Product Reviews
LG1, Issue 54.
There was a time not so long ago when there was only one or two ways when it came to keeping the chain on a chainring over very rough ground. Nowadays there are dozens but still the balance of power remains in one, albeit different, company. e.thirteen has arrived and conquered in a relatively short space of time from when the first chunky devices started appearing on the likes of Gracia’s Cannondale a few years ago. The clear device with bashguard is a favourite amongst all the people who race for a living, but this season Fabien Barel has been running the LG1 system sans bashguard. The thinking behind this is that on many tracks there is no need for a strong bashguard. It is also said some riders are so hard on their bikes that many times the cranks have bent before the bashguard breaks. If you were to take a look at Barel’s pedals after a morning of practice then the abuse given out in the pedal and crank area is considerable. Surely though if you’re going to ground out hard then something is going to give anyway. It’s a fantastic recommendation for a product if someone as hard as Fabien runs your system.There are several key features to the LG1. For starters clearance in muddy conditions is aided by the cutaways in the mouldings close to the chain line. Second the company have spent several years sourcing the perfect roller durometer and they have plumped for something just a little harder than a Maxpro, about 70. Boltings are minimal and stainless, set up is easy and finally for those seeking lightweight then they don’t get much lighter than this. Efficient, light and strong. What more do you want?
Ali / Crownwheel, Issue 54.
- Direct mounting clamps are replacing stems it seems as fork manufacturers increasingly offer this in their designs. This attractive and classy pair from e.thirteen will take standard and wide diameter bars. They offer a slight rise but not too much, and a range of bolting holes to suit everyone. Material is the highest quality, so too is the finish. The end is near for twisted stems.There’s nothing more frustrating than bent chain teeth or bendy aluminum devices that mess up when you come up short. The Crown chainwheel from e.thirteen is engineered for 3 piece BMX type cranksets, and allows perfect chainguide set up by mounting the bashguard directly to the chainwheel. This makes for an elephant resistant setup, no hook up’s, no bending and importantly no spider. 7075 T-6 is quite possibly bullet proof and the injection moulded impact-modified Makrolon bashguard one of the must have’s at the moment.
SRS, Issue 55.
We gave you a first look at the new e.thirteen LG1 chain device in the last issue, but this is the one that started the whole e.thirteen revolution. Unlike the LG1, the SRS features the distinctive clear bash guard that has become such a common sight at both national and international races. This has more than proved its ability to withstand big impacts, as many have found their cranks have bent way before the ring even starts to struggle. This obviously means that this retainer is really only suitable if you have a set of cranks that can do it justice, preferably with a replaceable spider. As for fitting, this really couldn’t get much simpler, even the least mechanically minded of you should be able to set this one up without too much trouble. Once fitted it’s extremely quiet and smooth running, but most importantly it will keep your chain on even when you’re clattering your way through the gnarliest of boulder fields. Talking of boulders, the Lexan bash ring seems to slide over rocks much better than one made of aluminium, but don’t think it’s any lighter, because it isn’t. Many would argue that the first version of the SRS was faultless, nevertheless e.thirteen obviously weren’t 100% happy, as they’ve still tweaked it here and there. Surely they’ll now agree it’s perfect?
DRS - asilvertouch.com, July '05
With every new season comes fancy new bike parts! Back in December when I was ordering all the parts for my new bike, my buddy recommended that I try out E-13's single retention system chain guide this year. I had ridden with MRP's for the past 4 seasons and had been very happy with them, but with all of the buzz that E-13 has created in the past couple of years, I was curious to try one out. After checking out their website and talking to a number of owners, I decided to take the plunge. I was trading in my tried and true aluminum guide with bright orange rollers for something made of plastic…...The overall performance of this chain guide is fantastic. The guide has flawlessly kept the chain on the front ring, which is its main objective. The setup was a breeze and smoking the bash guard off of rocks and logs is nothing it can't handle. Holding the chain guide back from a perfect five is the slight resistance and grinding inherent in the system. By choosing to go with a plastic bash guard, E-13 has shown how innovative they are. They have definitely created a quality product here and I can't wait to see what they have lined up for us next.
SRS - Gravity Slaves.co.uk, July '04
Now there is a new kid on the block (or chainring - groan) in the form of e.thirteen's device. You don't need to be a kit freak to have spotted the e.thirteen's taking over the show. They were on most stands at Interbike and the new Iron Horse DH bikes ship with them as standard, as well as featuring on YETI Europe's DH, 4X and BSX rigs. We only run class...So what's new? Well, it works in a similar way to most (other) plated devices but there are some 'enhancements'. The first thing to hit you is the huge outer plate. Super thick, this bad boy is designed to take the knocks, allegedly coming from a need for the 'Shore' riders out there to have a bash guard. The plastic construction means no more bent outer plates hampering your run - this thing is nails. If you do lace it into something, it’s more likely to absorb the impact than deform.
...So, to sum up, e thirteen are strong, light, simple device that's compatible with different mounting systems. Do exactly what it's designed to and looks mighty fine into the bargain.
DRS - NSMB.com
e.thirteen's Single Ring Security really turned me onto chainguides when I tried it a couple of months ago, and I was sold on the benefits. My only complaint was that you were stuck with whatever ring you were running in the front, and if things got steeper, you either had to muscle through it or get off and push...Thankfully, there's an alternative for those of you who go uphill as well as down on your big rig. The Dual Ring Security (DRS) from e.thirteen components uses a special roller that lets you run a front derailleur and granny along with a middle ring...
So, will I continue to use the DRS now that the test is over? Definitely. It's found a permanent place on my ride, and I'm going to be fitting one of the softer rollers in the near future. If you're the kind of rider who likes the idea of a chainguide but is reluctant to give up your granny, it's worth your time and money to check out the DRS. If you're content to only run a middle ring in the front, give the SRS a spin. You won't be disappointed, either way...
