The revolution of e-bike expertise continues with new shifting modes launched by Shimano for digital mountain bikes.
The recognition of e-bikes exhibits no indicators of slowing down. Whereas mountain bikers could grumble when their buddy will get an e-bike, there’s little doubt that the expertise is evolving shortly.
Shimano’s newest announcement provides metaphorical grease to e-bike wheels with all-new electrical shifters and modern modes of adjusting gears.
On July 11, the corporate will launch two new XT Di2 groupsets for its digital mountain bikes and new CUES Di2 groupsets for commuter e-bikes. There’s additionally an upgraded EP6 drive unit and — maybe probably the most fascinating — two new shifting modes known as Free Shift and Auto Shift with Handbook Override.
Free Shift
With Free Shift, Shimano claims that riders could make gear modifications with out pedaling the bike. It’s the newest extension of the Di2 digital shifting tech that the corporate first launched again in 2008.
The brand new shifting mode works by combining the corporate’s digital shifting tech and the DEORE XT Di2.
Auto Shift With Handbook Override
If shifting gears with out pedaling nonetheless appears like an excessive amount of work, Shimano has gone one step additional. Its Auto Shift mode permits the tech to shift gears for you.
The corporate stated in a press launch that this technique makes predictive gear modifications primarily based on the rider’s pace and cadence. It accomplishes this via Shimano’s LINKGLIDE drivetrain paired as soon as once more with the Di2 electrical shifter.
Additionally, the Automated Shifting supposedly works throughout each pedaling and coasting.
DEORE XT Di2 LINKGLIDE
The primary of Shimano’s new XT Di2 groupsets, the LINKGLIDE, provides new shifting modes to the corporate’s digital shifting for e-MTB. The drivetrain comes with the prevailing 11-speed drivetrain and a centralized battery energy supply.
It’s additionally able to each new shifting modes, together with the Auto Shift. By automating gear shifting, the bikes encourage their riders to “interact with the pure world.” So if gear shifting looks like a distraction, this function is for you.
One other notable enchancment is a 200g discount within the cassette weight.
DEORE XT Di2 HYPERGLIDE+
The second XT Di2 groupset, the HYPERGLIDE+, adorns the prevailing 12-speed system with Di2 digital shifting. It consists of the Free Shift mode however not the Auto Shift.
CUES Di2
For e-bike commuters, there’s the CUES Di2. It brings the upgraded digital shifting to “way of life e-bikes,” as the corporate places it. This technique can use both a 10-speed or 11-speed LINKGLIDE. It provides each of the brand new shifting modes, in addition to full guide digital shifting.
