듀라에이스 (Dura-ace)
7000번대(구형)와 9000번대 시리즈. 명백히 레이서의, 레이서에 의한, 레이서를 위한 그룹셋. 시마노 회사의 지향점. 11단(구형),12단. 짐작 가능하겠지만 11단부터 9000번대 모델 넘버가 붙었다. 시마노 로드 최상위 그룹셋. 고작 한 단계 차이지만 울테그라와 가격 차이는 안드로메다로 가 버린다. 대신 그만큼 가볍긴 가볍고, 시마노가 가지고 있는 기술력과 정밀도를 최대한으로 투자한 부품군이다. 그러나 가볍고 경주용 자전거로서의 모든 기술이 들어간 대신 교통수단으로서의 내구성이 다른 등급에 비해 약한 경우가 많으므로 시내에서 일상생활을 겸해서 타기에는 부적절한 등급이므로 듀라에이스 등급 자전거를 사용하고자 하는 경우에는 참고
7800시리즈까지는 듀라에이스 제품군에 기어 위치를 나타내는 인디케이터를 옵션으로 변속케이블 부분에 장착할 수 있었지만, 7900시리즈에서는 변속케이블도 브레이크케이블처럼 드롭바 안으로 들어가면서 인디케이터 장착 불가. 7800시리즈에서는 트리플 크랭크가 있었으나, 7900시리즈부터는 트리플 크랭크가 없다.
울테 이하급과는 차별화된 점이 있는데, 스탠다드 크랭크의 구성이 타임트라이얼이나 트랙용까지 포괄하는 매우 높은 기어비까지 매우 다양하다. 물론 컴팩트 크랭크도 존재. TT바이크에서 사용하는 에어로바 변속레버도 듀라에이스급에만 있다. 레버랑 연동되는 속도계인 '플라이트덱'도 2011년 현재 듀라에이스급에만 있다. 9000번대로 넘어오면서 가장 큰 차이점은 11단으로의 변화. 물론 그 외에도 많은 개선이 이루어져 브레이크 제동력의 강화와 에어로 타입 브레이크 암의 추가와, 앞 변속기의 구조 변경으로 적은 힘으로도 정확한 변속이 가능하며, 크랭크암도 스파이더 구조를 변경하여 경량화와 효율적인 힘 전달을 가능하도록 했다.
11단에 맞춰 나온 11단용 휠셋인 듀라 9000번대 휠셋은 카세트 폭이 기존 10단 휠셋보다 1.85mm 늘어나 기존 10단 휠셋과는 호환이 되지 않으며 듀라에이스 9000으로 업글한 유저는 기존 10단 휠셋은 사용할 수 없고 11단으로 나온 휠셋이나 기존 휠셋에 11단용 스프라켓 바디를 교체하여 사용하여야 한다. 지극히 당연한 이야기지만 듀라에이스 11단부터는 기존의 10단 크랭크, 체인, 스프라켓과 레버와 혼용할 수 없다.
2016년 11월 2일 한국 시마노-로드 페이스북 페이지에 듀라에이스 R9100 개발 에피소드 1이 올라왔다. 그룹셋에 추가될 신형 디스크 브레이크에 대한 내용인데 전 사이클리스트인 카스텐 크룬이 이탈리아의 스텔레오 패스에서 테스트하는 영상이다.
2016년 듀라에이스가 9100번대로 업그레이드되었다. 큰 변경점으로는 MTB에서 적용되던 뒷드레일러의 Shadow 기술이 적용되었고, 크랭크의 디자인이 바뀌었으며(내부에 파워미터를 내장한 모델도 있다) 브레이크가 이제 28C 타이어까지 호환이 되게 바뀌었고 왼쪽에서 아래쪽으로 조이던 브레이크가 이제 아래쪽에서 안쪽으로 조여진다.
듀라에이스 Di2 (Dura-ace Di2) - 7970(10단 구형),9070 시리즈,(11단 구형),9200 시리즈(12단). 듀라에이스와의 차이는 변속기의 작동방식이 전동식이라는 것. 듀라에이스도 비싸지만 이건 더 비싸다(...). 예를 들어 듀라에이스 뒷변속기가 20만원대인데 Di2는 백만원대.... 그래도 다행인 건 듀라에이스에서 Di2로 업글할 때는 레버, 앞변속기, 뒷변속기만 바꾸고, 배터리와 선만 달면 된다.
