How To Install Di2 Rear Derailleur

Shimano'due south new Ultegra RX rear derailleur, available in both mechanical (RX800, £99.99) and electronic (RX805 Di2, £259.99) versions, reduces concatenation slap dissonance and eliminates dropped chains. It's ideal for cyclo-cantankerous, gravel and adventure bikes where rough and bumpy terrain can hands unship an unsuspecting chain, but largely pointless on the road unless you're riding cobblestones on a regular basis.

• Pros: Quieter, less risk of dropped bondage
• Cons: Extra weight, heavier mechanical shifting, uglier

If you're replacing or upgrading a rear mech anyway it could exist a smart move, specially as there's piffling divergence in the retail price. But if y'all've managed just fine up until at present y'all probably notwithstanding will; it's certainly no game-changing development in the same way SRAM's 1x groupsets have been for mount, gravel and cyclo-cross bikes. Information technology falls some style short of a defended gravel groupset many people were anticipating, but does bespeak a growing interest from the Japanese visitor.

> Find your nearest dealer hither

> Buy the RX800 online hither

> Buy the R805 online here

What has Shimano done exactly?

Shimano has simply implemented its Shadow Plus applied science from its mountain bicycle groupsets into the new Ultegra RX rear mech. Shadow Plus comprises a clutch-style mechanism housed inside the slightly bulkier body of the derailleur and it's intended to increase the tension on the muzzle to forestall unwanted chain movement (by preventing the cage moving forwards) to cease the chain flapping about when riding over rough ground or cobbles and slapping the chainstay (noisy) and, in the worst case scenario, dropping off the chainring.

The small grey lever you tin see in the photo below is to enable you to disengage the mech. This is to allow y'all to easily remove the wheel; trying to get the wheel out with the clutch engaged is simply going to make your life harder. You could look at it as being an optional feature, turning information technology on and off equally you lot run across fit, but in reality you're going to exit it on all the time.

I tested both a mechanical version with a double chainring (2x) road bike and the Di2 version (beneath) on my custom built 1x adventure bike. I used both over several months and through lots of miles and every bit many dissimilar riding situations every bit possible.

Using the mechanical version highlights slightly heavier shifting at the lever compared with a conventional derailleur, but after the first couple of miles and dozen gear shifts you really don't detect it. Shimano has apparently reduced the tension compared to the mount bicycle mechs with the aforementioned technology, but its latest mechanical shifting is so light and breezy anyway, and that doesn't change drastically with the addition of the clutch. With the Di2 version, there'south admittedly no discernible deviation at all.

Who is information technology aimed at?

All the Shimano press for the new Ultegra RX clutch derailleur talks of increasing your conviction over bumpy ground, helping yous maintain cadence over the road less travelled, bringing adventure back to route riding. But information technology's designed primarily for 2x drivetrains (Shimano doesn't nevertheless offer a dedicated route and gravel 1x groupset) and only accommodates up to an xi-34t cassette. Plus information technology was launched at Paris-Roubaix, the most roadie of roadie races.

Do you even need a clutch-style mech on a road bike? We've managed for a long time but fine, surely?

That was my first idea, and one I've grappled with during this review. I tin can't say noisy or dropped chains accept been an outcome on road bikes; in fact, I can't recall the last fourth dimension I dropped a chain on a road ride. Merely off-route, it's a different matter: the clutch-way derailleurs have been one of the single most significant developments, along with dropper posts, in the terminal decade.

Where the clutch-way machinery makes a lot of sense is on a 1x bike considering removing the forepart mech essentially robs y'all of a chain retention device. With the Di2 mech fitted to a gravel and adventure cycle with a unmarried chainring, the Ultegra RX mech works nicely to prevent unwanted chain movement and minimise the risk of it dropping off.

Riding over lumpy grass tracks, equus caballus-trodden bridleways and down rocky gulleys prove the merits of the Ultegra RX and is where the clutch mechanism comes into its ain. The ride was much quieter – no chain smashing the chainstay – and definitely no dropped chains. For cyclo-cross racing too, the benefits are clear. At that place's less risk of the concatenation going AWOL when riding through a sandpit or when you remount the bike afterwards gracefully vaulting some hurdles. Then clear benefits for off-route riding and then, but less appreciated on the road, in my stance.

Limited range

The Ultegra RX rear derailleurs are compatible with Shimano'due south existing road dual control levers and volition work with cassettes with a largest sprocket between 28-tooth and 34-molar, and with chainsets from 46-36t upwards to 50-34t, with a 16-tooth maximum chainring capacity (the difference in teeth numbers betwixt large and small-scale chainring).

> Beginner's guide to understanding gears

They are really intended to exist used with a 2x setup – Shimano is a firm laic in the benefits of the front mech withal, whereas SRAM is on a mission, it seems, to wipe it out forever. There are pros and cons to a unmarried chainring versus a double, but that'due south a discussion/contend/argument for some other twenty-four hours.

