Carbon fibre composite brake levers, titanium mounting band and bolt, and an overall compact design means these are light, but not the lightest shifter/brake units around.
Shimano claim to have reduced the lever throw for each shift by some 20 percent, or four degrees. But when we measured it, we found it took a 25-degree movement to shift to a larger sprocket, and still 20 degrees to shift to a smaller one, so we’re not sure where the improvement is.
We all liked the new shaped hoods though, and the internal cable routing made for a cleaner looking front end, at the expense of some under-tape bulges and a slight increase in friction, despite the new PTFE linered cables.
Their shifting performance, although light and smooth, was a little too soft and quiet for some testers. We would prefer a more positive and precise feel from a flagship model. Weight is 365g a pair.