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TECH NEWS

New Shimano Dura-Ace 9100 breaks cover… and it's not 12-speed

Are these spy shots the next generation top-end groupset?

A new version of Shimano’s top-level Dura-Ace groupset has been spotted, and here are a couple of spy shots.

It’s not really a secret that Shimano has a new version of Dura-Ace on the way. The Japanese brand works to a cycle, updating its groupsets at regular intervals, and this year it’s Dura-Ace’s turn for a revamp.

We’ve not seen the new Dura-Ace for ourselves but MYcyc - Melbourne Uni CC – has supplied these photos.

Assuming they are genuine and the components haven’t been modified by a third party, what can we tell from the pics?

Shimano has stuck with the four arm spider for the chainset, a design that has been trickling down to lower level groupsets over the past few years, saving weight over a five-arm version.

Judging by its size and shape, that’s an electronic Di2 rear derailleur, and it looks a lot like a current XTR mountain bike design.

The current Dura-Ace Di2 rear derailleur can handle a maximum sprocket size of 28-tooth and has a capacity (the difference between the number of teeth on your smallest and largest sprockets plus the difference between the number of teeth on your chainrings) of 33-teeth. The design pictured here looks like it’s intended for use with wide-ranging cassettes, although we can’t make out the size of the sprockets.

The lower jockey wheel on the rear derailleur is an open design rather than solid. It is perhaps larger than on current Dura-Ace, although the angle of the photograph could be deceptive here.

The new Dura-Ace seems to remain an 11-speed system.

Check out our review of current Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 here.

The finish has certainly changed. The new components look very dark, perhaps black. 

That's all the info we can glean from these pictures. Anyone else got anything to add?

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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31 comments

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antigee | 8 years ago
0 likes

not got one of those plastic bits to stop the chain dropping over the top!! - hang on not got a chainenlightened 

yet to go to Di2 as run nice big stuff out the back - was always surprised when it first appeared that it wasn't wireless I sort of assumed it would be 

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heavenfire | 8 years ago
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I'm running 53/36 and 11/28 on my Ultegra Di2 - a 'capacity' of  34, and it runs perfectly.  1

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tommow1 | 8 years ago
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if it is the new dura ace i peronally perfer the look of the current one and i hope they havent moved to battery packs in individual mechs because it is a dumb idea purely because you will never have any idea how much battery you have left.

The rear shifter and mech will always run out first so you will always be in a constant state of charging or replacing batteries at one point. I am all for electronic shifting but wireless and individual batteries just isnt viable.

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fukawitribe replied to tommow1 | 8 years ago
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tommow1 wrote:

if it is the new dura ace i peronally perfer the look of the current one and i hope they havent moved to battery packs in individual mechs because it is a dumb idea purely because you will never have any idea how much battery you have left.

Looks are one thing - each to their own and there really no wrong answers - but functionality is another. SRAM eTap is currently the only available wireless groupset with separate batteries, so it would seem reasonable to quote from a BR review on it regarding this.

Quote:

SRAM’s two-battery system seems to be the best thus far. The interchangeable batteries snap on easily, and are light enough (24g) that you could easily carry a spare in your saddle bag.

LED lights on the shifters and derailleurs give you a warning when battery life is running low. Green means full charge of 50-60 hours. Red means 5-15 hours left. And a blinking light means less than 5 hours.

While Garmin and SRAM haven’t finalized the details, eTap’s ANT+ compatibility means a low-battery warning on your Garmin will be a reality soon.

Note. The ANT+ Generic Control (CTRL) profile (and the light profile) already have battery level fields, so this is not really anything new.

tommow1 wrote:

The rear shifter and mech will always run out first so you will always be in a constant state of charging or replacing batteries at one point.

The battery life on the shifters is quoted as around 2 years, so even giving the manufacturer a certain leeway in that regard I doubt you'd be in a 'constant state' of charging or replacing anything for them - and when you do need to replace they're CR2032s so ubiquitous even if you weren't carrying spares. 60 hours/1000 miles on the mechs also seems OK, adaquate rather than outstanding hour wise perhaps, and the reviews we've seen so far seem to indicate that the battery life is at least good enough not to be a pain. Oh and the batteries are swappable so even if miss all the indications that your battery is running low and your rear mech battery runs out you can just swap it for the front to get you home... or pop your spare in if you have one. Doesn't sound like a particularly manic state of affairs to me.

tommow1 wrote:

I am all for electronic shifting but wireless and individual batteries just isnt viable.

Personally i'd say all the indications are not only that is _is_ viable, but that the current implementation is actually rather good - unless you have any pressing evidence to the contrary.

 

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Rixter | 8 years ago
1 like

Having just spent a lot upgrading to 11-speed, it would kill me to see 12-speed come out so soon. Personally I don't see how they can get to 12 without having to re-dish the rear wheel (on a retro-fit). Lets hope we remain stuck at 11 for at least a few years

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matthewn5 | 8 years ago
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Derailleur hanger is at an odd angle.

