The Classified Powershift System: A Gravel Review

A muck-safe way to keep the 1x system yet add extra gears for when the roads turn up or the load gets heavy

Classified Powershift System
(Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)
Cycling Weekly Verdict

The Classified Powershift System is easily the biggest innovation in gear shifting since the emergence of electronic shifting. I’d happily never see a front derailleur again. When it comes to shifting performance and gear offering, it’s better than anything else on the market today. However, the price is prohibitive and, as of yet, the wheel and bike partners are limited.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    All the gears of a 2x system, with the clean lines and simplicity of 1x

  • +

    Shifting under load and under muck

  • +

    Works with mechanical and electronic groupsets

  • +

    Super fast and smooth gear changes

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    As of yet, limited wheel and bike choices though that is changing

  • -

    Expensive

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

After some eight years in development, the Classified Powershift Technology is gaining momentum. It received Eurobike’s Gold Award for design and innovation, it’s been UCI accredited and has already been spotted at the WorldTour. 

Riders have backed this revolutionary shifting technology from its inception with Classics legend Tom Boonen being one of three company’s three owners and fellow legends like Andre Greipel, Marcel Kittel and Anna van der Breggen are listed among the company’s investors. Now, the industry seems to be coming around as well with bike manufacturers like Ridley, Factor, Pilot Cycles, Rose and Allied all lining up to roll out Classified-equipped bikes, while Mavic, FFWD, DT Swiss, Enve, Reynolds, Boyd and Spinergy are all set to produce wheelset around the Classified hub. 

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