Which shimano gears

While the groupset can be constructed with either conventional callipers or disc brakes, its shifters are exclusively mechanical. This means that you can only use them with cable-actuated rather than hydraulic brakes. Obviously, the weight of all the components again goes up slightly. Of course, there are some drawbacks besides the lack of sprockets, cable-only levers, and slightly increased weight.

At the same time, the durability of components like the chain, bottom bracket, and cassette remains excellent. For Sora parts, see here. Verdict: A great introduction. Cassette: 9-speed Largest sprocket: 32t Electronic version: No Brakes: Cable disc or conventional calliper. Updated a few years ago, not only do its shifters follow the same basic configuration as that found across the whole Shimano racing range, but their cables also run cleanly underneath the handlebar tape.

However, elsewhere many technologies found across other Shimano groupsets fall away. For instance, although the crankset still comes in a two-piece design with an external bottom bracket, you might find your bike fitted with a more lumpen three-piece formation using a square taper or Octalink bottom bracket.

The slack of rear cogs also starts to impact the gearing range. However, with the brakes and electronic shifting functioning in precisely the same way, a blindfolded tester would struggle to tell them apart. If the difference between the latest electronic-only speed Dura-Ace and Ultegra groupsets is now minuscule, the gap between Ultrgra and has become a chasm. However, sticking to the old ways will see you lose out on the much lusted-after 12th sprocket found on Ultergra.

However, in terms of mechanical function, the basic design of many components is still quite similar. Pretty closely related, the mechanical Tiagra groupset drops a sprocket compared to With ten gears at the back, this leaves the resulting jumps a bit larger. However, most suffer a little relative to their more expensive peers. This sees the rear derailleur employ a more basic design, while the shifters are a tad less ergonomic.

Also, although the hydraulic disc brakes are excellent, you lose out on small touches like replaceable insert pads if you opt for conventional calliper brakes. When taken all together, Tiagra is only a bit heavier than , although some components like the crankset are notably lardy versus those on the more expensive groupset. However, other valuable features have trickled down faster, one of which is the t maximum cassette range.

Offering quite a range of different fitments, the Claris groupset can be built up in many ways. Its main features include electronic shifting, hydraulic disc brakes and extensive use of high-strength materials to keep weight down and high-tech bearing and surface coatings to increase service life. And it's just been dramatically revamped as a speed system.

The speed version of Dura-Ace was at the same time the most anticipated and most predictable product launch of , and the most surprising. Anticipated because it was preceded by a year of leaks, patent and FCC filings and race appearances; predictable because both SRAM and Campagnolo had already introduced speed systems and Shimano has been making speed mountain bike components since ; surprising because there's no mechanical version of speed Dura-Ace, and also because Shimano introduced a speed version of Ultegra Di2 at the same time.

More of that later. Many of the new features of Dura-Ace arise from its main target use case: this is a road racing groupset. Shimano says pro riders were asking for higher top gears because peloton speeds have increased, so you can now choose a chainset with a tooth big ring.

Faster shifting is a marginal gain, but we can see how pro riders would want to be able to get into a bigger gear for a sprint as quickly as possible, or a lower one for a big climb. Having a rear derailleur that will accommodate a tooth sprocket means pro team mechanics no longer have to faff around to provide support riders and sprinters with very low gears for mountain stages. Previously, mechanics would fit long-cage Ultegra rear mechs so that riders whose job was simply to get over the mountains rather than race up them could save their legs on the climbs.

Losing the wiring between shifters and derailleurs similarly makes life easier for pro team mechanics. But Dura-Ace is also popular with affluent recreational riders and there are features clearly aimed at those users too. Increased brake pad clearance will help keep bikes quiet that don't get a pro mechanic once-over after every ride, and the larger shift button offset makes it easier to use the controls while wearing winter gloves.

Shimano's engineers say they've learned their lesson from the transition from to speed cassettes, which left many riders with collections of wheels that didn't work with the new gearing. They've also admitted that the previous Dura-Ace power meter had accuracy issues, as reported by specialist bike electronics journalists like Shane Miller and Ray Maker.

Ray has an excellent piece on the new Dura-Ace and Ultegra power meters , in which Shimano explain that the previous problem was that the power meter gubbins technical term were just grafted on to the existing cranks. This time, the power meter and crank design teams have worked together to ensure the power meter works properly.

