All I can say is WTF are we doing spending big money on fancy 12 speed drivetrains when a inexpensive 9 speed works just as well?

I'm with you. MTBers obsess way too much over the new shiny, and often unnecessarily expensive, thing.

I had a hard time biting my tongue recently when a thread appeared in the "where are the deals" forum for a $250 or $300 XX1 cassette. I get heartburn at spending $100 on a cassette that will work just as well. I run 11sp on both my bikes because it's a much better value than 12sp.

Assuming it uses an HG hub interface I'd be down to try it next time my drivetrain needs replacing.

 

100% agree.

What I wish for, is more wide range, durable, and lightweight 9-10-11 speeds. And I hope this works out for you, really.

I used Microshift Advent X when I built up my Banshee, chasing similar ideals. I loved how the Cassette was lighter than Shimano 12s, how easy it was to setup/index, and how the whole thing was incredibly cheap (I think I paid $65 for the cassette!!). But, it didn't work out for me :/. I roached the derailleur in under 300 miles. No impacts, just rattled the clutch to death (not serviceable), and the pivots wallowed out. I had two shifters on it too :/.

I did Shimano Deore after that, and got more mileage out of it (~700-800 IIRC) before the derailleur died similarly (the clutch was serviceable, and needed it every ~200-300 miles, but eventually that didn't bring it back anymore). I generally liked that drivetrain, but man, the cassette on that one was heavy.

Also, I did get annoyed at the HG freehub disintegrating (the onyx one uses steel inserts to protect the aluminum, and they still chipped out :/).

I'm currently trying out SRAM X01 Eagle 12s (mechanical), to see if the hype is real about durability. I'm about 6 months into it now, and so far so good (although I wouldn't have expected problems yet).

But yeah, an actual high end 9-10 speed cassette with 10-50ish gearing, and a derailleur to go with it that lasts, and I'd be all over that.

 

I’ve been riding Pinions for the past few years, I also ride a single speed, and a fat bike with GX Eagle 12 sp.

I decided to build a feeeride bike, non Pinion, it’s sort of a parts bin bike, I had everything for the build but a drivetrain.

I had been reading about Box, the reviews were good, and the Box Two Gen Two had just been released; $300 shipped for shifter, derailleur, cassette, chain, and housing/cable.

At this price ^ I couldn’t turn it down 👍

Installation was easy, setting B gap was painless, no issues, just plug and play.

First ride today, it shifted beautifully, up and down, smooth backpedaling, no noise, no fuss, and it required no mid ride tweaking.

As to the nine speeds, I was kind of surprised, but I didn’t even notice it was “only” nine speeds.

All I can say is WTF are we doing spending big money on fancy 12 speed drivetrains when a inexpensive 9 speed works just as well?

Box One Gen 2 will be available in Spring 2025, you get a fancier derailleur with titanium fasteners, a lightweight ally cassette, and an improved shifter; it’ll be more expensive if course.

I’ll probably upgrade … or not 😁


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Thank you.

I have a Box 1/2 Prime 9 Gen 1 and am very impressed by it, so much so that I've been planning to equip the next bike I get with a Box Prime 9 Gen 2. The concept looks right, but I've not been able to find reviews. Yours is the first.

A question: Do you know why the Gen 2 was released only in Box 2 format? I noticed this while on their website, and I really like the quality of their Box 1 components (derailleur and shifter; only the cassette is the beefier Box 2.) I've been meaning to write and ask, but life keeps distracting me.

Edit: Nevermind on that last part. It would help my reading comprehension greatly were I to not have an Angelbutt jabbering in my ear while trying to read.

 

I have a Box 9 speed in the box awaiting install. Trying to cram 12-speed in the same space always seemed like a dumb idea. Wide range 9-speed is probably what I've been waiting for.
(Although a 2X FD makes so much sense to me)

-F

 

The high end Box One is coming soon, it’ll be lighter than any 12 speed, same wide range, but it’ll cost more; the cassette is really light.

HG driver all the way, it’s what I use for my single speed, love the availability of that driver.

The GX 12 speed on my Fatillac sucks, even though it’s fresh, it’s never shifter well, so I’ll probably put the Box Two on the fatty and put Box One on the Balance.

So yeah, eff all those gears, wide range 9 speed for the win.

I suspect they released Box Two first because it was already in the pipeline and it was the best value. The Box One will be twice as expensive.

…. but the Box Two is really good, I have no complaints.