Today we caught wind of Shimano's long-expected upgrades to its workhorse 105 groupset available on its website (thanks to frame builder Mike Zanconato's discovery). Just as the Ultegra 8000 groupset incorporated Dura-Ace features, the new 105 groupset gets many of the changes made to its higher-level Ultegra cousin. Last year we looked at the changes made to the new Ultegra 8000 groupset, and today, we take a first look at the new R7000 105 groupset and its implications for cyclocross and gravel.
Shimano also posted information about its new Ultegra RX rear derailleur with a clutch. We also take a look at the new rear derailleur designed to minimize dropped chains in rough conditions.
Changes in Store With the New Shimano 105 Groupset
New Shifter Designs, With In-Series Hydraulic Disc Option
The R7000 groupset brings the updated Ultegra hood ergonomics to the 105 level. The changes are subtle, but as with the Ultegra R8000 model, the change is noticeable in the hand.
Perhaps more relevant to cyclocross racers are the new R7020 and R7025 hydraulic disc levers which replace the non-series RS-505 model. While RS-505 worked well, it had a bulbous hood to make room for the hydraulic cylinder and shift internals, and aesthetics and lever feel suffered because of it. At this time the differences in R7020 and R7025 aren’t clear, but both feature the hood profile of higher-priced Ultegra and Dura-Ace hydraulic levers.
The dual control mechanical shift/brake levers have been given an ergonomic makeover. 2018-2019 Shimano 105 R7000 Groupset. photo: Shimano
The new brake levers pair with Shimano R7070 hydraulic brake calipers, which are flat mount only and use the same L02A-R pads as the outgoing RS-505 caliper. Interestingly, they are available in silver despite hydraulic levers only being listed in black.
The 105 groupset now has its own flat mount disc brake calipers. 2018-2019 Shimano 105 R7000 Groupset. photo: Shimano
R7000 specs the existing steel-clad aluminum CenterLock SM-RT70 rotors instead of designing a new one as was the case with R9100 and R8000. A 140mm option, which we see a lot on ’cross and gravel bikes, accompanies the R7000 groupset.
Updated Derailleur Designs
The new groupset brings Shimano's Shadow geometry to the 105 level. Originally featured on mountain bikes, Shimano has translated the technology to the road for the Dura-Ace 9100, Ultegra 8000 and now, 105 R7000 groupsets. Like its higher price point siblings, Shimano offers the new rear derailleur in short (SS) and long (GS) cage varieties, and it features low profile geometry and updated aesthetics.
Last year Shimano quietly introduced the R5801 front derailleur, which used the linkage design of R9100 and R8000. Unlike the then current R5800 derailleur, it does not have a long leverage arm that can impede tire clearance on some bikes. Shimano redesigned the R7000 derailleur in braze-on and clamp options and redesignated it the FD-R7000.
The long cage derailleur has room for the 11-34t cassette that Shimano has added to the 105 groupset. 2018-2019 Shimano 105 R7000 Groupset. photo: Shimano
New Crankset, But It's Road Only
The 105 R7000 adopts the current Hollowtech II crank design as well. It is available in five lengths with three chain ring options, 50/34t, 52/36t and 53/39t. The popular cyclocross option of 46/36t is noticeably absent.
The new 105 crankset has a narrower profile but does not come in a cyclocross-friendly 46/36t option. 2018-2019 Shimano 105 R7000 Groupset. photo: Shimano
Cassette Options Open Wheel Compatibility
R7000 offers in-series cassettes in 12-25t, 11-28t, 11-30t and 11-32t combinations. Shimano also introduced the CS-HG700-11, a 105/SLX level 11-34t cassette which, much like the CS-HG800-11 introduced with R8000 last year, is an 11-speed road cassette that will fit on a 10-speed freehub body. This design allows the use of mountain bike wheels or older 10-speed wheels in an 11-speed drivetrain.
As it did with the Ultegra 8000 groupset, Shimano has added an 11-34t cassette that allows you to pair an 11-speed drivetrain with 10-speed wheels. 2018-2019 Shimano 105 R7000 Groupset. photo: Shimano
Hubs Go Disc, Wheels Leave The Family
The last major change in the 105 lineup is the inclusion of a thru-axle hub set. R7070 hubs feature a 12mm thru axle, 11-speed freehub body and 32 or 36-hole drilling. Shimano has also introduced a 105 level, thru-axle, tubeless compatible wheelset with WH-RS370. The wheels feature 24 spokes front and rear and a welded rim with 19mm internal width recommended for tires between 28mm and 45mm.
The new 105 groupset includes a 12mm thru-axle alloy tubeless wheelset. 2018-2019 Shimano 105 R7000 Groupset. photo: Shimano
Ultegra RX805 Clutch Rear Derailleur
Also new for 2018/19 is the Ultegra RX clutch-based rear derailleur designed to help minimize chain drops. The Ultegra RX joins SRAM's line of clutch derailleurs, but it appears unlike the Force and Rival 1 models, the Ultegra RX should work with 2x front chain rings. The Ultegra comes in both the RX805-GS electronic and RX800 mechanical models.