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beedee101 | 8 years ago
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There's no longer a need for a seat-tube battery pack.

As SRAM had proven you can compact and separate the packs as part of the derailleurs. Mechanics will love it, and it maybe an intermediate step to wireless shifting also.

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bigshape | 8 years ago
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not 100% sure I like the new chain less system. it'll stop ameture tattoos though I guess!

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Acm | 8 years ago
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The drive side crank arm looks chunkier-either for stiffness or maybe the rumoured power meter?

Also, while it's hard to be sure that the wheels are shimano, the rim profile looks to be closer to that of Zipps Firecrest shapes than the current dura ace offerings

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1961BikiE | 8 years ago
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Good if they are introducing a medium cage/large range mech.

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STATO | 8 years ago
1 like

Direct mount hanger too, like shimano mtb groups have been running for a while. Lower profile than existing road mechs, aero gainz yes

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Vili Er | 8 years ago
1 like

Big XTR cage for the 'endurance' brigade and their 42 tooth rear cassettes.

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fukawitribe replied to Vili Er | 8 years ago
3 likes

Bigringrider wrote:

Big XTR cage for the 'endurance' brigade and their 42 tooth rear cassettes.

Ah Mr. Rider - you come across as such a fabulous anachronism I never entirely know whether you're being serious or not ! I trust you run only the finest cork pads on your maple cane sprints  3

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DaveE128 replied to Vili Er | 8 years ago
4 likes

Looks like a through axle. I'm guessing that they'll have through axle hubs in the groupset.

Bigringrider wrote:

Big XTR cage for the 'endurance' brigade and their 42 tooth rear cassettes.

Lol! was that meant to sound condescending towards cyclists who ride up hills? Copying the gearing setups that pros use on relatively flat races always seemed to me to be a really stupid thing to do unless you really are as fit as a pro and riding similar or flatter terrain. Thankfully manufacturers are realising that not all cyclists are obessed with trying to replicate pro setups and producing gearing to suit normal people on varied terrain.

But then I should have known from your nickname that you think that riding a low cadence is manly.  3

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FJM1002 replied to DaveE128 | 8 years ago
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Bigringrider wrote:

Big XTR cage for the 'endurance' brigade and their 42 tooth rear cassettes.

DaveE128 wrote:

Lol! was that meant to sound condescending towards cyclists who ride up hills? Copying the gearing setups that pros use on relatively flat races always seemed to me to be a really stupid thing to do unless you really are as fit as a pro and riding similar or flatter terrain. Thankfully manufacturers are realising that not all cyclists are obessed with trying to replicate pro setups and producing gearing to suit normal people on varied terrain.

But then I should have known from your nickname that you think that riding a low cadence is manly.  3

 

a compact is too small to climb on. There's no resistance on pedals in a 34 ring. A 39-25 is all you really need but a 36 with a 27/28 MAX should do anyone.

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srchar replied to FJM1002 | 8 years ago
3 likes

FJM1002 wrote:

 

a compact is too small to climb on. There's no resistance on pedals in a 34 ring. A 39-25 is all you really need but a 36 with a 27/28 MAX should do anyone.

36x28 is the lowest ratio for most of Team Sky in the mountains, so no, it won't "do anyone". Could you ride up the Giau in 39x25? Ventoux? Stelvio?

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FJM1002 replied to srchar | 8 years ago
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srchar wrote:

FJM1002 wrote:

 

a compact is too small to climb on. There's no resistance on pedals in a 34 ring. A 39-25 is all you really need but a 36 with a 27/28 MAX should do anyone.

36x28 is the lowest ratio for most of Team Sky in the mountains, so no, it won't "do anyone". Could you ride up the Giau in 39x25? Ventoux? Stelvio?

riders years ago rode those climbs in a 42-19

 

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fukawitribe replied to FJM1002 | 8 years ago
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FJM1002 wrote:

riders years ago rode those climbs in a 42-19

Yep and you should go listen to some ex -pros (and more recreational riders of A Certain Age) talking about the difference between then and now regarding gearing. GCN happened to do a piece not long ago about double vs compact up the Mortirolo you might want to look at too. Some people like slower cadence /higher effort, some faster /lower, that's life - but your pronouncements are way too sweeping to be taken seriously.

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wycombewheeler replied to FJM1002 | 8 years ago
4 likes
FJM1002 wrote:

 

Bigringrider wrote:

Big XTR cage for the 'endurance' brigade and their 42 tooth rear cassettes.

DaveE128 wrote:

Lol! was that meant to sound condescending towards cyclists who ride up hills? Copying the gearing setups that pros use on relatively flat races always seemed to me to be a really stupid thing to do unless you really are as fit as a pro and riding similar or flatter terrain. Thankfully manufacturers are realising that not all cyclists are obessed with trying to replicate pro setups and producing gearing to suit normal people on varied terrain.

But then I should have known from your nickname that you think that riding a low cadence is manly.  3

 

a compact is too small to climb on. There's no resistance on pedals in a 34 ring. A 39-25 is all you really need but a 36 with a 27/28 MAX should do anyone.

