I have mounted the exact same groupset on my steel road bike and it performs great! I would say the shifts are as crisp as 105 or Ultegra even. The groupset isn't that heavy. The only thing that's pretty heavy is the casette but you could change it out for a sram casette. Fun fact sensahs and srams parts are interchangeable and the pull ratios are the same. If you need Shimano replacements they offer "sensah teams" bike parts which have the Shimano standards/pull ratios applied to them. This is as bang for the buck as it gets👌
Well this was a MASSIVE surprise, GCN covering a Sensah groupset... well fair play, and honestly great to see! However i've used those nutt brakes for few hundred miles on a build last year, and they are frankly dreadful. I still maintain mechanical disc brakes are a great choice on a budget, but if you can get hold of some JuinTech F1's for the build, you will be _much_ better off!!!
I’m glad you’ve seen this Luke, I felt compelled to say something on your behalf earlier. Likewise, I was completely shocked to see GCN covering a Sensah group set.
Well done Luke for your help in keeping competitive cycling affordable and fun, Thanks to GCN for not selling out and also giving a neutral open minded review.
Luke at trace velo has been using these and other similar ones for ages, worth checking his long term reviews. Nice for other options to be shown other than the big 3
Francis Cade runs Sensah on his bike and I haven't seen any complaints about the drivetrain itself, only the included brakes were subpar and had to be replaced. Are they as good as Shimano 105? Not quite, but for the price difference they're more than worth it. Getting them replaced/fixed can be a pain in the butt though.
I've got a Trek 1.2 alpha 2010 with the sora/tiagra of that time that was worn. Replaced the groupset with sensah empire pro 11 speed earlier in the year. Im at 1600 km now and still working well. Recently put on some elitewheels slt 50mm deep wheels and now the only non aliexpress parts are the frame, seat, handlebar :)
a lot of smaller youtube channels have already reviewed Sensah, like trace Velo, francis cade, etc, but it's interesting to see what GCN's take on these more budget components.
This video is absolutely what was needed from the big creators. A number of smaller and individual creators have done cheap Chinese gear and there are some gems out there. The stigma surrounding this corner of the market needs to be broken down as providing your products come from a reputable factory, they should be safe to use. I have some Elite Wheels carbon hoops and whilst they are not as techy or exotic, or as premium finished as established brands but if you do your research you can get good functional products. Also, I have heard that Sensah has employed ex-SRAM engineers from their Chinese factory, hence some of the similarities.
@@Millicente The crankset and BB is not a Sensah branded product, it has been added in (like the brake calipers and disc rotors) from a 3rd party. But culturally, Chinese people have a different attitude when it comes to intellectual property. It is engrained that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Even if a product has an inferior finish or overall quality, if a product only takes design notes from an established brand (but are not counterfeit products) you cannot judge its ability to function based on its appearance or design. Only testing the products will do that.
@@Millicente I think the Sensah is more like Sram than Shimano. They do have Shimano compatible shifters but they use the doubletap concept which is SRAM. So they only changed the index ratios I beleive.
Cam Nicholls did an overview of this GS about 2 weeks ago. His mechanic basically said it’s quite impressive for the most part. Nice to see an affordable alternative. It’s hard expanding the hobby when the pricing is damn near exorbitant
In my experience the Senicx crankset is pretty good. It's heavy but the chainrings are made of steel and last for ages. I replaced my worn 105 cranks with these on my winter bike and they are fine and I actually like the look of them.
I have got the Senicx PR2. It works perfectly. The PR2 is fitted with a SRAM Dub axle and mounting mechanism with the 8mm hex. It looks like a SRAM Red Crank as well. I have it on my bike for 2 years already and I can’t tell any signs of wear. Sure it is a bit heavier bur it will last for a very long time. BTW Sensah has bike parts that are interchangeable with sram and shimano. So if your Ultegra shifter breaks u can get a Sensah team one which has the same cable pull ratios as Shimano.
@@KILLTHEREDDITOR With the way prices soared over the last few years, and with no end in sight, they can at least pretend to cater to folks who can't afford the latest and greatest they peddle usually.
I have been using two Sensah Empire groups since the middle of the summer. In my opinion everything has been working great except for the front derailleur. I could not get it dialed in to where I was happy with it but everything else works perfectly. I am especially impressed with the brifters. I was concerned, before the stuff arrived, with the possibility that the brakes (rim) would not be up to par. The reality is that they work very well. Having said all of this, I have to wonder about something. If Sensah can sell an entire group for this amount, and you know they are making money on it, what the heck kind of profit margin are people paying for Sram, Shimano, and Campy??? I have all of them and the Sensah stuff works every bit as well as they do and a MUCH lower cost.
Our team races Sensah internationally for 2 year and found it very good and reliable, obviously used with rim brakes and not Sensah's own (Ultegra), and also used with different cranks (Rotor). Our conclusion was that the shifting elements of the group were great and to be used with better calipers and cranks.
Yes! The new electronic 105 is ludicrously expensive. I've also heard Sensah and Ltwoo are working on hydraulic road bike sets for imminent release. I think this will give Shimano something to think about.
Happens a lot with chinese companies, they undercut western companies and begin refining their products over time while building a loyal fan base look at huawei, I would love to see competion where we dont have to spend £1800 for a “groupset of the people”.
I've been using a rebranded Sensah SRX pro. It's been pretty solid and still shifts smooth even after going off road with it. The pseudo-clutch is strong and stable too. What I like about Sensah is that they improve their own products over the years through customer feedback. They sucked at first but over time made them better which I really respect. Edit: Oh god, he got Nutt Disc Brakes. Also I don't recommend budget cable-actuated disc brakes. They're really bad at being consistent at braking and could be too weak to brake with. The only one I could recommend are the JuinTech calipers
IMO Sensah (Or at least some decent AliExpress seller) should make a "proper" package. Drop the bad rim brake calipers, drop these Nutt things, maybe a bit better cassette and you're golden. The Senicx crankset actually looks decent. I have a Hardrock CVR crankset they put in some packages, which also has done very well for me (Much nicer than the RS510 my Giant came with, despite the rest being Ultegra)
After you've done with the groupset as is, I'd be super happy to see a video of addressing the two issues Ollie mentioned: namely mating the groupset better brake calipers and a crankset.
