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Classified Powershift Kit & Wheelset

9
£2,299.00

VERDICT:

9
10
An excellent system – better shifting than a standard front derailleur, with many more benefits
Incredible shift speed
Amazing under load
Mechanical bits hidden from the elements
Very nicely made cassette
Price
Weight: 
665g
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This product has been selected to feature in road.cc recommends. That means it's not just scored well, but we think it stands out as special. Go to road.cc recommends

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Classified PowerShift hub is a really interesting bit of tech that has the power to change road bike design for good. It's a front derailleur-killing design that I think is going to really shake things up, particularly in the aero bike world, by allowing you to run what is effectively a 2x setup while reaping the benefits of 1x. And with more wheel brands on board, things are going to get even better.

What we have here is a single-chainring setup (1x) with all of the benefits of a double (2x) setup, and none of the drawbacks of either.

Inside the rear hub is a two-speed gear system that gives you 100 per cent of whatever chainring you have fitted, and then a reduction gear of around 70 per cent of that chainring, essentially doing the job of your 'missing' smaller chainring. So it's like having your front derailleur hidden away in your rear hub.

That has a range of mechanical benefits, not least the fact that you'll never have to index a front derailleur again. All of the important bits are also housed out of the way of rain and corrosive road spray, so you won't be needing to clean anything. And because this is a planetary gear system, the shifting between the two ratios is unbelievably fast.

Performance

Let's talk about performance for a moment, though there really isn't much to say. Press the small shift button and the system changes in 0.15 seconds. It'll do it under power, at any cadence, and it is yet to miss a beat. Classified does say that the system can't be shifted when you're pushing out over 1,000 watts, but I'm not sure that would be sensible anyway.

Shifting this thing is addictive for the first few rides, and I spent the majority of the testing period seeing if I could make it go wrong. I couldn't.

Rattling over trails and gravel paths also caused no issues, and during a summer cyclocross race I was able to bail out into the 'little ring' reduction gear in a place that may well have sent my chain bouncing off onto the bottom bracket had I been using a conventional derailleur system.

Shift button integration

If you're using Shimano Di2, the system gets even better. The small shift button is replaced by the system integrating into the existing left-hand Shimano Di2 lever. I don't have it on this Canyon Inflite test bike, but I have ridden it and found this way of doing things the best.

My SRAM-equipped bike requires the small shifter button to be poked through the bar tape or, ideally, you can punch a hole in the shifter hood. Seeing as this isn't my bike, I had the shifter button poking through the bar tape.

2022 Classified PowerShift - shift button.jpg

I don't like the SRAM setup half as much and, quite frankly SRAM, if you're reading this, you need to get on board with the system and offer your customers proper integration. Top marks to Shimano for allowing – or not preventing – the integration.

Cassette & ratios

The cassette is a very nice bit of machining with a hollow body that really needs to be seen up close to be admired. Gear changes across the cassette were also smooth, and I didn't notice any extra drivetrain noise.

2022 Classified PowerShift - cassette.jpg

Our test system came with an 11-30T cassette, but it's available in four sizes: 11-27, 11-30, 11-32, and 11-34. My bike also had a 42-tooth chainring, and Classified recommends a minimum size of 40T.

> Beginner’s Guide: Understanding bike gears

The main benefits for road and gravel bikes is that you don't need to run a massive cassette with big gaps to get a normal range of gears. So on the road, you can run a normal 52 or 53T chainring with a standard 11-30 cassette and have all of the gears that you'd usually have with a 2x system.

2022 Classified PowerShift - rear wheel.jpg

The wheels use 12x100 and 12x142mm thru-axles, the rear being the one that receives the shift signal and then actuates the shift. The axle houses a 1-watt motor, which is rather tiny, but uses the wheel's movement to actually change gear.

You will need to charge the rear axle occasionally, but I'm three months into testing and my occasional riding is yet to drain the battery.

Gamechanger?

So, why am I so confident that this is a nailed-on gamechanger for aero road bikes? (Though I think it'll also change the gravel and mountain bike worlds.) Well, we need to consider what riders and teams are prepared to do to their current bikes and the clothing that they will wear to save even a few watts.

Look at any road race, even down at my pitiful level, and you'll see a lot of aero socks, speedsuits, aero helmets, deep wheels, oversized pulley wheel cage systems and stupidly narrow handlebars. All of these measures save just a few watts each, and we've already seen 1x bike designers promoting the potential aero savings from removing the front derailleur. And then a quick look around the car park at a local time trial will tell you that when it comes to cheating the wind, the front derailleur isn't welcome.

> Is the front mech dying? Is there a future for the front derailleur on modern road bikes?

