New Di2 Imminent?
 

I usually get an email a week from Ribble, and this past week I got one that piqued my interest.

Right now, they’re running a “50% off of group set upgrade” on their R872 frame, and a full R8050 Di2 bike comes to roughly about $1800 shipped. Going from memory, an R8050 Di2 set runs about $1600-1700, so basically you’re getting a full Di2 bike for roughly about the same you’d pay for the group set.

This has me quite tempted but also made me wonder if there’s a new Di2 release just down the road or not. Not that it would affect my decision if I end up pulling the trigger on one, but any industry rumors on when the next Di2 update would be?

Think 12 speed. Campy had it first, for road bikes, sram has it, so shimano can't wait 4 years like they did with 10 and 11 speed.

I heard/read somewhere that Shimano was going to make an announcement in connection with the Tour de France. TdF started today, so maybe a new Di2 is imminent. (Or maybe I heard wrong.)

That’s what I thought might be the thing as well.

But it's Shimano. They're not just gonna tack on another cog, I'd say. Of course, they're gonna need new rear hubs as well, but I can't see them just flopping out cassettes and hubs and a firmware update - that would look like a total me-too catch-up move...

I'd expect an accompanying cosmetic change and at least one or two other refinements to justify a 9200 model number.

Shimano just released Ultegra/DA Di2 R8K and R9K parts last year. If they hold to their pattern--it is another 2 years before a refresh.

The problem with the pattern, being it puts them "behind" the minor players for 12sp market.

I'm glad you put behind in quotes...because, based on market share, and continued dominance, I'd not characterize them as behind. Definitely not bleeding edge, either.

Agreed. It's hard to believe anyone would say "I would buy bike X except it has only an 11-speed drivetrain rather than 12."

My big wish is for wireless Di2. I know Shimano has patents on wireless electronic shifters but they are SAYING there is no demand from the pro riders or mechanics to pitch the wired Di2 setup so apparently not likely. My custom bike has external cables and setting up Di2 externally can be done but is fugly IMO. So I am still on cable shifting for now.

Yup! I’d love it if the new Di2 were wireless.

With or without Di2, Shimano would not have released GRX 11 speed if 12 speed were imminent,


-Tim-

What now?

Hey, neato.

Well....from the other angle of looking at it...Considering Shimano had GRX under development and kept it secret, until after the riding season was already underway...and no inventory of it until after everyone had already done their bike/group purchases for 2019....meaning their new for 2019 group effectively isn't going to be seen for a full calendar year.... Yes I'd full expect them to undercut/screw themselves with the timing on this one.


The GRX release was a mirror of last year's RX clutched derailleurs that were similarly released at the worst possible time. Which, holding to that pattern, means Ultegra/DA will indeed get 11s first and GRX basically an MY later.

Don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen.

Not sure about the switch to wireless. Other than the cleaner look which is now pretty well negated by most frames being Di2 compatible what is the advantage to wireless? For advantages of wired, I see longer battery life, single point on bike charging, only one battery rather than four.

I would prefer they keep the system wired.

K

If something new were coming out during the tour, there'd already be leak photos of it somewhere.

At least 2 years before Shimano 12 speed road is available for purchase. They will probable announce it late next year.

The technical changes they would make to the group for 12 speed cassettes already exist. They're already in three MTB groups. They just need to patch them into DA and add a click to the shifter.

As for schedule, SRAM have been pushing them. Shimano finally brought out 11 speed MTB XTR in 2014, still with a triple and double option. It wasn't the right move to catch SRAM who brought out 12 speed Eagle in 2016 and had it through their whole lineup by 2018. So Shimano has to accelerate, and this year here's SLX 12 speed at the same time as XT, instead of a year later.

A running change would not be unprecedented. The 9/10 speed change for MTB happened mid-cycle, there are some derailleurs that are the same except for their leverage. They also introduced "29er" cassettes mid-cycle, that were 12-36 instead of 11-34

If this helps . . . or even if it doesn't . . . when Di2 went from 10-speed to 11-speed it only required a new rear derailleur and a reprogram of the system. Shifters, fd, and everything else could still be used. It took less than 10 minutes to make the switch.

And I don't see Shimano going wireless. SRAM has proven the naysayers correct. 4 batteries is four times as much to take care of and four times as much to go wrong. Having just one charge port is very convenient.

It’s only the inner OCD kicking in for the ultimate “clean” look. Moving beyond that I agree with all the disadvantages of the wireless. I have trouble keeping up with charging of lights, radar, bike computer, so definitely don’t need to add on top of that.

Other than that, I’m having difficulty coming up with reasons not to. I was contemplating a Di2 Ultegra bike for next spring, but now for the group set price one can get a whole bike. Yes, the rest of the components are mediocre, but again, for the price of the group set, you can have it delivered right to your door and be riding within an hour. There’s something to be said about that kind of convenience.

Plus a cassette and chain.

Buy it now! Strip it, sell the frame, but the one you really want.

Enabler! :roflmao:

I like the clean look of no wires, who doesn't?

Everybody who rides an electronic group set is going to run out of juice once. I live in a hilly city, my FD stopped working, and I knew I had a limited number of rear shifts left to get home. That motivates a person to be more on top of charging their battery.

It's a remote chance, but with SRAM you have four batteries, two you charge, two you try to remember when they were replaced. Internal routing already looks pretty clean, I think having one battery for the entire system is better than having that last bit of clean. But somebody else less prone to stupid anxiety can see things differently.

Anyway, there will for sure be cool stuff in the next generation. My last bike has external routing for mechanical shifters and rim brakes ... 2 years in I'm still smitten.

For that price, you can get another bike when the next generation comes out. :)

You're not helping at all ;)... now you have me looking at discount frames :twitchy: