifter handles…maybe because they look so similar, the person packing grabbed the wrong one?
Its worthwhile to go with a cable actuated hydro brakeset with this. Just make sure that you use good compressionless cables. Funny thing though is that friends with high end brand name disc brakes complain of squealing brakes or rubbing rotors is something that I have not experienced yet with mine. For the money, this stuff works amazingly well. Apparently YBN also makes chains for Campagnolo.
I bet that brake system is Shimano. I have same problem of disc rubbing in my 105 Mechanical Hydraulic groupset. So fucking annoying but gives me the peace of mind it would stop even in long descends and emergency stops, unlike those mechanical pull disc brakes fitted in some low end bikes that let my mate bang his bike in the rear end of a pick up who suddenly stop and me using the Shimano 105 just skid a little bit and didn't hit the truck.
Just send a message about the hoods ruber through the Sensah store, they'll probably send you a pair of the "non grippy" rubber for free.
And get a Shimano/KMC 12 speed chain, YBN chains streches like they are made of butter !
I've heard they are efficient with partial refunds/replacing parts if there is a problem. Might query this just to document what happens, good call!
@@Cade_Media i mean these, rubber are probably costing much more when they'll send it to you than the actual price of the rubbers themself 😅
Juin tech brakes! And use shimano chain, cassette and chainrings for perfect shifting. 11s. So only sensah shifters and rear deraileur for a great setup
Let's GO!
Please do an MTB groupset next!
Where is your follow up video of the components from Ali Express mounted and tested on your bike? Very interested to see the results.
Coming up 👍
Great video as ever..your videos are getting more and more like casey neistat videos 👌👍
Give the chain a measure using a chain checker, seen a few cases before where people I know have bought chains from 'China', and have come stretched... Interesting to see the outcome, but also from a safety point of view so it doesn't just snap first ride