First Ride/Product News: With the Shimano GRX Di2, Shimano is the first drive manufacturer to bring a special Gravel/Adventure group onto the market. The whole thing enjoys the unique precision and know-how of Shimano's Di2 groups and provides a lot of gravel fun. We had the opportunity to test the brand new Shimano GRX Di2 in Montana, USA at the Shimano GRX Media Camp.
Already at the beginning of the year Shimano announced that with GRX they want to launch a special groupset line for gravel bikes. The two mechanical variants RX400 and RX 600 have already had their first successes. The highlight of Shimano GRX should be the RX800 with Di2 option. Functionally, this group should surpass everything that can be found on the gravel bike market. The development also relied heavily on feedback from the so-called Shimano Gravel Alliance. A group of 16 riders who are very familiar with the gravel segment and have also tested the products for several kilometers.
At the press camp in rural Montana, we had the opportunity to put the Shimano GRX Di2 through its paces. Admittedly - we were a bit skeptical at first, because at first glance it looked like the Shimano GRX Di2 was just a combination of existing MTB and road parts and not the introduction of a new shifting group. But after the first short product presentation you had to say: "Far from it!". The Shimano GRX Di2 differs from pretty much everything you know. This starts with the unbelievable range of specs for the translation, whether one or two chainrings and a wide variety of cassettes, everyone can choose their translation according to their individual needs. We equipped our Pivot test bike with a double Shimano GRX Di2 because we were facing a nearly 30-kilometer climb to over 2000 meters in Montana and we wanted to have the best possible setup.
Probably the biggest highlight of the Shimano GRX Di2 are the brake shifters. In a completely new design and modified ergonomics, they offer a unique grip, feel great in the hand and have a number of features, such as the buttons on top, with which you can either switch gears or control your Garmin. This enables the Bluetooth option to operate the Garmin while driving without having to take your hand off the handlebars, which is very convenient on gravel roads and trails and offers significantly more safety. Now you can say why do I have to press my Garmin while driving, but especially when you are off-road on unknown routes and you want to look at the map again for a moment, these buttons are worth their weight in gold.
Even more important, however, is the unique ergonomics of the new Shimano GRX Di2 shifters, which are only slightly reminiscent of the usual Shimano grips. On our first test ride, we tackled several very rooty trails and were able to thoroughly convince ourselves of the comfort and good grip of the new grips. When it came down to the lower links, we also opted for the Sprint shifter from Shimano, as this also gave us the opportunity to shift as best we could on the lower links
The GRX cranksets have also been newly developed and are designed for a wide variety of riding conditions and riding styles. All cranksets have a +2,5mm chainline for more tire and frame clearance. The 1x cranks come with Shimano's Dynamic Chain Engagement tooth profile on the front chainring for better chain retention over bumpy surfaces. None of the participants in the entire press camp had their chains fall off once and we can assure you that the gravel surface can hardly get any more restless.
There really isn't much to say about the shifting performance, because the Shimano GRX Di2 was so inconspicuous in a positive sense that we don't really know what to say. Shifting is extremely smooth and precise as the front derailleur and rear derailleur interact perfectly. For us, the best shifting performance you could wish for on a gravel bike.
The braking performance of the Shimano GRX Di2 was particularly impressive. Because in connection with the new handles or levers, you have everything under control even on extremely bumpy ground and can really accelerate.
We complement the Shimano GRX Di2 group with gravel-specific wheel sets. These combine weight and stability for every requirement profile. The wheels are tubeless ready and available for 700c or 650b to suit all preferences.
Our gravel bikes have been supplemented with special pro components such as saddles, seat posts, handlebars and stems for ideal gravel fun.
For us, the Shimano GRX Di2 is the perfect gravel group. Even though we were skeptical at first, the Di2 definitely does the job and you don't want anything else once you've ridden it. As a highlight, we wouldn't want to do without the grips with their new ergonomics, as they offer unprecedented comfort and grip on gravel and trails. The shifting and braking performance is first class and so good that you take it for granted. If you really want to have fun gravelling, you should definitely get the Shimano GRX Di2.