On a double groupset with an 11-34t cassette, the Ultegra RX mech works every bit expected, much like a normal Ultegra rear mech actually. However, I bravely decided to ignore Shimano'southward guidelines and experimented with the Ultegra RX Di2 mech paired with a unmarried chainring and an 11-40t cassette.

Would it work? Yes! Information technology worked merely fine. Look, here's a video and everything. I should probably caveat this by saying Shimano doesn't recommend this, and I've no idea if it voids the warranty (probably), so as they love to say on the television set, don't try this at dwelling house kids.

Conclusion

My takeaway from testing the ii Shimano Ultegra RX mechs is that they make a lot of sense for cyclo-cross, gravel and gamble bikes, off-road riding basically, where the reduction in concatenation slap noise and chain dropping avoidance are big wins on rough and tumble terrain. The Shimano recommendations do limit their appeal, specially with wide-range cassette and 1x enthusiasts, simply equally my experimenting shows yous can curve the rules a bit.

> Your complete guide to Shimano road wheel groupsets

I'm less convinced of the benefits on a route bike unless you happen to exist riding cobblestones on a regular ground.

All we need now is for Shimano to produce the rest of the Ultegra RX groupset for the growing hazard and gravel bike market and SRAM will accept serious contest for its dedicated 1x Force and Rival groupsets. Until so, it feels like nothing more than a bourgeois dipping of the toe.

Verdict

Works really well off-road, though less useful on road, and the limited range will limit its appeal

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road.cc examination written report

Make and model: Shimano Ultegra RX800 and RX805 Di2 rear derailleurs

Size tested: GS

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say nigh it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Shimano says, "ULTEGRA RX brings SHIMANO's pioneering chain stabilizing technology to road cycling, delivering smooth and precise shifting over technical terrain. It expands route bike capabilities, inspiring confidence on any surface and drives the evolution of road cycling to include greater elements of gamble. No longer is the road bike narrowly defined, SHIMANO ULTEGRA RX broadens the notion of drop bar riding and emboldens cyclist to explore further."

And from Wiggle: "With a clutch machinery that removes unnecessary motion in the derailleur cage and holds chain tension, you can expect precise and accurate shifting from the Shimano Ultegra RX800 Rear Derailleur over rough surfaces.

"Borrowing its Shadow Plus applied science from its proven MTB rear derailleur range, the Ultegra RX800 Rear Derailleur fits close to the frame, which not only looks sleek, simply helps to forbid it from being snagged on anything and damaged in the process. This combined with the clutch mechanism that can be disengaged for piece of cake wheel removal makes information technology perfect for for adventure road, gravel and cyclocross apply."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Concatenation Stabilizer mechanism adopted from MTB design

ON/OFF switch

Compatible with current road DUAL Command LEVER

Max. front difference: 16T

Full capacity: 39T

Low sprocket: Max. 34T/Min. 28T

Top sprocket: Max. 12T/Min. 11T

Rate the product for quality of construction:

8/10

Usual Shimano peak quality structure.

Rate the production for operation:

8/x

Works as smoothly every bit a regular Ultegra rear mech, which is to say it's excellent, with the added bonus of reduced concatenation slap.

Charge per unit the production for immovability:

viii/10

Through several months of testing neither rear mech has shown any sign of distress.

Rate the product for weight (if applicative)

seven/10

There'southward a pocket-sized weight penalisation but not enough to be significant for all but the fussiest weight weenies.

Rate the product for value:

vi/10

You're paying a little more a regular Ultegra rear mech only the extra chain tension for off-road riding is worth it, although, every bit I mentioned in the main review, unless y'all're riding cobbles every solar day it's of questionable value for pure road riding.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Prevents unwanted chain motility and minimises noise and the potential for dropped chains.

Tell us what you particularly liked near the production

Less chain slap and improve concatenation retention.

Tell us what you lot particularly disliked near the product

It'southward a bit heavier and uglier looking.

How does the price compare to that of like products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Shimano's Deore XT mount bike rear mechs are roughly the same price (£89.99 mechanical and £269.99 Di2); SRAM'due south 1x rear mechs (Force 1 and Rival 1) are £186 and £106 respectively.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider ownership the product? Yeah

Would y'all recommend the product to a friend? Aye

Use this box to explain your overall score

If you want extra concatenation retention for riding over crude ground and bumpy terrain, and currently use a Shimano groupset, it'south easy to recommend. But it's not quite a defended wide-range gravel-focused offer.

Overall rating: viii/10

Age: 31Height: 180cmWeight: 67kg

I usually ride:My all-time bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-xx yearsI ride: Every dayI would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: route racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, mount biking

Source: https://road.cc/content/review/249065-shimano-ultegra-rx800-and-rx805-di2-rear-derailleurs

Posted by: looneysamet1997.blogspot.com

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