Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 12-speed electronic hydraulic groupset review

Much more than just an extra sprocket…

Shimano Dura Ace groupset on a blue background
(Image credit: Future)
Cycling Weekly Verdict

Overall, Shimano’s long awaited update really has delivered. The functionality in terms of the braking power, ergonomics and shifting has been greatly improved. There’s also been some well-thought out refinements that boost its liveability, such as the bleeding ports and fewer cables. It may be very expensive, but then it is the pinnacle of what Shimano has to offer and it certainly does deliver.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    New heights of shifting refinement

  • +

    Increased braking power

  • +

    Fewer cables

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    More expensive than previous Dura-Ace groupsets

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

It’s fair to say that the shift to 12-speed has been a long time coming for Dura-Ace.

First to the mark for road-specific groupsets was Campagnolo, offering that extra sprocket as soon as April 2018. Back then, even Shimano’s mountain bike groupsets were all still running 11-speed.

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Stefan Abram
Tech features editor

After winning the 2019 National Single-Speed Cross-Country Mountain Biking Championships and claiming the plushie unicorn (true story), Stefan swapped the flat-bars for drop-bars and has never looked back. 


Since then, he’s earnt his 2ⁿᵈ cat racing licence in his first season racing as a third, completed the South Downs Double in under 20 hours and Everested in under 12.


But his favourite rides are multiday bikepacking trips, with all the huge amount of cycling tech and long days spent exploring new roads and trails - as well as histories and cultures. Most recently, he’s spent two weeks riding from Budapest into the mountains of Slovakia


Height: 177cm

Weight: 67–69kg