The derailleur accepts cassettes from 11-28t to 11-34t and weighs 248g.
The new electronic-shifting Shimano Ultegra RX805-GS rear derailleur has a clutch to minimize chain drops. A mechanical shifting RX800 model is also available. Shimano Ultegra RX Rear Derailleur. photo: Shimano
Shimano 105 Groupset Specifications
Shimano has not yet issued an official press release about the changes to the 105 groupset, and it has not provided full specs yet (weights are missing for a number of the new 105 components). See below for a run-down of the available specs.
Drivetrain
FC-R7000 Crankset
The FC-R7000 Hollowtech II Crankset receives many of the same updates as the Ultegra R8000 model. Noticeably absent for cyclocross is the 46/36t gear combination.
- Crank Arm Lengths: 160mm, 165mm, 170mm, 172.5mm, 175mm
- Rider Tuned Gear Combinations: 50/34t, 52/36t, 53/39t
- Weight: 713g (50/34t), 743g (52/36t), 758g (53/39t)
CS-R7000 and CS-HG700-11 Cassettes
The R8000 cassette features an increased range of high-performance gearing combinations, providing further rider choice. As with Ultegra R8000, the new 11-30t 105 Cassette increases gear range while remaining compatible with the new short cage rear derailleur options.
The 105 CS-HG700-11 also adopts the Ultegra 11-34t design that expands gearing options and gives users the option of matching 10-speed wheels with a newer 11-speed drivetrain.
- CS-R7000 Gear Combinations: 12-25t, 11-28t, 11-30t, 11-32t
- CS-HG700-11 Gear Combinations: 11-34t
- Weights not given.
Hydraulic Disc Brakes
BR-R7070 Calipers
As Shimano did with the Ultegra groupset, the 105 groupset now has its own hydraulic disc caliper in the BR-R7070. The calipers are flat mount, and Shimano redesigned them to fit the new 140mm rotors included with the new groupset.
SM-RT70 Rotors
Shimano expanded the RT70 CenterLock rotor lineup to include a new 140mm model. The 160mm rotor has a claimed weight of 133m.
Shimano has added a 140mm IceTech rotor for the 105 groupset. Shown here is the RT70-S model. 2018-2019 Shimano 105 R7000 Groupset. photo: Shimano
Shifting and Braking
ST-R7020 / ST-R7025 Dual Control Shift / Hydraulic Brake Levers
Changes made to the Ultegra 8000 dual control lever that have been incorporated into the new 105 model include: redesigned internal shifting unit for quick and intuitive shifting, increased reach adjustment range and even lighter front shifting when paired with redesigned FD-R8000.
FD-R7000 Front Derailleur (2 x 11-speed)
Shimano’s new 105 R7000 component group features a redesigned front derailleur and chopped off the long arm for the cable clamp. Other changes include an integrated cable tension setting and a redsign for disc-specific frames.
- Top Gear Teeth: 46-53t
- Capacity: 16t
- Chain Line: 43.5mm
Shimano has shortened the cage on the 105 derailleur to reduce interference with wide tires. 2018-2019 Shimano 105 R7000 Groupset. photo: Shimano
RD-R7000 Rear Derailleur
The rear derailleur has the Shimano SHADOW RD low-profile design increases shift stability and reduces crash vulnerability while providing a sleek integrated appearance. It is available in the short cage SS model and medium cage GS model.
- Short Cage (SS) Capacity: 11-25t to 11-30t
- Long Cage (GS) Capacity: 11-30t to 11-34t
The 11-speed short cage derailleur has room for a 30t rear cassette. 2018-2019 Shimano 105 R7000 Groupset. photo: Shimano
New 105-Level Wheelset: RS370
Included with the new Shimano 105 groupset is a 105-level alloy tubeless clincher that falls in between the current alloy RS170 model and the carbon RS770 model. The new RS370 tubeless alloy clincher has front and rear 12mm thru-axle CenterLock hubs. The wheelset weighs 1,980g total, which is 111g less than the RS170 wheelset.
- Weight: 890g front, 1,090g rear, 1,980g total
- Rim: Alloy, 19mm deep, 24.6mm wide
- Hub: CenterLock disc
- Axle: 12mm thru-axle
- Spokes: 24
Shimano updated the 12mm front hub for compatibility with the new 140mm rotors. 2018-2019 Shimano 105 R7000 Groupset. photo: Shimano
Photo Gallery: 2018/19 Shimano 105 Groupset and Ultegra RX Derailleur
The 11-speed short cage derailleur has room for an 11-30t rear cassette. 2018-2019 Shimano 105 R7000 Groupset. photo: Shimano
