The component manufacturer FSA is presenting its long-awaited electric drivetrain for road bikes at Eurobike 2016. After Shimano, Campagnolo and SRAM, FSA is the fourth supplier of electric road bike drivetrains.
The functions of the K-Force WE are based on the well-known shifting systems of the competition and is designed for two chainrings at the front and eleven sprockets. The shifting commands are transmitted wirelessly - similar to the eTap groupset from SRAM. Button cells in both levers provide the power supply for issuing the shifting commands, which are transmitted using the ANT+ transmission standard, on which most bike computers are also based. However, to prevent external access to the shifting system, FSA has installed its own network key. Hackers should therefore have no chance. The groupset is called K-Force WE, where "WE" stands for wireless electronic. However, the groupset does not manage entirely without cables. The battery, rear derailleur and front derailleur, which is both the receiver and the control centre and therefore the brain of the system, so to speak, are connected to each other by cable - similar to Shimano Di2. FSA describes the combination of wireless and wired transmission as the best of both worlds. One advantage of the solution is definitely the long battery life. The 7.4 V Li-ion battery is said to have a runtime of up to 6,000 kilometres; the charging time is said to be 1.5 hours. As with the Di2, the rod-shaped battery is mounted in the seat post.
The way the K-Force WE works differs slightly from competing systems. There is a rocker switch below the brake lever. If you tap at the top, the front derailleur or rear derailleur shifts into a heavier gear; if you tap at the other end, it shifts into a lighter gear. The rear derailleur can handle a maximum of a 32 sprocket. There is a choice of three cassettes: 11-25, 11-28 and 11-32 teeth.
In addition to the groupset, FSA has introduced a new carbon crankset for the K-Force as well as new brakes designed for tyres up to 28 millimetres wide. For the first time, FSA can now offer a complete road bike groupset. During a short ride test in the car park in front of the exhibition grounds, the K-Force WE worked well, but was not spectacularly different from the competitor systems. A unique selling point of the K-Force WE are the brake levers, which are available in two sizes. A standard size is designed for normal-sized hands and handlebars with a normal bending radius. A compact size is better suited to riders with small hands and is also the better choice for handlebars with a tight bending radius.
FSA states the weight of the complete K-Force WE at 2,090 grams, which would make the groupset slightly heavier than the systems from Shimano and SRAM. The sales launch is planned for spring 2017. A hydraulic disc brake, control units for time trial bikes and satellite shifters for racing handlebars are also in preparation, although these will not be available until a little later. In terms of price, FSA wants to orientate itself on the level of Dura-Ace Di2 and SRAM eTap.
