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Is new Shimano Ultegra road bike groupset update imminent?

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So it seems to be a recurring theme that Shimano likes to introduce a new tech update at the top of their line – think: Dura-Ace or XTR – and then one year later trickle down some of that same tech into the next tier – Ultegra & XT. Well, it’s been almost a year since we saw the big R9100 series Dura-Ace overhaul that brought us a new look, a new Shimano powermeter, and dedicated Dura-Ace branded hydraulic disc brake levers that resulted in four complete groupsets cover the full combination of rim or disc brakes & mechanical or Di2 shifting.

Then the middle of this week we saw new road bikes introduced from BMC that at the top level all were sporting the new Dura-Ace, but the next step down where we tend to find Ultegra groupsets, we instead got photos with blacked out components. We got word from BMC suggesting that they would have updated images in the coming weeks. We talked with Shimano too, and they essentially kept their cards closer to the chest, asking coyly what made us think they were Shimano components under there anyway.

So obviously the details are thin, but really looking around the edges of those blurs on BMC’s images we can deduce a lot of interesting info, and pair that with what we do see from Dura-Ace. Jump down the speculation rabbit hole with us after the break…

OK, first things first, we aren’t really sure this is a new Ultegra groupset, but the spec sheets on the Teammachine SLR01 Three, SLR02 One, SLR01 Disc OneSLR02 Disc One & SLR02 Disc Two all do call did call the components out as Ultegra when the Teammachine was launched yesterday (it seems those references have been since wiped). That could be carry over text, but all that blacked out kit suggests to anyone making any assumptions that something cool and new is under there.

Let’s start off with a refresher of what we know about Dura-Ace. The new BMCs mark one of the first times we see the new R9100 series road groupset with a Shadow-inspired direct mount rear derailleur. We commented on the road adoption of the MTB tech back when Dura-Ace was debuted. It definitely makes for a more protected derailleur, but we were waiting for road bikes with that new integrated hanger. BMC has made the jump here with a lightweight solution on both thru-axle & QR road bikes.

In this pic from one of the new BMCs we see that same direct mount hanger, and blacked out derailleur shaping that looks almost identical to the Dura-Ace derailleurs above. That suggest that not just the new interface, but maybe the same angular D-A aesthetic could trickle down as well. Almost surely that is a Di2 wire popping out above the dropout too, since there is an unused shift cable stop under the chainstay. There’s a blacked out disc brake caliper, crankset & front derailleur here is well, but all we can get from that is that it’s likely a entire group. No surprise there. (Shoutout to some readers who pointed us in the direction of some UK folks on Instgram who have some good photos that look convincingly like a new Ultegra crankset, among other things?! There’s even some nonsense of pricing offers over at ChainReaction that suggests a R8000/R8050 naming scheme might be in order?)

So there we go a mechanical shift version. A really short loop of housing also supports the idea of using the revised design of the mechanical Dura-Ace R9100 rear derailleur. The shift wire under the chainstay (and a bit of wire extending out of the black blob) confirm a mechanical shift setup. Here we also see that direct mount BMC hanger and how it works with a quick release dropout. Again nothing up front, beyond dark colored chainring teeth, but if you look up at that light gray bike above, we can see a blacked out set of rim brakes (remember the new Teammachine is direct mount only for rim brakes) and dual control levers.

On one bike – the Teammachine SLR02 Disc Two – BMC din’t bother to hide the front rotor which is a bit different than anything else Shimano currently offers. Looking at the new Dura-Ace rotor on the left, and the unidentified one on the right, that overall shape is almost identical, save slightly larger slots in the braking surface & silver cooling fins vs. D-A’s black ones. There is also a pretty big blob on the fork. It could be that is just to confuse us, or whatever is hiding under there is measurably larger than Dura-Ace?

As to the disc brake dual control levers themselves, there’s not much hard data to go on. The blue bike (SLR02 Disc One) with presumed Di2 and discs (at top) has much smaller black blobs than the black (SLR02 Disc Two) that shows the rotor and looks to have mechanical shifting. It’s clearly been photoshopped though, so we’ll have to play wait-and-see.

Now as to real timing for official word of an update, that’s a total crap shoot. We see bike companies inadvertently, quietly, or just accidentally launch bikes with components on them that haven’t been official revealed a few times a year. It’s actually pretty common, and I’m sure is a headache for those suppliers like Shimano (Sorry guys, we’re just speculating with what we see out, floating in the interwebs.) The dates are all usually close though. That typically means it is no more than a couple weeks from premature release to full reveal. So, looks like June could see a Shimano update, and could hopefully trickle down some recent Dura-Ace tech to a more affordable price point. Ultegra mechanical shifting/hydraulics would be on my personal wish list; and an Ultegra (although maybe a reach) would be awesome!

Bike.Shimano.com

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33 Comments
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redbeardbike
7 years ago

Will this be “released” this year, to make all existing Ultegra equipped bikes in the shop “obsolete,” then not be available until late 2018?

Czechmate
Czechmate
7 years ago
Reply to  redbeardbike

It will be released this month, with limited availability of the mechanical/rim brake version in autumn 2017 and limited availability of the di2/hydro versions starting january 2018. This was the retail model of the last Ultegra release and the Dura Ace R9100 last year.

satanas
satanas
7 years ago
Reply to  Czechmate

There’s still no ETA for any of the 91xx disc brake stuff; I wouldn’t hold my breath for the Ultegra either.

Papi
Papi
7 years ago

That Ultegra looks great in black! And the chainring is so aero!

s
s
7 years ago

Be careful reading too much in to relative size of parts. These are (decent) photoshops of bike parts put together on a computer. Note how none of these new bikes has valve stems in the inflated wheels.

