FSA WE(wireless electric) groupset- Pics and info

[sales guy]

Last year at NAHBS FSA asked to have one of our frames for their booth. They used it to showcase their FSA WE- wireless electric groupset. This year, they gave us a kit to put on a frame for our booth. Same frame, just switching the booth.

Last year, we got some backstage info on the kit. I personally, LOVED IT!!! I loved some of the things they designed into it. I loved the shifting. Loved the looks of it too. And it's stupid easy to set up.

So since I got the kit in today, I figured I would take a bunch of pictures, post them and answer any questions people have. Make sure to check out the kit in our booth or at the FSA booth. Which, funny enough is caddy-corner to ours!

The parts are not new(except the bb and chain), so there are some scratches and dings. But i'm pretty excited to see have fast the install goes and the full set-up goes. Playing with it set-up already VS you doing it is very different and makes a big difference in recommending it. But so far, I really like what I see.

Ok, going to add notes to things. I will put weights up tomorrow.
Everything is their K-Force highest end parts. So the bar, stem, seatpost, cranks. All those in a K-Force are essentially part of this level of kit. I didn't put up pics of the post, stem and bar cause many of you have seen them or used them. So no need to put them up.

Crankset: not sure how many of you use them so i posted it. It's a shred carbon fiber crank. Available in tons of length and ring options. Uses a 30mm alloy spindle. It has a bit of an aero shape to the arms. I don't mind the looks but I wouldn't be surprised if they do a new one. Lighter and more svelte. The rings are highly machined. Ramps and channels everywhere for the chain. This crankset I have is used. FSA said they are sending me another cause they didn't realize all the marks it had on it. It's very well made. No odd fitting or anything. Pretty nice. Just not as sexy as a Campagnolo crankset.

Bottom Bracket: Pretty simple. Same as the others offered but you get it stock in ceramic bearings. It's an outboard English threaded with 30mm bearings since the spindle is 30mm. Spins really nicely.

Rear Derailleur: It's all composite for the body and the cages. All stainless steel, titanium or alloy hardware. No rusting. The pivot bolt is alloy as to not kill the dropout. I think they did a really nice job on it. No protrusions. Not really bulky. The wire hides well. And it looks pretty waterproofed. And it's pretty lightweight.

Front Derailleur: I don't know what the cage is. I'll take a magnet to it tomorrow. But it's quite nice looking. I like the graphic on it. Looks like brushed or bead blasted. The rest of it(the motor body) is all composite. All the hardware is again either stainless steel, titanium or alloy. I think they really hit the mark there. No steel. No rusting. It's built to last. The front derailleur is the brains for everything. So the motor body is bigger, bulkier. But it runs everything. There are buttons and lights on the top the body. It takes about 5 minutes to set it up. So very simple. This kit is used but the pivots are snug and it still looks really good given this is a show/demo kit. Even the inside of the cage looks great.

Brake Caliper: I like these. They are similar to EE Brakes looks wise I think. It's really light- highly machined. The pad holders are machined a bunch. Even the alloy pivot nut and alloy spacer between the fork/frame and the brake is really machined out. All the hardware is stainless steel, titanium or alloy. No steel. The main pivot bolt that holds the brake to the fork/frame, it's titanium. AND it flips over! They designed the brakes to work for short or long reach bike designs. I think they really went all out for the brakes. Tried hard to make something for everyone. And they did an excellent job. The black bulge on top is a brake release to open the brakes to get the wheels out. I think it's a pretty clean brake. And they are smooth and strong. Very nice brakes. The graphics are minimal. And actually, easily removed. So these could be all blacked out and stealth.

Chain: FSA contracted with a company who makes industrial chains. Things that have serious torque. So it's strong. It's machined well, chamfered well and when on the bikes, very quiet. It shifts great. I'd put it up against anyone else. And it comes with a master link. Hollow pins and machined out inner plates. So it's not horribly heavy.

Brake/Shift Lever: These are super nice. The bodies have a great shape. Very comfortable. The hoods, the rubber is soft but not too soft so they should last. A bit grippy. So without gloves in wet weather, I bet they stick well. The body knobs, a nice rounded smooth finish. Comfortable for the palms of your hands.

The lever blades, they have a nice smooth finish. Good shape. Two size options for smaller and larger hands. I think that's a huge plus. The electrics, it's run by a CR-2032 battery. Simple to switch out. The hardware is the same as everything else- stainless steel, titanium and alloy. The paddle shifters, they are replaceable. Only takes a couple minutes. They have a nice feel on your fingers. And pretty easy to work. They are very smooth. Very fast.

Front and Rear Wheels: I'm lumping these together and I am going to post from the VisionTech website. It'll be easier.
---The Vision Trimax 35 offers a lightweight combination alloy rim. With a cutting 35mm depth, and a bump softening width of 17mm, this wheelset is a true winner. Add in the fully adjustable P.R.A. hub and aero bladed spokes to these hand built wheels and you are in for a smooth ride no matter if you are on the flats or in the hills, or anywhere in between.
---Alloy 35mm deep clincher rim
Interspoke milling R06 system
Extra light PRA hubs for DP spokes
Rims P.E.O. hard coating
6 sealed cartridge bearings (2F + 4R) mounted on 17mm axle diameter
Aero bladed spokes
Artisanal built, entirely by hand
Includes QR and rim tape
Front and Rear hubs – black anodized
Spokes – black

I will say I love the looks of these. The finish is nice. But I wished it had different rim graphics. Like brushed or bead blasted would look sweet on these VS the decals. The decals look like an afterthought. I actually think they are wider than 22mm. I will measure in the morning. And the cassette body being alloy, it needs the steel stiffeners to stop cog tooth bit but it doesn't have them. So big nocks on that part. The QR's are nice looking. Clean. But heavy. They need ti rods. The ones on it are steel. But the wheels are only $730 retail and weight out at 1530 grams. So not super heavy for a 35mm deep alloy wheelset. And the price is good. They should look good on the bikes especially since its a smaller womens frame.

Cassette: It's an all steel cassette VS the steel/titanium or steel/alloy of others. They shaved weight by using carbon for the carriers. It's not super heavy. It's definitely heavier to the feel than a SRAM cassette. They did machine a bunch of material away on the steel cogs. I showed that. Almost like channels. And it's where it's not needed so great idea to do. The cassette shifts very cleanly. No noticeable noise or anything. Not sure on price but it should be less than DA and RED cassettes. A little heavier but probably $50 to $100 less.