A political note about current events: Can we try to keep this about bikes in the comment section? I'll never delete a comment (If UA-cam deletes it - that's on them) because I'm all for freedom of expression. However, I will advise everyone that the only way the world is going to get through this is with UNITY and not HOSTILITY. Before you say "But THEY started it when they..." - I'm not gonna give my opinion on who has or has not done what, the only way to fight hatred is with love. Before you judge one point three billion people based on the actions of a few in charge (for better or worse) please remember that behind every product is a company and behind every company are people. People just like you who were just as scared for their safety and that of their loved ones when the s**t hit the fan. DON'T let hatred win. I will say one of my opinions is that governments all over the world are motivated to fill their media with whatever it takes to make you hate the other country to take pressure off themselves. Don't do it. We're easily pigeon-holed by the country that we were born in and it's easy to see what's DIFFERENT about us all, but lets look at what's the SAME. We all love bikes. The bike is an amazing machine and when you're riding your bike and killing yourself on a climb you don't care about the politics of the world. So, again, I'll ask for you guys not to turn the comments section into a negative space. I ride every bike and every groupset. Again, let's focus on what unites us and don't let us be torn apart by hatred. One love.
Very well said - I'm Chinese (from Hong Kong/living in uk/English wife) and some of the shit I got when I was on the bus is laughable, it is a virus and I could generated from anywhere in the world. Some people are just thick.
I installed Sensah 2x10 shifters ($108) after my Ultegra shifters broke. I have used them for about 500 miles thus far with no issues. All shifting and braking done through single paddle. I am very happy with the purchase. I have just purchased a 2 x 11 Sensah shifters and derailleurs for another bike.
@@ChinaCycling Tell that to your average dentist or accountant fool, who is dying to get literally robbed by buying an S-Works Venge on Zipps and Sram Etap AXS. Competition my arse. These things are targetted at completely different clienteles and the rich and vane or just pretending folk will NEVER change their priorities. For them it is not about the price or equal or nearly equal quality.
As far as I know, Shimano's 12 speed mountain bike cassettes are wider than the 11 speed cassettes but keep the 11 speed spacing. The additional sprocket is shifted towards the spokes. Actually, the additional sprocket extends over the freehub body into the spokes. This explains why you hit the spokes if you are not careful with your limit screws. On the other hand, this allows you to use an existing freehub standard which makes it easier for people to switch to a newer groupset.
Great vid. Sadly even riders in China have little knowledge about this native 12s groupset. I'm using it for a month now. Found this thing works perfectly compatible with a sram 12s crankset and a shimano front derailleur.
Just wanted to throw some fuel on the fire but I am currently running the old Empire groupset on my bike as 1x11 and it works great. I would say I have above average sized hands and I actually prefer the grips and throw distance to my old 105 5600 2x10 setup. The left hand shifter on the old groupset had some wild throw and it doesn't look like they fixed that for this one either. Doesn't matter if you set it up 1x and you don't have a useless paddle on your other shifter so it looks real nice. I'm definitly keeping an eye on Sensah in the future, really enjoy the shifters I have and it looks like they're actively improving their products.
Not a bad option at all, If you are on a Budget, or if you want another nice light ride that will not leave you Bankrupt. Also, This good quality and affordable group set will work perfect if you were living on a Third world country (I was born educated and raised in one...) do to the Fact that Riding a Proper Roadie becomes an Uber expensive Hobby, and almost unaffordable deal if you are a common standard Citizen... The good thing about this Proper Bike Manufacturers from China is the Fact that they are getting the Engineering Intelligence from True Bike Industry Specialist, and are also adding innovative designs and different engineering Perspectives. Kudos to That!
Cycling can definitely be an expensive hobby. Lots of people look down on this stuff but they don't understand for some people this price range is their only choice.
Thanks for the video. I have installed this groupset on my wife bike. The 11-34 cassette is perfect for her. Shifting is OK but not perfect. I have found out that the cassette cog spacing is inconsistant varying from 1.7 to 2.2 mm where it should be 2.0mm except for the 3 smallest cog (2.3mm) . Because of that, the chain is noisy on some of the cog. I have contact Sensah regarding this problem and waiting for an answer. Front derailleur have a fair amount of play at the pin but shifting is fine.
Thanks for the honest review. Waiting for my 12 Speed Sensah Empire Groupset for a few weeks now. Going to build up on Aluminium Frame with Carbon Fork and Ksyrium Elite S Wheelset just for the experience of 12 Speed.
Thank you for your terrific reviews! They are informative, concise, and well-edited. Based on your earlier review of Sensah Empire 2x11, I picked up a group for $89 (two shifters and the rear derailleur). Shipping was free. I left out the front derailleur on your advice and substituted a Campagnolo Super Record. The shifting performance is extremely precise after 3000 miles. The front in particular is the best mechanical shifting I've ever experienced. I think this is because the long throw of the Sensah shifters makes it much easier, and in my opinion, superior to the Campy shifters I originally used. The throw of the Sensah shifters does take some getting used to, and probably would be difficult for smaller hands. Thanks again!
@@ChinaCycling Plus the major style points of rocking a mix of Sensah Empire and Campy Super Record. I love that 75% of my group costs less than a replacement ball bearing or spring on the other 25%. Super videos--thank you!
Thank you so much for this video, the clearance was exactly what happened to me. My limit screws were not set properly hence it caused my hanger to bend, twice. This video is awesome. Thanks man
After watching your old video I purchased a set of Sensah Empire brifters late last year from AliExpress for $99 usd shipped free. I didnt need any other parts and installed them on my Ritchey travel bike with left over Shimano 105 RD, Ultegra FD, shimano 11-32 cassette and a Praxis crank. I am used to both SRAM and Shimano so no issues getting used to the mech. I will say I have it all finally dialed in now and they shift excellent and have no issues with the throw as I have large hands. My only issue with them is the brifter body is narrow and not as padded as my Shimano brifters so I do wish they had more padding for comfort. Otherwise great deals as new Shimano 11 speed brifters are $$$.
