Gearboxes for bicycles are not new. They have been a few brands trying to implement them in the industry for several years, including Zerode with the Katipo we’ve tested recently. The first Pinion gearbox was developed by two young engineers working for Porsche in 2009, with the current systems hitting the market in 2017.
Fitting a gearbox to a mountain bike instead of using a standard rear derailleur, chain, and cassette setup gives some potential desirable upsides. First, as the gears are completely sealed away from the elements, they are virtually service free – Pinion recommends an oil change every 10,000 miles. Second, by not having a rear derailleur hanging out the back of your bike, you are less likely to damage it on rocks or obstacles on the trail. The third major benefit is it can reduce the unsprung weight of your MTB. The cassette and rear derailleur adds quite a bit of weight to the rear of your bike, which has a knock-on effect on how your rear suspension works. This weight is referred to as unsprung mass, and reducing it has a significant effect on traction and how your suspension feels.
