E-Thirteen Helix R Cassette is Awesome!

Report back after a few months of use- from your review, it looks like you've just installed it

IDC- about how the product performs BNIB, but how it performs after usage and how the company who puts it out supports the end user- IME E13 is the worst

I've got about 1000 miles on my Helix and it truly is a great cassette. I also had the older TRS cassette years ago and the shifting was sub par on it. But the Helix is a great shifting cassette. I will say that install was NOT easy. It takes a lot of force to push the smaller cluster on far enough to get it to turn and seat into the larger cluster.

ljsmith said:

I've got about 1000 miles on my Helix and it truly is a great cassette. I also had the older TRS cassette years ago and the shifting was sub par on it. But the Helix is a great shifting cassette. I will say that install was NOT easy. It takes a lot of force to push the smaller cluster on far enough to get it to turn and seat into the larger cluster.

Click to expand...

It definitely took some effort to lock them together. TRS was total garbage. I also tried the Garbaruk with not much luck. Helix seems to be the real deal

ehfour said:

Report back after a few months of use- from your review, it looks like you've just installed it

IDC- about how the product performs BNIB, but how it performs after usage and how the company who puts it out supports the end user- IME E13 is the worst

Click to expand...

I'll admit I was not happy with the last cassette and support was of no help as well. Thus far all the other reviews I've read have been good on this cassette. So hopefully all will be good.

I have the Trs+ cassettes, shifting is great. Install is not great. It’s a result of the funky design.

I've got two TRS+ cassettes on different wheelsets and have liked them a lot. Haven't really struggled with installation. Since I already like the TRS+, if the Helix is better, I'm looking forward to it when I wear out the TRS+.

I'm thinking of getting the Helix for my 2nd set of wheels - currently running an Eagle cassette that I share between the two - but worried that I'll have to do a lot of adjustment to shifting every time I swap wheels. Anybody have experience with this?

I run one on my Otso Voytek and it has been great. I paired it up with a GX AXS derailleu.

I have about 2000 miles on a helix 11 speed and it works really well. 9-46 range can't be beat, and it's also the lightest cassette I know about. Only 1 aluminum cog, all the rest are well machined steel. I bought an extra aluminum big cog (they sell that individually so you don't have to replace the whole cassette) but I haven't needed to use it. Minimal visible wear on the aluminum. Yes it's hard to get the 2 parts of the cassette to "mate" the first time, but once I figured out that it requires a lot of force it was easy. That assembly is necessary in order to have a 9 tooth cog. Totally worth it because the 9 tooth cog allows you to run a smaller chainring and get more clearance. I sound like a salesman for e13, but I'm not. The helix is their only product I own, and it's excellent imo.

Just installed the Helix R on my Norco Threshold last night. Pairing it with a 38t oval and SRAM Rival. Shifts well on the stand, hoping for the same on the road. Chain is within tolerances and just barely long enough for the 46 (going from a 10-42) but considering a new chain with one extra link. Looking forward to the added range -- we do lots of rides on steep gravel in the coast range west of Portland, OR, and spinning is winning! Those that are getting excellent shifting performance thus far -- what chains are you using?

skunkybiker said:

Just installed the Helix R on my Norco Threshold last night. Pairing it with a 38t oval and SRAM Rival. Shifts well on the stand, hoping for the same on the road. Chain is within tolerances and just barely long enough for the 46 (going from a 10-42) but considering a new chain with one extra link. Looking forward to the added range -- we do lots of rides on steep gravel in the coast range west of Portland, OR, and spinning is winning! Those that are getting excellent shifting performance thus far -- what chains are you using?

Click to expand...

XX1 chain works great with my helix and 11 speed xtr derailleur. Absolute Black oval chainring. Cleaned the chain thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol right out of the box, then waxed it. Smooth. 38tX9 is a pretty big gear! Though makes perfect sense with gravel riding.

Good to know -- XX1 is on the bike and I have a new one in the bin. Parts hording has had its advantages during the pandemic.

I won't be using that 9t that much for sure, but I have a buddy who runs a double and he likes to prove a point on smooth & steep long downhills ... this should take care of that nonsense!

FYI still going strong but I prefer to use it on a SRAM drivetrain or with a SRAM chain

skunkybiker said:

Good to know -- XX1 is on the bike and I have a new one in the bin. Parts hording has had its advantages during the pandemic.

I won't be using that 9t that much for sure, but I have a buddy who runs a double and he likes to prove a point on smooth & steep long downhills ... this should take care of that nonsense!

Click to expand...

If you are just barely faster on the climbs you can make him over exert too where he can’t even take advantage of the bigger gearing on the downs, not to mention the time gap will be much greater waiting for them on the climbs vs they you on the downs. Time it and show them.

Still cold and snow covered trails here in Michigan. Decided to experiment with chains on my Helix cassette over the weekend. Both Shimano and Sram chains shifted perfectly (XT and XX1). Kmc x11sl was not so great. Slow shifting as well as a bit noisy . My guess is the standard KMC chain may run smoother.

Hmmm so it is like the black gen-2 but lighter/colorful and another $100.

I've had excellent experiences with both gen 2 using SRAM X1 (11sp) derailluer and gen1 9-46 with XTR (11sp) derailleur + WolfLink.

I have the 12s Helix R with a SRAM setup. GX derailleur / shifter and XX1 chain. It shifts better than the GX cassette. I have had occasionally had the derailleur bind when shifted under load (my xt set-up doesn't do this). Had it first happen in a race where I didn't let off enough when shifting. In "normal" use it seems fine. I think I just need to more consciously limit load while shifting (compared to 12s XT). Not sure if this is SRAM or Helix R related though.

It was such a ***** to install though. I thought for sure I was going to break something.

Only 200 miles on it so far.

I had two 11 speed Helix cassettes and both bent in a couple of weeks of riding. Shame as the gear spacing, range & shifting were all excellent.

As always E13 provided just fantastic warranty support and I can't fault them for that. However every E13 product I've purchased, and there have been many, has failed prematurely.

I do wish E13 would just build this cassette in an all steel construction. I'm weight weenie, but have dreamt of a wide ratio 11 speed cassette for years and thought I finally had found it.

After that I swapped to an XTR cassette and although the 51 tooth really isn't needed (the 45 tooth 2nd gear is low enough) and it results and a ton of drag due to the cross chaining in 1st gear, the XTR cassette really does shift other level over anything else.

I still dream of a lightweight XTR 11 speed wide ratio cassette paired with an AXS style mid length derailleur.

Suns_PSD said:

I had two 11 speed Helix cassettes and both bent in a couple of weeks of riding. Shame as the gear spacing, range & shifting were all excellent.

Click to expand...

How in the world did you bend two cassettes? Are you like 400 lbs, massive powerful legs, e-bike?