Shimano launched two applications in late January, WY7-3GK1 for a rear derailleur and WY7-927A for a wireless module (shifter). Unfortunately, the juiciest parts of the applications, including photos of the components being approved, are hidden behind a confidentiality agreement between the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and Shimano, but there is still much we can get out of the news.
What we already know
So far, Shimano has never used a wireless group for release or field use. Shimano made its first foray into mountain biking with electronic shifting with Di2, a wired system first released at XTR level in February 2015, with the XT version followed 22 months later in November 2016. The system never started fast and although it was raced by XC World Cup riders, you did not see it regularly on many cyclists. This is supported by the fact that we are more than two years into the current XTR’s lifetime, and it remains only mechanical.
The next major upheaval occurred in February 2019 when SRAM released its AXS wireless system. SRAM has been providing the eTap wireless drivetrain on road bikes for a number of years at this stage, but this was the first time that mountain bikes were switched completely wirelessly.
Since SRAM is at the forefront of the cable-free front end, it seems very likely that Shimano has been working on a project for a number of years, and we are more and more convinced that Shimano is likely to drop some sort of wireless transmission this year. It is backed by patents for both a wireless Dura Ace (road) group and an electronic drop mail that Shimano has filed over the past three months.
What can we see from the application?
As stated above, the confidentiality agreement between Shimano and the FCC prevents us from seeing exactly what is going on here, but there are still some clues spread. First, the only approval is a switch and a module. It certainly means no forerunner and suggests that it may be a wireless version of XTR and not a road group. Yes, some road bikes are now going down the 1x drivetrain, but the pro riders have only struggled with the setup and with limited success. We can not see Shimano launching a leading product without racers showing it at the highest level.
It should also be noted that both components operate at the same frequency (2 478 Mhz), and therefore are most likely part of the same product range. They also work with both Bluetooth, which is likely to be used for software updates and settings control, 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 is lifted. However, cycling tips also speculate that something may come sooner. Shimano celebrates its 100th anniversary in March 2021 and is building it with a series of videos and a mini-website, with a countdown to … something. What better way to celebrate that anniversary with a product that takes it from a mechanical to wireless era?
Alternatively, if a new wireless XTR group set comes in, we have no doubt that Shimano fans will be testing it now and the racing season. We will be watching pro bikes closely until the start of the season to see if we can spot anything extraordinary. We reached out to Shimano for more information, but they told us they ‘need to keep calm and make suggestions’. We will update you with more information as it comes in.