Weight might seem like one potential issue, but the hub, at about 475g, is compensated for slightly by the removal of the front derailleur, its mount, the inner chainring and the fact that the cassette is superlight at just 190g. A Dura-Ace R9200 front derailleur, for example, weighs 93g and Classified says that overall bike weight won't be negatively affected if you're currently using a 2X Di2 setup with something like a DT Swiss 350 hub.

I, personally, would be taking that with a pinch of salt as it'll largely depend on the rear hub that you're replacing. If it was a superlight design then the Powershift might make your bike weigh a bit more.

The wheels that I had installed were the Classified gravel model. They're fine, with smooth bearings and a decent rim shape, but they're nothing exciting. The good news is that Classified has recently announced partnerships with a range of wheelset brands, including DT Swiss, Mavic, Fast Forward, Enve, Reynolds, Boyd Cycling, and Spinergy.

2022 Classified PowerShift - rim 3.jpg

That's a brilliant move on Classified's part, because it can go about focusing on making the integration with shifting systems better and dropping the weight of the hubs, while leaving the rim and wheel building stuff to the brands that already do a great job.

In fact, the only reason that I couldn't give Classified a glowing 5-star review was because of the slightly dull wheels. So if you're going to be buying the system in a different wheelset and putting it in a Di2 groupset then you can consider this a perfect review.

Value

The final thing we need to cover is price. For any of the current Classified wheelsets, which come with everything that you need for the system, you're looking at £2,300. That is a significant amount for a front derailleur replacement, but for a carbon wheelset it isn't ridiculous.

Prices are yet to be confirmed for the third-party wheels, but Classified has confirmed that it will soon be offering the system as a standalone product to be built onto a rim of your choice. That might be the cheapest way to get it.

Conclusion

I'm dead impressed by the Classified Powershift system. I think it's about to really shake up the road and gravel bike markets, and with a mountain bike version coming too, this is one to seriously consider.

Verdict

An excellent system – better shifting than a standard front derailleur, with many more benefits

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Classified Powershift Hub

Size tested: 11-30T

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

From Classified:

"POWERSHIFT TECHNOLOGY is a wireless shifting technology that allows you to shift gears instantly and under full load. Its first application is the Powershift hub, which replaces the front derailleur. The Powershift hub offers unrivalled shift quality, high gearing range and small steps in between gears combining the benefits of both 1x and 2x."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

The system included:

A shift button

Bar-end communicator

System-specific thru-axle

Cassette

Rear hub

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

This would be a 10 but for the wheels.

Rate the product for performance:
 
10/10

Wheels aside, it's exceptional.

Rate the product for durability:
 
10/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

This shifts instantly under loads of power and at low cadences. It's so much better than a front derailleur.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The shifting is mesmerisingly good.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The wheelset isn't amazing.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Nothing else like this on the market.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

If I was scoring this on just the hub system it would be a 10. This is a brilliant idea that has been delivered well. The shifting is insanely good. While the wheels are okay, the cost for the wheelset system is high – but with other brands coming in and the system soon to be available for building into existing wheels, this is going to be less of an issue.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 27  Height: 177cm  Weight: 62kg

I usually ride: Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Under 5 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, club rides, general fitness riding, I specialise in the Cafe Ride!

Add new comment

47 comments

Avatar
Xenophon2 | 1 year ago
0 likes

I've owned one for 15 months now.  The first generation had an issue with lateral play that developed on the rear wheel after a while.  They fixed it for free -normal- and since then it's been solid as a rock, I use the bike for my 35 km/day commute and for gravel riding in the weekends, irrespective of the weather.  

Really, the only drawbacks I can see are the price and the fact that until very recently you couldn't get it built into your preferred set of rims.  Other than that it's brilliant.  I wouldn't want to switch back. If you're a gravel rider who needs range but gets annoyed by the spacing between gears, this is for you.

I read what MarioJ writes below but have never experienced drag, let alone chain drops when coasting.  There must be something wrong with his setup.

 

 

