Modified at: Mar 10, 2023
Posted at: Mar 16, 2021
Shimano's GRX series of gravel components can be used in combination with other road bike components, including tips on how to mix and match.
Table of contents
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Shimano’s GRX gravel components are derived from road bikes, so they are highly compatible with road bike parts.
Specifically, the drivetrain is basically officially compatible with the last two generations of components with the same number of steps. Chains and sprockets are shared with road components as long as they have the same number of steps.
When mixing GRX and road components, it is necessary to combine parts with the same number of speeds (gears) as a prerequisite.
The GRX is available in the following three lineups.
Compatible with the current TIAGRA and above componentry for road bikes.
Specific compatibility is as follows
| Model | Model number | Speed | Compatible road bike components |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRX Di2 | RX-815 | 11s | DURA-ACE R9050s, 9070s ULTEGRA R8050s |
| GRX 11 | RX-810, RX-600 | 11s | DURA-ACE R9000 series, 9000 series ULTEGRA R8000 series, 6800 series 105 R7000 series, 5800 series |
| GRX 10 | RX-400 | 10s | TIAGRA 4700s |
When using GRX brakes, only hydraulic brake-compatible models of STI levers for road use will be compatible, since GRX has only a lineup of hydraulic disc brakes.
Shimano 10-speed components include the “new 10-speed” TIAGRA 4700 series and the “old 10-speed” ULTEGRA 6700 series and 105 5700 series, but the GRX 10-speed is compatible with the “new 10-speed” TIAGRA 4700 series.
Choosing Shimano TIAGRA components: Be mindful of compatibility
TIAGRA componentry is Shimano's top entry grade for road bikes. TIAGRA is easy to choose as a 10-speed grade, one step down from the current higher grade of 11-speed, but you need to be careful when choosing components for compatibility.
Of course, electric (Di2) and mechanical components cannot be combined even at the same speed.
Shimano’s components for road bikes are designed for cross-ratio sprockets, so the maximum number of teeth and capacity of the rear derailleur are smaller than those of components for MTB.
In recent years, GS (middle cage) models are also available in the rear derailleur lineup, but in the case of gravel components, the sprocket may be chosen to be a wide ratio product such as 11-42T for MTB, in which case the maximum tooth count may exceed 40, which cannot be handled even by GS (middle cage) models for road use.
When using a wide-ratio sprocket with a low maximum exceeding 36, choose a GRX rear derailleur straightforwardly.
One more thing to note is that all GRX series STI levers are “hydraulic disc brake only”.
There are two types of disc brakes for road bikes, mechanical and hydraulic, but the mechanical type, which physically closes the caliper by pulling the wire, and the hydraulic type, which closes the caliper by the difference in pressure of the oil filled in the hose, have different structures and cannot be used together.
In addition, Shimano’s components for road use do not have hydraulic rim brakes, so rim brakes cannot be used either.
If you want to convert your road bike to disc brakes, you will need to prepare a disc frame as well as wheels.
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If you are currently riding a rim-brake road bike and are considering converting to gravel using GRX components, you can save money by using STI levers that are compatible with GRX for road use instead of GRX.
The following STI levers for road use are compatible with GRX components.
| model | GRX model number | speed | compatible road STI levers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRX Di2（Electric Shifting） | RX-815 | 11s | ST-R9170、ST-R8070、ST-R785 |
| GRX 11（Mechanical Shifting） | RX-810、RX-600 | 11s | ST-R9120、ST-R8020、ST-R8025、ST-R7020、ST-R7025、ST-RS685、ST-RS505 |
| GRX 10（Mechanical Shifting） | RX-400 | 10s | ST-R4720、ST-R4725、ST-RS405 |
For Shimano STI lever model numbers, add 50 to the base model number (e.g., ST-9100) to get “Di2”, add 20 to get “for hydraulic brakes”, and add 5 to get “for small hand” *1, so you can remember that the 70s are for “Di2 hydraulic” and the 20s for “mechanical hydraulic”.
*1: Exceptions are made for ST-R785, ST-RS685, ST-RS505, and ST-RS405.
If you want to use STI levers with mechanical shifters and mechanical brakes that are not listed in the table above, for example, ST-R7000 for 105, you can use them with GRX components by using mechanical disc brake calipers only for the brakes.
For Shimano products, you can use BR-RS303 or, although not officially compatible with Shimano products, TRP’s Spyre can be used with GRX components and mechanical STI levers for road use.
Shimano’s GRX for gravel and DURA-ACE for road bikes are compatible with the DURA-ACE R9100 and 9000 series. The latest R9200 series has a 12-speed shifting system, which is currently incompatible with GRX.
| Model | Model number | Speed | Compatible road bike components |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRX Di2 | RX-815 | 11s | DURA-ACE R9050 series, 9070 series |
| GRX 11 | RX-810, RX-600 | 11s | DURA-ACE R9000 series |
*When using GRX brake parts, only DURA-ACE hydraulic compatible parts are compatible.
Shimano’s GRX for gravel and ULTEGRA for road bikes are compatible with the ULTEGRA R8000 and 6800 series. The latest R8100 series has a 12-speed shifting system, which is currently incompatible with GRX.
| Model | Model number | Speed | Compatible road bike components |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRX Di2 | RX-815 | 11s | ULTEGRA, R8050 series |
| GRX 11 | RX-810, RX-600 | 11s | ULTEGRA, R8000 series, 6800 series |
| GRX 11 | RX-810, RX-600 | 11s | ULTEGRA, R8000 series, 6800 series |
*When using GRX brake parts, only ULTEGRA hydraulic compatible parts are compatible.
Shimano’s GRX for gravel and 105 for road bikes are compatible with the 105/R7000 series and 8800 series. The latest R7100 series has a 12-speed shifting system, which is currently incompatible with GRX.
| Model | Model number | Speed | Compatible road bike components |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRX 11 | RX-810, RX-600 | 11s | 105, R7000 Series, 5800 Series |
*When using GRX brake parts, only 105 hydraulic compatible parts are compatible.
Shimano GRX for gravel and TIAGRA for road bikes are only compatible with TIAGRA 4700 series and GRX 10. TIAGRA 4600 series is not compatible because of the old 10 speed.
| Model | Model number | Speed | Compatible road bike components |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRX 10 | RX-400 | 10s | TIAGRA・4700s |
*When using GRX brake parts, only TIAGRA hydraulic compatible parts are compatible.
Shimano’s GRX for gravel is compatible with road bike components, although they are basically interchangeable.
After buying a new road bike, you will have the option to “combine your original road bike with GRX components to make it a gravel bike”, which will broaden the range of ways to enjoy your bike.
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