German engineering. For most people, those two words conjure an image of precision and utmost craftsmanship especially in the automotive world. The Germans are known for their attention to detail and quality products, but at a price. This tradition is carried on by A-GE hydraulic shifting system manufactured by ACROS of Germany.
With so much focus on the new electric shifting options from Shimano which are being adapted to mountain bikes, it is easy to overlook this hydraulic option which has actually been available since 2006. We had a chance to take a Storck carbon fiber bike equipped with the AG-E system out on the trails of Bootleg Canyon at the Interbike Outdoor Demo this year.
The CNC machining of the AG-E system is reminiscent of the anodized, CNC components that flooded the mountain bike world in the mid-1990s; but there is something different. The programming required to machine the individual parts is more complex than that of the CNC parts of the 90s. Back then, two machined parts would be bolted together to create the p-knuckle, but ACROS has machined it from one piece of aluminum.
The AG-E uses two, thinner hydraulic hoses per derailleur, but one paddle on the shifter to operate each derailleur. Push the top of the paddle forward and a shift occurs, push the bottom of the paddle forward and the derailleur shifts in the opposite direction. Pretty simple, but it does take some getting used to before you naturally know which part of the shifter to push to put the bike into the desired gear as it is not the same motion as other trigger shifters.
On the trails, it was obvious that this system did require some saddle time to get used to its unique operation. The test ride started out was a few mis-shifts, but slowly through use, the shifts became more natural… once the mind was reprogrammed to the AG-E way of shifting. The trails of Bootleg Canyon have short, but steep little climbs which were an excellent place to test the AG-E system under load. Not once did it miss a shift – it perfectly changed gears every time. Even the front derailleur operated under load much better than any other system tested. There was only one, minor issue that was difficult to overcome – the lack of a audible or tactile notification to tell your mind that a gear change had been made. All the way back to indexed thumb shifters, a ‘click’ could be heard and felt telling you that you in fact changed a gear. This is a very minor detail, but after riding mountains bikes for almost 25 years, the body is waiting for that feedback as verification that one gear has been changed.
With the mountain bike industry in the mi
dst of changing from 9-speed to 10-speed, the AG-E system can too change with the times. The rear derailleur of the AG-E system is 8, 9 and 10 speed compatible with the swapping out just a few internal parts or even rebuilt as the system wears.
The hydraulic lines of the system has made the AG-E one of the smoothest systems on the market, but it does come at a price. The reported price of the ACROS AG-E system is approximately $2300 – more than the average bicycle. This system is not for everyone, but if you have the deep pockets and love for German engineering, the ACROS AG-E hydraulic system maybe for you.
Pros:
– Smooth shifting under pressure
– Never have to replace a shifter cable
– Rear derailleur can be switched between 8, 9 and 10 speed
Cons:
– Very expensive at $2300
– Most bike shops do not have replacement parts in-stock
– Minimal tactile indication that a gear has been changed