2012년 기계식 11단인 듀라에이스 9000의 전동타입 9070 Di2가 출시되었다. 기존 7970 전동 듀라에이스와의 가장 큰 차이점은 역시 11단이지만, 기존 7970의 최대 단점이였던 무게를 획기적으로 감량하여 기계식 최신형인 9070 듀라에이스보다 더 가볍다! 더군다나 펌웨어 업그레이드를 이용하여 다단변속까지 가능하고 또한 뒷드레일러 이동에 의한 트리밍이 기어비에 맞춰 자동으로 이루어지며 기계식 유저들은 웁니다 유지 보수 측면에서도 기계식의 단점인 케이블링 늘어짐이 없으며 드레일러 세팅도 매우 쉽고 용이해졌다.
전동 모터로 구동되는 만큼 당연히 배터리 방전 시 강제 싱글(!)로 전환되지만 시마노에서 밝힌 바에 따르면 1회 만충시 약 2,000km 정도는 충분히 사용 가능한 수준으로 전국 투어를 한다 해도 배터리 추가 충전이 필요없는 수준의 넉넉한 용량이므로 걱정할 필요가 없다.
11단인 9070부터는 무선 통신규격인 ANT+를 이용한 무선 상태표시 유닛을 채용하여 디플라이라는것을 별도로 구매해야한다는것은 함정 자체 브랜드 속도계인 플라이트 덱이나 시마노의 부품 브랜드인 PRO에서 발매되는 일부 모델 속도계, 혹은 가민의 GPS 속도계인 Edge 1000 등의 기기에 현재 기어가 어느 위치에 있는지, 배터리의 잔량이 얼마나 되는지 등의 상태를 표시하는 것이 가능해졌다. 또한, 몇 가지 개선을 통해 레버의 '숨은 스위치'로 속도계의 표시 상태를 전환할 수 있는 등의 기능도 추가되었다.
2021년 9월 1일 신형 듀라에이스 Di2 R9200과 울테그라 Di2 R8100이 발표되었다. 기계식은 출시되지 않으며 무선전동식만 존재한다.
무선이지만 스램 AXS와 같은 완전 무선은 아니며 레버와 뒷드레일러가 무선으로 연결되고 앞-뒤 드레일러는 유선으로 통신한다. 기존에 케이블링 작업에서 핸들바에서 비비쉘까지 인터널로 케이블 쑤셔넣고 낚시질 하는 스트레스 없어진것만으로도 어마어마한 메리트가 있다기존 R9150 Di2 대비 앞드레일러는 45%, 뒷드레일러는 58% 변속시간이 감소하였다고 한다. 12단 스프라켓은 15T와 17T 사이에 16T 코그를 한장 더 추가하게 되어 중고속 영역에서의 기어비를 더욱 효율적으로 사용할 수 있게 되었으며 11-34T의 옵션을 추가하여 컴팩트 체인링과 조합하면 1:1기어비로 업힐을 보다 수월하게 오를 수 있게 해준다. 허브바디는 12단 전용으로 새롭게 개발되었다.(단, 기존 11단 허브바디에도 신형 12단 스프라켓이 호환된다.) 크랭크는 54-40T 옵션이 추가되어 보다 고속을 추구하는 프로선수들에게 다양한 선택지를 제공할 수 있게 되었다. 유압디스크 브레이크 시스템은 데오레 XT, XTR용 로터를 사용하도록 변경되었으며 패드의 클리어런스를 넓혀 로터와 패드의 간섭으로 인한 소음이 줄게 되었다.
신형 구동계의 발표와 동시에 듀라에이스, 울테그라 휠도 신형이 발표되었다.
Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200
Shimano Dura-Ace has been on the market for two years and in that time Shimano has been through some tough times. Knowing that, it's easy to focus on the mistakes but there's no reason to do so. Shimano sells orders of magnitude more product than the competition and for the vast majority of people it's smooth, flawless, and as precise as a Swiss watch. More relevant is the critique that Ultegra and Dura-Ace are so close there's no need for an upgrade and that's mostly true. Dura-Ace is lighter but otherwise the two are the same. That means for most people, choosing Dura-Ace is about style. Still, if you've got a frame that deserves the best, Dura-Ace is an easy choice to make.
