The Sensah Empire 2x11 speed groupset, super cheap, but does it perform?

When I first came across this groupset, I was a bit wary. I have always ridden Shimano setups on my bikes and have been using my Tiagra 4700 for 4 years and over 20,000 miles. Tiagra is 10 speed however, and the allure of an 11 speed setup was always pretty high.

For example, the majority of lightweight drivetrain upgrades, such as lightweight cassettes and chains, are only available for 11 speed setups.

However, the Shimano 105 groupset is still pretty expensive for my taste, especially for the latest R7000, and Ultegra or Dura Ace are waaaaaay out of my budget, so I decided to take the plunge with Sensah Empire. For just over £80 or $100, delivered to my door, it was difficult to pass up.

The installation was relatively straightforward, but there are a few quirks to the Sensah Empire Shifters that differ from any that I have installed on bikes before. But once you have it set up on the bike, the shifting is surprisingly good. It's very similar to the SRAM double tap system, but takes some getting used to if you have only ever ridden Shimano.

In this video I’ll cover the installation of the Sensah Empire on my bicycle, followed by my verdict on the groupset as a whole.

Got any questions or comments, stick them below 👇 and I'll try and get back to as many of you as I can!

Timestamps:
01:46 – Intro
03:15 – Groupset Overview
04:34 – Installation
10:06 – Removal of Bearing Race
13:39 – Groupset Reveal
14:58 – Sensah vs Shimano Shifting
19:09 – Initial Impressions
21:04 – Shifting Demo on Rollers
22:52 – Conclusion

Product links (Please note, I have no affiliation to any of the sellers linked below):
Sensah Empire 2x11: https://tinyurl.com/y9c8h42c

Intro roll:
Created by Dev Joshi - http://www.go2dev.co.uk

Music:
Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL) - Fresh Healthy Perspectives
Lakey Inspired (  / lakeyinspired  ) - In My Dreams, The Process, Warm Nights
BioDrive (https://biodrive.bandcamp.com/) - Waves of August

About Trace Velo:
I love cycling, and I love getting pro cycling kit for less. If it’s cheap, from China, and made of carbon fibre, I’m interested!

Instagram:
  / tracevelo  

Email:
[email protected]

Please note:
All products demonstrated in this video have been purchased by me, and I have no affiliation to any of the sellers or vendors shown.

In addition, I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.
In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!