Classified & TRP officially unveils new Vistar // Powershift groupsets

Technical news

Want the Classified Powershift hub properly integrated into a cluster? You can now.

Component manufacturers TRP and Classified have used the first day of Eurobike to unveil the Vistar // Powershift, an all-new wide-range 1x groupset for road and gravel. Headline stats include wireless sequential shifting with unique gear counts of 1×16 for street and 1×15 for gravel, with the latter offering a whopping >530% range when using Classified’s 11-40 tooth cassette .

The new group includes Classified’s existing two-speed Powershift hub, revised by Dave Rome himself, and a new 1×12 system and shifters from Taiwanese TRP (Tektro Racing Products) components that are claimed to offer a smoother experience offering one of the widest range of gears on the market.

The fully integrated system sees the Classified’s Powershift button incorporated into TRP’s new Vistar shifter (hallelujah!). In other words, each of the components in the new sets is specifically designed to work in unison, something that Dave Rome and I mentioned earlier we felt was necessary for Classified to make a real breakthrough in the market.

The key to this integration lies in the switches. Previously, the Classified Powershift relied on an additional remote shifter attached to the steering wheel. TRP has now incorporated that remote shifter into the new Vistar shifters and brake lever using its wireless protocol.

Additionally, QuantumShift – TRP’s name for what is effectively sequential shifting – is incorporated into the buttons on a single brake lever. These buttons enable the rider to simply shift up and down through all 15 or 16 unique gears with the system automatically selecting between reverse and Powershift hub gears. Unlike Shimano Syncroshift or SRAM’s sequential shifting, not requiring a front derailleur shift, the new TRP rear derailleur and Powershift graded hub aim to provide instant, simultaneous shifting.

Alternatively, the rider can take full manual control and use buttons to independently shift the rear derailleur and planetary gear on the Powershift hub, enabling all 24 gears (2 hub, 12 cassette). QuantumShift is engaged or disengaged with a simple five-second press of one of the left stick shift buttons, while the left stick is always active for a two-speed Powershift transfer if required.

While it’s definitely not as catchy in name as Dura-Ace or Super Record, the new Vistar // Powershift system is more than just new shifters. It’s TRP’s new wireless rear sock with a removable, rechargeable battery. TRP also includes cranks, chainrings and hydraulic disc brakes. The groupset is available with either the graded Aero chainset or the new Vistar chainset. Meanwhile, both Classified and TRP will offer machined steel 12-speed cassettes with new 11-30, 11-32, 11-36 and 11-40 options.

Classified developed the new chainrings in house with 46-52 tooth options and an MRP tooth profile. The groupset includes a KMC chain which comes with a claimed increase in chain hold and reduced friction.

… and the TRP Vistar chain group.

As for brakes, TRP has over 35 years of manufacturing experience in that department and claims to offer comfortable hoods and one-finger braking. Unsurprisingly, setup and bleed duties require the TRP Mountain Bike Bleed Kit and, thankfully, it’s mineral oil running through those hoses.

Finally, Classifed and TRP claim to offer durability and reliability benefits, plus efficiency and aero benefits thanks to the removal of the front derailleur, increased drivetrain efficiency from larger gears, straighter chainlines and shifting under load . The new groupset was already used at Unbound where Arno Van den Broeck of the Classified Ridley Gravel Factory Team completed the 200 mile (322 km) event.

As the groupset was only officially revealed on the first day of Eurobike and the full release is still months away, we haven’t yet had a chance to test that new shifter or any of the related claims of simplicity, comfort or brake control. Additionally, while Classified is partnering with TRP on its new sets, it maintains its “open integration policy” as described when we first revealed a TRP and Classified collaboration last October that will says more integrations are still possible in the future. As a fan of the Powershift system, and with Vistar’s new shifters seemingly addressing the shortcomings of the Powershift remote shifter, today’s reveal is big news in the groupset sector.

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