Avatar
r32hoo | 1 year ago
0 likes

I have a Factor Ostro with Classified Powershift.  I have now ridden it for 2 months and more than 1000 miles.  I have SRAM Force rear derailleur and the Aero 50T single chainring with powermeter.  The Powershift works flawlessly.  No missed shifts. No dropped chains.  Shifts in the blink of an eye. Sure, the gains are marginal versus the Red or Force AXS front derailleur, but when Factor makes a special bike without front mech mount and includes the Powershift system with Black Inc wheels using Classified hubs at the same price as a Factor Ostro with Force AXS,  the advantages stand out without adding cost.  With the Ostro, after riding 10 or 15 miles, the bike started to make squeaky frame noises only in the low hub gear.  Part of it was the wheel end caps vibrating in the rear dropout only.  I added some synthetic grease where the end caps touch the dropouts and that helped. But the system in many cases (Factor bikes) requires a torque arm for the hub to engage when you pedal.  And that torque arm is designed to rest against one of the rear flat mount brake screws.  The mount was vibrating.  I could loosen the thru axle, move the torque arm to the brake bolt, and retighten the thru axle, but the squeak would come back in 10 miles.  So I told Classified and they sent me a plastic insert for the torque arm.  Now all the vibrations are gone. Bike rides silently.  No hub noise when coasting.  Instant engagement.  Sure, with SRAM you have to use the separate handlebar button to change the rear hub from 1.0 to the 0.697 easy gear.  But it has become second nature.  As others note, it is just so much fun to show my cycling buddies how the shifting works.  When cost comes down, this will be a game changer, and when more wheel manufactures start using the hub, too. SRAM doesn't make it easy for Classified.  Some day they might let the handlebar bluetooth module integrate into the blip ports.  That's what I am hoping for, but it's not a big problem in the real world.  Before I bought the bike, I was able to communicate with folks at Factor and Classified directly to make sure my questions were answered and the size and fit were correct.  Hope more manufacturers will communicate this well.  Felt used to do it.  Gerard Vroomen at 3T and OPEN also is happy to give advice and info.  I asked him why OPEN doesn't build a Classified Powershift bike.  He said the first hubs 8 years ago were not so flawless, and that one can buy an OPEN or 3T frame and have a shop install the Powershift system.  

Avatar
Mario Jr. | 1 year ago
0 likes

It's not that sweet in real life. To have it work with Di2, you have to send the shifter to Classified and have it converted. Important: It can not be reverted. AND! It does not work with the new 12sp shifters. I am unsure why Road.cc's testers don't mention this?
When riding, there so much drag when freewheeling that the chain will drop from time to time, as there's no tension on it.
Otherwise a nice system.

Avatar
fenix | 1 year ago
1 like

This will be a gamechanger for those Sunday rides when you're nattering and forget to change down at lights or a junction.  I've lost track of how many times I have to set off hugely over geared. 

Avatar
kil0ran | 1 year ago
3 likes

I have no need for it, I don't have the funds, but I love the innovation.

Avatar
emjay49 replied to kil0ran | 1 year ago
5 likes

I didnt need it either but I liked the tech and was building a new bike that needed a new set of wheels so I went for it. 

All I can say is that it works brilliantly and you very quickly adjust your riding to maximise the benefit. The reliability has been fine - no issues at all. The set up is a bit tricky for road frames as you will be surprised how tight chain stay clearance is for +50t single chainrings, there is literally only a mm or two between frame and chainring on my Definition. 

Reviewers claim that the Classified wheels are a bit basic but I cant tell the difference from the Hunt Wheels I was running prior. These come with Hope Hubs and they dont seem to flex at all and very happy so far. 

Avatar
kil0ran replied to emjay49 | 1 year ago
0 likes

As the system claims to be more tolerant of chainline I wonder if one option there would be some drive side spacers?

Avatar
emjay49 replied to kil0ran | 1 year ago
0 likes

Yes I agree that in principle you could fit a mm or 2 on the drive side, but it depends then how much space you then nick from the NDS. On my set up,the NDS axle pre load is almost backed fully off, so any increase in width by fitting spacers will just have an adverse effect on the other side. Just depends on the frame design I think.

Avatar
Bigfoz | 1 year ago
4 likes

Just checking here. We're talking about a £2,300 HUB to replace a £35chainring and am £40 derailleur?  (Oh of course and a £2 cable...). The company, reviewer and anyone who indulges in this is certifiably insane.

Avatar
peted76 replied to Bigfoz | 1 year ago
6 likes

Not really.. the high ticket price is for a wheelset.. which includes the hub with the wizadry in. 

I don't think this is being aimed as as 'cheaper' alternative to a non existing problem (e.g. not for everyone), but for me.. as someone who looks at Rolhoff systems with lustful eyes.. this is a very interesting product indeed. Mostly interesting because it seemingly adds pro's with little or no con's (apart from cost).

I find myself thinking.. would getting this rear hub allow me the flexibility to run different sized front chainrings on my Mason Definition to go from club ride with a semi conpact to full on gravel/CX gearing, with the added bonus of just 1x to clean and maintain.

 

Avatar
Rendel Harris replied to peted76 | 1 year ago
2 likes
peted76 wrote:

Not really.. the high ticket price is for a wheelset.. which includes the hub with the wizadry in. 

The hub kit without the wheels to build your own sells for €1399, so still a pretty hefty whack even in the crazy numbers world of cycling.

Avatar
Secret_squirrel replied to Rendel Harris | 1 year ago
0 likes
Rendel Harris wrote:

The hub kit without the wheels to build your own sells for €1399, so still a pretty hefty whack even in the crazy numbers world of cycling.

Thats quite a markup given the price Reilly are selling it for with a rim.

