A 12-speed 1x GRX Di2 groupset is a gaping hole in Shimano’s gravel line-up, but we might not have to wait much longer for it to be plugged.
Images of what appears to be a new fully wireless XTR Di2 groupset have leaked in recent months, and we expect new GRX Di2 1x parts might be launched alongside it.
After all, given the similarity between Shimano’s mechanical GRX and its mechanical mountain bike groupsets, a new electronic version would logically follow the same pattern.
With that in mind, let’s have a look at why we’re still waiting for a new 1x GRX Di2 groupset, and what essential features I think it needs.
Why hasn’t a 12-speed 1x GRX Di2 groupset launched yet?
Given Shimano’s 1x GRX RX820 mechanical groupset was released nearly two years ago, and a 2x electronic version (GRX Di2 RX825) last year, it’s somewhat odd the final piece of Shimano’s gravel groupset puzzle hasn’t yet fallen into place.
If I had to put our money on a reason, I suspect it has a lot to do with the convergence between Shimano’s 1x GRX gravel components and its SLX, Deore, XT and XTR mountain bike groupsets (2x GRX Di2, in contrast, borrows more from Shimano’s road groupsets).
Both now use rear derailleurs that are almost identical in construction (save for cable-pull ratio) and share key parts such as freehubs, cassettes and chains.
Given this, I expect the next 1x GRX Di2 groupset to be closely related to any new XTR Di2 groupset.
Revealing one would therefore give away much about the other, and considering a new XTR Di2 groupset – the first since XTR Di2 M9050 launched around a decade ago – is the higher-ranking line in Shimano’s range, 1x GRX Di2 is likely being held back so as to not spoil anything.
My 1x GRX Di2 wishlist
If a new 12-speed 1x GRX Di2 groupset is just around the corner after all, its design, specification and range are probably long set in stone.
Nevertheless, a lot has changed since Shimano launched the previous (and only) version of 1x GRX Di2 back in 2019 and its competitors haven’t stood still. Likewise, while I rate Shimano’s current GRX offerings highly, it’s fair to say there are few missing parts or features that could elevate it to the next level.
Here, then, are the essential features a new 12-speed 1x GRX Di2 groupset needs to blow the competition out of the water.
A fully wireless design
If the next XTR Di2 is set to be fully wireless – a first for Shimano, which only offers wired or semi-wireless electronic groupsets across road, gravel and MTB as things stand – then any new 1x GRX Di2 groupset should follow suit.
While Shimano has long contended its wired derailleurs are smaller and have a longer battery life, the direction of travel within the cycling industry – and beyond – is for wireless electronics.
With its key competitors, SRAM and Campagnolo, now both having fully wireless groupsets in their arsenals, Shimano risks any new groupsets appearing outdated if it decides to stick with wired or even semi-wireless designs.
Of course, if a new 1x GRX Di2 groupset does go fully wireless, it would lead to an odd situation where 2x GRX Di2 uses semi-wireless derailleurs and its 1x equivalent doesn’t.
Given this, we’ve questioned why Shimano chose to launch 12-speed 2x GRX Di2 last year, rather than delaying it until it could be made fully wireless alongside XTR.
Likewise, if it is going to be semi-wireless like 2x GRX Di2, I'm stumped as to why Shimano wouldn’t have already released it (because it wouldn’t be giving anything away about XTR Di2).
Might we not get a new 1x GRX Di2 groupset at all?
One reason a 12-speed 1x GRX Di2 groupset hasn't arrived yet could simply be that Shimano won’t be releasing one.
While mechanical GRX derailleurs use a different cable-pull ratio designed for use with Shimano’s 12-speed drop-bar shifters, rather than its flat-bar shifters, in a wireless electronic world that distinction simply wouldn’t exist.
If the only remaining difference is branding, then perhaps Shimano will do the logical thing and just allow MTB rear derailleurs to be paired with drop-bar GRX shifters, à la SRAM and its intercompatible AXS ecosystem.
So unless Shimano makes 1x GRX Di2 a truly gravel-specific offering, similar to SRAM’s latest Red XPLR AXS groupset, perhaps we’ve seen the last of it already.
More chainring, cassette and crank-length options
Ignoring the possibility that we won’t see a new 1x GRX Di2 groupset at all, I'm desperate to see Shimano offer a great suite of options for things such as chainrings, cassettes and crank lengths for its 12-speed 1x GRX ecosystem.
As things stand, Shimano offers only two cassettes (10-45 and 10-51t), two chainrings (40 and 42t), and only three crank lengths (170, 172.5 and 175mm).
With GRX’s current chainring selection, gravel racers who want the reliability of a 1x drivetrain with larger gear ratios optimised for higher speeds will have to look elsewhere for larger chainrings. In contrast, bikepackers or adventure riders may wish for smaller options, to more easily haul them and their luggage up steep pitches.