That's good to hear! My friend also said he finds ths brifters uncomfortable, but I haven't had any issues yet... but I don't do crazy long rides, so....
@monzadh I'm wondering about the cable pull ratio - you're saying these Sensah brifters are compatible with shimano 11 speed road components correct? Cheers
@@charliewhiskey8440 Yes Charlie, it took a bit if working out the exact RD and FD limits then trim with the throws but now it shifts pefect. Im not sure on the quality of the cable that it ships with but again it is shifting well and has a built in trim with no issues now on my rear 11x32 shimano casette. Good luck!
Thanks for watching. I didn't like that paintjob when I saw the frame, but I think it looks decent when you build up the bike. Beats having 1,000 matt black bikes anyway.
@@ChinaCycling probably because its not the usual color we see on bikes(black,red) but it sure is a beauty, as you said its a breath of fresh air from matte colored bikes
Good review. I'm a 1x convert, with all my bikes have now been converted to 1x. Curious to know if there a electronic version coming.? Btw... In my view, you are the only product reviewer that is coming from where a lot of oem products come from that I feel is accurate abs reliable. We need more reputable manufacturers coming to you. Keep it real man.... You are doing fantastic.
Thanks for watching, thanks for the kind comments. It's tough because I do this part time, so it can be hard to get the quality I want. I shall keep trying though.
Electronic is a curse. Once you use it, you can never go back to mechanical. I wish I'd never used it, because now I can only use electronic....hahaha.
@@ChinaCycling Rubbish. What, have you forgotten how to operate a mechanical one? I have a Shimano Di2 on one bike, Sram Etap on another and a mechanical shifting on yet another and have 0 problem operating either.
As long as it smooth and has no problem with braking or shifting I probably give it a shoot for my backup if I need it. However it has to be electronic groupset tho. Thank you buddy for the review.
The can fit 12 speeds onto an 11 speed freehub by using a wide range 11-34 cassette. That lets them push that great big cog closer to the wheel without having to worry about clearance for the derailleur because the dish of the wheel angles the spokes towards the center and away from the derailleur, but they really are pushing the limits here
I considered the sensah groupset, but I ended up kitting together a really nice sram red plus force derailleurs 10 speed for $220. The advantage being the wheels and casettes and chains are usually a better bargain once you fit the whole thing together. If I knew the sensah 12 speed cassette didn't need a new xgr hub earlier I probably would have gone for it. (Tip for bargain hunters sram red 10 11 and force mechanical rear derailleurs have been the same exact parts with different paint since 2010 surprisingly, and all sram front shifters function across all models yaw or not. Sram yaw 22 and 10 speed are also identical front derailleurs and left shifters.)
@@ChinaCycling Yes, I loved 10 speed cross compatibility and ran SRAM Red shifters with SRAM XX MTB rear derailleur with a 150-gram alloy 11-36 freewheel for a hyper light 1x10 set-up before 1x became so well adopted...
A warning! After finally sorting out my shifting problems with this new Sensah Empire Pro (Carbon) groupset, I have found a problem for riders who like to sprint (especially in fast criterium races). With Shimano, when you are flat out sprinting in top gear, if you go looking for a faster gear with the inner shift lever, nothing happens - you stay in the same gear. However, with this groupset, because there is only one lever for up and down shifting, if you try to searching for a higher gear (small cog at the back), it's really easy to push the lever too far and drop to a lower gear - quite disconcerting in a flat-out sprint! Apparently this is also an issue with Sram which is compatible with this Sensah group (I've never used Sram). This probably wouldn't be an issue for normal riding - but if you like to race/sprint, be warned. Sorry, but it's back to Shimano for me for the time being.
As always buddy...Love your vids. I've ended up with Chinese frames and wheels bought firect from China. For accessories I often use Aliexpress. Best buying decisions you can make providing you do the research first. Love it!!!! No part down to your own videos. Just in the market for another wheelset at the moment and I'll be going firect to China once again...Yaaaay. As far as Groupsets are concerned. Hmmm. I feel a bit like Kryton saying Smeg! Just can't do it. Campagnolo only for me!....... Keep up the good work buddy and great tp see you in the Hambini chat the other day too.
I'm very much aware that people are using my videos to choose where to spend their hard-earned cash. Actually keeps me awake at night sometimes. What if someone buys something on my recommendation and it's a shite? So, always relieved when I see comments like yours from people who have bought the stuff and had the same positive experience that I have.
I purchased a Zitto shifter, derailleur, cassette, chain, crank, and BB set from China for $200. It was a 1x11 with 32 tooth front ring. The set works wonderful with clean crisp shifts. Zitto is great. Check them out on AliExpress.com. Very much like Chinese frames, wheels and components. I would get a larger crank gear next time.
anybody happening to know if the Sensah Empire PRO 12 speed will work with a SRAM GX derailleur? I want to do a gravel project with a big GX cassette in the back, 1x12 speed, with Sensah shifters. On the other hand... ... you announced some review of a hybrid calipers (hydraulic calipers, cable actuation).... something new, and probably better than JuinTech? I'd love to hear about it :) :) :)
From what I have seen and heard, there are both plastic and metal versions of both groupsets Empire and Empire pro. Sensah has confirmed the problem with Empire and fixed it. I don't know if they have offically talked about this problem with Empire pro, but there is for sure a version with metal. Most of this info I got from the comments on trace velos second video in this groupset (non pro)
Bloody excellent review... thanks Joe! It takes Chinese bike makers to get MORE people out there riding bikes... the price of bicycles in the west is sheer lunacy! Just compare them to motorcycles...
