8 Points to Get You Up to Speed on Shimano’s New Dura-Ace and Ultegra Groupsets
Shimano's new Dura-Ace and Ultegra groupsets have been unveiled for some time not, but we're finally starting to get our hands on the new product. Here's what you need to know to get up to speed on the latest generation of road bike shifting from the Japanese giant.
1. 12 Gears
Let’s get the big thing out of the way. Shimano has finally caught up to Sram and Campy with the introduction of their 12 speed drivetrain. Shimano isn’t known for being first to the party. They take their time in developing new products, but once it arrives you can bet that it will be refined and worth the wait.
2. Wiredless Shifting
That’s not a typo, it’s what Shimano is calling their new semi-wireless design. The shifters speak wirelessly to the rest of the drivetrain, while the front and rear derailleurs are connected to each other and a battery in the seat tube. This makes installation a whole lot easier, and gives a nice tidy look to the cockpit. And if you want to double your battery life you can still connect the shifters to the rest of the system.
3. Servo Wave Brakes
It’s hard to imagine Shimano brakes can get much better. We already view them as the gold standard in disc brakes. The variable ratio brake design means less chance of brake rub, more immediate engagement, and more powerful braking with less rider input. All this means quieter and more predictable braking, and who doesn’t love that?
4. Multiple Gearing Combinations
Long rear derailleur cages for both Dura-Ace and Ultegra means both groups are designed to accommodate wider gear ranges now. Dura-Ace is offered in 50/32t, 52/36t and a massive 54/40t chainring combinations, while Ultegra drops the largest 54/40t option and is offered in compact and mid-compact sizes only. Dura-Ace cassettes will be available in 11-28t, 11-30t, and 11-34t options, while Ultegra drops the more racer-focused 11-28t option.
5. 160mm Cranks
This may come as a surprise, but we’re a fan of short cranks. We’ve often had to swap out Shimano cranks for other brands to put riders on shorter cranks, often at the expense of shifting quality. This will no longer be the case thanks to a new 160mm crank option.
6. Longer Hoods
You wouldn’t think it’s noticeable. The new hoods are only 4.6mm longer, but after getting our hands on them we’ve found we enjoy having more to grab a hold of. Certainly a small but noticeable improvement.
7. Faster Shifting
The new derailleurs shift 60% faster than previous Di2 shifters, meaning you get to your gear faster and more accurately than ever before. Hard to argue with that, right?
8. Backwards Wheel Compatibility
Shimano developed a new freehub body design for the new Dura-Ace and Ultegra groups, but don’t panic just yet. They’ve made the cassettes backwards compatible with their 11 speed freehub design, so you don’t have to worry about yet another bike industry standard to comply with.
Want to try it out yourself? 12 speed Dura-Ace and Ultegra groups are now arriving on built bikes, so you can test it out yourself! We’d love to know what you think of the latest generation of Shimano shifting.
