Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 groupset £4,271.87 | 2,438g

Much more than just an extra sprocket, writes Stefan Abram

- Stefan Abram

It’s fair to say that the shift to 12-speed has been a long time coming for Dura-Ace. First to the mark for road-specific groupsets was Campagnolo, offering that extra sprocket as early as April 2018. Back then, even Shimano’s mountain bike groupsets were all still running 11-speed.

But although the wait has been long, at least the update hasn’t been just incremental. Beyond just tweaks to the gear ratios, there have been big changes across the groupset: from the braking to the ergonomics to the cable routing.

Shimano is still producing a rim-brake version, but it was the hydraulic disc brakes that we had on test. Whether you like it or not, it’s pretty clear that this will be the model you’ll be seeing most of.

The shifters

Following Shimano’s, shall we say, bulbous first forays into drop-bar hydraulic braking, the Japanese brand put a lot of work into refining and shrinking the size of the hoods.

Perhaps too much. Notably smaller than those of SR AM or Campagnolo, feedback from the pros was that the diminutive size made it more difficult to hold the “aero-hoods” position, with the forearms held parallel to the ground.

The new, taller and slightly inwardly curved shape has addressed this head-on. The hoods still look and feel a little more dainty than either Campagnolo or SR AM’s hydraulic offerings, but they completely do the job.