@@TheSlurpeeMan or even the Juin Tech brakes that TraceVelo uses. Not quite equivalent to full hydro's but far superior to the Nutt's, and you can get a pair for about the same price as a single TRP hy/rd caliper.
I have used 2 sets of Sensah Empire Pro since 2020 and they are pretty decent once the derailleur tuning is dialed in. For the brakes to work better especiallly for cable disc calipers, it is recommended to use compressionless cable housing paired with Juin-Tech hybrid calipers.
@@kelvs45 My original build was with TRP Spyre SLC which braked pretty satisfactorily but Juin-Tech is another level up with the hybrid hydraulic technology.
Used this groupset myself for quite a while. Got to say shifters, derailleurs cassette and chain all seem really good. But very quickly changed brakes for some juin tech f1s and the chain set for the slightly more expensive senicx chainset
Just get the sensah shifter and derailleur and boom, u will get one of the best groupsets. These guys are often made compatible for Shimano and SRAM so u can mix and match
YBN is actually famous for making the longest lasting 11-speed chains. I've ridden them a lot and always got somewhere around 4-5000km out of it. They're really good!
Really interesting, thanks Ollie. Detailed and balanced review. Sounds like if you set your expectations right for the price you pay, you could be happy with the purchase. Looking forward to seeing the setup review
I suggest to get the full potential of the groupset you get the cable actuated disk brake callipers that have a hydraulic reservoir that makes it much better braking
Since Alex had all that time off from dodgy challenges after his accident, I think this groupset provides an opportunity to even things up. Descending the stelvio, climbing ventoux, maybe competing in a mountainous grand fondo like the Maratona, Tour de Stations or L'Etape. As many sketchy and painful ordeals as you can afford to really put the groupset through its paces
Almost 2 years and more than 5000km on Sensah Empire Pro and the performance of the derailleurs are magnificent. The key feature is use these mechs with a Sram, Shimano or Sunrace cassetes, because the HG profile is very, very important. The solution of one single lever to do everything is superb, for me, the best on market, even better than di2, because 2 buttons is against simplicity (my preference). I can't wait to see Sensah on eletronic + hydraulic systems.
I think those Nutt brakes are well known to not be great, and most people that use this groupset swap them out to juintechs or zraces (the other popular AliExpress brake brands)
I had one ridden for at least 1000km, didn’t have any problems even shifting upwards under load. Front Derailleur have a bit of a delay in shifting from small to big ring. Other than than that works very well.
Delighted to see this on the channel! Bit surprised tbh but they're very interesting groupsets, not shimano quality but possibly a far better value proposition
I'm a little surprised you seemed unfamiliar with YBN chains, they are quite highly thought of in a similar vain to KMC. Molten Speed Wax recommend them and sell them pre waxed. They have a slightly shorter life span than Shimnao and SRAM In my experience (not by much though) they tend to have a little more lateral flexibility than most chains which means they shift like a dream and are more forgiving when cross chaining, probably kinder to cassettes as well.
I just bought my PR2 crankset from Sensah (DUB BB) and it's way better constructed than the PR4 (thats what made me go for the PR2). It weights around 800g and the chainrings are machined in aluminium. My choice was 53/39 and it came machined in one single piece. Just an awesome set!
You got the superlight cassette with it most of the groupsets have a much heavier one even in 11-28. Could tell you so much more been riding this stuff a few years now. Brakes are shoot got myself some juintech...much better and cost more. Mine group had a racework chainset which is nicer in finish and weighs in at 760gr. Changed it to FSA KFORCE WE 200gr lighter. Originally they also used zatto or racework brakes which were better than the crappy NUTS ones but still not really good. Especially there will be a big change when you replace the brake pads with decent ones. I bought some ceramic ones also from aliexpress and really changed the performance. Enjoy working with them. Look forward to next video.
Great job Ollie but for a few quid more and a bit of online surfing on aliexpress you could have bought Sensah Pro shifters and derailieurs, Sroad cassette, Senix PR2 crankset. (This is what i did) The weight and money savings will blow your mind
Great video answers about 503.596 questions I had but wasn't willing to pull the trigger and buy a set. So your saving me some dow. Dont forget now keepemcoming
very refreshing to see a review/impressions piece that isn't sponsored, though lots have seen Peak Torque, Trace Velo and Francis Cade cover this groupset some time ago.
I have those crank arms in 1x on my gravel bike, pretty flawless to be honest (only good thing to come out of me not being able to find the parts I wanted for my 2021 build), and they look nicer in the flesh than in pictures. They do a DUB version that has one piece CNC direct mounted chain-rings that are much lighter and nicer, the setup you have there is a kind of the budget option. Spend about £80 more and you get the DUB cranks and hybrid disc calipers.
@@feedbackzaloop well if the increase is due to new product offering that's understandable, but if it is due to unnecessary hype in lieu of the current economic climate ? gtfo...
@@jedkoh I'd say it's neither or both, but mildly: rather natural reassessment of market situation. People have more interest, the new product gives visibility too... The price rises with quality, but disproportionately. The real hyped up robbery was launch of 105di2😅
I bought Sensah Phi groupset (2x10) and installed it into my bicycle. Had to change front derailleur into tiagra 4700 and installed Sora chainset. I must admit that SRAM like shifters feels a lot better and are easier to learn than Shimano for me. I haven't done much km on them but it was ~200£ for everything and it works good for now. The best thing in this budget stuff is compability with renown brands. Now I can buy Shimano components when my Sensah will break. Except for shifters - I'd buy Sensah again :)
Looking forward to see it put to the test. When you're far out and you know you've got a few climbs to bring it home, I have to have faith, that what I'm riding will get me home.
13:20 I work at a bike shop and we have hydraulic versions of those Nutt brakes on some really entry level hybrids in the store. I’m going to be completely honest, they’re pretty bad and don’t really seem to be airtight. They feel really spongey and many of the levers pull straight to the bars no matter what you do. The levers aren’t shaped very well for your hand either. Of course, not the same model shown here but still something to be aware of.
