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TECH NEWS
2021 Hammerhead Karoo 2 data fields.JPGShimano forces SRAM-owned Hammerhead to remove Di2 connected features
Shimano has received widespread criticism for its decision to force cycling computer brand Hammerhead to remove Di2 functionality from its Karoo cycling computers. The power struggle between Shimano and SRAM furthers the decline of open standards within sports tech, and it looks like this will simply have a negative impact on the consumer.
> Review: Hammerhead Karoo 2
Thursday 2nd June is going to be a bad day for Hammerhead Karoo users that also use a Shimano Di2 groupset. Shimano has requested that Hammerhead removes all connectivity for its electronic gear systems, meaning that Hammerhead users will no longer be able to see information such as battery status and gear indicators. Nor will they be able to change their computer screen via the Di2 hood buttons.
This removal of Di2 functionality might seem like a small feature to lose, and it certainly won’t affect every owner of a Karoo or Karoo 2 head unit, but it will leave many frustrated with Shimano as the move could be construed as a way of reducing competition from what is a SRAM-owned brand.
The announcement has not gone down well on social media, with many voicing their displeasure at Shimano's decision.
As a Hammerhead Karoo 2 user and also a Di2 user, I would like to say #shimano you suck thanks for ruining it for millions of shimano user. #sram #hammerhead #karro2 is time for you guy to run a trade in program to get rid of this #shimanodi2 scrap. #srametap
— Cycling Conquistador (@Rubirosa_Fx) May 26, 2022
@ShimanoROAD all you are doing is driving your customers away. Reverse this stupid hammerhead decision. I'll never buy shimano again.
— Kevin Klein (@kevindkleined) May 26, 2022
Shimano not wanting to play nice with the Hammerhead/SRAM, go figure... pic.twitter.com/TBx3oUu1In
— Neil Beltchenko 🚲 (@Neil_Beltchenko) May 26, 2022
In a statement, Hammerhead said: “Here at Hammerhead, we are committed to constantly improving in ways that benefit riders. With each update and integration, we chart an intentional path of continuous improvement.
"Unfortunately, we don't always have the ability to supply every product integration we want for our riders. At the request of Shimano, effective with next Thursday’s software update on June 2nd, riders who utilized Di2 integration will lose access to a small subset of features. The update will remove on-screen battery status and shifter mode data, front and rear derailleur indications, and Karoo screen control via the Di2 hood buttons from Shimano Di2 drivetrains.”
With the above statement, Hammerhead confirms that Shimano has requested this and it doesn’t take long to realise that the move follows closely on the heels of Hammerhead being brought under the SRAM umbrella.
The statement continues: “Important note: all other Karoo 2 functionality will continue to work for Shimano riders, it is this small subset of Di2 features that Shimano has withdrawn permissions for until we are able to forge a new agreement.
"We remain hopeful in pursuit of a new path to provide more software features to Shimano riders in the years ahead.”
With the final line, it seems that there is plenty of willing from Hammerhead’s side to work to find a solution that will benefit Di2 users. But whether there is also willing from Shimano’s end is yet to be seen, and it appears the ball is firmly in its court...
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52 comments
Nah - that's just a very fancy bike basket.
Or it could just be that Shimano don't want their IP in the hands of a rival (no pun intended). Especially one whose products are substandard by comparison. And I say that as a long time Sram user who is delighted to be back in the Shimano fold albeit with a Karoo 2
That might make some sense. Although the IP must already be in their rival's hands at this stage? Unless Shimano are about to make some big change in how Di2 works?
As you can tell, I'm well beyond any expertise here!
It's not so much that it is secret technology, but that an agreement has to be entered into to use it. Shimano have pulled the agreement, so Hammerhead would probably find themselves in court if they continued using it.
The difference here is presumably the difference between something being patented and something being a trade secret. If you find out a trade secret, you can then use it, but with a patent, the information is freely available but the owner can require a licence for it to be used.
These kinds of shenanigans are why I hate proprietary protocols etc. They're just artificial barriers and it usually ends up being to the detriment of the paying public.