Likewise, a shortest crank length of 170mm is almost certainly too long for many riders with shorter legs.
Considering how important crank length can be to a person’s comfort and performance on the bike, this seems like a particularly egregious oversight – especially with the spotlight of the WorldTour peloton currently on it.
Reigning Giro, Tour and World champion Tadej Pogačar has switched to 165mm cranks in recent years, for example, while his Grand Tour rival, Jonas Vingegaard, has been testing 150mm cranks in certain races this season.
Of course, there are plenty of third-party component manufacturers – such as Rotor, Wolf Tooth, Garbaruk and so on – who typically plug any gaps left by Shimano.
But considering Shimano is the largest manufacturer of cycling components in the world, its current offerings in these areas strike us as far too little on all counts.
A dual-sided power meter
Despite now offering a power meter for its second-tier Ultegra Di2 R8100 road groupset, Shimano hasn’t yet brought watt-measurement capabilities to its range of gravel groupsets.
It’s rare to see a race bike, whether gravel or road, that isn’t equipped with some kind of power meter these days, because they can be an enormously useful metric for both training and pacing during events.
Shimano has had a few teething issues since it launched its first-generation power meter crankset back in 2017, while a number of independent testers have found its latest effort (the Dura-Ace R9200-P) wanting, in terms of accuracy, compared to the best power meters currently available.
Nevertheless, I'm sure producing an accurate and reliable power meter isn’t beyond the ability of Shimano and its engineers, and I’d be keen to see it finally get on top of this issue.
It's especially important because this is an area where Shimano so clearly lags behind SRAM – which offers its highly rated Quarq power meters for most of its road, gravel and MTB groupsets.
Shimano’s acquisition of Pioneer’s power meter technology in 2020, alongside a patent detailing possible SPD-SL power meter pedals, shows it hasn’t stopped work in this area. But with an ever increasing number of high-quality options available from third-party manufacturers, the Japanese giant arguably has its work cut out if it wants to make an impact in this area.
Perhaps, then, the reality is that gravel/MTB power meters are simply too niche an area for a brand as big as Shimano to spend the required time and effort on.
With gravel cycling booming in popularity, though, I hope that’s set to change.
Less grey
Last but not least, I'm desperate to see Shimano put more effort into making any new 1x GRX Di2 parts look more attractive than the existing stuff.
Shimano 2x GRX Di2 isn’t a bad-looking groupset, but its mix of grey and black components is pretty uninspiring.
The fact the cranks and derailleurs also don’t match is something of a sore point to those of us who remember Shimano’s iconic Dura-Ace R9000 groupset – in which every component sang from the same hymn sheet to create one of the best-looking drivetrains of recent years.
Looks don’t affect performance, of course, but they do matter when you’re paying large sums of money for a premium product (as GRX Di2 is).
Frustratingly, Shimano seems to know there’s an appetite for more beautiful components too.
It launched a limited-edition GRX Limited groupset, with a polished silver finish, to great fanfare back in 2022, but didn’t apply any of this style to the 12-speed GRX components launched the next year.
Thankfully, the leaked images of the supposed new XTR Di2 groupset appear to show Shimano has finally come back round to the idea of polished silver, contrast and design harmony, so I can only hope this treatment isn’t reserved solely for the priciest tiers of its new offerings.
Does it matter that Shimano is late to the party?
In a recent edition of his Substack, N-1, James Huang (formerly of this parish), posed the question “A new Shimano XTR Di2 is coming, but will enough people care?”
Huang’s reasoning being that in the decade since Shimano last launched an electronic MTB groupset, SRAM had moved quickly and rushed out a number of fully wireless electronic groupsets – overtaking Shimano as the major player in high-end off-road groupsets in the process.
From my perspective, it’s fair to say Shimano has also dragged its heels in comparison to SRAM on the gravel side of things in recent years, with the American company stealing much of the limelight thanks to innovative launches such as Red XPLR AXS and its willingness to embrace 1x technology.
In comparison, Shimano’s drip feed of solid yet slightly underwhelming launches in recent years has left many riders feeling that SRAM is now the more forward-thinking and innovative company.
That said, the importance of Shimano to the cycling industry can’t be overstated. Product managers at large bike brands will have had plenty of notice on Shimano’s plans and I have no doubt whatever is launched will soon find its way to most, if not all, of the bikes at your local bike shop.
A giant company such as Shimano may move slower than smaller, more nimble ones, but that enables it to offer an unrivalled level of performance, quality and value, thanks to its enormous economies of scale.
It’s also fair to say that, though it may be less exciting, Shimano’s recent focus on lower-end options, such as mechanical GRX or its recently announced range of CUES and Essa groupsets, arguably benefits far more riders in the grand scheme of things.
