Shimano GRX Di2 2x 12-Speed Review: Benchmark Shifting

[@jonathanwoo6597]

The lack of a 12-speed 11-40 cassette is the reason why I'm still stuck on the 11-speed on my gravel bike, with the 11-40 cassette. I also prefer the gearing ratios of the 11-speed 11-40 for gravel (large 2T gaps on the higher gears). For my riding I shift less when the gaps are larger. I have the 12-speed group on my road bike and the gearing is fine, but I wouldn't like it for gravel. Shimano really missed a good opportunity for not having the 11-40.

[@thedownunderverse]

Couldn’t agree more. I’m hopeful they release one. The other thing I hope for is a 12 speed 1x cassette that starts with 11 and fits HG cassette bodies: 11-13-15-17-19-21-24-28-32-36-40-45

[@siy01]

Agree 100%. Also no crank sizes below 170mm WTF!!! I'm 6ft and much prefer riding 165mm cranks. So that puts your lowest chainring to 34 on 105 or Ultegra.

[@tonyg3091]

Just buy SRAM set up-Wide 43/30 crank, XPLR rear derailleur, XPLR 10-44 cassette. Shimano are obviously unable to understand what the gravel cyclists want.

[@christophericcio]

10-45 cassette with Wolftooth link, works just fine with GRX 12v for me. With 30-46 crankset.

[@siy01]

Did you try it without the wolftooth first to see if it could make the shift smoothly? With a 30-45 you must be able to pretty much spin up anything!

[@tonyg3091]

@@siy01Not gonna happen methinks. 11sp GRX derailleur worked great with 40t cassette but not so great with 42t cassette

[@N0BIgDEal]

Hey man, thanks for sharing the link to that absolute gorgeous frame! Thanks for making the video, love it!

[@GravelCyclist]

Many thanks for the kind words!

[@petersouthernboy6327]

I just love electronic shifting. It’s one of those things in life that once you try it - you’re hooked.

[@GravelCyclist]

Truer words have never been spoken.

[@KoenMiseur]

Got this groupset on my new Gravel/winterroadbike, perfect for that, all the high and low gearing I need. It is a bit of an adjustment everytime I switch from my SRAM AXS bike to this, but these electronic groupsets all work so well!

[@GravelCyclist]

If you adjust your shifting setup similar to mine, it makes the adjustment from SRAM much easier.

[@yugen0o]

Having survived the 3x (and even 4x ) era, a quality 2x drive-train w/ a Type2 clutch RD is highly underrated. I'm still running a XX/X0 2x drivetrain on my OG Niner Air9 and it's rock solid. I am running a 1x on another newer bike and the bail-out gear is 'nice to have' when you 'need' it, but 26x36 has always been more than adequate (living and riding in Colorado) and I do get tired of always having to shift up and down and up and down the 12spd cassette.

[@youriyimmek7767]

I love it. It is affordable, sustainable, easy to maintain, and compatible with other components and brands

[@bmwofboganville456]

1x I'd rather have mechanical, 2x Di2. I think if you're going one chainring your bias is toward simplicity/robustness, two chainrings is for efficiency/speed. I hope Shimano continue to offer both.

[@GravelCyclist]

Shimano definitely offers 1x for GRX 12-speed, albeit only in mechanical form at the moment. 1x GRX Di2 12-Speed is coming?

[@dvs70]

If there is a 3rd port on the battery, a cable can be attached to it & the front shifters. They will be updated one at a time. I leave the cable covered & secured in my road frame & it's always there if an update is available thru e-tube.

[@GravelCyclist]

Another update method, thank you. I really hope Shimano sorts this issue so wireless updates can take care of the shifters.

[@siy01]

Thanks for the review John. Ben Delaney also noted that he preferred the 11spd shifters for the same reason. I'd add the 11spd look nicer. Shimano claim the 12spd handle area has a rounder profile to improve comfort with flared bars. Have you noticed a change in this area? AirBike do a 12spd 11-42 when it's in stock. I doubt it shifts as well as a Shimano cassette and probably weighs a bit more too. The Ultegra 12spd crank and front derailleur are aesthetically much slicker, IMO. Also lighter, and come in 160 and 165 options. If someone is below 6ft they are better off on cranks 165mm or smaller, the fact that the GRX 820 cranks dont come any smaller than 170mm is kinda nonsensical.

[@MazingerZX]

Great review!

[@rykie5]

Love your channel, and the video....... and I'll always be a Sram fan until Shimano goes fully wireless.

[@GravelCyclist]

Thank you! Totally understand your liking of SRAM, fully wireless is very convenient.

[@mikicastan]

I'm shure,looking the lenght of the cage,it will work with 10-45 xt/xtr cassette

[@sabamacx]

I use wider Galfer 2mm rotors with this groupset and the brakes/calipers don't mind the wider rotors.

[@GravelCyclist]

How are those rotors for straightness out of the box?

[@sabamacx]

@GravelCyclist almost perfect, but not perfect: needed a tiny bump with a rotor straightener in one section. However, doesn't distort when it gets big heat into it.

[@thedownunderverse]

Campy rotors also work well @ 1.85mm (vs Shimano 1.8mm).