It's not "IP". It's a bloody API. That's all it is. They've just removed access to that api. It's petty.
I thought it was just that they pulled the agreement, which is why Hammerhead have a little while to push out the new firmware. I don't think Shimano removed any API as surely that would involve updating all Di2 systems.
You're both right. Its IP because it's a non-standard API implimentation sitting on top of the standard Ant protocol. Essentially the payload and the methods for using the API are the IP. Though I suspect that differs in parts of the world depending on what their guidelines on software patents are. This is probably based on US law though.
What am I missing here? Shimano don't make head units, so there's no commercial advantage to them in dissuading people from buying Hammerhead products; one would have thought the only possible influence on the market from doing this is that someone who already owns a Hammerhead unit might decide to go with SRAM for their new bike for compatibility, to Shimano's detriment. The only other effect I can see is that Shimano will lose a lot of goodwill. What's in it for them?
They don't make head units...yet. They used to make a computer that integrated with buttons in hods. I suppose we'll just have wait and see.
Yes I guess that could be a motivation. Bit niche just going for the bricklayer market though...
Licensing payments. At the end of the day, this will be all about commercial licensing - i.e. how much SRAM were willing to pay their arch-rival for rights to use DI2. Garmin obviously came to an agreement and, I would bet, SRAM probably dug their heels in and refused to stump up.
You can certainly argue that this is why closed-standards are bad (and they are), but at the end of the day, you can be sure that it's financials that are at the bottom of this. Look at Google / Sonos - Google lost their patent lawsuit with Sonos regarding functionality that they used in their speakers. Did they pony up and pay the licensing fee to Sonos? No, they released new firmware that removed functionality from users instead, preferring to irritate paying customers than put a hole in their own (extremely well-filled) pocket.
Thats unlikey imo. The licensing deal and payments would have been negotiated by Hammerhead and the closeness of the SRAM acquisition counts against that theory, unless the license was due to expire soon.
My bet would be that Shimmy activated a withdrawal clause in the License. Coz they are cnuts.
Even if Shimano did make a head unit, ducking the competitive pressure instead of innovating to stay ahead only makes a product sclerotic in the longer term. If it has to be sheltered to survive then it will eventually fail.
It just seems an incredibly petty move, and not one that will particularly benefit Shimano themselves - I'd have thought Garmin or Wahoo were the immediate likely beneficaries. And, longer term, it might make someone considering what groupset to go with avoid Shimano because they are worried about future similar actions causing compatability issues. I really don't see what Shimano gain from it.
Exactly. One of Di2's competitive advantages was the extra buttons that could be programmed to scroll screens on your head unit. What Shimano has demonstrated today is that they are willing to retroactively revoke access to that function by any head unit manufacturer they have a spat with. Today its Hammerhead. But who's to say it won't be Wahoo or even Garmin at some later date?
So basically Shimano is making life harder for its own customers who have spent a fair bit of money on Di2 groupsets? Sounds like a very smart business move!
Only the ones with Karoo headsets. It would be interesting what the market shares are for that make anyway compared to Garmin / Wahoo AND with Di2.
Since Shimano does not make headsets, the rationale is still hard to fathom. Just to spite SRAM - at the expense of Shimano Di2 users?
I suspect the overlap of Karoo and Di2 is quite large - them both essentially being premium products, with only the Garmin 1030 being a more expensive head unit.
This is bad...the next step is to stop Garmin accessing power data from Shimano power metres, becasue Garmin do power metres. It would seem odd if they did not do it.
Basically someone in the organisation is being an ar$e.
I hope the backlash will result in a reversal of such a stupid decision.
There is the question as to why Di2 are not "open ANT+" but still "private Ant+" which allows them to pull stupid stunts like this!
The answer to that (according to Shimano) will be that tight control of their protocol allows them to guarantee the reliability of the shifting, whereas others have (anecdotally?) been subject to 'issues'.
Open protocols for shoving out data is another matter of course.
Don't give them ideas! Although I do agree, this is madness.
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