Ever heard of Campagnolo 12 -speed ? compatible from 9-speed to 12 speed. It would be nice if this group-set would be compatible with Campy. Note that Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo 11-speed are cross compatible as far as Freewheel hub goes. For Campagnolo 12 you do not need a different wheel.
Just ordered the groupset today. The seller included a crankset, disc brakes, and rotors. The Sensah components of the package totalled $195 USD. Total with the above was $333.35 USD + shipping and tax. The gravel bike I'm building will end up being 100% Chinese.
Related to the 12 speed cassette on an 11 speed hub body , sram did the same , on their NX 12 speed , they have and 11-50(on shimano 11 speed hub body ) instead of the gx , xx1, x01 10-50 (on their XD drive body) , the spacing is there for 12 speed , just not for the fancy 10 teeth small cog.
I bought a Sensah Empire front derailleur and was quite pleased with it...for about a month when the pivots wore out and it would rattle but wouldn't shift right. Bummer. Please give a follow-up review after a few thousand km/miles.
Thank you for the review! Just want to know if you tinkered through it more? I was looking how much is the cable pull of the rear mech shifter? I’m really interested to know the pull ratio of rear mech.
Was there anything special you had to do to get this front derailleur to shift properly? I seem to be having trouble getting enough tension in the shift wire to have this shift properly. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Tried to use the 12 speed cassette to replace my old 9 speed, couldn't get the last cog onto the freehub, and the largest ring is dangerously close to the spokes. I suspect my freehubs body is too narrow, but I thought 9 and 11 speed freehubs were the same width so it should work? Should I replace the 9 speed freehubs with a modern 11 now?
I had the 11 speed empire sensah groupset. I literally had to replace every single part of that groupset within a year. Your review doesn't address the most concerning part of these groupsets. Durability. They work great out of the box obviously. I replaced everything with a mix of ultegra and 105 and have had 0 issues since. Anyways, i really hope this new groupset is way better than previous empire groupsets.
Really? What died? As I said in the review, I only rode mine for 1000km, but I have Chinese friends who have 7000-9000 on the sensah 2x11 and everything is original. I'm genuinely curious, so let us know.
I have been waiting for this review! I just got myself the non pro version. Been loving it so much! However, has not been able to test it out yet on the road. Movement Control Order here in my country. 😭
@@meorrazizul7551 Sy x boleh ckap lagi ok ke tidak... Sbb baru pakai 6 bulan... Setakat 6 bulan pakai, 6000km++, beberapa kali jatuh manja (RD calar, kena hempap, RD hanger bengkok), masih functioning well! So sy kena tunggu lepas setahun sekurang-kurangnya, 12000km++ sekurang-kurangnya, barulah berani rekemen 'OK'! Hahaha! Follow Strava 'Azzuan Toha'... 😁
@@meorrazizul7551 hahaha! Beribu-beribu kilometer dah sy cycling bang, siap tawan KOM lg... Xkn la sy sanggup cycling dlm keadaan shifting x smooth... 😋 Yg penting tuning, gear indexing kena cantik...
Where can i find information on sensah online ? I'm trying to build a gropset for winspace G2 frame with flat bar and can't understand what to buy. Thanks.
I would like to see more bike brands installing groupsets like this when trying to offer lower priced models of bikes. I know, I'm dreaming and the brands can't do that because of contracts they have with Shimano, but this option is way better than a Claris or Sora group. I think I will just go the build my own bike route next time and buy everything from China direct.
Informative video, thanks for that. I wasn't convinced by the original $100 model however this is clearly a significant improvement...decent front derailleur plus the looks of the whole thing are a step up, especially the rear mech and the shifters. I'd actually consider this. But yeah, you used the wrong chain for sure. With chains you can get away with one gear narrower but one gear wider will compromise the smoothness of the shifting.
Chainring gap is what's important, so as not to drop the chain between shifts. The 10 speed chainring gap works for 11 speed chain. I'm hoping it's the same for this 12 speed chain. Still waiting for my 12 Speed Groupset 😎.
Just building a bike up and really considered this setup but the cassettes are too big, making 12 speed a bot pointless. The big advantage of more gears (on a road bike) is to have smaller steps between the gears but with the the smallest one they do being 32t, it's effectively a 28t with an extra cog. A 12 speed 11-28t would be brilliant so hopefully they'll bring something like that out soon. If you need a 32t then it's fine but with compact chain rings, they are a bit ott, unless you love in the mountains.
Hello, Thanks for this precise review. After almost one year, would you confirm this revient ? I would like to try this Groupset and would know about its reliability. Thanks again Guillaume
love the bike build im interested in budget light weight aluminium build video because not every1 is able to buy carbon i bought the groupset waiting to recieve them and good to see again cycling
I see the point of 12 speed only for a 1x12 setup, in Gravel or cyclocross settings. What is the maximum cassette the rear derailleur is accepting? (and one that can be found, obviously).... a 12 speed 11-42, with a 36 teeth front might be everything I need for a gravel project. Obviously, fully hydraulic brakes disk brakes would be great, but the kind of mechanical hydraulic combo might do the job.
Hey ! Got a question : do I have to get a dedicated 12s chainring to work with this group set or can I go with the same 11s chainring that came with the sensah empire « non pro », thanks for answering 😄
You say it's old sram people. Well sram have been adding a 12 speed cassette to an 11 speed freehub for years with the NX eagle cassette. The width is the same, its the spacing they change and the smallest gear is 11 so it fits over instead of a smaller small gear that won't fit over a standard 11 speed freehub. I wouldn't let that put you off.
Hi newbby question (this is my first venture into swapping out parts on my road bike). You mentioned that you used an 11 speed hub on your rear wheel and ran into the problems toward the end of the video. Would using a 12 speed hub solve these problems?
