The Archer D1x Trail replaces the gear lever and Bowden cable that controls your mechanical derailleur with a wireless electronic system. It has an electronic lever that communicates wirelessly with a box that is attached to your chainstay or seatstay. This box contains an electric motor that pulls a short length of Bowden cable to operate the derailleur.
Four main advantages are claimed for this:
- It gives a fast and precise shift. I have listed this as one advantage as these factors are usually two sides of the same coin.
- The electronic lever can be positioned most anywhere and needs only the touch of a microswitch to operate. This makes the system a useful problem solver, helping, for example, people with limited dexterity or those difficult people with difficult machines like tandems and recumbents.
- At least when it was launched, the system was notably cheaper than a full blown move to Di2 or to any other fully electronic alternative.
- And finally you can set the number of sprockets and the exact derailleur position that you want for each sprocket. This allows you to use impossible combinations (9-speed Campagnolo derailleur running with 8-speed SunRace sprockets anyone?) or to compensate for any other weirdnesses that life throws at you (how about a bent derailleur hanger while touring Kazakhstan?).
The product was produced from 2018 to 2024. I believe that, during that time, there were a number of variants:
- The system was originally launched (in 2018) with two cylindrical black Li-ion batteries and (I believe) a plastic, flip open, battery cover.
- In 2019 the battery cover was improved to be a round, aluminium, screw-in cap.
- In 2022 the two black batteries were replaced by three red 'sprint' batteries. The higher voltage, possibly combined with improvements in the motor, led to very much improved speed of operation.
- In 2023 the system underwent a full redesign, with a cartridge battery, compatibility with SRAM batteries, Shimano batteries and ebike power sources, a further improved motor and better waterproofing and repairability.
So, by 2024 it was, alas, all over - possibly crushed by the post-Covid bike bust, lower priced electronic groupsets from SRAM and Shimano and an exploding kaleidoscope of Chinese competitors.
This example is from the first generation listed above.
- Derailleur brands: Archer
- Themes: Electric Avenue
- Country: USA
- Date of introduction: 2018
- Date of this example: unknown
- Model no.: unknown
- Weight: xxxg
- Maximum cog: not applicable
- Total capacity: not applicable
- Pulley centre to centre: not applicable
- Index compatibility: everything
- Chain width: 3/32”
- Logic: top normal
- B pivot: not applicable
- P pivot: not applicable
- Materials: largely plastic
Ref. 2154