Shimano published two applications at the end of January, WY7-3GK1 for a rear derailleur and WY7-927A for a wireless module (shifter). Sadly, the juiciest parts of the applications, including photos of the components being approved, are hidden behind a confidentiality agreement between FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and Shimano, but there’s still plenty we can get out of the news.
What we already know
Until now, Shimano has never released a wireless groupset for use on the road or off-road. Shimano first made mountain biking in electronic shifting with Di2, a wired system that was first released at XTR level in February 2015 and the XT version followed 22 months later in November 2016. The system never really took off. and while it was raced by XC World Cup riders, you didn’t see it often on many gamblers’ bikes. This is supported by the fact that we are more than two years into the XTR’s current lifespan and it remains mechanical only.
The next big stir came in February 2019 when SRAM released its wireless AXS system. SRAM had been supplying the eTap wireless drivetrain on road bikes for a number of years at this point, but this was the first time that fully wireless shifting was brought to mountain bikes.
With SRAM way ahead of the cable-free front, it seems very likely that Shimano has been working on a project for a few years now and we’re increasingly convinced that Shimano will likely drop some sort of wireless transmission this year. This is backed by patents for both a wireless Dura Ace (road) groupset and an electronic dropper post filed by Shimano in the past three months.
What can we see from the application?
As we mentioned above, the confidentiality agreement between Shimano and the FCC prevents us from seeing exactly what’s going on here, but some clues are still scattered. First, the only things approved are a derailleur and a module. Crucially this means there is no front derailleur and indicates that this could be a wireless version of XTR and not a road group. Yes, some road bikes will now go down the 1x drivetrain, but the pro riders have only worked with the setup and with limited success. We can’t see Shimano launch what would be a top product without racers showing it at the highest level.
Other things to note are that both components operate on the same frequency (2,478 Mhz) and thus are very likely part of the same product range. They also work with both Bluetooth, which will most likely be used for software updates and settings management, and ANT + for communication between devices.
When can we expect more news?
Well, the earliest we’re guaranteed to know more is about 180 days from now (July 26), when the confidentiality agreement between Shimano and the FCC will be lifted. However, Cycling Tips also speculate that something could come sooner. Shimano will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in March 2021 and building on it with a series of videos and a mini-site, with a countdown to … something. What better way to celebrate that anniversary with a product that takes it from a mechanical to a wireless era?
Alternatively, if a new XTR wireless groupset arrives, we have no doubt that Shimano-backed racers will test it out between now and the racing season. We’ll be keeping a close eye on the bikes of pros between now and the start of the season to see if we can spot anything out of the ordinary. We contacted Shimano for more information, but they told us that they “keep quiet about rumors and suggestions”. We will update you with more information as it arrives.