Dura-Ace Di2 uses a similar shifting design to Shimano's mechanical gear systems, but instead of pushing two levers, you push two buttons positioned next to each other. If you want to move two or more sprockets at a time, rather than swinging the lever further like you do with a mechanical system, you just keep the button pressed down.

Carrying over from the previous Dura-Ace Di2, R boasts extensive customisability of the shift functions through an app — see below for more on that. Buy Shimano Dura-Ace R Di2 if you want the state of the Shimano art and arguably the overall state of the art when it coes to shifting speed and customisability. Read more: Shimano expert talks new Dura-Ace and Ultegra groupsets. Shimano Ultegra is the company's second-tier groupset, with all the features of Dura-Ace for a bit less money because Shimano uses less expensive materials and surface coatings.

It's long been considered the working-man's performance groupset, though you might argue that this new version, with its substantial price hike over its predecessor, yields that title to In the past Ultegra offered a wider range of options than Dura-Ace.

Now, both groupsets offer the same options and all the same headline technology. And like Dura-Ace there's no mechanical version — yet. Shimano hasn't said definitively that mechanical Ultegra will never happen and there's now a Moria-scale abyss between Ultegra R Di2 and , so we might see a mechanical speed version next year.

Shimano isn't saying. In mirroring Dura-Ace Di2's technologies, Ultegra R Di2 gets two new features not previously seen on a Shimano groupset at this level. Once the world's supply chain returns to normal, it's a good bet you'll be able to pay quite a bit less than that.

That'll make these cranks an attractive option if Shiman has ironed out the bugs that affected the previous Dura-Ace power meter cranks. The other new aspect to Ultegra is a suite of tubeless-ready wheels with full-carbon rims. Like the Dura-Ace equivalents they have 36mm, 50mm and 60mm rims.

This is the previous, speed version of Dura-Ace, which we're keeping here because there are still a few bikes in shops with it. The mechanical and Di2 electronic groups share the same chainset, brakes and other non-shifting components, but with Di2 you get switches on the brake levers, derailleurs with built-in motors and the battery, wiring and control box that ties it all together.

The major new feature of Di2 is Synchronized Shift, a technology borrowed from Shimano's mountain bike Di2 components. Rather than buttons controlling front and rear derailleurs independently, one pair of buttons moves up and down the gear ratios, making shifts at the front or rear derailleur, or both, as necessary.

There are two modes. Press one button and the gear will get harder to turn, press the other button and the gear will get easier. A new junction box is not only very tidy — it can be hidden inside the end of the handlebar — it provides wireless ANT Private connectivity to third-party devices. The system also offers a Bluetooth connection to phones and tablets running Shimano's E-Tube software so you can program the shifting behaviour.

You can personalise the speed of the shifting, the number of sprockets that will be shifted, and even control the rear derailleur with the left hand. An advantage of Di2 is the option of adding additional shifter pods, satellite shifters that can be fitted to the tops or the drops.

There's an internal battery, which you can hide inside the seat post. Worried about it going flat? If your budget won't stretch to the electronic version of Dura-Ace, the mechanical version is by no means second best — it's still a superb ensemble. The group offered one of the widest range of options Shimano has ever offered in road bike components, including a power meter, hydraulic disc brakes, a wider gear range and an increased selection of wheels.

The group features new derailleurs too, using design features that originally appeared on Shimano's mountain bike parts to reduce the chance that the rear mech will get damaged in a crash. Just one rear derailleur will handle any gear system you choose, including the new cassette.

With the group Shimano adds a very tidy power meter to its collection. How tidy? You can see in the pic to the right that the electronics are barely visible. The inclusion of hydraulic disc brakes in the Dura-Ace line shows how completely Shimano has embraced road bike discs. Previously Dura-Ace equipped bikes with discs had to use Shimano's non-series brakes and levers; now they match. If you're using rim brakes, the Dura-Ace calipers have been subtly redesigned so they'll accommodate 28mm tyres.

Finally, there's a big range of wheels in the latest Dura-Ace line up. The new C40 and C60 wheels have 28mm wide carbon fibre rims that are 40mm and 60mm deep, respectively. Buy Shimano Dura-Ace if you're racing or doing mega distances and you want the best mechanical shifting.