Avatar
peted76 replied to Rendel Harris | 1 year ago
0 likes
Rendel Harris wrote:
peted76 wrote:

Not really.. the high ticket price is for a wheelset.. which includes the hub with the wizadry in. 

The hub kit without the wheels to build your own sells for €1399, so still a pretty hefty whack even in the crazy numbers world of cycling.

It's certainly not cheap but the €1400 does include a cassette and I suppose you 'could' further justify it with the fact you'd be replacing a £400 di2 front derailleur and front chainring... still expensive though.. it'd be far more palatable/plausible nearer the cost of a top end rear hub.. maybe £600/700. 

I would expect this 'system' to show better value as a bike manufactuer build option.

Avatar
Bigfoz replied to peted76 | 1 year ago
0 likes

I can run different size chainrings on my bikes now. Simply undo 5 bolts, swap ring, do up 5 bolts. Nope, no fancy hub needed at all. And is the hub chnageable? If you want that compact gearing, do you need a different hub? The article seems to indicate you get what you're given. 

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Bigfoz | 1 year ago
7 likes
Bigfoz wrote:

I can run different size chainrings on my bikes now. Simply undo 5 bolts, swap ring, do up 5 bolts. Nope, no fancy hub needed at all. And is the hub chnageable? If you want that compact gearing, do you need a different hub? The article seems to indicate you get what you're given. 

I usually wait for my Ultegra crank to snap and then buy a different size crank/chainring, but now I see that I could swap just the chainring. Boy, do I feel foolish.

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to hawkinspeter | 1 year ago
3 likes

People don't realise this is actually an example of an over-specified / engineered part.  The crank was meant to come off each time you stop so you can take it with you as a security feature.

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wtjs replied to hawkinspeter | 1 year ago
3 likes

I usually wait for my Ultegra crank to snap

That's it. Never give up, HP!

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Xenophon2 replied to Bigfoz | 1 year ago
0 likes

No, they just have more disposable income and other priorities than you do.  As others have said, you get a very decent wheelset, the hub and a high quality cassette for that price.  Yes it's still expensive, so don't buy it if that's the way you feel.  

I jumped in and I confess, it was a huge gamble as the system was just on  the market but 15 months down the line, if they offered me my cash back and a free reconfiguration of my bike I'd definitely refuse.

Avatar
Steve K | 1 year ago
1 like

Am I being dense, or is that bike lacking a major brake part?

Avatar
wtjs replied to Steve K | 1 year ago
0 likes

Yes. So you can see the thing they're trying to sell you. Latest news! Powershift Killer!! Simple device fitted on seat tube eliminates most of the cost.

Avatar
Rendel Harris replied to Steve K | 1 year ago
0 likes
Steve K wrote:

Am I being dense, or is that bike lacking a major brake part?

Didn't notice but now you mention it, yes!

Avatar
Liam Cahill replied to Rendel Harris | 1 year ago
1 like

They're new, magic, disappearing brake rotors...

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Glov Zaroff | 1 year ago
2 likes

Word on the street is that Classified have been working with Campagnolo this year. Could be interesting if true. 

Avatar
Miller | 1 year ago
5 likes

I have ridden, briefly, a bike with a powershift wheel. I loved it. Like the review says, the shift is extremely fast and reliable. There's no obvious drag in the reduction gear. The cassette is proprietary because it's machined quite hollow to provide space for the hub gear. That price is stinging but I'll keep an eye on availability of this thing because I would definitely ride it.

Avatar
AidanR | 1 year ago
4 likes

1) What's the drag in the reduced gear?
2) Why not go the whole way and have all the gears in the hub?

Avatar
Secret_squirrel replied to AidanR | 1 year ago
1 like
AidanR wrote:

1) What's the drag in the reduced gear? 2) Why not go the whole way and have all the gears in the hub?

what you mean like a Rohloff?

There is always going to be a trade off between efficiency, weight and number of gears. 

Avatar
ktache replied to Secret_squirrel | 1 year ago
1 like

I rate mine.

Though...

Shifting under load can be problematic and it will often bail into its "panic" gear if you don't come off the power a bit.

And if you put any weight on the pedals when waiting at the lights it really resists shifting.

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IanMSpencer replied to ktache | 1 year ago
1 like

Back pedalling is your friend. When I were a lad, terrorising the streets of Holbeach on my RSW Mk2...

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AidanR replied to Secret_squirrel | 1 year ago
0 likes
Secret_squirrel wrote:

what you mean like a Rohloff?

Yes, but that was designed decades ago for trekking.

Avatar
Secret_squirrel replied to AidanR | 1 year ago
0 likes
AidanR wrote:
Secret_squirrel wrote:

what you mean like a Rohloff?

Yes, but that was designed decades ago for trekking.

Firstly if it aint broke dont fix it.

Secondly

https://www.cyclemonkey.com/blog/tech-talk-retrofit-your-e-bike-rohloff-...

 

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