SRS - Farkin.net, April '03
Ok time for a full review, I received my new Evil chain guide with the clear Makrolon® Bashguard mid last week along with some FSA V drive cranks and a Truvativ DH BB. I was super keen to see what the guide looked like on the bike so I built it up right there on the counter of the shop, I got it all together then found the instructions in the bottom of the box......So the industrial designers and engineers have done a good job but the proof was going to be in the riding. First off I went out shuttling with some of the other Farkin crew members, the guide worked flawlessly, it was much quieter than I had expected with all that plastic having such tight tolerances and at times it was easy to forget it was on. It just worked, enough said...
...I think I will be very happy with this chain guide for a very long time. I admit I was quite abusive with the guide but I was still pleasantly surprised as to how well it held up.
Good design and innovative new materials pays off.
DRS - SingletrackWorld.com, July '05
...The retention 'arm' of the device was pretty much forgotten about once installed. Which is recommendation enough in itself! Unlike a lot of retention devices the DRS' was very quiet and smooth feeling. You could just about hear it working and feel a tiny bit of extra resistance if you concentrated during duller moments of a ride but it was really very minimal and by far the best of any chain device we've previously encountered. The two-tier rubbery roller kept the chain pulled close in both chainrings and didn't seem to impinge on the smoothness of shifting either. We never once experienced a dropped chain during the test no matter what tank-slappy rockeries we blundered down, neither did we have to readjust any part of the DRS. Again, impressive stuff...
DRS - TrailPeak.com, October '05
A trend is occurring to the drive trains of high-end bikes. Unless you have been hiding in a hole all season, you will have noticed that the drivetrains on the best bikes from many manufacturers such as Norco, Devinci, Santa Cruz, and the like have one thing in common. The e.thirteen chainguide is taking over. Whether it be with the single ring SRS and STS systems or their two ring DRS system, this small company is changing the biking world one bike at a time......Overall, there’s not much to say other than this is one hell of a guide. The creative mind of Dave Weagle at e.thirteen has given birth to a product that is easily able to stack up against the big boys. I highly recommend the DRS to anyone in the market for a new chainguide. No matter what you’re riding, if you run a guard, like going uphill, or just having a few more gear options, and want to keep your chain on the sprockets, look no further. The e.thirteen DRS is the answer to your prayers.
SRS - SouthernDownhill.com, May '05
...I then came across what I had been waiting for, what has made this device stand out and differ from the norm, and what has undoubtedly made this device sell to mountain bikers across the globe - the “Supercharger” bash plate. This Supercharger bash plate is made from e.thirteen’s “Patent Pending Impact Modified Tuffmax Material”. The main advantage of this plastic type material is that unlike most metal guards that dig in to rocks/wood etc the e.13 bash plate effectively bounces/slides across the terrain, meaning that it effectively does not slow you down like bash plates made from metal would. Obviously this is a great plus point, as when you are riding your bike downhill the last thing you want is your chain device getting stuck on things and effectively slowing you down...
...This chain device works, the chain doesn’t come off, it’s silent and the bash plate glides over terrain making less of an impact. Weighing it up against my MRP it is lighter - nothing I am going to notice while riding my bike, but every little bit helps. Durability: well it looks just as good as the day it went on and the bash plate could pass as new with no chips in it whatsoever. The chain device also comes in lots of different forms to fit all types of bikes. Be it a hardtail, long travel bike or freeride bike, there will be one to suit your needs and the bash plates are now also available in different colours. All in all this is a quality device and I will not be putting my MRP back on in any rush...
STS - MBUK, February '05
e.thirteen chain guides were everywhere in 2004 – the distinctive clear Makrolon outer bash guards and white graphics set them apart from the sea of MRP-style devices out there. Using an inner boomerang that fits regular or ISCG mounted frames, e.thirteen’s STS (Street/Trail Security) device will keep everyone happy. It has inner guides that mount to the boomerang and a small jockey wheel at the bottom to make sure the chain wraps round the ring a bit more securely.Designed for 32-36 tooth chainrings the STS mates perfectly with a close ratio road cassette out back for trouble free riding. The device comes in pieces, much like a model kit, but it’s easy to build and fit, and once sorted you can forget about it.
Unlike guides with twin plates, such as MRP units, the Makrolon plate slides easily over obstacles and doesn’t get bent out of true – perfect for those who like to abuse their rigs! No doubt you’ll have seen Aaron Chase abusing his e.thirteen device with huge sprocket grinds in his films... MBUK Verdict - 10/10
The best street riding chain guide out there.
SRS, Issue 21-2.
- Some products reviewed over these pages spring to mind because of style alone, I chose e.thirteen because it's one of those things I'd struggle to physically rip off of a bike. Add to that a well thought choice of materials, not only for the guard itself but for the rubber durometer wheels, and plus a great choice of colours, makes it a hard device to beat in a very competitive area.
Summer 2006
- Seguro que muchos de vosotros habéis visto unos protectores de colores que llevan los pros, sobre todo en la bici de Cédric, que le encanta esto del tuning. La marca americana E13 se encarga de hacer posiblemente uno de los mejores del mercado. Realizado en un termoplástico denominado TuffMax, su resistencia es increíble, tanto si lo golpeas con alguna roca como si lo utilizas por la ciudad o en tus sesiones de dirt. Tiene un grosor aproximado de 13 mm que lo hace realmente indestructible. En caso de recibir un impacto muy fuerte, el plástico se deforma ligeramente absorbiendo el impacto y es complicado que se astille o se parta. Su peso es bastante contenido si tenemos en cuenta el nivel de rigidez que tiene y la anchura.
