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 bought louder when a brand new 2x-only GRX Di2 launched final spring… not the 1x that the majority gravelers now desire. So since then, I’ve been looking out for extra Di2 patent tales to uncover extra perception into Shimano’s improvement cycle.
However now our newest Patent Patrol finds line up with a few of these rumors, and all trace of an enormous replace to Shimano Di2 mountain bike drivetrains coming quickly….
Shimano XTR Di2 has been a very long time coming!
It’s been nearly 7 years since Shimano up to date XTR with mechanical M9100. That top-tier mountain bike groupset isn’t any slouch (nonetheless one in every of our favorites), and the mechanical 1x 12-speed drivetrain remains to be being raced to World Cup & Olympic wins a few years later.
But it surely’s not digital.
Within the meantime, wi-fi SRAM AXS teams have dominated the electronic-shifting market off-road. AXS continues to supply easy-to-use drivetrains at a variety of value factors, all with easy cross-platform integration. SRAM has delivered numerous wi-fi drivetrains which are simple for anybody to arrange, easy to shift, and may be readily mix-and-matched between street, gravel & mountain bikes.
They even used direct-mount wi-fi mountain bike and gravel bike drivetrains to push bikemakers to undertake their new UDH normal. All the way in which to the purpose that SRAM might quickly come again to a extra reasonably priced, easier place to begin with a few all-new mechanical Transmissions.
However wait, Di2 has been round for one thing like 20 years
We’ve seen wired digital Di2 since 2009, and semi-wireless on the street since 2021.
I already wrote a couple of totally wi-fi Shimano MTB Di2 patent final spring. It even hinted at the opportunity of leaping from the present XTR 12-speed, straight to 13-speeds. However a 12 months later, its attention-grabbing discussions on semi-interchangeable batteries, extra gears, and even wi-fi braking have but to materialize.
Now, with one other mountain biking season in sight, there’s been a flurry of recent curiosity. I’ve been digging by patents as I look to search out proof for my lengthy listing of 2025 predictions. And I’ve to behave quick, as new product bulletins are ramping up.
What’s new in 2025 for Shimano XTR Di2?
These newest patent diagrams seem far more developed than the schematic drawings that we reported on final 12 months. And so they again up a few of the rumors we’ve heard.
The identical core idea is there, although.
- These new Shimano Di2 off-road derailleurs pack their management motors & step-down gears (blue) deeper into the B-knuckle than their street Di2 derailleurs – presumably for higher impression resistance.
- They mount the battery (purple) into an outsized outer parallelogram hyperlink.
- They nonetheless embrace a clutch (inexperienced) within the P-knuckle.
- And although we’ve seen separate Shimano derailleur patents with UDH-compatible direct body mounts (and B-tension screws), these newest illustrations all nonetheless mount to a standard derailleur hanger.
What about XT Di2, Deore Di2 & GRX Di2, although?
One other key bit of knowledge comes from a motorcycle producer’s prematurely leaked 2025 spec sheet.
There, one full-suspension XC mountain bike that launched in late 2023 final 12 months, now will get 4 new Shimano construct specs within the coming season.
- The highest-tier Crew construct lists an as-yet-unreleased XTR M9200 groupset, particularly calling out a M9250 Di2 12-speed shifter & Shadow Plus derailleur.
- Each a second-tier Crew and a third-tier RC construct every get one other new product household 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. Under that, additional fashions characteristic current mechanical groupsets.
As for GRX Di2 1x… I’ll go away that solely to my very own hypothesis. Rumor had it that Shimano was ready for the 1x digital mountain bike derailleurs to launch earlier than copying the identical look and elegance for GRX Di2 1x. That’s no huge shock since mechanical GRX 1×12 RX820 is basically a carbon copy of XT M8100.
Looking extra particulars on all of those, I additionally scoured FCC filings. And whereas submitting pictures are nonetheless protected by confidentiality agreements, Shimano acquired 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 second rear derailleur, and a brand new twin management lever.
All-new XTR brakes coming, too!
As for brand spanking new mountain bike brakes, these are most likely coming quickly, and prone to each XTR & XT, as nicely.
The important thing tech innovation in Shimano’s newest brake patent filings is a brand new light-weight 4-piston format with one pair of bigger ≥19mm pistons which are at the very least 15% bigger than a smaller set of pistons. The claimed advantages embrace both an elevated braking power or a discount within the quantity of hydraulic stress required to brake. Then moreover, the totally different piston sizes and their new hydraulic format additionally promise extra even pad put on and/or improved long-term disc brake caliper sturdiness.
That’s it for brand spanking new Shimano mountain bike teasers for now. There’s loads to digest.
We’ll be preserving a detailed eye out within the XC, Enduro & DH World Cup pits at the beginning of the season in a number of months to see if we are able to spy a few of these goodies up shut.