[@GravelCyclist]

@@thedownunderverse Thanks, good to know.

[@MazingerZX]

Wonder how long before the charging port cover breaks off…

[@ValentinKompatscher]

I have seen people use a 10-45T MTB Cassette with a derailleurhanger extender (like Wolftooth roadlink). You might need to switch to the smaller 46T big ring (10-46 is still a bigger gear than 11-48).

[@GravelCyclist]

Thanks, this is worth investigating further, I do have a Roadlink.

[@BamboobicycleclubOrg]

Didn’t make it onto the bamboo frame?

[@GravelCyclist]

We have an 11 Speed GRX Di2 groupset for that frame, thank you to Shimano for supplying this groupset, wheels, and everything else The glue job may finally be happening soon. We don't have the luxury of an air conditioned workshop for that part of the build, and have had to wait for temperatures and humidity to drop in this part of North Florida. Thanks for your patience!

[@bengt_axle]

Does LGC prefer ribbed or smooth (e.g. SRAM)? Or is it the girth that really matters?

[@GravelCyclist]

A lady never tells.

[@janisvanags3196]

You can use rotor 11x39.

[@GravelCyclist]

I asked Rotor about this. They said, "the cassette isn't compatible with the Shimano 12-speed chain."

[@rsrnsrwds]

Too complex for me. I just like the feel, sound, and simplicity of mechanical shifting.

[@GravelCyclist]

Understand your viewpoint. One thing that is very neat about electronic shifting; for those riders who are differently abled, the ability to customize shifting and locations of shifters is a game changer.

[@rsrnsrwds]

​@@GravelCyclistAlways love your reviews, JOM!

[@Paulklampeeps]

What happened to shimano why they can't release the cues road brifters. Ltwoo and microshift are milking this hole rt

[@GravelCyclist]

Shifter.

[@defiancecycling]

I left Shimano last year for SRAM Mullet and have never looked back. Until Shimano realizes GRAVEL is just as important as road, they will continue to lose market share. The new SRAM Red levers and calipers are simply the best drop bar brakes. I expect Force and and maybe Rival to see the same technology in 2025.

[@GravelCyclist]

I really like the new Red shifters, vast improvement over the originals. I do wish SRAM would get away from DOT fluid. It certainly has a higher boiling point, but Shimano has proven mineral oil is perfect for the cycling application.

[@defiancecycling]

@GravelCyclist I'm sure at some point they will make the change but unlikely anytime soon.

[@GravelCyclist]

@@defiancecycling One more thing as you know already, SRAM is absolutely killing it with their 1x. I am loving the 1x13 and I typically do not like 1x.

[@defiancecycling]

@GravelCyclist I'm about to start riding that group with a 44T chainring. Hoping it's the perfect road group up here northeast Georgia with 32mm tires 👊

[@ozgurinsan]

ooo its sram red axs hoods.

[@MrKrekkie]

I really don't need this abracadabra. Looking for a new bike I am going for mechanical shifting.

[@GravelCyclist]

All good, choices for all.

[@timdixo]

You’re missing out: simple for a chump to set up,deliciously ergo shifters,superlative shifting,set and forget.

[@hill160881]

$1600-$ 2100 for this groupset? I can put together a 2x13 from wheeltop for half that. Included will be a Riro carbon crank so it will weigh 400 grams lighter lol. Also you are still pitching that $7000 frame set? Framework is laughable at those prices and nothing new. This was done in the 90s.

[@GravelCyclist]

I'm reviewing Wheeltop EDS TX at the moment. While Wheeltop is at an amazing pricepoint, due to its clunky app, and other issues, one being annoying AF front derailleur setup, it is nowhere close to the same league as GRX Di2... or any flavor of Di2.

[@hill160881]

@@GravelCyclist You are correct the wheeltop takes some user input but once tuned is not distinguishable from shimano di2. I have three wheeltop systems and all of them are great. Even the new 14 speed system I am running. In fact the entire bike with that wheeltop 2x14 was $1366 delivered and so far looks to be a good bike. So I can get an entire bike with 2x14 electronic fully wireless shifting for $300 less than that grx groupset you are reviewing. Advice when setting up wheeltop. Follow the directions and don’t assume it’s anything like anything you have installed before. Things will go much smoother. I made this mistake and it took me hours to just start over and just follow the directions. I just assumed it was no different than a mech system when installing.

[@GravelCyclist]

One thing I like about Wheeltop, it revealed the big name manufacturers keep you tied to the x speed architecture, when we have known all along the speeds can be adjusted via software, ala Wheeltop. I really like the individual cog spacing adjustment feature. With that said, I need to take your advice and hit the reset button on setup. I have the rear derailleur dialed, but the front derailleur setup....faaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrk.

[@hill160881]

@@GravelCyclist try moving the front derailer up one to 2 mm from where you currently have it. I had best results with at least 4 mm clearance on the large chain ring. I had no issues with my GRX crank and chainring but once I went to the Riro it was throwing the chain off the big ring. I think the GRX crank sat further away from the frame and this is why I am having issues adjusting the front. The Riro puts the chainring closer to the frame and there is no room to move it out.