Same sort of crap about triples being cheating, even though 30 / 25 is about the same as 34 / 28.

36 X 32 or 34 X 28 are not too easy to climb. The idea is not to crank the resistance up but too keep the revs up as if on the flat. More efficient and faster to climb this way.

But if you want to make things harder to be more manly, why not just shorten the brake cable so the pads rub all the time?

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pipikikinos replied to wycombewheeler | 8 years ago
0 likes

The wheels looks like c50 tubulars, judging by th DA Hub and the hidden nipples. Definetely Zipps, NOT.

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srchar replied to pipikikinos | 8 years ago
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pipikikinos wrote:

39/25 he says..... In which planet ?? :-P Max difer. is 16

We are talking about 39x25, as in 39t small ring, 25t large sprocket, not 39/25 chainrings.

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Acm replied to pipikikinos | 8 years ago
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pipikikinos wrote:

The wheels looks like c50 tubulars, judging by th DA Hub and the hidden nipples. Definetely Zipps, NOT.

I wasn't talking about them being Zipps, just saying that it looks like Shimano might have updated their rim profiles with the whole 'crosswind stability' thing

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FJM1002 replied to wycombewheeler | 8 years ago
0 likes

wycombewheeler wrote:
FJM1002 wrote:

 

Bigringrider wrote:

Big XTR cage for the 'endurance' brigade and their 42 tooth rear cassettes.

DaveE128 wrote:

Lol! was that meant to sound condescending towards cyclists who ride up hills? Copying the gearing setups that pros use on relatively flat races always seemed to me to be a really stupid thing to do unless you really are as fit as a pro and riding similar or flatter terrain. Thankfully manufacturers are realising that not all cyclists are obessed with trying to replicate pro setups and producing gearing to suit normal people on varied terrain.

But then I should have known from your nickname that you think that riding a low cadence is manly.  3

 

a compact is too small to climb on. There's no resistance on pedals in a 34 ring. A 39-25 is all you really need but a 36 with a 27/28 MAX should do anyone.

Same sort of crap about triples being cheating, even though 30 / 25 is about the same as 34 / 28. 36 X 32 or 34 X 28 are not too easy to climb. The idea is not to crank the resistance up but too keep the revs up as if on the flat. More efficient and faster to climb this way. But if you want to make things harder to be more manly, why not just shorten the brake cable so the pads rub all the time?

the idea of resistance on pedals is to allow you to put in a big effort. To go at anything upwards of 7 mph in a gear that small you would need to pedal at 120 rpm or higher which is actually a cadence not efficient to maintain.

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fukawitribe replied to FJM1002 | 8 years ago
1 like

Bullshit. You're doing over 7mph at 75 rpm in a 34/28 and at 85rpm in a 34/32 (assuming a 622-25 tyre). Go look at the typical climbing speeds and cadences on extended climbs on the pro tour for context.

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Carton replied to fukawitribe | 8 years ago
2 likes

fukawitribe wrote:

Bullshit. You're doing over 7mph at 75 rpm in a 34/28 and at 85rpm in a 34/32 (assuming a 622-25 tyre). Go look at the typical climbing speeds and cadences on extended climbs on the pro tour for context.

Yep.

Anyone riding anything approaching real hills (as in, those with sections of over 10%) more than once has to be able to go up those first hills at max 80% of FTP. On a 39/25 @ 75 RPM that would entail an FTP of around 6.25 W/kg. AFAIK there's only one guy in the world with a current estimated FTP that high at cadences anywhere near that low: Nairo Quintana. So we're talking to a guy that either (a) doesn't do real hills; (b) doesn't do them more than once a ride; (c) thinks that everyone should be climbing at less than 75 rpm; (d) isn't out winning grand tours because why bother; or (e) has really improved his English lately. 

I mean, if you enjoy griding away at hills should have at it. Seriously, as a spinner myself, I stare with nothing but awe at the guys who can will their fixie up (and down) hill after hill. But anyone who thinks that everyone else must always do the like is either ill-informed or facetious.

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Ginsterdrz | 8 years ago
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I know a member of the trade who has seen the new crankset with built in power meter. 

Are you the last to know or under reporting embargo????

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Broady. | 8 years ago
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Yeah, the cable seems like it's going nowhere at a weird angle, could very possibly be a decoy.

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Hedgerow | 8 years ago
3 likes

Did the penultimate line of this article remind anyone else of the Fast Show ?

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Broady. | 8 years ago
0 likes

Is  that a battery pack on the back... Wireless maybe?

edit: looks like a cable up on the stay, maybe not.

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David Arthur @d... replied to Broady. | 8 years ago
0 likes

Broady. wrote:

Is  that a battery pack on the back... Wireless maybe?

edit: looks like a cable up on the stay, maybe not.

 

you can see a wire going to the rear mech. but then it could be a decoy, that's what sram did and caught some people out

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