This isn’t the first drivetrain we’ve seen from Rotor, but it is their first wireless setup. In the past, they’ve offered a hydraulically-actuated derailleur, however, the all-new Uno group is void of any cables or hoses.
The Uno wireless derailleur and shifter aren’t part of a full groupset, but instead an addition to Rotor’s existing power meters and drivetrain components, such as their 12 and 13-speed cassettes. Rotor states that the derailleur can be tuned to work with any 10, 11, 12, or 13-speed cassette on the market using their app, which is available for Android and iOS.
Rotor Uno Details
• Wireless Bluetooth & ANT+ connection
• Compatible with 10, 11, 12, and 13-speed drivetrains
• Programmable with Rotor app
• Internal derailleur battery
• Standard derailleur mount
• Weight: 453 grams (derailleur, shifter, and batteries)
• Price: Varies depending on options
• rotorbike.com
Rotor’s 13-speed cassette spans the same 520% range as SRAM Eagle drivetrains, with the largest cog being a 52-tooth on each cassette and the smallest dropping down to 10 teeth. The gain in choosing 13 speeds comes from marginally closer spacing in some shifts across the cassette, but you’ll need a proprietary Rotor hub to work with that system.
Rotor Uno Derailleur:
The derailleur’s battery is housed internally, which means you can’t pop a new one in mid-ride should it run out of juice. Rotor claims that the 600 mAh battery puts out 15,000 shifts in a single charge. Since SRAM states that their AXS batteries operate for 25 hours and Shimano claims their XTR derailleur will shift for 340 km, it isn’t easy to compare their lifespans. I am sure that weather and temperatures have an impact on battery life as well.
The Uno derailleur and shifter weigh in at a total of 453 grams. The derailleur mounts on a standard hanger and has a 93mm long cage with a 12-tooth lower pulley.
Rotor Uno Shifter:
The shifter is designed with two paddles that mount directory to the handlebars. The shifter does resemble the newest SRAM pods, which is not a bad thing. Both the derailleur and shifter feature a motion-synchronized auto-start system.