I have 10 speed dura ace on my 2008 Trek Madone 6.9 looking to upgrade to 12 speed and better gearing.. Would you be able to advise if 12 speed works on 10 speed hub? Also my BB 90mm, thank you
Good review, it seems too good to be true. Have you thought of doing any clothing reviews for China? I live in Shenyang as an expat for the last 7 years and have tried many rubbish from Tao bao. What’s your experience? Found a brand GRC seem to be Rapha quality, do you have any recommendations
Yeah, what you said. Taobao varies in quality greatly. GRC are decent, I also like CNRide and Monton. CCN are good but a bit more pricey. Same with Donen. I will make a video about this. I have an entire wardrobe of Chinese jerseys and bibs.
Sure. I don't really ride much MTB, but my son just got a MTB so maybe I'll build one to ride some trails with him (if I can find some trails in China...)
Great video. Just installed mine yesterday. The RD when to my lowest gear was very close to the spokes. It concerns me to be honest. After some adjustment it seems okay but I dunno what's gonna happen if I attempt riding out of the saddle in that gear on some 20% climb.
@@ChinaCycling as I initially said, it's not replaceable; unless they you are willing to replace the entire shifter. And yes it's on the market; it's exactly the same as the current sensah.
@@smallerfreeze After 1 year of use rear derallieur spring has started to loosen up and doesnt shift to smallest cog very well. My riding style i mostly use rear derallieur. I think ill switch rear derallieur for shimano 105/ultegra/sram and try out if it will last longer 🙂
A political note about current events: Can we try to keep this about bikes in the comment section? I'll never delete a comment (If UA-cam deletes it - that's on them) because I'm all for freedom of expression. However, I will advise everyone that the only way the world is going to get through this is with UNITY and not HOSTILITY. Before you say "But THEY started it when they..." - I'm not gonna give my opinion on who has or has not done what, the only way to fight hatred is with love. Before you judge one point three billion people based on the actions of a few in charge (for better or worse) please remember that behind every product is a company and behind every company are people. People just like you who were just as scared for their safety and that of their loved ones when the s**t hit the fan. DON'T let hatred win. I will say one of my opinions is that governments all over the world are motivated to fill their media with whatever it takes to make you hate the other country to take pressure off themselves. Don't do it. We're easily pigeon-holed by the country that we were born in and it's easy to see what's DIFFERENT about us all, but lets look at what's the SAME. We all love bikes. The bike is an amazing machine and when you're riding your bike and killing yourself on a climb you don't care about the politics of the world. So, again, I'll ask for you guys not to turn the comments section into a negative space. I ride every bike and every groupset. Again, let's focus on what unites us and don't let us be torn apart by hatred. One love.
Just delete my stuff and fuck China
Great message
Very well said - I'm Chinese (from Hong Kong/living in uk/English wife) and some of the shit I got when I was on the bus is laughable, it is a virus and I could generated from anywhere in the world. Some people are just thick.
Can’t wait for the review of the magene t300
@@fastestmilkman3840 anywhere yet the last couple were from China and your gvt constantly covers it up.
I installed Sensah 2x10 shifters ($108) after my Ultegra shifters broke. I have used them for about 500 miles thus far with no issues. All shifting and braking done through single paddle. I am very happy with the purchase. I have just purchased a 2 x 11 Sensah shifters and derailleurs for another bike.
Not often do we see honest reviews on UA-cam, this is one, great job, thank you.
I appreciate that! Thanks for watching.
there stuff is so affordable and good quality, 2 years and ur the 1st to review it well
I like it. Even if you're someone who doesn't like it, more competition is always good for the consumer.
@@ChinaCycling Tell that to your average dentist or accountant fool, who is dying to get literally robbed by buying an S-Works Venge on Zipps and Sram Etap AXS. Competition my arse. These things are targetted at completely different clienteles and the rich and vane or just pretending folk will NEVER change their priorities. For them it is not about the price or equal or nearly equal quality.
Eye opening review bro! Good job! 👊👊
Glad you liked it! More to come.
durianrider 4 the win!-)
Pragma frame, this groupset, farsports wheels. Go for it Harley, I'd buy it.
really cool to find durianrider here too :D
Much better tech channel than what you have on your UA-cam bro! ;-) Good job for both of you.
12 speed at $200!!!! Now that's attractive! Cant wait to try it...😊
have you tried it?
Best video intro of any cycling reviews I have seen in a while!!
Thanks. I'm always trying to improve production values.
@@ChinaCycling Keep it coming or keep standard HIGH :-) You should have much more views on YT just like DCR or GP Lama.
As far as I know, Shimano's 12 speed mountain bike cassettes are wider than the 11 speed cassettes but keep the 11 speed spacing. The additional sprocket is shifted towards the spokes. Actually, the additional sprocket extends over the freehub body into the spokes. This explains why you hit the spokes if you are not careful with your limit screws. On the other hand, this allows you to use an existing freehub standard which makes it easier for people to switch to a newer groupset.
Great vid. Sadly even riders in China have little knowledge about this native 12s groupset. I'm using it for a month now. Found this thing works perfectly compatible with a sram 12s crankset and a shimano front derailleur.
I'm a Sensah fan. I've been using Sensah Ignite since March and I never had a problem with it. Thanks for the vid. Maybe it's time for an upgrade.
I am currently using these shifters, paired with deore 11 speed RD and cogs from shimano, and they work wonders for a gravel setup
Just wanted to throw some fuel on the fire but I am currently running the old Empire groupset on my bike as 1x11 and it works great. I would say I have above average sized hands and I actually prefer the grips and throw distance to my old 105 5600 2x10 setup.
The left hand shifter on the old groupset had some wild throw and it doesn't look like they fixed that for this one either. Doesn't matter if you set it up 1x and you don't have a useless paddle on your other shifter so it looks real nice.