I built up an old Cesare SLX road frame with the Sensah 11 speed group. I did use 105 rim brakes and 105 Chainset. Shifting is very positive and has been reliable , but only for 300 or so miles. The only problems are it was a bit more fiddly to set up than Shimano and It's a bit of a wrestling match to get the back wheel straight, because of the strong derailleur spring.
For brakes you must use compression less housing.. kelvar reinforced. And not only that. On handlebar, under handlebar tape. You must use different housing. The normal type that has one long coiled wire inside. That is because when you warp the handlebar tape very tight and I know you have so much strength in your hand that you actually can't warp it any other way than really tightly. The compression less housing kind flattens under pressure and then it increases friction. It can actually flatten to extend, that cable will get stuck inside and won't return. That is what happened to me when I warped the handlebar with 2 layers of handlebar tape and both layers I pulled the tape very tightly. Then I installed "Jagwire EZ-Bend Housing Segments" and now it works well.. You can just use regular brake housing segments with special endcap things meant for connecting 2 short pieces of housing into one longer piece.
I bought one 4 months ago. It has worked perfectly and I could not be happier with my decision. I wanted to change my 2X9 Shimano groupset to an SRAM 1X and It was impossible. I looked for over a year and nothing was available for me here in Canada. I didn't want to pay tax on top of the already expensive SRAM components. I first thought that I would keep waiting but changed my mind really fast. Why should I not enjoy my bike properly because some businesses are HOGGING all components and blaming it on "Supply chain issues". I will buy another for my other bike ASAP. I really hate that these are copies and obviously the political connotation of buying Chinese stuff.
When you say that you "don't have an agenda" does that mean GCN does not take money from any cycling manufacturer? If the answer is "YES" (and I suspect it is) then you do have an agenda. Simply that you do not take money from Sensah does not mean you do not have a bias. I would LOVE to see GCN cash flow statement. Where the money comes from does matter. Also, Trace Velo already did this video.
This is the video I was waiting for ! thanks for that. It would be interesting if you could also test other Chinese brands (microshift) in the future. They could be the future groupsets for normal people that do not have big budgets. In the video you are more concerned about the weight. To be honest the target people for this type of product is not really interested in that, instead I would be more interested in reliability and longevity of the components. looking forward to watching your video with the test ride.
Great video, just a bit of a gripe with the crankset. When I ordered my groupset, I picked the Senicx PR2 crankset as it was about 250-300g lighter and was still only $120 USD; around the level of SRAM Rival.
The brakes and crankset ARE sub contracted out and ARE "pants". There are better options (still from Aliexpress) as have been explored by other channels who have done extended long term reviews such as Trace Velo or Francis Cade. From what I've seen the actual Sensah stuff looks pretty good.
When l was racing between the late 80's early 90's l used to drill and file my componants and have alloy bolts made to make my groupset lighter. I acheived a weight loss in the componants that still to this day is not matched. The groupset in question was super record, an already lightweight set in it's own right.
I tested carbon fiber shift levers a few years back , and while they looked amazing and felt so sweet, whenever the bike was dropped or handled a little rougher by other testers , we noticed the levers began to peel and you could actually feel the weave falling apart. That being said, this last weekend I low sided , but the levers were scraped, but are still very much in tact. I think the carbon levers wouldn’t of held as well
Love this idea for a tech video, really exploring the technology of new products. It will be interesting to see what frame you're going to attach this to. Keep the same idea going, light and cheap, but it has to be new. If I were building from the ground up, I'd get onother chainset, those cast iron pedal arms destroy the only stand-out quality the groupset has so far, and that's the weight. That said, rim brakes seem like the most logical. Cheap disc brakes would be the first thing people would notice on the bike, you don't want people to think you bought it at Walmart. Most important wheels. You could have a cannondale bike, but if it had cheapo wheels: bad ride. Compared to a cheapo bike with quality wheels, you'll beat that Cannondale. In my opinion.
I bought recently an 11 speed sensah groupset empire (carbon shifters, derailleurs, chain and cassette) for 260 euros. I received it in 3 days. It was easy to install and set up, and the shifters work very well, better than my Shimano R7000 groupset actually, probably due to higher spring tension on the derailleurs front and rear. The shifting is crisp and the front derailleur works better than I expected. The cassette is well made. The chain is a yaban. The 12 speed groupset is slightly more expensive but still a bargain.
I had some 9 Speed Sensah shifters and I really liked them. Used them for a 1x9 system. So I don´t went into trouble with the old style of plastic leaver. Interessing to see all the weight comparisons again and notice that you should buy a set without crank and get a lighter one. Currious to see how pleased you´ll going to be with the performance.
The finish is obviously less slick as a cost saving measure on these components. It takes time and equipment to acheive the level of finish we've come to expect from the big three. If this stuff is mechanically sound though it's an interesting option considering how much the new electronic 12 speed groupsets cost. I would even be willing to consider it at a higher price point with improvements to the finish to get into a 12 speed grouppo at a reasonable cost.
i've been using the Sensah Reflex for almost 4 months now and honestly it's so good when it comes to performance and shifting, you just need to take care of it and it will take care of you. Sensah here in PH is so Underrated because some cyclist said they have a bad experience in Sensah Shifting. the FD came out from the crank, The RD always out of tune but the main reason is they do not take care their Gears.
I got a Sensah Empire Pro derailleur two years ago. I could never get the front derailleur to reliably shift to the big ring. I took it to my bike shop and they didn't make it work any better. It would work on the bike stand but not when I rode it. I also found the extra gear useless. I eventually gave up and got an 11 speed Ultegra. But the biggest shortcoming is there are no fully hydraulic disc breaks that work with it because it only has cable levers. The ZRace crank that came with it is better than the one you have and is much lighter and works fine. I also got a spider powermeter that works well too.
Originally based on SRAM's factory in Guangzhou, it appears to be the result of three start-up manufacturers - L-TWoo, SENSAH and S-Ride - that were created as a result of SRAM's withdrawal from the People's Republic of China around 2013.
