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We’ve been deep in Di2 rumors ever since Shimano bypassed XTR and launched an ebike-only XT Di2 groupset in 2022. And the rumor mill solely were given louder when a brand new 2x-only GRX Di2 introduced remaining spring… no longer the 1x that almost all gravelers now choose. So since then, I’ve been searching for extra Di2 patent tales to discover extra perception into Shimano’s building cycle.
However now our newest Patent Patrol reveals line up with a few of the ones rumors, and all trace of an enormous replace to Shimano Di2 mountain motorbike drivetrains coming quickly….
Shimano XTR Di2 has been a very long time coming!
(Patent drawings by the use of Shimano/Illustrations by means of Cory Benson)
It’s been virtually 7 years since Shimano up to date XTR with mechanical M9100. That prime-tier mountain motorbike groupset is not any slouch (nonetheless certainly one of our favorites), and the mechanical 1x 12-speed drivetrain continues to be being raced to Global Cup & Olympic wins a few years later.
Nevertheless it’s no longer digital.
Within the interim, wi-fi SRAM AXS teams have ruled the electronic-shifting marketplace off-road. AXS continues to provide easy-to-use drivetrains at a variety of value issues, all with easy cross-platform integration. SRAM has delivered numerous wi-fi drivetrains which can be smooth for any person to arrange, easy to shift, and will also be readily mix-and-matched between street, gravel & mountain motorcycles.
They even used direct-mount wi-fi mountain motorbike and gravel motorbike drivetrains to push bikemakers to undertake their new UDH same old. The entire strategy to the purpose that SRAM would possibly quickly come again to a extra inexpensive, more effective start line with a few all-new mechanical Transmissions.
However wait, Di2 has been round for one thing like twenty years
We’ve observed stressed out digital Di2 since 2009, and semi-wireless at the street since 2021.
I already wrote about a completely wi-fi Shimano MTB Di2 patent remaining spring. It even hinted at the potential for leaping from the present XTR 12-speed, instantly to 13-speeds. However a 12 months later, its attention-grabbing discussions on semi-interchangeable batteries, extra gears, or even wi-fi braking have not begun to materialize.
Now, with any other mountain cycling season in sight, there’s been a flurry of recent hobby. I’ve been digging thru patents as I glance to seek out proof for my lengthy record of 2025 predictions. And I’ve to behave speedy, as new product bulletins are ramping up.
What’s new in 2025 for Shimano XTR Di2?
Those newest patent diagrams seem a lot more advanced than the schematic drawings that we reported on remaining 12 months. They usually again up one of the crucial rumors we’ve heard.
The similar core thought is there, even though.
Those new Shimano Di2 off-road derailleurs pack their regulate motors & step-down gears (blue) deeper into the B-knuckle than their street Di2 derailleurs – probably for higher affect resistance.
They mount the battery (pink) into an outsized outer parallelogram hyperlink.
They nonetheless come with a grab (inexperienced) within the P-knuckle.
And although we’ve observed separate Shimano derailleur patents with UDH-compatible direct body mounts (and B-tension screws), those newest illustrations all nonetheless mount to a standard derailleur hanger.
What about XT Di2, Deore Di2 & GRX Di2, even though?
Every other key bit of data comes from a motorbike producer’s in advance leaked 2025 spec sheet.
There, one full-suspension XC mountain motorbike that introduced in overdue 2023 remaining 12 months, now will get 4 new Shimano construct specifications within the coming season.
The highest-tier Crew construct lists an as-yet-unreleased XTR M9200 groupset, in particular calling out a M9250 Di2 12-speed shifter & Shadow Plus derailleur.
Each a second-tier Crew and a third-tier RC construct each and every get any other new product circle of relatives quantity – an XT M8200 groupset – once more specifying its personal M8250XT Di2 12-speed shifter & derailleur.
Then, even the fourth-tier RC construct options Di2 with a brand new Deore M6200 groupset, once more noting a M6250 Di2 12-speed shifter & derailleur for the brand new Deore line. Underneath that, additional fashions function present mechanical groupsets.
As for GRX Di2 1x… I’ll depart that solely to my very own hypothesis. Rumor had it that Shimano used to be looking ahead to the 1x digital mountain motorbike derailleurs to release earlier than copying the similar glance and elegance for GRX Di2 1x. That’s no large wonder since mechanical GRX 1×12 RX820 is largely a carbon replica of XT M8100.
Searching extra main points on all of those, I additionally scoured FCC filings. And whilst submitting footage are nonetheless safe by means of confidentiality agreements, Shimano gained FCC approvals for five new Bluetooth/ANT+ digital gadgets in the course of 2024, together with: a ‘motor unit’, a rear derailleur, a flat bar shifter, a moment rear derailleur, and a brand new twin regulate lever.
All-new XTR brakes coming, too!
As for brand spanking new mountain motorbike brakes, the ones are most definitely coming quickly, and prone to each XTR & XT, as smartly.
The important thing tech innovation in Shimano’s newest brake patent filings is a brand new light-weight 4-piston structure with one pair of bigger ≥19mm pistons which can be a minimum of 15% higher than a smaller set of pistons. The claimed advantages come with both an greater braking power or a discount within the quantity of hydraulic force required to brake. Then moreover, the other piston sizes and their new hydraulic structure additionally promise extra even pad put on and/or progressed long-term disc brake caliper sturdiness.
That’s it for brand spanking new Shimano mountain motorbike teasers for now. There’s so much to digest.
We’ll be protecting a detailed eye out within the XC, Enduro & DH Global Cup pits firstly of the season in a couple of months to look if we will undercover agent a few of these sweets up shut.