If you want high performance without the hefty price tag of Dura-Ace, then Ultegra is probably the pick of the range. Since the update, the gap between the two has been narrowed, and the R incarnation looks an awful lot like the current version of Dura-Ace too.

You still get the carbon fibre brake lever as well like you do on Dura-Ace, and the cranks, brakes and derailleurs share the same design as Dura-Ace. Dura-Ace is really aimed at racing bikes, making Ultegra a more versatile groupset. With a range of chainring and cassette options, it can be fitted to all sorts of bikes, from racing cycles to touring and adventure bikes.

R component weights are very similar to Ultegra Girls Bikes. Unisex Bikes. Mens Jerseys. Womens Clothing Womens Base Layers. Womens Jerseys. Kids Jerseys. Collections Sample Sale. Summer Clothing Sale. Altura Spring Summer Bontrager Spring Summer Mens Road Shoes. Womens Road Shoes. Helmets Mens Helmets.

Womens Helmets. Kids Helmets. Turbo Trainers. Child Seats. Parts Brakes. Finishing Kit. Tubeless Kits. Puncture Repair. Repair Stands. Brands Top Bike Brands Cannondale. Other Top Brands Altura. Troy Lee Designs. Shops Our Stores Braintree. Leigh on sea. Info Ride Happy Comfort Guaranteed. Price Promise. There are three main manufacturers of groupsets and bike components. Shimano is the largest and best known, while the other two of the "big three" are Campagnolo and SRAM.

All three manufacturers offer a range of groupsets at competing price points. Read further down the page for information on individual components - whilst you'll find information about the 'big three' providers below The high majority of built road bikes come with a primarily Shimano groupset, though you'll sometimes find they include some components from other brands to keep costs down - such as TRP brakes or FSA chainsets.

The Japanese brand offers a wide range of groupsets - starting with Claris and Sora, which you'll find on entry level road bikes. Shimano is considered Shimano's first performance groupset, and for many people it is the best option in combining performance, value and longevity. Ultegra is next and is very similar to Dura-Ace in terms of performance, though Dura-Ace is lighter. Shimano currently produces Ultegra and Dura-Ace in electronic versions, denoted by Di2, and newer Dura-Ace, Ultegra and models come with disc brakes.

Shimano also produces GRX, the first dedicated gravel bike groupsets, offering it in both mechanical and electronic 11 speed, as well as mechanical 10 speed, and all with hydraulic disc brakes.

This new speed groupset is semi-wired, and features improve braking technology. Whilst Shimano will continue to manufacture parts to serve existing set-ups, new Dura-Ace is now Di2 only, and the platform uses wireless shifters, with the derailleurs now wired to a central battery in the seatpost.

There is still a rim brake option, with the brand continuing to support Team Ineos who still ride on rim stoppers. According to Shimano, Dura-Ace offers an increase in shifting speed, with a claimed 58 percent decrease in rear derailleur operating time and a 45 percent decrease in front derailleur operating time.

The shifters have grown in size, Shimano said this was because they'd become to small, and pros complained they felt unstable on uneven ground, but the argument could be made that tech changes made a hood size increase necessary. The cassette still starts with the 11t sprocket rather, the gaps are just now smaller between the 6th, 7th and 8th sprockets.

At the back, options range from all the way to , there is no longer an as Shimano said few riders opted for this narrow range. Shimano made a lot of changes to the braking tech within this launch. Firstly, it swapped the rotors for the XTR option featured in its mountain bike line ups, stating that these offer improved heat dissipation. The gap between the pad and rotor was also increased, and 'Servo Wave' tech was incorporated - again, this comes from the mountain bike family and is aimed at reducing the free stroke and creating a more immediate connection between the pads and rotors.

Shimano Ultegra is consistently considered to be the thrifty racer's choice, carrying much of the performance of Dura-Ace, with a reduced price tag. This applies even more so with the launch of Shimano Ultegra , which coincided with that of Dura - meaning the groupsets share a lot of identical tech.

The most recent iteration mimics the updated aesthetic seen across its more expensive sibling, Dura-Ace The groupset is speed, uses the same semi-wired platform and enjoys Servo Wave tech at the brakes whilst also featuring the same increase in the size of shifter hood.