I'm definitly keeping an eye on Sensah in the future, really enjoy the shifters I have and it looks like they're actively improving their products.
Fantastic news for someone looking for more affordable options. Well done mate~
Thanks! 👍
Not a bad option at all,
If you are on a Budget, or if you want another nice light ride that will not leave you Bankrupt.
Also,
This good quality and affordable group set will work perfect if you were living on a Third world country (I was born educated and raised in one...) do to the Fact that Riding a Proper Roadie becomes an Uber expensive Hobby, and almost unaffordable deal if you are a common standard Citizen...
The good thing about this Proper Bike Manufacturers from China is the Fact that they are getting the Engineering Intelligence from True Bike Industry Specialist, and are also adding innovative designs and different engineering Perspectives.
Kudos to That!
Cycling can definitely be an expensive hobby. Lots of people look down on this stuff but they don't understand for some people this price range is their only choice.
Thanks for the video. I have installed this groupset on my wife bike. The 11-34 cassette is perfect for her. Shifting is OK but not perfect. I have found out that the cassette cog spacing is inconsistant varying from 1.7 to 2.2 mm where it should be 2.0mm except for the 3 smallest cog (2.3mm) . Because of that, the chain is noisy on some of the cog. I have contact Sensah regarding this problem and waiting for an answer. Front derailleur have a fair amount of play at the pin but shifting is fine.
Great video as always, I'd love to see Tracevelo grab one of these groupsets for his Chinese builds.
I think he ordered one. I sent him an email a few days ago saying 'hey' so, if he needs help getting parts I'll help him out.
Awesome, maybe a video Collab could be in the works? That would be sweet.
He just released a video in this subject...
Thanks for the honest review. Waiting for my 12 Speed Sensah Empire Groupset for a few weeks now. Going to build up on Aluminium Frame with Carbon Fork and Ksyrium Elite S Wheelset just for the experience of 12 Speed.
Just bought.. it work perfect 👌
First review I've seen of yours. Better review than anything from the big names.
Appreciate it. Thanks Eric!
Wonder if they're planning a hydro groupset? That would really be something. Thanks for these reviews, always fresh and interesting.
One of their employees was in the livechat and said they're working on a hydro set. That would be cool.
1x12 hydro is a way to go for gravel
Thank you for your terrific reviews! They are informative, concise, and well-edited. Based on your earlier review of Sensah Empire 2x11, I picked up a group for $89 (two shifters and the rear derailleur). Shipping was free. I left out the front derailleur on your advice and substituted a Campagnolo Super Record. The shifting performance is extremely precise after 3000 miles. The front in particular is the best mechanical shifting I've ever experienced. I think this is because the long throw of the Sensah shifters makes it much easier, and in my opinion, superior to the Campy shifters I originally used. The throw of the Sensah shifters does take some getting used to, and probably would be difficult for smaller hands. Thanks again!
Love to hear that I'm saving people money! :)
@@ChinaCycling Plus the major style points of rocking a mix of Sensah Empire and Campy Super Record. I love that 75% of my group costs less than a replacement ball bearing or spring on the other 25%. Super videos--thank you!
Thank you so much for this video, the clearance was exactly what happened to me. My limit screws were not set properly hence it caused my hanger to bend, twice. This video is awesome. Thanks man
After watching your old video I purchased a set of Sensah Empire brifters late last year from AliExpress for $99 usd shipped free. I didnt need any other parts and installed them on my Ritchey travel bike with left over Shimano 105 RD, Ultegra FD, shimano 11-32 cassette and a Praxis crank. I am used to both SRAM and Shimano so no issues getting used to the mech. I will say I have it all finally dialed in now and they shift excellent and have no issues with the throw as I have large hands. My only issue with them is the brifter body is narrow and not as padded as my Shimano brifters so I do wish they had more padding for comfort. Otherwise great deals as new Shimano 11 speed brifters are $$$.
That's good to hear! My friend also said he finds ths brifters uncomfortable, but I haven't had any issues yet... but I don't do crazy long rides, so....
@monzadh I'm wondering about the cable pull ratio - you're saying these Sensah brifters are compatible with shimano 11 speed road components correct? Cheers
@@charliewhiskey8440 Yes Charlie, it took a bit if working out the exact RD and FD limits then trim with the throws but now it shifts pefect. Im not sure on the quality of the cable that it ships with but again it is shifting well and has a built in trim with no issues now on my rear 11x32 shimano casette. Good luck!
This is good stuff! thank you for this in-depth review. Amazing paint job on that frame set as well.
Thanks for watching. I didn't like that paintjob when I saw the frame, but I think it looks decent when you build up the bike. Beats having 1,000 matt black bikes anyway.
@@ChinaCycling probably because its not the usual color we see on bikes(black,red) but it sure is a beauty, as you said its a breath of fresh air from matte colored bikes
Thanks for an amazingly helpful and thorough review. I am now really interested in picking up this group.
Good review. I'm a 1x convert, with all my bikes have now been converted to 1x. Curious to know if there a electronic version coming.? Btw... In my view, you are the only product reviewer that is coming from where a lot of oem products come from that I feel is accurate abs reliable. We need more reputable manufacturers coming to you. Keep it real man.... You are doing fantastic.
Thanks for watching, thanks for the kind comments. It's tough because I do this part time, so it can be hard to get the quality I want. I shall keep trying though.
Great reviews bro, thanks for your hard work, appreciate it. 👍
Now i just waiting for cheap chinese electric group .
Electronic is a curse. Once you use it, you can never go back to mechanical. I wish I'd never used it, because now I can only use electronic....hahaha.
what about a disc groupset too
DI 3?
