This New Chinese Groupset Is Legitimately Fantastic

The new L-TWOO R9 Pro is easily the best mechanical groupset out of China I have EVER tested. It costs just £123 from AliExpress, but after riding it back-to-back with Shimano 105, the actual shifting and braking performance is INCREDIBLY close.

In this episode, I'll take a detailed look at the latest L-TWOO R9 Pro, a 2x11 speed mechanical groupset with hydraulic disc brakes. I'll be installing the complete groupset, looking at the shifters, the front and rear derailleurs, and the brake calipers, before putting everything through its paces out on the road.

I've been using the previous generation L-TWOO R9 Disc for around two years, and I've put roughly 6–7,000 miles through it. That groupset was already fantastic, but the new R9 Pro is a major re-design. The shifters now operate much more like Shimano, the rear derailleur has been completely redesigned, installation is easier, and the overall build quality has taken a noticeable step forward.

But the big question is performance. To find out just how good it really is, I rode it back-to-back with the latest Shimano 105 R7120 12-speed mechanical groupset, and I also swap my lightweight ZTTO cassette for a Shimano Ultegra Hyperglide cassette to see just how much difference the cassette makes.

Of course, it's not perfect. There are still a few areas where Shimano's extra refinement shows, including shifter feel, ergonomics, the front derailleur design, and the brake bleeding process. I also look at a couple of quirks with the L-TWOO shifters and discuss just how similar some elements of this new generation are to existing Shimano components.

All in all, if you're building a budget road bike, looking for a Shimano 105 alternative, or you're simply curious about how far Chinese groupsets have come, this is a SERIOUSLY interesting piece of cycling tech.

As always, I bought the groupset myself with my own money, and everything in this video is based on my own experience using it.

(These are affiliate links btw. It wont cost you any extra, but i get a little kickback from AliExpress which is super useful)

This is the seller I used:
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3K2tNcN

UK specific sellers:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005012978160864.html
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c41sqKI5

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro
00:49 – Context
01:30 – L-TWOO R9 Pro
02:44 – Groupset build quality
03:38 – Install
06:48 – Road test
09:38 – Comparison to Shimano 105
12:32 – 3 issues
14:07 – Similarity to Shimano & availability
17:06 – Bonus clip

Intro roll:
Created by Dev Joshi - http://www.go2dev.co.uk

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Email:
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Please note:
I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.

In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!

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