Shimano has formally unveiled digital shifting for its 12-speed GRX groupset, seeing it draw stage with SRAM and Campagnolo equivalents.
Named RX825, the brand new digital elements work in tandem with the beforehand launched mechanical GRX RX820 groupset elements to kind a whole digital groupset.
The transfer comes lower than a 12 months after Shimano launched its 12-speed mechanical providing, in August 2023, claiming that “about 75% of the gravel market is mechanical”. On the time, Highway Model Supervisor Nick Legan informed us “we needed to concentrate on the majority of the market first.”
Though 12-speed GRX now has a Di2 choice, it’s restricted to the 2×12-speed ‘Undroppable’ choice, whereas the 2 1×12-speed configurations stay mechanical-only – for now.
Shimano has additionally added a brand new front-shifting mode. Known as Entrance Shift Subsequent, it permits the rider to program one button to provoke a entrance shift from the chainring at the moment in use to the second ring and can also be being rolled out as a firmware replace to 12-speed Di2 highway groupsets.
Works with mechanical GRX 2×12-speed elements
2×12-speed GRX Di2 works with the crankset and different elements from the mechanical groupset
(Picture credit score: Shimano)
The 2×12-speed Di2 groupset works with the identical chain, cassette, crankset and brake calipers as utilized by mechanical GRX 2×12-speed. It’s an analogous association to how 2×11-speed digital GRX is constructed up, with solely the shifters and derailleurs together with the central Di2 battery and wiring differing between digital and mechanical choices.
That means that you can select between a variety of elements to construct your bike’s groupset. So GRX RX825 can be utilized with both the GRX RX820 48/31t crankset or the RX610 46/30t choice. On the rear, the digital derailleur is appropriate with both an 11-34t Dura-Ace, Ultegra or 105 cassette or the non-series HG710 11-36t cassette, so there’s an affordable selection of configurations that gives as much as 506 p.c gear vary and ratios effectively under 1:1.
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The GRX Di2 drivetrain makes use of the identical Hyperglide+ cassette tooth and chain profile because the 12-speed highway groupsets (and 12-speed MTB groupsets), which is claimed to extend shifting pace by 58 p.c on the rear and 45 p.c on the entrance relative to plain Hyperglide.
As with Shimano’s 12-speed highway groupsets, the rear mech is the brains of the operation
(Picture credit score: Shimano)
Shimano has ported to GRX RX825 Di2 the wi-fi connection between the shifters and derailleurs present in its 12-speed Di2 highway groupsets, Dura-Ace, Ultegra and 105 Di2. As with these groupsets, the derailleurs use a single inner battery to energy them and the rear mech homes the cost port, pairing/adjustment/battery-check button and Wi-Fi connectivity to the E-Tube Challenge telephone app for groupset configuration and firmware updates.
The 12-speed GRX Di2 shifters have the identical non-slip plastic coating because the mechanical model
(Picture credit score: Shimano)
The GRX RX825 shift levers have an analogous profile and ribbed hoods to mechanical GRX 12-speed and are designed for hand consolation on the flared bars typical of gravel bikes. The levers additionally function the identical anti-slip floor utilizing a plastic coating borrowed from Shimano’s fishing rods.
There are hidden third management buttons that may be configured utilizing the E-Tube Challenge app and you’ll wire in satellite tv for pc shifters to will let you shift from the drops, the tops or bar extensions, along with the levers.
Gravel riders have truly stolen a march on mountain bikers, because the MTB-specific XTR Di2 is barely obtainable as 2×11-speed at current, once more with no 1x Di2 choice.
Journey an e-MTB, nonetheless, and you’ll select a 1×12-speed Di2 set-up for Deore XT, powered by the e-MTB’s most important battery, so Shimano clearly has the tech know-how to make 1×12-speed work.
New Entrance Shift Subsequent perform
Entrance Shift Subsequent frees up a shift button so it may be reprogrammed to work lights or different gadgets
(Picture credit score: Shimano)
There’s a brand new perform referred to as Entrance Shift Subsequent rolled out with GRX RX825, which you’ll be able to program by way of the E-Tube Challenge app to work utilizing any Di2 button. Press the button and the entrance mech will shift between chainrings, both up or down relying on which ring it’s on on the time.
It’s just like the entrance shifting logic utilized by SRAM in its AXS groupsets, however managed by way of one button somewhat than SRAM’s technique the place two buttons are pressed concurrently.
Utilizing Entrance Shift Subsequent frees up a shift button to make use of for one thing else, so you’ll be able to program it, for instance, to change on lights or scroll via screens on a biking laptop. Shimano is rolling out the identical performance to its 12-speed highway bike digital groupsets by way of a firmware improve.
GRX Di2 2×12-speed pricing
(Picture credit score: Shimano)
The GRX Di2 proper and left shifters with brake calipers are priced at $556.99/£399.99 every. The rear mech prices $409.99/£324.99 and the entrance mech $209.99/£184.99.
Paired with the beforehand launched GRX 2×12-speed elements together with the crankset and a Di2 battery, this places the worth of a whole groupset at round $2,533/£2,100.
That’s near $1,000/£900 greater than mechanical GRX RX820 2×12-speed however similar to GRX RX815 Di2 2×11-speed. Each these groupsets can be found with a hefty low cost although, in case you store round, so you’ll be able to in all probability count on the identical in future with 12-speed GRX Di2.
Wait, there’s extra! New GRX branded pedals
Shimano claims that the graphics on the GRX pedals make them extra enjoyable than commonplace Deore XT
(Picture credit score: Shimano)
Launched as a restricted version, the double-sided GRX SPD M8100-UG pedals look suspiciously like Deore XTs. That’s as a result of that’s what they’re, simply with GRX United in Gravel graphics, which Shimano says makes them extra enjoyable.
Shimano claims a weight of 342g for a pair, which include the standard SPD traits of adjustable launch stress, low stack top, broad platform and offset binding to assist shed mud.
Shimano isn’t the primary model to launch a gravel bike model of its pedals. Look has a gravel version of its X-Observe SPD-compatible pedals. Initially launched as a restricted version of two,000 units in 2019, the X-Observe Gravel pedals are anodised brown somewhat than black and are nonetheless in Look’s catalogue, so clearly there’s a marketplace for gravel-branded SPD gravel bike pedals.
The Shimano pedals’ graphics prolong to the highest put on surfaces and the perimeters of the pedals, so it’s an open query how effectively they’ll face up to clipping out and in and common off-road put on and tear.
The GRX restricted version pedals are priced at $138/£114.99 a pair.