@@ChinaCycling Rubbish. What, have you forgotten how to operate a mechanical one? I have a Shimano Di2 on one bike, Sram Etap on another and a mechanical shifting on yet another and have 0 problem operating either.
Think he's just saying how much nicer the electronic shifting is to operate, which is true.
Great review! I love to hear the latest updates on the road bike scene in Chima.
Keep me coming!
As long as it smooth and has no problem with braking or shifting I probably give it a shoot for my backup if I need it. However it has to be electronic groupset tho. Thank you buddy for the review.
The can fit 12 speeds onto an 11 speed freehub by using a wide range 11-34 cassette. That lets them push that great big cog closer to the wheel without having to worry about clearance for the derailleur because the dish of the wheel angles the spokes towards the center and away from the derailleur, but they really are pushing the limits here
Great reiw, I has some questions at the start of the video but you answered them all as the video went along, thank you
I considered the sensah groupset, but I ended up kitting together a really nice sram red plus force derailleurs 10 speed for $220. The advantage being the wheels and casettes and chains are usually a better bargain once you fit the whole thing together. If I knew the sensah 12 speed cassette didn't need a new xgr hub earlier I probably would have gone for it. (Tip for bargain hunters sram red 10 11 and force mechanical rear derailleurs have been the same exact parts with different paint since 2010 surprisingly, and all sram front shifters function across all models yaw or not. Sram yaw 22 and 10 speed are also identical front derailleurs and left shifters.)
That's good info. I think that's one good thing about SRAM, lots of the stuff is cross-compatible. At least.... prior to 12 speed.
they're made with the same project but with different materials, otherwise ho do you justify the difference in weight?
@@ChinaCycling Yes, I loved 10 speed cross compatibility and ran SRAM Red shifters with SRAM XX MTB rear derailleur with a 150-gram alloy 11-36 freewheel for a hyper light 1x10 set-up before 1x became so well adopted...
If I ever bought this groupset,I might run this as a 1x12.
Yep 1st thing came to my mind
Exactly what I was thinking. If it was clutched would be great for gravel bikes.
@@alfredjessee4797 If I am not mistaken,the Sensah Empire 11 rear derailleur has a really stiff tension spring for the derailleur cage.
I saw around AliExpress a 1x12 group set by Sensah. It had a clutch mechanism for the RD. Seems to have cable actuated brakes, not hydraulic.
It has 1 * 12s, and the left side only has brake function
A warning! After finally sorting out my shifting problems with this new Sensah Empire Pro (Carbon) groupset, I have found a problem for riders who like to sprint (especially in fast criterium races). With Shimano, when you are flat out sprinting in top gear, if you go looking for a faster gear with the inner shift lever, nothing happens - you stay in the same gear.
However, with this groupset, because there is only one lever for up and down shifting, if you try to searching for a higher gear (small cog at the back), it's really easy to push the lever too far and drop to a lower gear - quite disconcerting in a flat-out sprint!
Apparently this is also an issue with Sram which is compatible with this Sensah group (I've never used Sram). This probably wouldn't be an issue for normal riding - but if you like to race/sprint, be warned. Sorry, but it's back to Shimano for me for the time being.
Rip
Seller on eBay took my offer for $160 shipped for the carbon version brand new. Can’t wait to try it, what a deal at $200 let alone $160
Good find.
As always buddy...Love your vids. I've ended up with Chinese frames and wheels bought firect from China. For accessories I often use Aliexpress. Best buying decisions you can make providing you do the research first. Love it!!!! No part down to your own videos. Just in the market for another wheelset at the moment and I'll be going firect to China once again...Yaaaay. As far as Groupsets are concerned. Hmmm. I feel a bit like Kryton saying Smeg! Just can't do it. Campagnolo only for me!....... Keep up the good work buddy and great tp see you in the Hambini chat the other day too.
I'm very much aware that people are using my videos to choose where to spend their hard-earned cash. Actually keeps me awake at night sometimes. What if someone buys something on my recommendation and it's a shite? So, always relieved when I see comments like yours from people who have bought the stuff and had the same positive experience that I have.
I purchased a Zitto shifter, derailleur, cassette, chain, crank, and BB set from China for $200. It was a 1x11 with 32 tooth front ring. The set works wonderful with clean crisp shifts. Zitto is great. Check them out on AliExpress.com. Very much like Chinese frames, wheels and components. I would get a larger crank gear next time.
Thanks for sharing. Will check them out.
anybody happening to know if the Sensah Empire PRO 12 speed will work with a SRAM GX derailleur? I want to do a gravel project with a big GX cassette in the back, 1x12 speed, with Sensah shifters.
On the other hand...
...
you announced some review of a hybrid calipers (hydraulic calipers, cable actuation).... something new, and probably better than JuinTech?
I'd love to hear about it :) :) :)
Is the inner material made of plastic like the 2x11 speed version?
From what I have seen and heard, there are both plastic and metal versions of both groupsets Empire and Empire pro. Sensah has confirmed the problem with Empire and fixed it. I don't know if they have offically talked about this problem with Empire pro, but there is for sure a version with metal. Most of this info I got from the comments on trace velos second video in this groupset (non pro)
as far as i know, all empire version have been updated with alloy inner parts.
Are Empire Pro levers compatible with SRX/XRX sensah rear derailleur?
Thanks for the objective review, from installation to usage feel. Good coverage....Cheers
Great review and since hearing it from your channel very keen to buy now and try. Thanks Joe
Hope you enjoy!
Bloody excellent review... thanks Joe! It takes Chinese bike makers to get MORE people out there riding bikes... the price of bicycles in the west is sheer lunacy! Just compare them to motorcycles...
Ever heard of Campagnolo 12 -speed ? compatible from 9-speed to 12 speed. It would be nice if this group-set would be compatible with Campy. Note that Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo 11-speed are cross compatible as far as Freewheel hub goes. For Campagnolo 12 you do not need a different wheel.
