Shimano is having a busy day. Alongside the just-announced launch of the new 12-speed mechanical 105 road groupset, the Japanese brand has also unveiled a spate of new gravel tech, including two new 12-speed versions of GRX, as well as a new set of carbon gravel wheels.
Starting with the groupsets, they come in the form of the higher-spec RX820 series and the more affordable RX610, but besides some specs, material choice and the associated weight difference, they both provide a similar solution to gravel riders’ needs, offering 12-speed cassettes in 1x and 2x configurations.
Notably, they are both mechanical, meaning anyone holding out for 12-speed GRX Di2 will have to continue playing the waiting game. It also means the entry-level RX400-series remains unchanged. There’s no news as to whether either will see an upgrade in the near future.
In both cases, the big talking point is the enormous gear range available, with up to 10-51T cassettes in what will be a mountain bike-like gearing setup.
Shimano GRX RX820 details
Whereas the outgoing 11-speed groupset topped out at 11-42T in cassette size, the RX820 groupset will now come with a choice of two even-larger cassettes. These are 10-45T or 10-51T in size, meaning an increase at both ends, providing more top-end speed, and bottom-end range to winch up steep inclines.
I mentioned it being a mountain bike-like setup earlier, and the cassette in question is in fact from Shimano’s mountain bike range. Both are from the M8100 XT range and use Shimano’s Microspline freehub interface.
There’s a bit of complexity to get your head around when it comes to choosing your rear derailleur. The 10-51T cassette will need to be paired with the RD-RX822-GSG derailleur, essentially a long-cage version, while the 10-45T will need the medium-cage RD-RX822-GS.
Notably, and thankfully, the derailleur cage alone can be swapped or replaced, meaning you don’t need to buy a whole new derailleur in the event of a cassette swap (or a crash).
Up front, the Shimano Hollowtech II 1x chainsets come with a choice of two chainring sizes, 40T or 42T, and three crank lengths (170mm, 172.5mm and 175mm).
For those who prefer 2x, you’re limited to just one chainset option. That comes with 48/31T chainrings and is paired with a choice of 11-34T or 11-36T cassettes. This will require a third derailleur, the short cage RD-RX820 with a maximum cassette compatibility of 36T.
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