For the first time ever, Shimano also offers a range of Ultegra wheels, and as per Dura-Ace, there is the option to spec the groupset with a power meter as standard. It's rare for Shimano Dura-Ace and Ultegra to be launched simultaneously, and this pattern allows consumers to enjoy many of the technologies that would usually take a year to trickle down - immediately. Whilst both rim and disc brakes are supported, new Ultegra is Di2 only; Shimano is aware that there are many users still enjoying existing mechanical Ultegra, and it will continue to make these available.

The entry level performance groupset was the last to get an update, but as you'd expect with trickle down technology, Shimano R has received a couple of the luxuries afforded to newer Ultegra. You get the stubby cranks seen in new Dura-Ace and Ultegra, and there's three different crankset options , or to be paired with or cassettes. The inner ring has been repositioned, so cross-chaining becomes less noticeable, and the shifter hood has gone on a diet. Shimano Tiagra groupsets and below have yet to receive the more recent update, with updated aesthetic and update mechs.

The update - Shimano Tiagra - however, did incorporate gear and brake cables that could be fed beneath bar tape, reducing the "anti aero loop" on previous additions. It's compatible with flat bar bikes, too. Shimano showed its Sora groupset R a bit of love in , with new shifters, brakes andrear derailleurs which carry a more sophisticated aesthetic.

The chainset, like Tiagra, is now four arm which allows it to be lighter - and it comes as a compact or triple and the whole set up can be introduced to flat bar bikes on a five arm crankset with chainguards. Casssettes can be as large as , which will allow plenty of gear options. The groupset continues to be 9-speed, but it does have new shifters which allow for neater internal cable routing. The rum brakes are said to be improved with 20 per cent greater stopping performance on the outgoing version thanks to the addition dual pivot calipers.

Shimano's entry level gorupset hasn't had an overhaul since , but the 8-speed R set up still provides excellent value. There is a cheaper option - Shimano Tourney - but you won't find it on many built bikes and Claris has one up on it because it uses the same Dual Control shifting action as the other key groupsets.

Tourney, on the other hand, still features a thumb lever on the inside of the hood to shift up. Claris also has its own matching brake system. Though Claris is perfectly effective, the let down is its 8-speed shifting, which doesn't provide the rider with a particuarly large selection of gears and means that jumps between cogs can be noticeable.

Shimano GRX was launched in , with the goal of offering a groupset tailored to the growing trend towards bikes designed to traverse mixed terrain. Gravel ready features include grippy levers, and front derailleurs which are built with 2. Retailers create their own RRPs, based upon the cost of individual components, so listed prices will vary. Then, in , it brought eTap AXS to Rival level, cutting the cost of entry into electronic shifting significantly.

Next up the ladder is Rival, which was named to rival Shimano However, now it's speed and electronic, it takes a position closer to Ultegra Di2, at a fraction of the cost. Across the mechanical range, SRAM uses 'DoubleTap' - which means that the single gear lever on each side does both the up and down shift. On the left, a quick click of the lever takes you into a smaller chaingring, and a longer push moves you into a bigger ring - though obviously this doesn't apply on the 1x ranges.

On the right, a short push takes you into a smaller cog more resistance on the cassette, and a long swipe takes you into a bigger cog less resistance. The overhaul is about more than just the extra sprocket offered by the speed cassette. You're losing nothing in terms of top end resistance - a 50x10 is bigger than a 53x SRAM has dubbed this new set up 'modern gearing'.

The new Flattop chain is narrower than before, which means it's smoother and quieter and it's stronger, too. The AXS app is used to configure the system, but you don't have to use it - though without doing so you'll miss out on some gearing customisation. SRAM Red is available on its own still boasting incredible performance , with hydraulic disc brakes, with e-Tap and of course with hydraulic disc brakes and eTap.

Now you can get it in AXS format, too. Being wireless, eTap is impressively light, and it won itself a place in our Editor's Choice awards of To shift using eTap, you move into a smaller cog at the rear by pressing the paddle behind the right brake lever. You move into a larger cog by pressing the paddle behind the left lever. The front mech is operated by pressing both levers together.

As denoted by the '22', SRAM Red is 11 speed and the American based brand promises that the symptoms of cross-chaining are minimal so you really can use all SRAM Red groupsets are also on offer with a mid-cage 'WiFli' rear deraillieur, which makes the use of a tooth cassette possible without it your max is 28 tooth , and SRAM Red chainsets can also come available with a Quarq power meter built in.