For the brakes you should take a look at Juin tech F1s, another ali express brand but meant to be really good. I'd love to see you put this on a chinese frame, maybe an Elves or Winspace
I discovered the Sensah group 3 years ago. I had used them full time in one of my bikes. They work similar to SRAM Apex or Rival and comparable to Ultegra. Shift well, they are light as mentioned and they do the job. They are kind of disposable in my opinion. On three different rear derailleurs I stripped the hanger bolt when trying to remove or tighten (the wrench was relatively new). Also depending on which batch you get, there is a well known issue with the left shifter internals being made of plastic and the shifter internal mechanism breaking. Not an issue for me as I use them in a 1X setup. I think that if you are super careful when installing them and maintain them in place they could last. If something breaks you could easily buy a replacement. In the end I got a Sram Rival rear derailleur at a good price and installed it keeping the Sensah Shifters and it works very well.
@@Criscross292 Forgot to mention that I love the shifters. They are similar to the SRAM double tap in operation and the left shifter is a non issue for my setup (can't review that) 3 years later the right shifter is as good as the first day only needed to put in fresh hoods and cables once a year
I really like the fact that even GCN now get's involved with the cheap chinese stuff... I mean honestly, with everything going on right now, You see sometimes Claris equipped bikes for over a 1000€, which is crazy to me. So for my next ride, I am at least considering buying something more... affordable. And having a professional opinion on that, really helps.
GCN Elves the Frame has to have a number of Group Sets attached to it with fixed time or power throughput allowing a benchmark to see what the difference in Group Sets really is.
So, Alex wasn't kidding, when he replied on one of my comments, on one of the the £ 1,000 Bike built video. This actually a good change, reaching out to audiences of all budget.
My guess is that this is a start for a “brand” product out of China and they will improve over time. I imagine someone from Sensa will see this video and make note of Ollie’s comments.
Yeah, I think they will be able to adapt fast. Shimano and Sram definitly need a competitor. I was really angry about the pricetag of the 105 peoples groupset
You mean 6 bolt disk rotors. I have never seen 5 bolt but I suppose they might exist. Great stuff Sir. Thank you for checking out things like this. I believe it really helps avoid making mistakes that are easily avoidable. Cheers.
Have you ever bought budget components online?
Who hasn't at this point though?!
Aren't we looking for bargains for the buck from time to time?
I have mounted the exact same groupset on my steel road bike and it performs great! I would say the shifts are as crisp as 105 or Ultegra even. The groupset isn't that heavy. The only thing that's pretty heavy is the casette but you could change it out for a sram casette. Fun fact sensahs and srams parts are interchangeable and the pull ratios are the same. If you need Shimano replacements they offer "sensah teams" bike parts which have the Shimano standards/pull ratios applied to them. This is as bang for the buck as it gets👌
Can you test the aliexpress version of tubolitos as well please? (RideNow Ultra Light)
Im running sensah brifters on my bike actually
Well this was a MASSIVE surprise, GCN covering a Sensah groupset... well fair play, and honestly great to see! However i've used those nutt brakes for few hundred miles on a build last year, and they are frankly dreadful. I still maintain mechanical disc brakes are a great choice on a budget, but if you can get hold of some JuinTech F1's for the build, you will be _much_ better off!!!
#trendsetter
I’m glad you’ve seen this Luke, I felt compelled to say something on your behalf earlier. Likewise, I was completely shocked to see GCN covering a Sensah group set.
GCN late to the party! Go Luke!
Well done Luke for your help in keeping competitive cycling affordable and fun, Thanks to GCN for not selling out and also giving a neutral open minded review.
lot of love for you in the comments Luke! recall your Ali express brake testing video with "deez nuttz"
Luke at trace velo has been using these and other similar ones for ages, worth checking his long term reviews. Nice for other options to be shown other than the big 3
Love to see a trace velo crossover
@@livinginsyn4814 same
Is still his name _"as always"_ Luke?
@@_NoName... Yeah, and he is a self-confessed cheapskate. Which I sympathise.
Exactly Big up to Luke.
Shout out to Luke at Trace Velo who has been investigating this stuff for the last few years. His reviews are very thorough and worth a watch.
+1 for Trace Velo
+1 for Luke. That said, Francis Cade has been testing some of those recently as well!
Francis Cade as well.
As always.
Yep, +1 for both TraceVelo AND Francis Cade. Great in-depth, real-world reviews
Ollie delivers! This is really interesting. Finally something that isn’t über-expensive or total crap like eurobike.
Francis Cade runs Sensah on his bike and I haven't seen any complaints about the drivetrain itself, only the included brakes were subpar and had to be replaced. Are they as good as Shimano 105? Not quite, but for the price difference they're more than worth it. Getting them replaced/fixed can be a pain in the butt though.
To be fair eurobike has seen more kms on the road than most dentists and their di2 12speed bikes
If only it wasn't done by dozens of other guys on UA-cam already.
Shame it took GCN so long to look past the Shimano monopoly
I've got a Trek 1.2 alpha 2010 with the sora/tiagra of that time that was worn. Replaced the groupset with sensah empire pro 11 speed earlier in the year. Im at 1600 km now and still working well. Recently put on some elitewheels slt 50mm deep wheels and now the only non aliexpress parts are the frame, seat, handlebar :)
a lot of smaller youtube channels have already reviewed Sensah, like trace Velo, francis cade, etc, but it's interesting to see what GCN's take on these more budget components.
_THIS_ is a groupset of the people.
agree
Yes. Who cares about slightly less refined finish if it performs?
Chinese people
Yeah... mines too i have Empire 11s, works well and still running 2 years without any problems.
#NewGroupsetOfThePeople !
This video is absolutely what was needed from the big creators. A number of smaller and individual creators have done cheap Chinese gear and there are some gems out there. The stigma surrounding this corner of the market needs to be broken down as providing your products come from a reputable factory, they should be safe to use. I have some Elite Wheels carbon hoops and whilst they are not as techy or exotic, or as premium finished as established brands but if you do your research you can get good functional products. Also, I have heard that Sensah has employed ex-SRAM engineers from their Chinese factory, hence some of the similarities.