Pros
+Single handed shifting in both directions
+Semi-wireless design
+Small tops sized for smaller hands
+Buttons on top of hoods
+1:1 gearing available
+Backwards compatible with HG freehub
Cons
-Brake noise
-Internal battery
-Hard to distinguish buttons
As I write this, Shimano Dura-Ace is sitting in the number one place in our best road bike groupsets buyers guide. We have it listed as the best road bike groupset currently available in the short to medium term at least, that is unlikely to drastically change. There's an argument that SRAM RED AXS could occupy the top spot but it's been years since anyone else was a contender. Shimano is also far more common than SRAM even as the American brand has started to chip away at Shimano market dominance over the last few years.
Despite that market dominance, this review is being written years after Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 first came to market. Although I'm happy for the opportunity to revisit something with the benefit of time on my side, it does also point to struggles that Shimano has seen. First it was impossible to get your hands on Shimano products, then the brand went through a huge recall, and finally the latest GRX failed to make the splash the brand was hoping for.
With all that as the backdrop, I now get to highlight an exceptional product. Whatever headlines might stick in your mind, make no mistake, Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 is the stuff of dreams. If you care about road bikes, this is a groupset you absolutely lust over. The only questions that remain are details and what it's like in day-to-day use. If you are trying to decide which direction to go with an upcoming dream build, keep reading to see my thoughts on choosing Dura-Ace having used it a lot.
Design and aesthetics
Looking back at the previous generation of Dura-Ace, it feels like another timeline at this point. When Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 hit the market it did so with a big splash. You can still buy rim brake controls but the brakes themselves haven’t been updated and Di2, synonymous with electronic shifting, is your only option now. A big part of that is that Shimano has followed in the footsteps of FSA and Dura-Ace is now a semi wireless system.
Semi wireless means that the controls use a CR1632 coin-style battery (lasting up to two years) to connect wirelessly to the rest of the system. Although, unlike SRAM, there are still wires everything else is less complicated. There are no more junction boxes or wireless modules.
Instead, the system starts with the battery and a single wire connects to the front derailleur. The front derailleur is now 33% smaller, for better aerodynamics and bigger tire clearances, while also being able to accommodate up to a 55-tooth chainring. Although the front derailleur does not act like a master, there’s no official option to run a 1x system.
A second wire is then connected to the rear derailleur. Despite the lack of 1x, the rear is still the master in the system. It’s here that you find the wireless connection to both the controls and any external device. You’ll also find a magnetic charging point at the rear of the bike where you can connect the EC300 charging cable.
Semi wireless means that the controls use a CR1632 coin-style battery (lasting up to two years) to connect wirelessly to the rest of the system. Although, unlike SRAM, there are still wires everything else is less complicated. There are no more junction boxes or wireless modules.
Instead, the system starts with the battery and a single wire connects to the front derailleur. The front derailleur is now 33% smaller, for better aerodynamics and bigger tire clearances, while also being able to accommodate up to a 55-tooth chainring. Although the front derailleur does not act like a master, there’s no official option to run a 1x system.
A second wire is then connected to the rear derailleur. Despite the lack of 1x, the rear is still the master in the system. It’s here that you find the wireless connection to both the controls and any external device. You’ll also find a magnetic charging point at the rear of the bike where you can connect the EC300 charging cable.
At the front of the bike, the controls are drastically different inside as they now only connect the rest of the system wirelessly. Visually though, the new ST-R9270 hydraulic levers are much closer to past versions. They are slightly taller and longer, there’s a new shroud over the brake pivot point, and the shift paddles got bigger with slightly updated textures. Overall though, there’s no mistaking these are Shimano controls. The top of the hood shape and size fits between FSA and SRAM and shifting continues to be up and down the cassette/crank via a front and rear lever on each side of the bars.
