With three new 12-speed drivetrains to select from, up to date brake levers and a wider gear vary, Shimano’s newest era of the gravel-oriented GRX groupset ticks quite a lot of containers. However is it sufficient?
Launched in late summer time 2024, the brand new GRX makes use of Shimano’s current mountain bike know-how so as to add an additional cog within the rear, but maintains its shift cables.
“We really feel strongly that about 75% of the gravel market is mechanical,” stated Shimano’s street model supervisor, Nick Legan.
“We love digital groupsets, we helped pioneer them, however we needed to deal with the majority of the market first,” he continued, hinting that an digital Di2 model of the 12-speed gravel group can be launched subsequent.
Within the meantime, what this broad-based technique offers, at the beginning, is alternative. Not like SRAM’s 1x-only method, Shimano’s new GRX line-up consists of two 1x and one 2x construct kits, serving each the 800 (equal to Ultegra) and funds 600 ranges (Tiagra).
“We’re all about choices,” stated Legan. “There are very clear instances to be made for a double. There are very clear arguments to be made for a single. So, as a substitute of making an attempt to win somebody over or educate them about our pondering, we make each.”
The nomenclature of those mix-and-match groupsets is a bit complicated however the breakdown is as follows:
– 1×12 with a 10-45t cassette for gravel racing
– 1×12 with a 10-51t cassette for bikepacking and the hilliest of adventures
– 2×12 with an 11-34t or 11-36t cassette for tighter gear steps.
Throughout the board, you’ll discover some welcome updates, together with an elevated gear vary for the 1x groupsets and redesigned brake levers, detailed beneath. And when you’re at present a cheerful 11-speed GRX consumer, concern not. The up to date drivetrains are purely non-obligatory as Shimano guarantees to proceed to supply and repair 11-speed GRX.
12-speed GRX: What’s new
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
– GRX is now out there in each 11- and 12-speed and the present GRX 11-speed groupsets will proceed to be supplied and serviced.
– The 1x drivetrain options an elevated vary. Many discovered the earlier 11-42t cassette too limiting. The brand new 10-51t cassette solves that.
– The brand new 12-speed elements belong to 3 completely different drivetrains: two 1x set-ups and one 2x; two on the 820 stage and one on the entry 610 stage.
– The smallest sprocket on the cassettes is now 10t, placing it in step with Shimano’s mtb groupsets and diverging from the street line-up, the place 11t is the smallest
| Element | Weight (g) |
|---|---|
| Shimano GRX RD-RX822-SGS rear derailleur | 290 |
| Shimano CS-M8100-12 10-51t cassette | 470 |
| Shimano GRX FC-RX820-1 crankset | 655 |
| Shimano GRX ST-RX820 and BL-RX820 shifters and brake callipers | 943.2 |
| One set of Shimano RT-CL800 160mm rotors | 228 |
| CS-M8100 chain | 247 |
The check set-up
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
With plans of driving in hilly Colombia, I obtained the adventure-oriented 800-level groupset to overview. The so-called “unstoppable” set-up consists of a 1×12 drivetrain with a 40t chainring up entrance and a 10-51 cassette on the rear. This providing options the identical shifter possibility and crankset because the racing-oriented groupset however has its personal rear derailleur – the RD-R X822-GSG long-cage rear derailleur – to accommodate the present CS-M8100 mountain bike cassette with a micro-spline freehub physique.
For these getting rowdy, there’s a dropper-post lever possibility out there as properly.
Shimano additionally offered its new RX880 carbon gravel wheelset. Whereas nonetheless designed to face up to the abuse of gravel driving, the wheelset has misplaced 64 grams from its predecessor and options the identical direct engagement hub as seen on the most recent Dura-Ace wheels for straightforward conversion between micro-spline and HG L2 freehub our bodies.
This groupset, minus a backside bracket and wheels, weighs 2,833.2 grams and prices $1,542.93 / £1,270.97.
Shifting
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
The shifting on the 12-speed GR X feels splendidly acquainted. It’s crisp, dependable and exceptionally quiet. I hadn’t ridden a mechanical drivetrain in fairly a while, and had forgotten simply how easy mechanical shifting might be.
From the worn cobblestones of colonial-era cities to the tough, twisty paths winding up mountains, the unpaved roads in Colombia had been quite tough, but the derailleur by no means wavered throughout the bumpy terrain and carried out properly beneath load. That is because of a characteristic referred to as the Shadow RD+ chain stabilizer, which is engaged utilizing a small lever on the rear derailleur. This machine retains the chain tight and safe over bumpy terrain whereas additionally quieting the shifting.