What explains the almost rip off level copying of Shimano design though? 😂
@@Millicente The crankset and BB is not a Sensah branded product, it has been added in (like the brake calipers and disc rotors) from a 3rd party. But culturally, Chinese people have a different attitude when it comes to intellectual property. It is engrained that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Even if a product has an inferior finish or overall quality, if a product only takes design notes from an established brand (but are not counterfeit products) you cannot judge its ability to function based on its appearance or design. Only testing the products will do that.
@@Millicente I think the Sensah is more like Sram than Shimano. They do have Shimano compatible shifters but they use the doubletap concept which is SRAM. So they only changed the index ratios I beleive.
Cam Nicholls did an overview of this GS about 2 weeks ago. His mechanic basically said it’s quite impressive for the most part. Nice to see an affordable alternative. It’s hard expanding the hobby when the pricing is damn near exorbitant
I’m genuinely shocked GCN is doing a Sensah review. About time Sensah got more mainstream cycling exposure 😊
Maybe their Shimano sponsorship has expired, and this could be either a switch to neutrality, or a lever to get Shimano on board again.
I hate it! Going to make the prices for Sensah go up, and I haven't gotten my SRX group set yet 😉
In my experience the Senicx crankset is pretty good. It's heavy but the chainrings are made of steel and last for ages. I replaced my worn 105 cranks with these on my winter bike and they are fine and I actually like the look of them.
I have got the Senicx PR2. It works perfectly. The PR2 is fitted with a SRAM Dub axle and mounting mechanism with the 8mm hex. It looks like a SRAM Red Crank as well. I have it on my bike for 2 years already and I can’t tell any signs of wear. Sure it is a bit heavier bur it will last for a very long time.
BTW Sensah has bike parts that are interchangeable with sram and shimano. So if your Ultegra shifter breaks u can get a Sensah team one which has the same cable pull ratios as Shimano.
Whilst it's heavy, it probably won't fall apart like the Ultegra and Dura ace crankset!
Got the Senicx pr4. It really held up with the abuse it goes through. It has a steel alloy axle which is really durable.
For a channel heavily sponsored by Shimano, this actually sounded like a fair unboxing. Thank you!
They’ve been much more focused on doing low-priced product videos recently. Welcome change IMO since nobody can afford a bloody 10K bike
@@KILLTHEREDDITOR yes, when the groupset of the people costs €1700, you need other options
@@KILLTHEREDDITOR With the way prices soared over the last few years, and with no end in sight, they can at least pretend to cater to folks who can't afford the latest and greatest they peddle usually.
@@nctrns Maybe they realized how ridiculous prices have gotten when they saw the $8k Madone coming equipped with 105 😂😂
I have been using two Sensah Empire groups since the middle of the summer.
In my opinion everything has been working great except for the front derailleur. I could not get it dialed in to where I was happy with it but everything else works perfectly. I am especially impressed with the brifters.
I was concerned, before the stuff arrived, with the possibility that the brakes (rim) would not be up to par. The reality is that they work very well.
Having said all of this, I have to wonder about something. If Sensah can sell an entire group for this amount, and you know they are making money on it, what the heck kind of profit margin are people paying for Sram, Shimano, and Campy??? I have all of them and the Sensah stuff works every bit as well as they do and a MUCH lower cost.
Same experience here with front mech. I ended up getting Shimano 7000 series with trim feature. Works great.
Our team races Sensah internationally for 2 year and found it very good and reliable, obviously used with rim brakes and not Sensah's own (Ultegra), and also used with different cranks (Rotor). Our conclusion was that the shifting elements of the group were great and to be used with better calipers and cranks.
i'd like to see you put it on a Chinese bike frame, then compare it with Alex's budget bike for science.
francis cade i think put it in a scott foil, used the shit brakes tho
YES! THIS!!
Have an engineer weigh in on it and maybe a carbon expert check the frame too?
It's is only time before they go electronic and then watch the usual player's market share nose dive
Yes! The new electronic 105 is ludicrously expensive. I've also heard Sensah and Ltwoo are working on hydraulic road bike sets for imminent release. I think this will give Shimano something to think about.
@@belverticale I went to euro bike this year and the word on the floor was it would be coming next year.
Happens a lot with chinese companies, they undercut western companies and begin refining their products over time while building a loyal fan base look at huawei, I would love to see competion where we dont have to spend £1800 for a “groupset of the people”.
I've been using a rebranded Sensah SRX pro. It's been pretty solid and still shifts smooth even after going off road with it. The pseudo-clutch is strong and stable too.
What I like about Sensah is that they improve their own products over the years through customer feedback. They sucked at first but over time made them better which I really respect.
Edit: Oh god, he got Nutt Disc Brakes. Also I don't recommend budget cable-actuated disc brakes. They're really bad at being consistent at braking and could be too weak to brake with.
The only one I could recommend are the JuinTech calipers
IMO Sensah (Or at least some decent AliExpress seller) should make a "proper" package. Drop the bad rim brake calipers, drop these Nutt things, maybe a bit better cassette and you're golden.
The Senicx crankset actually looks decent. I have a Hardrock CVR crankset they put in some packages, which also has done very well for me (Much nicer than the RS510 my Giant came with, despite the rest being Ultegra)
@@Adanteh They do offer more options. I think there's a package with JuinTech calipers and rotors which are waaay better than these nutt brakes.
Juin Tech hydraulic hybrid calipers with Jagwire KEB-SL compressionless cables/housings 👍👍👍
After you've done with the groupset as is, I'd be super happy to see a video of addressing the two issues Ollie mentioned: namely mating the groupset better brake calipers and a crankset.
Yeah, I'm curious how it would work with rim brakes. Would be a good budget option on an older aluminum rim brake frame.
@@TheSlurpeeMan or even the Juin Tech brakes that TraceVelo uses. Not quite equivalent to full hydro's but far superior to the Nutt's, and you can get a pair for about the same price as a single TRP hy/rd caliper.
I have used 2 sets of Sensah Empire Pro since 2020 and they are pretty decent once the derailleur tuning is dialed in.
For the brakes to work better especiallly for cable disc calipers, it is recommended to use compressionless cable housing paired with Juin-Tech hybrid calipers.
