I see zero chance Shimano tries to create a different direct mount standard than UDH. At most they could provide a different insert that would fit a UDH-compatible frame and work with their direct mount system.
Note that Shimano’s patent includes a B-limit screw, Transmission does not; Shimano could therefore (in theory) accommodate a wider range of cassettes with a direct mounted system, which might be popular if they combine direct mount with 2x.
I’m having nightmares having just jumped on a 2x Red E1 thinking I will not take long to want to convert everything to 1x XPLR and discard everything but hoods and crank arms 
Frame Makers/Marketeers are probably faster than Shimano. I’d welcome it if all future frames come out with UDH. It‘s a win win win for us consumers and I don’t see any downside for competitors of SRAM because non frame mounted RDs are still compatible with UDH.
If a frame mounted RD for Roadbikes shifts any better is another question.
In my ideal world, all frames would go UDH, and Shimano could introduce UDH compatible RDs or just make all RDs direct mount. Then frames would just need to include an UDH to direct mount attachment. This would simplify RD mounting, and lead to better (albeit very slight) RD shifting and easier rear wheel replacement.
And at this point, it doesn’t matter if shimano’s design is better or not, UDH already has the momentum. Unless shimano’s approach solves a compelling problem, I can’t see the OEM’s designing frame around multiple UDH standards (unless it’s just a simple hardware/hanger sort of difference).
Speed to market and smart business development beats the better design the vast majority of the time. If shimano was smart, they would be designing drivetrains around UDH rather than burning resources on a new standard. Suck it up and move on. But egos often make for bad business decisions.
Shimano Direct Mount gives clipless pedals a run for their money as far as names go.
Word on the street is that Red XPLR is being introduced in mid-August. We’ll see what happens……but if accurate, it only reinforces the strangeness of introducing the new 12 spd stuff and then stomping on it a few months later by introducing 13spd XPLR, IMO.
I think the latest updates were the refined Force AXS and Force AXS XPLR groupsets. Those were introduced early 2023.
Time flies.
What is up with SRAM and others (Canyon, Specialized) being almost intentionally terrible at keeping secrets this year? New strategy or just not caring any more?
It doesn’t seem any different from previous years. Nino Schurter and other athletes have been riding SRAM prototype stuff for years. I think it is a good idea if the pros test future products, and it isn’t as if SRAM is giving its competition any novel ideas by adding another gear.
I’m talking about the new E1 Red stuff for the road with the new levers and calipers.
From a market introduction perspective, not from a performance perspective.
Don’t feel the same, from what I here it’s going to be the same levers and brakes, if you run them XPLR you can go 1x13, if you want a front mech 2x12, most road won’t want XPLR and none UDH so 2x12 will work fine, XPLR gets a little tweak, but still has 11 less gears, don’t see the problem myself
Why would you not want a road bike with a UDH?
Sorry, wasn’t clear, not what I meant, I should have said " most road won’t want XPLR and have none UDH frames, so 2x12 will work fine"
Also I was under the impression that the 13 speed XPLR cassette will over hang the spokes, so would have to limit cross chaining a little more as well, my 2x12 Red isn’t 2x12 as it doesn’t allow small small, the “issue” be made more accurate with a wider cassette
Basically, I’m not seeing the choice of 1x13 or 2x12 as being a big deal, IF all others in the groupset are the same , and interchangeable, which is the word isn’t it ?
Even many road bikes are switching to UDH. You can see early movers (e. g. Open has teased that they will move all existing frames to UDH).
I’m guessing they will also use a wide crankset if you want 13 speed, not sure everyone will want to run wider q-factor, new red 2x12 works really well. I’m not eager to move to 1x13 anytime soon unless unless I’m riding a do it all bike where I’d like to have more tire clearance with 1x
There is a lot of “wiggle room” on Sram crank regarding wide versus normal given the variable chain lines that can be achieved with different offset chainrings. Standard Red 1x chainrings of the past were something like 8mm offset, so moving to a 3mm offset chainring would give more chain stay clearance. But given we don’t yet officially know the chainline recommendations for the 13sp T-Type, we probably ought to to assume it needs to be wider in the same fashion that the T-Type mtb version is, given that the cassette position seems to be different(inboard vs outboard).
Its also worth mentioning that 5mm increase in Q Factor is pretty minimal on the normal vs wide, when comparing to a mtb crankset, or even Favero pedals or similar… Heck, removing both pedal washers cuts that increase nearly in half…
Pretty obvious teaser of something “coming soon” SRAM Road on Instagram: "Something is coming soon. Tap the link in our bio to sign up for our newsletter. #newSRAM 📸 @connymirbach"
I’ve heard on Escape Collective discord channel a new trek checkpoint is coming Aug, 15th so expecting the Red Xplr to come around that time if not the same day
