Couple of Quick Questions About Shimano GRX...

[John H.]

The GRX 812 will work great with a double- At least it will with 34-50 chainrings. Not sure about the 31-46 or whatever.

I have been using an 817 (DI2 version of the 812) with a 34-50 double and 11-40 cassette.
One of my cohorts uses the same derailleur with a 34-50 and an 11-42 cassette.

I live and ride in the same area as yourself (SF Bay area). So I ride the same steeper grades as yourself.
I am also pretty finicky about shifting performance- I would not use a setup that was a compromise.
I find the longer cage GRX derailleurs to work flawlessly with a double and a wide range cassette.

Before the GRX was available, we were using Ultegra RX- those were a compromise. The derailleur was not as robust and you had to dial the tension of the clutch way down to get it to shift well.
GRX exhibits none of that behavior. Install like a normal derailleur and go.

[Clean39T]

Originally Posted by R3awak3n

I thought you were going to ask... is GRX really that ugly? which I was going to say, yes, yes it is

You're not wrong. A little piece of me died today when installing a GRX RD on my Rock Lobster.....but it really is the right tool for the job..

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[R3awak3n]

Originally Posted by Clean39T

You're not wrong. A little piece of me died today when installing a GRX RD on my Rock Lobster.....but it really is the right tool for the job..

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I am sure, and I have heard from EVERYONE that has it, that it is excellent and function over style but man, why did they have to make those levers so damn ugly

[DRZRM]

Can't you use any Shimano 11 road lever with a GRX RD?

Originally Posted by R3awak3n

I am sure, and I have heard from EVERYONE that has it, that it is excellent and over style but man, why did they have to make those levers so damn ugly

[Clean39T]

Originally Posted by R3awak3n

I am sure, and I have heard from EVERYONE that has it, that it is excellent and function over style but man, why did they have to make those levers so damn ugly

I'm using mech R8000 w the Lobster, but trying the Di2 GRX on my Ellis.. Those are less bulky at least.

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[R3awak3n]

Originally Posted by DRZRM

Can't you use any Shimano 11 road lever with a GRX RD?

but then why use GRX at all really?

Originally Posted by Clean39T

I'm using mech R8000 w the Lobster, but trying the Di2 GRX on my Ellis.. Those are less bulky at least.

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nice, yeah if I ever would do GRX would definitely be DI2... but I think I would go AXS over it every time, big fan of sram wireless, has been great on 2 of my bikes

[XXtwindad]

Originally Posted by weaponsgrade

I'm running an RX800 RD, which was the precursor to GRX, 11-40 cassette, and 2x, 31/48. The RD is super stretched out in the big-big combo, but otherwise works great.

This sounds great. Ultimately, really not sure what the big hullabaloo is about with this group, especially if you want to go mechanical. Looks like the crank is the only thing I'd be interested in.

[charliedid]

Originally Posted by John H.

The GRX 812 will work great with a double- At least it will with 34-50 chainrings. Not sure about the 31-46 or whatever.

I have been using an 817 (DI2 version of the 812) with a 34-50 double and 11-40 cassette.
One of my cohorts uses the same derailleur with a 34-50 and an 11-42 cassette.

I live and ride in the same area as yourself (SF Bay area). So I ride the same steeper grades as yourself.
I am also pretty finicky about shifting performance- I would not use a setup that was a compromise.
I find the longer cage GRX derailleurs to work flawlessly with a double and a wide range cassette.

Before the GRX was available, we were using Ultegra RX- those were a compromise. The derailleur was not as robust and you had to dial the tension of the clutch way down to get it to shift well.
GRX exhibits none of that behavior. Install like a normal derailleur and go.

This is good to hear.

[charliedid]

[QUOTE=R3awak3n;2635407]but then why use GRX at all really?

I know, sometimes I look through all the GRX stuff and think.....okay Shimano designed a new crankset.

It makes sense from a marketing perspective when developing the whole all-road/gravel category. Bikes, components, accessories, clothing etc. Soon to have gravel water bottles and saddles.

I'm okay with it.

[weisan]

If I may interject...

For gravel riding, personally I have found that it's better to have a triple crankset in front than to rely on bigger sprockets in the back...they are simply not big enough for me. I need all the help I can get up the hill....

For road, no problem, I will do 11-34 every day any day.

[saab2000]

For those who think GRX is ugly I offer this. I don't actually find it all that ugly and the levers are quite comfortable.

This is a new Zanconato and I've only recently gotten it built up. I still need to shorten the steerer but I'm playing with different options with spacers.

The levers are actually quite comfortable. It's a full GRX Di2 groupset with an 11-34 cassette.

[zap]

Saab. Your Zanc looks very nice. Enjoy the rides.

[Clean39T]

Originally Posted by zap

Saab. Your Zanc looks very nice. Enjoy the rides.

+1 - GRX is utilitarian, but there's a beauty in that too...

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[R3awak3n]

Originally Posted by saab2000

For those who think GRX is ugly I offer this. I don't actually find it all that ugly and the levers are quite comfortable.

This is a new Zanconato and I've only recently gotten it built up. I still need to shorten the steerer but I'm playing with different options with spacers.

The levers are actually quite comfortable. It's a full GRX Di2 groupset with an 11-34 cassette.

sorry, ugly (but crank and RD I like) but thats a super nice bike. Would ride.

[Kirk007]

I guess ugly is in the eye of the beholder. Me, I smile everytime I shift it and think wow, 1000x better performance and better looking than SRAM Force 1 hydro.

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