@@kelvs45 My original build was with TRP Spyre SLC which braked pretty satisfactorily but Juin-Tech is another level up with the hybrid hydraulic technology.
2 sets on 2 separate bikes?
Yes 2 different road bikes.
Used this groupset myself for quite a while. Got to say shifters, derailleurs cassette and chain all seem really good. But very quickly changed brakes for some juin tech f1s and the chain set for the slightly more expensive senicx chainset
Would have been great to have Mr. Trace Velo in this video :) But still great video, enjoyed it.
Just get the sensah shifter and derailleur and boom, u will get one of the best groupsets. These guys are often made compatible for Shimano and SRAM so u can mix and match
YBN is actually famous for making the longest lasting 11-speed chains. I've ridden them a lot and always got somewhere around 4-5000km out of it. They're really good!
And after 5000 you needed to replace them? I certainly replace my chains less often 😂
@@Ramon314 Yes. What setup are you riding? And do you replace your cassette with your chain?
Really interesting, thanks Ollie. Detailed and balanced review. Sounds like if you set your expectations right for the price you pay, you could be happy with the purchase. Looking forward to seeing the setup review
I suggest to get the full potential of the groupset you get the cable actuated disk brake callipers that have a hydraulic reservoir that makes it much better braking
Ollie did suggest this @13:46.
Where Trace Velo goes, GCN follows. (still haven't forgiven you for wrecking that Trek frame btw...)
Since Alex had all that time off from dodgy challenges after his accident, I think this groupset provides an opportunity to even things up. Descending the stelvio, climbing ventoux, maybe competing in a mountainous grand fondo like the Maratona, Tour de Stations or L'Etape. As many sketchy and painful ordeals as you can afford to really put the groupset through its paces
Out of an abundance of caution in case any component may fail, they should make Hank do it 😂
Been waiting for this review from GCN for a while now! Thanks Ollie for your take on the groupset
Wooow finally budget components
Almost 2 years and more than 5000km on Sensah Empire Pro and the performance of the derailleurs are magnificent. The key feature is use these mechs with a Sram, Shimano or Sunrace cassetes, because the HG profile is very, very important. The solution of one single lever to do everything is superb, for me, the best on market, even better than di2, because 2 buttons is against simplicity (my preference). I can't wait to see Sensah on eletronic + hydraulic systems.
I use a Sensah Team Pro 11s STI on my 105 R7000 group set and it never failed me. Been using it over a year now. Amazing how cheap yet awesome it is.
For the crankset, I recommend FOVNO Thunder. Lighter than 105.
I think those Nutt brakes are well known to not be great, and most people that use this groupset swap them out to juintechs or zraces (the other popular AliExpress brake brands)
WOW! Even GCN is getting in on this groupset. Trace Velo and China Cycling didn't know what they started.
I had one ridden for at least 1000km, didn’t have any problems even shifting upwards under load. Front Derailleur have a bit of a delay in shifting from small to big ring. Other than than that works very well.
Delighted to see this on the channel! Bit surprised tbh but they're very interesting groupsets, not shimano quality but possibly a far better value proposition
I'm a little surprised you seemed unfamiliar with YBN chains, they are quite highly thought of in a similar vain to KMC. Molten Speed Wax recommend them and sell them pre waxed. They have a slightly shorter life span than Shimnao and SRAM In my experience (not by much though) they tend to have a little more lateral flexibility than most chains which means they shift like a dream and are more forgiving when cross chaining, probably kinder to cassettes as well.
more lateral flexibility also allows more dirt in.. oh wait, with good maintenance it's also easier to clean them
I use YBN chains and they are super nice. I bought them because are perfect for waxing.
@@SonnyDarvishzadeh Could be why they wear a bit quicker 🤷♂️
@@audax333 Yeah very good for waxing, and they say their quick links are reusable too (although never had trouble reusing them fron other brands tbh)
Wow, not an ad. Well done.
Yep, one can definetely see they did not recieve any promotional materials or read through press releases
I just bought my PR2 crankset from Sensah (DUB BB) and it's way better constructed than the PR4 (thats what made me go for the PR2). It weights around 800g and the chainrings are machined in aluminium. My choice was 53/39 and it came machined in one single piece. Just an awesome set!
Any reviews about that crankset u used for years?
Nice Vid. Really looking forward to your long term review!
You got the superlight cassette with it most of the groupsets have a much heavier one even in 11-28.
Could tell you so much more been riding this stuff a few years now. Brakes are shoot got myself some juintech...much better and cost more. Mine group had a racework chainset which is nicer in finish and weighs in at 760gr. Changed it to FSA KFORCE WE 200gr lighter. Originally they also used zatto or racework brakes which were better than the crappy NUTS ones but still not really good. Especially there will be a big change when you replace the brake pads with decent ones. I bought some ceramic ones also from aliexpress and really changed the performance. Enjoy working with them. Look forward to next video.
6 bolt rotors! Not 5. I heard 5 bolt and thought WTF?!
Great review on the first impressions. Looking forward to the build and usage review.
Great job Ollie but for a few quid more and a bit of online surfing on aliexpress you could have bought Sensah Pro shifters and derailieurs, Sroad cassette, Senix PR2 crankset. (This is what i did) The weight and money savings will blow your mind
I've been using the Sensah SRX Pro all year so far, and I think it's great, their customer support is fantastic as well if something does go wrong.
Is this stuff interchangeable with shimano?
@@januszzoch2568 most of their line is interchangeable with sram, but the team pro line is interchangeable with Shimano.
Great video answers about 503.596 questions I had but wasn't willing to pull the trigger and buy a set. So your saving me some dow.
Dont forget now keepemcoming
very refreshing to see a review/impressions piece that isn't sponsored, though lots have seen Peak Torque, Trace Velo and Francis Cade cover this groupset some time ago.
I have this group set on a Tri Fox bike I also got on Ali express.I love it!