As already mentioned, twice, there’s no cable connection for the shifting but so far no one has made the jump to brake by wire. It’s not yet impossible to find a rim brake option but the vast majority of Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 systems are hydraulic and connect to an updated brake system with hydraulic hoses. Initially Shimano supply chains were in such chaos that the system launched using mountain bike rotors but since then we’ve seen the RT-CL900 come to market with heat dissipation paint and some of the styling from the previous generation ice-tech rotors.
That focus on heat dissipation is just one of the updates designed to quiet Shimano brakes after hard braking. Also on that list is Servo Wave which spaces the pads 10% farther from the rotor then speeds up the initial pull ratio. Overall it’s a strategy to keep the pads from rubbing when the rotors deform under power. It also means there’s more power with less movement which, again, points to the shifting way that riders use modern bikes and the prevalence of hoods riding over drops riding.
Performance
As I work through my thoughts on the experience of using Shimano Dura-Ace R9200, it makes sense to me that I start with a few of things that bug me. These are the details that are so minimal to the actual experience that I have to take note for the review. They also tend to be the things that stick out to me partially because there’s a narrative out there and I don’t always agree with it.
What I mean is that most conversations about Shimano road groupsets in general start with praising the brakes and my experience is a little different. While I find the brakes very good, I also find SRAM RED brakes at least equal. Each system has positives and negatives but if I focus on Shimano, I find that the pads make more noise at low speeds and the rotors are more prone to heat warping after hard descents. There’s a prevalence for little “ting” noises and pad drag after descents and R9200 made changes to the system specifically to address those details. Unfortunately I find the issues persist. I was also able to induce brake fade exactly one time I can remember and it was on a Dura-Ace R9200 bike. It’s entirely possible that SRAM RED also would have experienced fade but I was on Shimano. On the upside it’s nice to have mineral oil instead of DOT fluid when it’s time to bleed.
Another detail I find myself coming back to is that it's difficult to distinguish the shift buttons from each other. When riding Shimano Di2 systems I find myself spending a lot of time mentally considering which button I'm actually touching. This is in contrast to the relatively giant buttons that SRAM uses. Again there is an upside though. If I'm eating, or filming with an Insta360 X3, and suddenly find the road turning up I can shift to an easier gear with only my right hand if I'm on a Shimano bike.
The last negative detail I want to run through is the battery system. If anything this is one of the big decision points as you consider which high-end groupset you’d prefer. Shimano batteries last longer and you’ll never forget them at home. The downside is that you have to plug in the bike and you can’t have extra batteries. With SRAM, you can buy extra to bring with you, or to have at home, and it’s easy to pop off the battery for a charge whenever you think about it.
If I transition into the positives, it starts with the shape of the hoods. I don't have big hands and SRAM hood tops are huge but I've adapted over time. When I ride I am almost always on the tops but when I am really thinking about going fast I'll get my forearms parallel to the ground and hold the tops of the hoods. It's aerodynamically fastest and with SRAM it's easy to be a bit lazy with your hand position because the tops of the hoods are so large.
In contrast, Shimano manages to hit a sweet spot. There's enough to grab but you can keep your hand small and almost pointed. There's just enough texture to keep your hand in place but not so much that I want gloves on long rides. The slight inward lean only adds to that and it's especially nice for keeping your hand on the brake lever while in the aero position.
Of course there's also the buttons on the top that I use to control my Gamin 1040 Solar, those feel like magic and can be re-assigned. While I use them for control of my Garmin, and never get tired of that experience, you can also make them a built-in satellite shifter. Doing it is incredibly easy using the e-tube mobile app and that's also where you'll find battery life and firmware updates.
Overall, this is one of the things that's shifted since Dura-Ace R9200 first hit the market. These days the SRAM app caught up if not surpassed the Shimano app. At launch time though, Shimano was the first to offer a visual representation of micro-adjusting the rear derailleur. This might sound like a small thing, especially with a Dura-Ace setup, but being able to visually understand how much and which direction you are moving the derailleur makes life easier. This is especially true if you regularly change wheels as it's easier to remember what each wheelset requires for smooth shifting.
The smooth shifting though, that's the real main course when it comes to Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200. In the same way that absolutely slamming into each gear is a hallmark of Campagnolo shifting, Shimano has a well deserved reputation for being so smooth you might miss that it happened. The first time you ride 12-speed Dura-Ace, even compared to SRAM RED, it's shocking how smooth and silent it is. Perhaps that’s because of the Hyperglide+ system but whatever it is, the shift quality is incredible.
