File photo: Gerow. All other photos provided by SRAM.

At the Mountain Bike World Cup DH and enduro races in La Thuile this weekend, SRAM announced the acquisition of Ochain, the Italian brand known for producing a unique system that reduces pedal feedback on full-suspension mountain bikes. The system has already been adopted by many professional DH and enduro riders, and Ochain says trail and XC riders can benefit from it as well. Now, with backing from SRAM, it’s possible we could see the tech reach a much wider audience.

“We started thinking about how to make descending better through drivetrain development,” said Flynn George, Product Manager at SRAM. “We found that Ochain delivered unmatched improvements in traction, stability, and ride feel. It quiets down the chassis, reducing auditory feedback and pedal feedback. On the trail, that means improved traction and control.”

Photos provided by SRAM

What is Ochain?

Ochain was founded by Fabrizio Dragoni in 2019 with the goal of giving mountain bikers a chainless feel on full suspension bikes while riding downhill. He and his team were inspired after seeing pro riders like Neko Mulally and Aaron Gwin grabbing podium finishes despite losing a chain at the start of their races. Dragoni asked himself, “Which kind of advantage could came [sic] from this situation for the rider or his bike?”

The team eventually settled on an active spider concept that would allow the bike’s suspension to move more freely. By separating the bike’s suspension from the drivetrain, riders get improved braking traction and stability in rough terrain. It’s also said to reduce chain motion, which results in a quieter ride.

SRAM says the average Ochain device weighs about 160g. Prices start at about $350, depending on the configuration.

How does it work?

Ochain hardware is mounted between a bike’s crank arm and chainring, introducing a controlled amount of rotational float. This allows the chainring to rotate backward independently of the cranks by a few degrees when the suspension compresses — typically between 4° and 12°, depending on the setup.

The amount of free rotation can be adjusted between zero (locked) and 12° using a knob on the outside of the spider. Elastomers inside the Ochain provide a controlled bottom-out once the device reaches its rotational limit.

SRAM hints that it could be helpful for trail riding, too

While Ochain was originally developed with World Cup DH racing in mind, Ochain and SRAM say the tech has broader applications. The chart above suggests that even XC and trail riders can benefit from the lowest, 4° setting when riding flowy trails.

SRAM’s acquisition not only brings Ochain into its extensive product ecosystem, but it also paves the way for tighter integration. An XX Eagle T-Type 104BCD-compatible version is already in the works, which would allow Ochain to slot neatly into SRAM’s latest drivetrain offerings.

For riders not running SRAM drivetrains, an FAQ confirms support for Shimano XT and XTR cranksets, as well as Race Face and select eMTB systems from Bosch and Brose. Whether that support continues in the long term remains to be seen.

Why this matters

Pedal kickback might not be a concern for every rider, but it’s a real issue — especially for those running high-engagement hubs paired with certain suspension designs that transmit more pedal feedback during fast, technical descents. Singletracks has written extensively about how this affects suspension performance and can create a harsh ride feel.

Ochain approaches the problem at the chainring, while competitors like e*thirteen’s Sidekick hub try to solve it at the hub. Both have their pros and cons, but Ochain’s popularity suggests it’s a relatively easy and effective solution.

Now, with SRAM’s backing, Ochain could become a more mainstream option, possibly even a standard feature on complete bikes in the future. And let’s be honest: a quieter, smoother ride is something just about every mountain biker can appreciate.