Nice! Be interesting to see which components are worth keeping or swapping out
I have those crank arms in 1x on my gravel bike, pretty flawless to be honest (only good thing to come out of me not being able to find the parts I wanted for my 2021 build), and they look nicer in the flesh than in pictures. They do a DUB version that has one piece CNC direct mounted chain-rings that are much lighter and nicer, the setup you have there is a kind of the budget option. Spend about £80 more and you get the DUB cranks and hybrid disc calipers.
oh crap GCN is on the Sensah train now....expecting prices to increase
Already increased with launch of 12 speed
@@feedbackzaloop well if the increase is due to new product offering that's understandable, but if it is due to unnecessary hype in lieu of the current economic climate ? gtfo...
@@jedkoh I'd say it's neither or both, but mildly: rather natural reassessment of market situation. People have more interest, the new product gives visibility too... The price rises with quality, but disproportionately.
The real hyped up robbery was launch of 105di2😅
They wont increase chinese companies arent as greedy as western one and will operate on low profit for decades to build there brand
I bought Sensah Phi groupset (2x10) and installed it into my bicycle. Had to change front derailleur into tiagra 4700 and installed Sora chainset. I must admit that SRAM like shifters feels a lot better and are easier to learn than Shimano for me.
I haven't done much km on them but it was ~200£ for everything and it works good for now.
The best thing in this budget stuff is compability with renown brands. Now I can buy Shimano components when my Sensah will break. Except for shifters - I'd buy Sensah again :)
sensah made 2 10 speed versions, one with 4700 pull ratio and one with 4600, you can do a 10s with a sora deraileur with 0 issues
@@core2zero I just picked two rows crankset from Sora and it works with what I have for now :)
Sorry, chainset = crankset from previous post.
Looking forward to see it put to the test. When you're far out and you know you've got a few climbs to bring it home, I have to have faith, that what I'm riding will get me home.
its nice to see GCN get inspire from other channel to do a check out on this chinese groupset~
couldnt wait GCN to test it
13:20 I work at a bike shop and we have hydraulic versions of those Nutt brakes on some really entry level hybrids in the store. I’m going to be completely honest, they’re pretty bad and don’t really seem to be airtight. They feel really spongey and many of the levers pull straight to the bars no matter what you do. The levers aren’t shaped very well for your hand either. Of course, not the same model shown here but still something to be aware of.
Maybe those crank arms are heavier than Hollowtech ones, but at least these won't rot into pieces like the Shimano crapsets.
I would really love to see Hank do a 24h ride with this group set!
Liked, Subscribed, the whole deal, waiting for the build up and thorough testing! Good work guys!
I built up an old Cesare SLX road frame with the Sensah 11 speed group. I did use 105 rim brakes and 105 Chainset. Shifting is very positive and has been reliable , but only for 300 or so miles. The only problems are it was a bit more fiddly to set up than Shimano and It's a bit of a wrestling match to get the back wheel straight, because of the strong derailleur spring.
For brakes you must use compression less housing.. kelvar reinforced. And not only that. On handlebar, under handlebar tape. You must use different housing. The normal type that has one long coiled wire inside. That is because when you warp the handlebar tape very tight and I know you have so much strength in your hand that you actually can't warp it any other way than really tightly. The compression less housing kind flattens under pressure and then it increases friction. It can actually flatten to extend, that cable will get stuck inside and won't return. That is what happened to me when I warped the handlebar with 2 layers of handlebar tape and both layers I pulled the tape very tightly. Then I installed "Jagwire EZ-Bend Housing Segments" and now it works well.. You can just use regular brake housing segments with special endcap things meant for connecting 2 short pieces of housing into one longer piece.
I bought one 4 months ago. It has worked perfectly and I could not be happier with my decision. I wanted to change my 2X9 Shimano groupset to an SRAM 1X and It was impossible. I looked for over a year and nothing was available for me here in Canada. I didn't want to pay tax on top of the already expensive SRAM components. I first thought that I would keep waiting but changed my mind really fast. Why should I not enjoy my bike properly because some businesses are HOGGING all components and blaming it on "Supply chain issues". I will buy another for my other bike ASAP. I really hate that these are copies and obviously the political connotation of buying Chinese stuff.
When you say that you "don't have an agenda" does that mean GCN does not take money from any cycling manufacturer? If the answer is "YES" (and I suspect it is) then you do have an agenda. Simply that you do not take money from Sensah does not mean you do not have a bias. I would LOVE to see GCN cash flow statement. Where the money comes from does matter. Also, Trace Velo already did this video.
Currently running the 11 speed version of sensah empire, the performance is quite good
This is the video I was waiting for ! thanks for that. It would be interesting if you could also test other Chinese brands (microshift) in the future. They could be the future groupsets for normal people that do not have big budgets. In the video you are more concerned about the weight. To be honest the target people for this type of product is not really interested in that, instead I would be more interested in reliability and longevity of the components. looking forward to watching your video with the test ride.
Great video, just a bit of a gripe with the crankset. When I ordered my groupset, I picked the Senicx PR2 crankset as it was about 250-300g lighter and was still only $120 USD; around the level of SRAM Rival.
Ollie was saying "5 bolts" so many times, because he got the screws loose over the price and weight😆
I never expected to see GCN reviewing a budget component, great job.
More of these videos would be amazing
I'm using the Sensah SRX Pro 1x11 rear derailleur and hoods, I"ve been very happy with them.
Finally!! this is the video that I've been waiting for!
The brakes and crankset ARE sub contracted out and ARE "pants". There are better options (still from Aliexpress) as have been explored by other channels who have done extended long term reviews such as Trace Velo or Francis Cade. From what I've seen the actual Sensah stuff looks pretty good.
When l was racing between the late 80's early 90's l used to drill and file my componants and have alloy bolts made to make my groupset lighter. I acheived a weight loss in the componants that still to this day is not matched. The groupset in question was super record, an already lightweight set in it's own right.
I tested carbon fiber shift levers a few years back , and while they looked amazing and felt so sweet, whenever the bike was dropped or handled a little rougher by other testers , we noticed the levers began to peel and you could actually feel the weave falling apart. That being said, this last weekend I low sided , but the levers were scraped, but are still very much in tact. I think the carbon levers wouldn’t of held as well
I got full Ultegra 6700 second hand for 200 :)
Love this idea for a tech video, really exploring the technology of new products. It will be interesting to see what frame you're going to attach this to. Keep the same idea going, light and cheap, but it has to be new. If I were building from the ground up, I'd get onother chainset, those cast iron pedal arms destroy the only stand-out quality the groupset has so far, and that's the weight. That said, rim brakes seem like the most logical. Cheap disc brakes would be the first thing people would notice on the bike, you don't want people to think you bought it at Walmart. Most important wheels. You could have a cannondale bike, but if it had cheapo wheels: bad ride. Compared to a cheapo bike with quality wheels, you'll beat that Cannondale. In my opinion.