Verdict
One of the points that I mentioned in the shorter verdict is how close Dura-Ace and Ultegra are at this point in the history of Shimano groupsets. It's always been the case but with a fully electronic system no one can claim it somehow seems to shift smoother as the two are the same. It's possible, even likely, there never was much difference in the shifting but at least before you could pretend. Now there's a motor and software moving the derailleur for you and it's the same with Dura-Ace and Ultegra. So what else is different?
Weight is one difference. The Dura-Ace cassette uses more titanium and there's a quoted difference of 92 grams for the 11-34 cassettes. The chains for both systems come from the mountain bike side of the company and while there are some anecdotal reports of the Dura-Ace chain lasting longer, it's only 10 grams lighter. Otherwise there are a few grams cut from everything aside from the battery and it does add up. On a scale you'll find a 245 gram weight reduction and if that's what you are after, it's there.
For most people though, 245 g / .54 lb, probably isn't worth the price difference. It's true there is a very real performance gain possible in that much weight reduction. I also used a Ceramicspeed bottom bracket for my build since Shimano doesn't offer a T47 BB and Ceramicspeed claims better performance anyway. In both cases though, the biggest difference in my life is likely to be style.
I have the system installed on my Look 795 Blade RS and that bike is an incredible performance machine that is a joy to look at. You can see it raced at the highest level and you can also buy it with the exact setup you'll see at those races. Riding a Look race bike, or whatever bike you prefer, with a Dura-Ace groupset and a Ceramicspeed bottom bracket is like owning an F1 car that you take up in the hills on the weekend. I tend to be at the pointy end of most group rides but I'm hardly a WorldTour rider, isn't it amazing that I can still ride the best of the best because it looks amazing and performs flawlessly? Riding bikes is fun, enjoy yourself with a little luxury if you'd like.
Perhaps a more relevant part of the discussion though is which top-shelf system makes sense for you. I haven't ridden the latest Super Record but Campagnolo has always viewed Super Record as a step above Dura-Ace and RED and now it's priced as such. If that appeals to you, it's certainly a dramatic statement. FSA is also an interesting option but unfortunately, as I write this, the brand still hasn't fully released the groupset I tested a year ago. Meanwhile, SRAM RED offers bigger buttons, a fully wireless design with the ability to have extra batteries on hand, and easier charging. I find the brake performance similar between SRAM and Shimano so, for me, I take that one off the table as a deciding factor.
Another consideration is that if you decide to choose Shimano Dura-Ace it means choosing the biggest of the current groupset brands. With that comes better compatibility with 3rd party brands like Garmin and if you are buying used wheels, they are more likely to have a Shimano freehub. You also get the buttons on the top of the hoods and incredibly smooth shifting. The battery is a little harder to charge but it does last longer and it's impossible to forget at home. The 11-tooth smallest cog is also worth mentioning only because it shifts the chain a little farther from the frame on most bikes.
Component weights as measured
| Front derailleur | 95g |
| Front controls plus hydraulic line and brake calliper | 330g per side (total of two) |
| Rear derailleur | 217g |
| Cassette (11-34) | 255g |
| 160mm rotor | 114g per unit (total of two) |
| Battery | 52g |
| Crank | 680g |
| Chain | 268g |
| Total | 2455g |
| FSA WE 12-speed | 2423g |
| SRAM RED AXS | 2549g |
| Campagnolo Super Record EPS | 2526g |
Testing scorecard and notes
| Weight | Only FSA comes in lower | 9/10 |
| Gearing options | Having the option to run 1:1 on Dura-Ace is an amazing thing. | 10/10 |
| Ergonomics | Very good in many ways but the buttons are sometimes hard to distinguish. | 8/10 |
| Shift quality | The best | 10/10 |
| Value | Dura-Ace is pinnacle performance and you get what you pay for so the price isn’t a surprise. That said, Ultegra is so close and RED is a little cheaper so this metric suffers a little. | 7/10 |
| Overall | Row 5 - Cell 1 | 88% |