Shimano’s new Dura-Ace Di2 RD-R9150 11-Speed Rear Derailleur boasts a sleek profile that practically hides from the wind and finally brings the Synchronized Shift functionality honed in the trail-focused XTR Di2 system onto the road. Enabling Synchronized Shift lets the Di2 system work its magic to automatically shuttle your chain from cog to cog without any input from you and intelligently manage the fleet of cogs at the aft-end of your drivetrain. That said, it isn’t a requirement to use, so the traditionalists among us will breathe a sigh of relief that this derailleur also allows the same precise, manually controlled and customizable shifting we’ve come to expect from Di2. By putting the rear and front derailleurs in communication with each other, Synchronized Shift can actually calculate your efficiency and perform simultaneous front and rear shifts to eliminate cross-chaining and set you up in the best chain line for any given gearing. These shifting patterns depend on the direction you’re shifting and the combination you’re shifting into, and they’re also programmable via Shimano’s E-Tube system, so you can set your preferences in advance to ensure that your internally communicating drivetrain isn’t conspiring against you. The shifting itself is peerless, as the derailleur always knows where it is, so its travel isn’t restricted or lengthened by imperfect cables. It situates the chain squarely on every cog and it jumps between those positions with startling speed. As with other Shimano Di2 bits, the Dura-Ace rear derailleur is compatible with Shimano’s rust-, stretch-, freeze-, and generally worry-free E-Tube wiring system. Its modularity makes it easy to set up on virtually any frame, though it does cohabitate with less friction when the frame is built with Di2 in mind.

As the rest of the industry scrambles to catch up, Shimano’s Di2 groupsets continue to set the standard for precise electronic shifting with nearly endless customizability. The release of 9150 is the next evolution of Di2, bringing slightly updated aesthetics and even better shift functionality to your next ride. The Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 ST-R9150 11-Speed Shifters sit at the helm of your cockpit to drive precise shifts exactly when you need them. The hoods take on a similar shape to 9070, but with a few slight tweaks for improved comfort when your hands are on the hoods. Made from a dual-compound rubber composite, the low-volume hood design retains the slightly perforated form of 9070 and makes lever accessibility easy. The lever blades and paddles see an outward curve and feel that’s slightly more pronounced than in the prior generation, which makes for a more positive interaction from either the hoods or drops. Shimano also incorporates a more noticeable “click” feeling when shifting, which addresses the almost too-stealthy shift feel that was one of the few complaints we’ve fielded about previous Di2 systems. Aside from those tweaks, the Dura-Ace 9150 shifters deliver the precise, swift gear changes we’ve come to expect from Di2. Shimano even claims that this version might even be a little bit faster, but frankly, we have a hard time qualifying that claim when we’re out on the road. Both shifters allow a customizable shifting experience dialed to your riding style and requirements, including the ability to dump through multiple gears–or even the entire cassette–with one shift movement. And for the proverbial icing on the cake, when paired with the new 9150 rear derailleur, these shifters are now capable of performing shifts up to a 30t cog on the cassette.

Shimano Sora ST-3500/3503 Brake/Shift Lever Set

Optical gear display

Includes OT-SP41 derailleur cable housing set with stainless steel inner wire

Adjustable reach, with spacer

Graphite fiber reinforced plastic bracket body

Aluminum main lever

Removable shift cable adjuster unit included

Brake Lever Actuation: Short Pull Super SLR

Color: Black

Front Der/Shifter Compatibility: Shimano Road

Double or Triple: Triple

Drivetrain Speeds: 9

Adjustable Reach: Yes

Rear Der/Shifter Compatibility: Shimano Road

Shimano’s Ultegra is often thought of as a budget racer’s group or one that was worthy to put on a top tier frame helping to bring the total price down. This latest version performs so flawlessly that unless you are just dead-set on Dura-Ace, you should seriously consider the Ultegra 8000 group. Because it’s a serious drivetrain for serious cyclists. The Ultegra ST-R8000 STI Shifters have enough DNA from the new 9100 shifters–themselves perhaps the pinnacle of mechanical shifting–that you will have a hard time separating them as twins. An all new look, larger gear range, and smoother, more precise shifting are the hallmarks of the redesigned Ultegra group. We’ve always felt like the control levers on a road bike are akin to the central nervous system and must perform complex and precise tasks such as firing off shifts with proper indexing to provide just enough cable tension or slack to initiate a clean shift or pulling the right ratio of cable for controlled braking and rider feedback. This group is damn good at both. A group is only as good as the sum of its parts; however we’ve put enough miles on this new Ultegra group to realize that it is the best version we’ve ridden,. The improved ergonomics and super-light-shift and brake action make these Ultegra ST-R8000 STI shifters a perfect perch for Tuesday night worlds or a weekend double century. Shimano’s mastery of shift indexing allows it to create shifting action that is more positive yet feels lighter and requires less effort. The new 8000 group is backward-compatible with Ultegra 6800, but to reap the most benefits of the new control levers, we recommend pairing them with the new series derailleurs and brake calipers. Most of the 8000 control levers share material makeup with the 9100 group. A slight increase in weight and a few bearings substituted for bushings are the most notable exceptions. We would place some heavy bets that most riders wouldn’t be able to distinguish between the two in back-to-back …