Shimano GRX is upgraded to 12-speed
Today, component giant Shimano announced a revamp to their gravel groupset, GRX.
Mechanical shifting, 1x or 2x iterations with better ergonomics. Also new, the RX880 carbon and tubeless-ready gravel wheels. Here’s an overview of the new goodies.
To cover the full spectrum of gravel rides and riders, the new Shimano GRX groupset is available in three versions. A 1×12 with 10-45T cassette gearing which Shimano has dubbed the ‘Unbeatable’ setup, is ideal for racing and riding on less hilly terrain. The 1×12 with 10-51T cassette gearing is aptly named as the ‘Unstoppable’ setup and is more suited to multi-day epics, or big adventures that are especially heavy on climbing. Then there’s the ‘Undroppable’, a 2×12 with 48-31T chainring setup optimized for an 11-34T or 11-36T cassette delivering an ultra-wide gear range that is the more versatile option.
Carried over from the original GRX is the left lever that is available as a brake lever only or a dropper-specific lever that integrates braking and dropper post duties. By reducing pressure points and increasing surface area on the rider’s hands, Shimano says they haven’t added any bulk to the new shifters but have optimized them for all-day comfort, on flared bars.
Along with the new GRX mechanical components, Shimano is also introducing an updated carbon gravel wheel that’s purpose-built to handle the rough-and-tumble rigors of dirt road riding. The new RX880 wheelset is a full 64 grams lighter per pair than its predecessor and features the same shallow 32mm rim height for faster acceleration and quicker climbing. The RX880 wheels are tubeless-ready and employ a progressive 25 mm inner rim width that’s suitable for tyres from 32 to 50mm wide.
Local availability is scheduled for December and pricing is not currently available. | Learn more