The shifting on the 12-speed GR X feels splendidly acquainted. It’s crisp, dependable and exceptionally quiet
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
In redesigning the levers and hoods, Shimano spent appreciable time round handlebar angles, rider confidence and management. The ergonomics had been redesigned to scale back strain factors and to swimsuit flared handlebars, which have gotten normal on gravel bikes. The levers themselves characteristic a brand new, anti-slip coating, and the hoods now have a ridged sample for a safe grip.
The angle is remarkably snug, a lot in order that I’m now contemplating ditching my outdated road-rider methods and eventually embracing wider and flared handlebars. By way of consolation, they’re actually onto one thing right here.
The hood texture, nonetheless, leaves one thing to be desired. Regardless of Shimano’s declare that the ridged texture offers consolation for each naked and gloved arms, I suffered a blood blister the scale of a £2 coin on my first lengthy outing.
Drivetrain
The most important enchancment to the 1x GR X set-up is the elevated gear vary. Many discovered the earlier 11-42t cassette too limiting and the brand new 10-51t cassette, taken straight from the Deore mountain bike line, is a welcome answer.
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
The most important enchancment to the 1x GR X set-up is the elevated gear vary. Many discovered the earlier 11-42t cassette too limiting and the brand new 10-51t cassette, taken straight from the Deore mountain bike line, is a welcome answer.
On the opposite finish of the cassette, the smallest sprocket out there is now a 10t, diverging from the street line-up, the place 11t stays the smallest sprocket. For this, a micro-spline freehub physique is required, nonetheless, which can restrict wheel compatibility.
Within the entrance, chainring choices are restricted to 40t and 42t. I discovered the 40t adequate on even the steepest Colombian climbs. Nevertheless, I can think about that for closely loaded bikepacking adventures, of us can be turning to an organization like Wolftooth for smaller rings.
A much bigger gear ratio additionally means an even bigger load on the cable, and I did expertise cable pressure points for the primary 150 miles on the groupset. Whereas I wasn’t alone in my expertise, it’s exhausting to inform whether or not it was attributable to mere cable stretch or whether or not the system is solely a bit delicate on the larger jumps of the higher finish of the cassette.
Braking
Up to date from the 11-speed GRX assortment, the GRX RX820 brake calipers used on this groupset characteristic Shimano’s Servo Wave know-how, which offers a ten% wider path clearance for improved rotor path and fewer noise.
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
Up to date from the 11-speed GRX assortment, the GRX RX820 brake calipers used on this groupset characteristic Shimano’s Servo Wave know-how, which offers a ten% wider path clearance for improved rotor path and fewer noise.
The system additionally makes use of the most recent CL rotors, which had been quietly launched with the 105 Di2 R7100 groupset. These rotors are constructed round an aluminum provider, stated to scale back warmth deformation.
Total, I discovered the braking to be highly effective, quiet and confidence-inspiring as I bombed down the steep and windy Colombian nation lanes. Fascinating, nonetheless, is Shimano’s option to go hydraulic-only. Whereas it emphasizes mechanical shifting, the identical can’t be stated for braking choices.
The Competitors
SRAM’s 12-speed Apex digital drivetrain
(Picture credit score: SRAM)
Shimano’s GRX launch follows SRAM’s Apex AXS reveal, however whereas SRAM’s lowest-tier groupsets have gone digital, Shimano stays staunchly mechanical. Though each methods have their place within the gravel market, evaluating the worth tags of the 2 manufacturers raises a couple of questions.
With its Apex AXS groupsets, SRAM is ready to supply a 12-speed drivetrain full with digital shifting, huge gear ranges and hydraulic braking for simply $1300 /£1,262. That’s solely $130 / £100 greater than Shimano’s new 12-speed GRX at its entry-level 610 collection.
SRAM additionally affords a crank-based energy meter improve for $220 / £205, whereas there isn’t any GRX energy meter as of but. What’s extra, higher-end gravel bikes are more and more adopting a completely built-in entrance finish, and electronic-only framesets usually are not unusual.
For the race crowd, a Di2 possibility can’t come quickly sufficient. Which begs the query: is Shimano being outperformed by the extra price-competitive SRAM?
Verdict
Shimano’s new RX880 carbon gravel wheelset. Whereas nonetheless designed to face up to the abuse of gravel driving, the wheelset has misplaced 64 grams from its predecessor and options the identical direct engagement hub as seen on the most recent Dura-Ace wheels for straightforward conversion between micro-spline and HG L2 freehub our bodies.
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
Highly effective braking, easy shifting, 2x and 1x choices, and a large gear vary to swimsuit modern-day gravel riders – I can’t actually fault the brand new GR X groupset. It’s an incredible mechanical system, and plenty of gravel riders can be very pleased with it.
This 12-speed providing can be a much-needed replace if Shimano is to stay aggressive within the gravel market, however will or not it’s sufficient? Despite the fact that this can be a actually good groupset, I can’t assist however really feel that Shimano is solely catching as much as the market quite than innovating and main it
