Shimano has unveiled a brand new line of 8-speed drivetrain components called Essa. In the same way that Shimano modernized its 10 and 11-speed with Cues, Essa brings contemporary 1x drivetrain features to Shimano's most affordable drivetrain levels aimed at budget mountain bikes.
The brand has filtered down some key tech from its best MTB groupsets to bring the simplicity of a 1x drivetrain to entry-level 8-speed bikes while still being compatible with existing Acera, Altus, and Tourney TX systems.
