The wireless FSA K-Force WE group has begun to pop up in final prototype form and I got a chance to ride it this week in California. The derailleurs shift smoothly and decisively, the levers feel good in the hands, and the toggle shift buttons are sensitive and clearly differentiated by texture and shape. However I found the lower shift button to be somewhat difficult to reach from the hoods and the prototype shift mapping gave me a little grief, freezing up for a second after successive shifts up onto the largest cog.
FSA tech manager Jeff Donaldson reassured me that the specific shift behavior patterns are still being ironed out — including a pause in front-derailleur auto-trim after rear-derailleur shifts — and that the final version of firmware will not have any such hiccups.
The wireless group will soon have an accompanying app (Android first, then iOS) with which you can customize each button's function and the speed of the shift. That app is not yet complete, so I couldn't test it.
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The hardware, however, appears to be in final, polished form, including the new dual-pivot brakes that can handle up to 28mm clinchers, FSA claims.
FSA K-Force WE highlights
- Electronic 11-speed road group
- Wireless shifting, but derailleurs wired to central battery
- Claimed 2,090g group weight
- Toggle-switch shifters that are programmable for function (front, rear, up, down) and speed
- Front derailleur auto-trims to rear derailleur's position
- Two lever size options — an important detail, I believe
- No price yet, but will be "directly competitive with Shimano Di2 and SRAM eTap", FSA claims
- Claimed 4,000-6,000km battery life
WE shifting: the good points
WE shifting: the bad points
WE dual-pivot calipers, cranks, cassette and chain
K-Force WE pricing and availability
Early verdict: strong signs of promise, but refinement needed to compete with Di2 and eTap
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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