Is it just the shape of the lever blade or also the pivot point? It feels as if the pivot point sits higher, but I made a point of comparing (12-speed) Ultegra/DuraAce components with 11-speed GRX components and they all looked very similar in terms of pivot point. (The bikes were hanging on a wall for the most part, so I couldn’t compare them side-by-side.)
Considering their inability to make their expensive ones on Ultegra and Dura ace work properly I’m not to sad about it, luckely there are decent 3rd party options, but yeah this makes the Value proposition worse and worse, considering now SRAM has APEX for Gravel with a Powermeter… I don’t think my next Gravel bike will have GRX on it if Shimano doesn’t really make a turnaround in the next few Years.
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Thanks for the clarification. And it is not as if I did a scientific experiment where I compared GRX levers back-to-back to other Shimano STI levers in a systematic fashion. So it is nice to be corrected by someone who knows rather than someone with a hazy memory who tried different drivetrains across years for various times (= moi).
I’m surprised that the lever shape had a much more significant impact with how the levers felt (and they felt much better in my hands at least).
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Yeah it’s surprising how much difference it makes given how small the change is. I’d noticed but never tried to make a detailed observation til reading the above exchange.
Comparing both in my hands side by side I think the key is the flattened front of the GRX blade compared to the rounded road one (RX810 and R8020 in my case). It’s not even the flat surface itself so much as the fact that the flat surface means there are distinct edges so it’s really easy to tell when your fingers are near a corner and about to lose grip.
I might have cited the rubberised texture on GRX as well, but I’ve scratched most of it off of one of my shifters and can barely tell the difference.
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IIRC, the different pivot point was in regards to the Di2 lever, not the mechanical ones.
I rode Ultegra mech on my gravel bike, until ‘21 when a seal burst on my left hand lever. I could only find a GRX replacement at the time and I never noticed a difference between the GRX in my left hand and the Ultegra on my right (other than the lever blade shape).
Late last year I swapped out the right hand side as well…again, no noticeable difference.
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100% this.
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Yes, that basic over-grip and faux aero position is one I use a fair bit. But I also use a basic position with the same grip (but not dropped elbows). I had the stock Cowbell bars that include 12* flare. I tried every possible combo of inward roll from square to the same as the pic.
In all cases, my issue was the “backwards hook” that landed in the meat of my palm. It was fine for a few minutes, but over 20 minutes of riding, it would lead to excessive pressure in my hands and forced me to swap hand positions.
Previously, my Boone with mechanical Ultegra R6800 (like the mech GRX on the right above) was totally comfortable with no issues for me in that over-grip hand position.
After all the roll testing (along with every handlebar angle possible), my hack solution to get comfortable on the GRX Di2 hoods was to fill that dip.
I used different length segments of old bar tape (3 or 4 layers) to make a forward ramp. That gave me something closer to the mechanical shape I love, but was obviously not ideal. It did confirm that the Di2 hoods are just not for my personal taste. Great for those that love that unique shape, but it ain’t my cup-o-tea.
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This helps illustrate the difference in pivot positions between Di2 and mechanical pretty well.
As for the hood shape on the GRX, i’ve not ridden it, but it always reminds me of the old Mavic hoods that barely anyone rode (even sponsored pros)…
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Funny enough, I had those exact hoods on my Colnago with the 7sp Mavic group (including the starfish crank)… and they were just as uncomfortable for me. Plenty to the fit that was off with what was standard practice for bar shape, position and stem length for my bike that was a 1995 model. But those hoods were never my favorite. Thanks for the reminder, since it ties together well from my actual usage of both.
WRT brake pivots, this isn’t the exact match for GRX Di2 vs Mech, but it gets to the point:
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In theory, those hoods should be very comfortable…if you are a hoods only rider that wraps their fingers to the outside and only the thumb inside. I can see the ergonomics work well for that position.
But anything else becomes problematic, IMO…obviously the GRX shape has taken some steps to provide more options, but I still see it as a limiting design.
But as noted, I haven’t ridden it…but I do really like my mech GRX, along with my previous Ultegra mech and current 105 mech on my travel bike.
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- No, I haven’t even seen a new 12 speed in the flesh yet.
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Easy same thing I did with my gravel bike when I installed the dropper on my GRX Di2 rig. I put it in the steering tube of the fork. Heck Pro (Shimano accessories arm) MAKES a Di2 steering tube accessory. and that’s what I used.
I’m confused, how to the wires get from the steer tube to the frame?
I’m surprised groupset manufacturers haven’t given athletes a choice between different hood shape profiles. We do it for saddles, handlebars, etc., so why not for that piece of rubber (+ reinforcement where necessary)?
PS @Power13 and @mcneese.chad are on 
!
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My Di2 Bus run goes…
Battery (steerer tube) to Left Brifter (top terminal)
Left Brifter (bottom terminal) to bar end Di2 Junction
Di2Junction to Right Brifter (bottom junction via internal bar routing)
Right Brifter (Top Junction) to Port 1 on Internal splitter (bottom of seat tube)
Port 2 on internal splitter to FD
Port 3 on internal splitter to RD
Brilliant! Some expert level Mcgyvering there! I always thought of the extra port in the shifters as just a plug for satellite shifters, but for sure, any plug on di2 works the same as another.
Buuuuut… not to poo poo on the parade, only one shifter on mtb, and no clue if there would be 2 ports. Sounds like they’ve done away with the junction boxes too. Also, can’t really hide the wires easily on mtb. Seems like “the man” wants mtb to go fully internal routing and hiding all the wires. All that said, I am more than certain shimano is already on it and they have something planned! There’s simply no way they don’t have an answer to srams newest offering. Maybe shimano gives hammerhead’s di2 integration back to sram in exchange to a little battery patent forgiveness!? Hahaha
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Looks like 12 speed GRX stuff is up here…
Edit: Looks to be mechanical 12 speed GRX and 105.
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Interesting that it seems to be mechanical only on that page, given that Di2 came first on all the other group set updates.
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All the items I saw say they’re back ordered till 9/16. Looks like they might have jumped the gun a little.
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I think the RX820 1x is meant to be paired with XT 12spd cassettes.
Shimano XT CS-M8100 12spd Cassette (biketiresdirect.com)
10-45T for medium cage derailleur. 10-51T for long cage.
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