Just ordered the groupset today. The seller included a crankset, disc brakes, and rotors. The Sensah components of the package totalled $195 USD. Total with the above was $333.35 USD + shipping and tax.
The gravel bike I'm building will end up being 100% Chinese.
Related to the 12 speed cassette on an 11 speed hub body , sram did the same , on their NX 12 speed , they have and 11-50(on shimano 11 speed hub body ) instead of the gx , xx1, x01 10-50 (on their XD drive body) , the spacing is there for 12 speed , just not for the fancy 10 teeth small cog.
If you're going 1x that 10 (or even 9) teeth small cog does make quite a different to your high end
That sensah groupset would be great to have on my 90s cannondale
Hi, is this groupset comparable to shimano 105 groupset? how about comparing this and the micrshift aris too
I bought a Sensah Empire front derailleur and was quite pleased with it...for about a month when the pivots wore out and it would rattle but wouldn't shift right. Bummer.
Please give a follow-up review after a few thousand km/miles.
Thank you for the review! Just want to know if you tinkered through it more? I was looking how much is the cable pull of the rear mech shifter? I’m really interested to know the pull ratio of rear mech.
I need this one 😍 after the corona times i get my China frame and this will be the groupset 👍 one more subscriber
Was there anything special you had to do to get this front derailleur to shift properly? I seem to be having trouble getting enough tension in the shift wire to have this shift properly. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Tried to use the 12 speed cassette to replace my old 9 speed, couldn't get the last cog onto the freehub, and the largest ring is dangerously close to the spokes.
I suspect my freehubs body is too narrow, but I thought 9 and 11 speed freehubs were the same width so it should work? Should I replace the 9 speed freehubs with a modern 11 now?
I had the 11 speed empire sensah groupset. I literally had to replace every single part of that groupset within a year. Your review doesn't address the most concerning part of these groupsets. Durability. They work great out of the box obviously. I replaced everything with a mix of ultegra and 105 and have had 0 issues since. Anyways, i really hope this new groupset is way better than previous empire groupsets.
Jesse, how long did the shifters last?
Really? What died? As I said in the review, I only rode mine for 1000km, but I have Chinese friends who have 7000-9000 on the sensah 2x11 and everything is original. I'm genuinely curious, so let us know.
can you let us know whats broke down? I'm thinking about buying the 2x11 group.
I'm curious too because I'm seriously interested in getting a set
I’m guessing he works for Shimano! lol
Great that your getting some miles in....glad your healing well bro'
I have been waiting for this review! I just got myself the non pro version. Been loving it so much! However, has not been able to test it out yet on the road. Movement Control Order here in my country. 😭
Ok ke bro sensah ni?
@@meorrazizul7551 Sy x boleh ckap lagi ok ke tidak... Sbb baru pakai 6 bulan... Setakat 6 bulan pakai, 6000km++, beberapa kali jatuh manja (RD calar, kena hempap, RD hanger bengkok), masih functioning well! So sy kena tunggu lepas setahun sekurang-kurangnya, 12000km++ sekurang-kurangnya, barulah berani rekemen 'OK'! Hahaha! Follow Strava 'Azzuan Toha'... 😁
@@AzzuanToha smooth ke masa tukar speed?
@@meorrazizul7551 hahaha! Beribu-beribu kilometer dah sy cycling bang, siap tawan KOM lg... Xkn la sy sanggup cycling dlm keadaan shifting x smooth... 😋 Yg penting tuning, gear indexing kena cantik...
@@AzzuanToha review camni kita mau dengar bro..brg chino pon good quality
Where can i find information on sensah online ? I'm trying to build a gropset for winspace G2 frame with flat bar and can't understand what to buy.
Thanks.
With the current crazy prices for groupsets, a big retailer such as Amazon could buy Sensah and make a killing selling Amazon Basics groupsets.
I would like to see more bike brands installing groupsets like this when trying to offer lower priced models of bikes. I know, I'm dreaming and the brands can't do that because of contracts they have with Shimano, but this option is way better than a Claris or Sora group. I think I will just go the build my own bike route next time and buy everything from China direct.
Informative video, thanks for that. I wasn't convinced by the original $100 model however this is clearly a significant improvement...decent front derailleur plus the looks of the whole thing are a step up, especially the rear mech and the shifters. I'd actually consider this. But yeah, you used the wrong chain for sure. With chains you can get away with one gear narrower but one gear wider will compromise the smoothness of the shifting.
Pretty nice group set. I dont know much about group set but wondering whether they have come up with electronic group set.
What cranks and chainrings would you run with this 12-speed? Would Shimano 11 speed cranks and rings work?
Chainring gap is what's important, so as not to drop the chain between shifts. The 10 speed chainring gap works for 11 speed chain. I'm hoping it's the same for this 12 speed chain. Still waiting for my 12 Speed Groupset 😎.
Have you tried the sensah 1*11 gravel groupset? The one that comes with 11-50 cassette. Looks like a good option for my budget gravel build.
Just building a bike up and really considered this setup but the cassettes are too big, making 12 speed a bot pointless. The big advantage of more gears (on a road bike) is to have smaller steps between the gears but with the the smallest one they do being 32t, it's effectively a 28t with an extra cog. A 12 speed 11-28t would be brilliant so hopefully they'll bring something like that out soon. If you need a 32t then it's fine but with compact chain rings, they are a bit ott, unless you love in the mountains.
ZTTO makes a 12 speed 11-28 cassette that weighs in at 218 g. Costs about USD 80.
Hello,
Thanks for this precise review. After almost one year, would you confirm this revient ? I would like to try this Groupset and would know about its reliability.
