The arms appear to use SRAM’s current direct mount system for chainrings and DUB axle standard, but the arms themselves feature additional machining when compared to current SRAM GX crank arms with a central section completely removed to reveal a ‘window’ through the arm.

This should not only save a healthy portion of the weight from the arms but also help to improve stiffness while also improving the overall premium look and finish of the arms.

As SRAM X0 and X01 arms are carbon fibre, we expect this radical new SRAM crank arm design to first appear on GX-level bikes, but it may trickle down to NX and further in later years.

Our sources in the industry tell us that certain brands have already obtained these arms so we should expect these new SRAM GX crank arms to launch later in 2023.

If however, you cannot wait for lightweight cranks that feature a GX style, then you could look at U.S brand 5 Dev, whose machined arms take on the appearance of the current GX chainset if they had been completely machined to reveal the rear webbing. While beautiful and functional, the 5 Dev cranks are also vastly more expensive than anything we would expect from the SRAM GX family, with an RRP of $349.99.

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The FSA 13-speed cassette would offer a gear range of 480%, which is wider than any of Campagnolo’s 13-speed cassettes, and wider than Rotor’s 1×13 gravel 10-46T. However, it is less than Rotor’s 10-52T MTB variant. The cassette features a tighter spacing between cogs than most modern wide-range cassettes, thanks to the extra cog, and has a more consistent 10-15% gradient throughout the rest of the cassette.

An exploded diagram of the cassette shows that the sprockets are manufactured in three separate blocks, which are fixed to one another via a multi-faceted, multi-stepped carrier or sprocket base, and a second adapter that threads onto a central region of the largest block. The cassette is sleeved onto the freehub, and the central and outboard sprockets are coupled to it via the sprocket base and second adapter in a press-fit arrangement.

The wireless electronic derailleur described in US11560200 has a clutch mechanism, which is referred to as the “damping member” in the patent. The damping member is a one-way bearing positioned between the derailleur’s main body and the cage assembly. The patent describes a second clutch mechanism integrated within the shifting portion of the derailleur to add lateral stability to the shifting mechanism. The shift motor is located on the outboard linkage of the derailleur’s parallelogram with force driven through meshed gears about the pivot.

The derailleur also has non-contact charging capacity, with removable rechargeable batteries or smaller batteries that can be charged through inductive charging. The wireless charging function is housed within an extra unit, and the patent document describes a wireless charging circuit, a coil, and rechargeable batteries.

The FSA 13-speed electronic drivetrain would offer a different perspective on gear spacing compared to other systems, and it is likely to find its home on some kind of racing-focused mountain bike or super adventurous drop-bar offering. While it is unclear when the drivetrain will be released, the patents offer an exciting glimpse into what could be the first FSA KFX mountain bike groupset.

Tien Hsin Industries’ two patents for a 13-speed wireless electronic groupset suggest that FSA could be releasing a KFX mountain bike groupset soon. The cassette offers a wider gear range than other 13-speed cassettes, and the derailleur has a clutch mechanism for lateral stability and non-contact charging capacity. The groupset is likely to be geared towards racing-focused mountain bikes or super adventurous drop-bar offerings, but it remains to be seen when it will be released. The patents offer an exciting glimpse into what could be the future of FSA groupsets.

Source: Bike Rumor

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SRAM Solar AXS Battery Charger patent

SRAM seems to be embedding solar panels into any spare space on the bike, such as fenders, frames and water bottle cages, which will be able to charge AXS batteries, the name given to Sram’s radio sub-kits, by way of integrated fixing. These batteries are exclusive to Sram, such as front and rear waves or lift seat posts, and charging is currently done via a charger at home or via a USB cable to connect to a computer for charging.

In patent application number 20220131404, Sram’s rationale for the invention is as follows: “Modern bicycles are increasingly equipped with electronic components, such as hand shifts, front and rear paddles, power meters and lift seat tubes, and these batteries can run down and stop working, which can be inconvenient for some riders who must monitor the status of the batteries and recharge them regularly. ” “For this reason, riders may choose to carry spare batteries with them while riding. But these batteries also discharge naturally, they power the battery management system (BMS) and there is some internal chemistry to discharge them, which means that even batteries that have never been used may not stay fully charged.”

SRAM Thru-Axle Battery patent

Patent number 20220194509 shows that Sram is working on putting a replacement battery into the barrel axle and then connecting it to the rear derailleur with a wire.

The application suggests that this battery location could theoretically address the power needs of multiple components, not only the nearby rear derailleur but also “seat posts, bike lights, air pumps, GPS transceivers, shocks or other”

SRAM says that “conventional power sources can lead to unbalanced weight on the bike”, as well as exposure to bad weather or shocks. “Traditional power supplies may be limited in size to reduce unbalanced weight and the likelihood of impact, thus limiting the capacity of the power supply,” positioning the battery inside the axle may be the solution. Elsewhere in the application, SRAM suggests that a USB-C charging port could be added to the rear paddle, thus allowing for an external backup power supply.

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