I bought recently an 11 speed sensah groupset empire (carbon shifters, derailleurs, chain and cassette) for 260 euros. I received it in 3 days. It was easy to install and set up, and the shifters work very well, better than my Shimano R7000 groupset actually, probably due to higher spring tension on the derailleurs front and rear. The shifting is crisp and the front derailleur works better than I expected. The cassette is well made. The chain is a yaban. The 12 speed groupset is slightly more expensive but still a bargain.
Groupset of the people for sure, crazy too for being 12 speed. Will cop for my next build
GCN 12 months behind Trace Velo in his garage and Francis Cade used one to cycle to Switzerland in the summer.
I had some 9 Speed Sensah shifters and I really liked them. Used them for a 1x9 system. So I don´t went into trouble with the old style of plastic leaver.
Interessing to see all the weight comparisons again and notice that you should buy a set without crank and get a lighter one.
Currious to see how pleased you´ll going to be with the performance.
Yes please! Do build it up! Time trial, hill climb, brake test, at least!
The finish is obviously less slick as a cost saving measure on these components. It takes time and equipment to acheive the level of finish we've come to expect from the big three. If this stuff is mechanically sound though it's an interesting option considering how much the new electronic 12 speed groupsets cost. I would even be willing to consider it at a higher price point with improvements to the finish to get into a 12 speed grouppo at a reasonable cost.
Been running sensah empire 2x11 for 2 years and no problems. The front derailleur isn't ideal, but everything else is great
The screws on the cassette don't need to be robust because they're only there to keep the gears together when it's off the bike.
i've been using the Sensah Reflex for almost 4 months now and honestly it's so good when it comes to performance and shifting, you just need to take care of it and it will take care of you. Sensah here in PH is so Underrated because some cyclist said they have a bad experience in Sensah Shifting. the FD came out from the crank, The RD always out of tune but the main reason is they do not take care their Gears.
I got a Sensah Empire Pro derailleur two years ago. I could never get the front derailleur to reliably shift to the big ring. I took it to my bike shop and they didn't make it work any better. It would work on the bike stand but not when I rode it. I also found the extra gear useless. I eventually gave up and got an 11 speed Ultegra. But the biggest shortcoming is there are no fully hydraulic disc breaks that work with it because it only has cable levers. The ZRace crank that came with it is better than the one you have and is much lighter and works fine. I also got a spider powermeter that works well too.
Originally based on SRAM's factory in Guangzhou, it appears to be the result of three start-up manufacturers - L-TWoo, SENSAH and S-Ride - that were created as a result of SRAM's withdrawal from the People's Republic of China around 2013.
For the brakes you should take a look at Juin tech F1s, another ali express brand but meant to be really good. I'd love to see you put this on a chinese frame, maybe an Elves or Winspace
I discovered the Sensah group 3 years ago. I had used them full time in one of my bikes. They work similar to SRAM Apex or Rival and comparable to Ultegra. Shift well, they are light as mentioned and they do the job. They are kind of disposable in my opinion. On three different rear derailleurs I stripped the hanger bolt when trying to remove or tighten (the wrench was relatively new). Also depending on which batch you get, there is a well known issue with the left shifter internals being made of plastic and the shifter internal mechanism breaking. Not an issue for me as I use them in a 1X setup. I think that if you are super careful when installing them and maintain them in place they could last. If something breaks you could easily buy a replacement. In the end I got a Sram Rival rear derailleur at a good price and installed it keeping the Sensah Shifters and it works very well.
They fixed the issue of the Left Shifter on the new version. Now made of metal. Watch Trace Velo video… he talks about it.
@@Criscross292 True, but some sellers have old stock - hard to tell what you are getting from ebay or ali-express
@@Criscross292 Forgot to mention that I love the shifters. They are similar to the SRAM double tap in operation and the left shifter is a non issue for my setup (can't review that) 3 years later the right shifter is as good as the first day only needed to put in fresh hoods and cables once a year
I really like the fact that even GCN now get's involved with the cheap chinese stuff... I mean honestly, with everything going on right now, You see sometimes Claris equipped bikes for over a 1000€, which is crazy to me. So for my next ride, I am at least considering buying something more... affordable. And having a professional opinion on that, really helps.
I have sensah empire 1x11 and it is genuinely incredibly good.
GCN Elves the Frame has to have a number of Group Sets attached to it with fixed time or power throughput allowing a benchmark to see what the difference in Group Sets really is.
So, Alex wasn't kidding, when he replied on one of my comments, on one of the the £ 1,000 Bike built video. This actually a good change, reaching out to audiences of all budget.
I would love to see this group set, mixed and matched with other components to make the perfect budget group set. Ie swap 105 cranks etc
You can buy sensah shifters which match the indexing of a Shimano derailleur.I think it's the pro version you would need.
I'd be cool if you also make a video with a normal brand 'crankset & brakes' but AliExpress 'shifters & detailers' for people looking for an upgrade.
Great unboxing video! Look forward to seeing a 500 mile review.
My guess is that this is a start for a “brand” product out of China and they will improve over time. I imagine someone from Sensa will see this video and make note of Ollie’s comments.
Yeah, I think they will be able to adapt fast. Shimano and Sram definitly need a competitor. I was really angry about the pricetag of the 105 peoples groupset
Now what we wanted to see for the years.
I used sensah gravel groupset. Worked like a dream. Updated to hydrolic Sram, besides brakes sram shifts the same.
You mean 6 bolt disk rotors. I have never seen 5 bolt but I suppose they might exist. Great stuff Sir. Thank you for checking out things like this. I believe it really helps avoid making mistakes that are easily avoidable. Cheers.
Wow, finally! This is finally a true GLOBAL cycling network channel.