Thanks again
Guillaume
hi is the shifter made out of metal now?? the 11 speed empire front shifter breaking is kinda stopping me from buying this now
Ehy man, thanks a lot for the great review. Would the rear derailleur work with a bigger cassette? Let’s say 11-36/40. Thanks a lot
Reckon they'll bring out an eTap equivalent?
i hope, then i can finally ditch campag
The music was freaking 🔥
love the bike build im interested in budget light weight aluminium build video because not every1 is able to buy carbon i bought the groupset waiting to recieve them and good to see again cycling
True that! I also have a huge space in my heart for really cheap builds... I shall see what I can find!
@@ChinaCyclingYes, it would be very interesting just to find out how low a weight you can get on a budget. I'm totally into that.
I see the point of 12 speed only for a 1x12 setup, in Gravel or cyclocross settings. What is the maximum cassette the rear derailleur is accepting? (and one that can be found, obviously).... a 12 speed 11-42, with a 36 teeth front might be everything I need for a gravel project. Obviously, fully hydraulic brakes disk brakes would be great, but the kind of mechanical hydraulic combo might do the job.
Hey ! Got a question : do I have to get a dedicated 12s chainring to work with this group set or can I go with the same 11s chainring that came with the sensah empire « non pro », thanks for answering 😄
11s chainring works fine.
If they offered it, maybe an 11sp groupset might be the better choice. More compatible and still keeps the cost to a minimum ;)
Do you know if Sensah road levers are compatible with their MTB derailleurs such as XRX? That would be a nice combo.
有可以与速联和禧玛诺兼容的不同的两种版本
Hey dude! Your video is super but ı have a question. Can ı use this groupset with my 11 hub wheelset? My wheelset is giant pr2
Sensah Empire Groupset 11-speed:
5000km and still running as on day one!
Great Groupset!
--> saschis.training/en/road-bike-part-4-sensah-empire/
Ur comment is very reassuring for me to buy the sesnah lol
Did they ever fix the problem with the plastic shift mechanism which was prone to breaking?
Great review. Thank you!
What is the largest cassette that works with this groupset? Looking to build a Vanyar climber
You say it's old sram people. Well sram have been adding a 12 speed cassette to an 11 speed freehub for years with the NX eagle cassette. The width is the same, its the spacing they change and the smallest gear is 11 so it fits over instead of a smaller small gear that won't fit over a standard 11 speed freehub. I wouldn't let that put you off.
Hi newbby question (this is my first venture into swapping out parts on my road bike). You mentioned that you used an 11 speed hub on your rear wheel and ran into the problems toward the end of the video. Would using a 12 speed hub solve these problems?
Is there a Sensah version with disc brakes ?
Thank you for your review!!! Im waiting for my own kit, ill hope not have troubles to make it works in my
veteran trek Madonne 5.2 10 speeds
I have 10 speed dura ace on my 2008 Trek Madone 6.9 looking to upgrade to 12 speed and better gearing.. Would you be able to advise if 12 speed works on 10 speed hub? Also my BB 90mm, thank you
Hi Joe, is it possible to use a mountain bike RD with the sensah 12 speed shifters?
could you test if the shifter is compatible with a SRAM 12 Speed RDR? or Sensah XRX?
Why my sensah retrospec FD so bad cant setting properly and the cage kept droping
Hi! can i ask what model of crankset is that and is it available in aliexpress, if so how much is it? TIA
Good review, it seems too good to be true. Have you thought of doing any clothing reviews for China? I live in Shenyang as an expat for the last 7 years and have tried many rubbish from Tao bao. What’s your experience? Found a brand GRC seem to be Rapha quality, do you have any recommendations
Yeah, what you said. Taobao varies in quality greatly. GRC are decent, I also like CNRide and Monton. CCN are good but a bit more pricey. Same with Donen. I will make a video about this. I have an entire wardrobe of Chinese jerseys and bibs.
Try "racmmer" and size down, u won't regret it. Also "spexcel" is worth a try! Look it up
For bibs I recommend "cheji"
China Cycling thanks for the reply, will check them out.
Please if you can, can you check their mtb line up?Sensah and Ltwoo mtb groupset for cheap xcbike really makes me interested.
Sure. I don't really ride much MTB, but my son just got a MTB so maybe I'll build one to ride some trails with him (if I can find some trails in China...)
Nice to see you riding again foot a bit better 😊
Yeah thanks, getting there, getting there.
@@ChinaCycling don't rush it it will come
Hi. Can i use the 12 speed shifter on a deore m6100 rd with 12 speed cassette? Thanks.
Great video. Just installed mine yesterday. The RD when to my lowest gear was very close to the spokes. It concerns me to be honest. After some adjustment it seems okay but I dunno what's gonna happen if I attempt riding out of the saddle in that gear on some 20% climb.
the sti's work with the srx derailleur of the 1*11 groupest? Would be nice to know if you can build your own 1*12 like that!
Que ruedas tienes para que sea compatible con 12v?
But does it still have that cheap plastic piece under the shift lever that is not replaceable and it's well documented as breaking prematurely?
They will replace that part, but I don't think it's on the market yet.
@@ChinaCycling as I initially said, it's not replaceable; unless they you are willing to replace the entire shifter. And yes it's on the market; it's exactly the same as the current sensah.
Hello! is it possible for you to tell us if there are plastic components under the brake lever?
I have the 11speed empire and love it, BUT I need new brake hoods. Where can I get them? Do SRAM fit?
I've seen them sold separately on taobao.com, but don't know if they'll make it to the west. Probably best getting in touch with Sensah directly.
I have sensah 11speed its very good
Long term use?
@@smallerfreeze After 1 year of use rear derallieur spring has started to loosen up and doesnt shift to smallest cog very well. My riding style i mostly use rear derallieur. I think ill switch rear derallieur for shimano 105/ultegra/sram and try out if it will last longer 🙂