The Chinese group of 14 speeds that wants to overtake Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo

While much of the industry remains focused on total integration, wireless connectivity, or the obsession with reducing a few grams, in China there are manufacturers trying to tackle a much more visible front for the user, which is to add more speeds. And this week, during the celebration of the China Cycle Show 2026 in Shanghai, we have once again seen one of the most curious developments in recent months, a wireless road group with 14 speeds signed by Sensah under the name Sentyeh.

China puts pressure on Shimano and SRAM with a wireless 14-speed group

The fair, held from May 5 to 8 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC), brought together a large part of the Asian industry as well as numerous international brands. Among bicycles, motors, wheels, and components, the 14-speed Sentyeh group has been seen again after several months appearing at different industry events and on social media publications, although still without much official information or real demonstrations.

 

 

 

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Because there lies the big question. On paper, the product is appealing. Currently, the major manufacturers have barely made the leap to 13 speeds on the road. Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo have gradually increased the number of chainrings over the past few years, but no one had publicly shown a wireless 14-speed road group with an apparently functional development.

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The problem is that, for now, almost everything surrounding this group still seems more like a prototype in a showcase than a consolidated commercial product. So far, it has barely been seen installed on complete bicycles, and most appearances have been in showcases, display banks, or static demonstrations.

Moreover, the resemblance to current wireless groups from SRAM is evident. The road levers, the arrangement of the shifters, and the inner button bear a strong resemblance to the current Red and Force AXS. The same goes for MTB, where Sensah also has a wireless group, although in that case, it remains at 13 speeds and uses shifters that are practically identical in concept to the Eagle AXS controls.

This visual parallelism is not accidental. Many of these emerging Chinese brands have been accelerating their development for years by relying on concepts already established in the market. And although they are still far from the global refinement of traditional giants, the gap is starting to close faster than it seemed just a few years ago.

The big question remains the same: Does it really work?

The little practical information that exists about the group comes from a brief test published by the China Cycling channel, one of the few media outlets that has been able to handle the product in operation. And the conclusions, while interesting, make it clear that it still seems like a system in development.

According to that test, the group has only been seen functioning in single chainring configuration and under fairly controlled conditions. The 14-speed cassette is installed on a Shimano 12-speed hub and they mention that the rear derailleur uses a UDH hanger, although narrower and apparently proprietary. In those limited tests, the operation seems correct, but there are still no serious tests, nor has it been seen functioning with a front derailleur.

And that is where the usual doubts come in when such products appear. Because developing a derailleur that moves 14 chainrings is not the real challenge. The difficult part is achieving reliability, precision, speed, durability, compatibility, and real long-term availability of spare parts.

That’s why, even though the 14-speed group from Sensah/Sentyeh is very appealing, it will probably still take some time to see it regularly mounted on bicycles. But the mere fact that this type of development already exists shows something important: the Chinese industry is no longer just copying cheap products. It is trying to technologically outpace the major manufacturers in some very specific areas.