BOX Components Box 3 Prime 9 Drivetrain 2020
Reviews / Drivetrain
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At A Glance
Drivetrains have been turned up well past eleven now, and the race to put the most gears on a bike has probably subsided. Perhaps 12 is enough? Well, Box thinks 12 is more than enough and are encouraging us to think a little differently with a 'less is more' philosophy.
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The Box Prime 9 range aims to convince us the nine gears is plenty, providing you still have a wide range of ratios available. Ranging from Box Four to Box One, there is a range of price points and specifications available. The Box Four is the value end of the spectrum and curiously has only eight gears, but from then on it's nine-speed all the way up to Box One.
The main claims being made by Box is that fewer gears lead to more robust components that will last longer. Further to this Box suggest things are more straightforward and lighter as obviously fewer cogs should weigh less and nine gears mean less time spent shifting.
For testing here we have the Box 3 nine-speed system, which includes a rear mech, cassette, chain and shifter. This all comes in at $199.99 or £200.00.
Cassette
At the Box Three level, there are two options, either 11 to 46 or 11 to 50t. Both fit onto a standard, splined freehub body but need a spacer at the back. The cogs are all steel, and the seven biggest are all attached by pins to an aluminium spider. The last two cogs slide on independently, and a lock ring tightens the whole set up onto the freehub body. The 11- 46t weighs in at 497g and the 11 to 50t 550g. The jumps on the cassette are 11/13/16/20/24/30/36/40/46 or 11/13/16/20/24/30/36/42/50, which give a big spread but slightly larger jumps than would be achieved with a 12-speed cassette.
Chain
With fewer gears, a heavier duty chain can be used which has double hardened solid pins and weighs in a 312g. This 9-speed chain is however compatible with modern narrow-wide chainrings so no need to change anything there. Weight 312g
Rear Mech
The mech looks a bit different from other modern derailleurs with its small jockey wheels but still has a long cage needed for the large cassette. There is a clutch system, but this is 'always on' and not adjustable and seems stiff enough to keep the chain in place. As with all the Prime 9 kit, it's robust, and all the adjusters and clamps are large and easy to use. Weight 345g.
Shifter
There are two shifter options available, either multishift or single shift. The latter is designed for ebikes and only allows one gear to be changed at a time to avoid cross-loading the chain under power. Mostly nylon composite in construction, it is Shimano-like in its style with a 2-way release action on the downshift and a large paddle for upshifting up to 3 gears at a time (multishift version). Weight 128g
On The Trail
What was most surprising was how easily I adapted to the new system considering I swapped out from a 12-speed drivetrain. Climbing out of the car park on my first ride things felt remarkably similar, and although I was on the 46t version and had lost my easiest gear, I wasn't missing the big ring too much. Although the number of gears decreased, the range is still there, and as such it doesn't feel like you've gone back in time to old-fashioned 9 speed. There is, in fact, very little 'old fashioned' about this system.
The shifting is slightly clunky as that 9-speed chain jumps from gear to gear, but it feels purposeful and solid. After a few shifts between gears, it is noticeable that the jumps are slightly larger and sitting in one gear and making it work for you is better than hopping about the gears. At low speeds I found the issue of fewer gears almost irrelevant, providing I have an easy gear to winch up a hill, I'm happy. What is more noticeable is spinning along at a higher speed where it is possible to find a point where you might feel you want an in-between gear. I use the word 'want', as it's not necessary and merely pushing a bit harder on a gear is the solution or easing off the pedals a little. Perhaps the racers out there may take issue at this, but for trail riding, it worked great.
When it comes to the descents, with less pedalling going on, it was reassuring to find the chain stayed place without a chain guide. The narrow-wide compatibility helps in this aspect, but the rear mechs clutch kept everything together and on the chain in place.
Despite being a little noisy and agricultural compared to the more advanced and expensive drivetrains, I've been using I had very little to complain about during testing. The black coating started coming off the cassette after the first ride but other than that there is little sign of wear. I predict that I could happily run this all winter without needing much in the way of maintenance.
The issue for many riders will be why to choose nine-speed over twelve-speed especially now SRAMs NX Eagle and Shimano's SLX are bringing 12 speed to competitive price points. The answer may lie firmly in the reliability of the nine-speed system for those after a bombproof winter hardtail, downhill bike or for bikepacking into the back of beyond. The other application is ebikes, where fewer gears and a strong chain pays dividends and really isn't the place for fancy 12-speed drivetrains.
Overall
When more isn't necessarily better, Box has gone against the grain and created a budget drivetrain that could well outlast the rest of your bike. With all the gears you really need, the Prime Nine system will appeal to those after reliability and durability above all else.
This review was in Issue 62 of IMB.
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By Ewen Turner
Ewen Turner is a self-confessed bike geek from Kendal in the Lake District of England. He runs a coaching and guiding business up there and has a plethora of knowledge about bikes with an analytical approach to testing. His passion for bicycles is infectious, and he’s a ripper on the trails who prefers to fit his working life around his time on the bike.