Papi
Papi
7 years ago
Reply to  s

valveless is the new tubeless.

Boom
Boom
7 years ago
Reply to  Papi

Or just hidden behind the forks/stays.

s
s
7 years ago
Reply to  Boom

Or not.

Hiding the valves as such, would require that DT paints their rims asymmetrically (the valve would be in a different position WRT the rim branding front and rear)….it would also require the valve not be placed symmetrically between spokes.

The images BikeRumor posted look a ton better (they’re passable photoshops) than the PR PDF that BMC put out….where I kid you not the spokes aren’t even continuous from hub to rim (awful photoshops).

Brian Barber
Brian Barber
7 years ago

Valves slow you down. Removing them saves you 30W downhill with a tail wind, and they don’t rattle on your gravel grinder either.
So, there’s that.

boom
boom
7 years ago

It’s not that hard to figure out. Shimano operates on a 3 year life cycle. First Dura-Ace, then a year later is Ultegra, then a year later is 105, then a year later is Dura-Ace. Yes, Ultegra is coming.

detroitguy1
detroitguy1
7 years ago
Reply to  boom

4 year for the last 2 Dura Ace releases. DA > Ultegra > 105 > Tiagra > DA…

nunya
nunya
7 years ago

A Google search for “new shimano ultegra r8000 update” is pretty revealing.

Galen
Galen
7 years ago
Reply to  nunya

I was just going to say, pretty sure this stuff already leaked!

Dockboy
Dockboy
7 years ago

Is the new hanger layout shared with the mountain models, or do cross bikes need 3 hangers to fit different derailleurs?

Double ZZ
Double ZZ
7 years ago

Valve stems have always irritated the internal drag coefficient in me. Like shouldn’t tires in this day and age with AI, alternative facts, and antimatter kind of manage their PSI levels on their own.

Rideifbikes
Rideifbikes
7 years ago

Saw an image of the new Ultegra crank a week ago. It was the same color and general shape as the current one, but the arm was visually more broad and thinner then the current one, like with 9100.

Gillis
Gillis
7 years ago

Update: Water is wet.

Ren
Ren
7 years ago

Also note that the new 9800 Dura Ace is STILL not shipping to customers

colin m
colin m
7 years ago

Shimano stuff is looking really….Japanese…

Jeb
Jeb
7 years ago

So Dura-Ace now looks like 105 and Ultegra looks like….Ultegra + Tranformer. Shimano has lost the plot on styling, Campy isn’t much better. Who’d have thought SRAM would be the technology and style leader. eTap is killing it in So Cal. Guys who have been racing Shimano for 30 years are on SRAM.

Robin
Robin
7 years ago
Reply to  Jeb

If by lost the plot you mean that the current Dura Ace and Campy stuff looks great, you’re right. I never thought SRAM stuff looked good. Alas, personal preference is, well, personal, right?

lop
lop
7 years ago

Wake me when the RS-690 “gravel” group drops next summer. My kingdom for a subcompact crankset (from Shimano)!

james
james
7 years ago
Reply to  lop

Yeah cmon Shimano, 42-28 doubles soon please and then I may develop minor interest in road 11s

TheKaiser
TheKaiser
7 years ago
Reply to  james

Maybe you have considered and discounted the idea if you are sensitive to Q factor or something, but you can get that type of ratio easily by combining a MTB double with a road drivetrain. I’m forgetting what the situation with FD cable pull ratios is, so that might take a little figuring out, but it should be achievable.

Larry Kaatz
Larry Kaatz
7 years ago
Reply to  james

42-28 doubles? SRAM did that years ago (for MTBs) and those cranks are still on the market and will work on many road bikes.

Lyford
Lyford
7 years ago
Reply to  james

FSA does have 46/30 and 48/32 11-speed road doubles.

I’d be all over an Ultegra or 105 46/30 or smaller subcompact for mixed-surface riding. With the 11-32 cassette it’d be better than 1:1 on the low end. Being able to sit & spin on climbs with poor traction makes riding dirt roads a lot more enjoyable.

And even on pavement, my 50/11 top gear rarely gets used, and I’d happily trade it for another gear on the low end.

Czechmate
Czechmate
7 years ago
Reply to  lop

Word is on the street that the new Ultegra group will include an 11-34 cassette option. Paired with a compact 50-34 crankset it should provide a viable alternative for those seeking a subcompact crankset.

liquify
liquify
7 years ago
Reply to  Czechmate

More importantly is that the new 11-34t 11s will fit on 10s hubs ala their mountain bike cassettes. This also will be good for some of their mtb crew that run the doubles. You don’t need 11-40 if you have a double.
But, stoked on idea of shimano sub-compact cranks. I have a sugino 46-30 coming in that should shift as well, but shimano has owned front shifting for a bit.

Larry Kaatz
Larry Kaatz
7 years ago

Updated Ultegra? YAWN!

Bikerhp
Bikerhp
7 years ago

Trek shows new Ultegra bikes will ship in October. This should give time for the “old” Ultegra bikes to be sold. Trek has very few of them in stock. Could be a little stortage of Ultegra bikes until next year.

MK
MK
7 years ago

Here I was hoping the BMC was implying you could order your Teammachine with SRAM E-Tap hydraulics, with the current price you should be able to custom order your groupset.

Marin
Marin
7 years ago

Who wants all that mess with wires, junction boxes etc.
I’d take SRAM Etap any day over the Shimano nonsense with million parts.

Sram should just trickle down etap to force and noone would be buying di2

Chris
Chris
7 years ago

If the release looks anything like the Dura Ace 9150 / 9170 “release,” we’ll be waiting a real long time until it hits the US market.

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