I heard from a shimano rep that it should be available in the next 2-3 weeks at the latest. It's already out for dura ace di2 9150 but not for the older 6870 and 9070.

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"I swim because that's how I get to ride my bike."

Is it exclusive to the Dura Ace or will it be on the Ultegra too? Will it be possible to add on/reprogram older systems?

The firmware update will be available for ultegra di2 in 2-3 weeks.

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"I swim because that's how I get to ride my bike."

I would hope that it would be a firmware update that could apply to any E-Tube-compatible Di2.

In my opinion, the Synchro technology is the coolest feature of Di2. This really takes shifting to a new level.

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Travis Rassat
Vector Cycle Works
Noblesville, IN
BikeFit Instructor | FMS | F.I.S.T. | IBFI
Toughman Triathlon Series Ambassador

I too am excited about synchro shift... but worried it will be hamstrung or not perform as well as we would like.

I'd be happy with just being able to lockout cross chain gear combos. 52x26, 52x28 and 36x11, 36x12 (11-28 cassette with 52-36)

I think that is where this would work to do what you want - when you look at a 22-speed bike and start comparing all the ratios, you end up with maybe 15-16 distinct gears. Those cross-chain ratios tend to fall into that area of overlap, and could then essentially be skipped by selecting their closest alternatives.

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Travis Rassat
Vector Cycle Works
Noblesville, IN
BikeFit Instructor | FMS | F.I.S.T. | IBFI
Toughman Triathlon Series Ambassador

I have DA 7970 on my tri bike...what would I need to get my firmware updated to run synchro shift?

If you have the new internal battery, as far as I know from my rep, it's available.

Not sure it can be done...

If it can, at least the second gen wiring harnesses, cables and third gen battery (internal).

If the shifters are incompatible (which I believe is the case unfortunately), then either 6780/9070 with the new internal battery or the new 9150.

7970 is 1st Gen Di2 and has no compatibility with the follow on Di2 systems and does not have upgradable firmware.

Some info on synchronized shift operation from the 9150 di2 installation manual:

Hello bpe and All,

Sure would like to see this for eTap.

53/36 and 11/28 seems to need it more than 53/39 and 11/23 .... at least if you want to be at optimum friction loss.

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Cheers, Neal

+1 mph Faster

can anyone confirm that the synchro shift is currently only available on 9150 and will expand to 9070 this spring. That is what their helpline told me but I have read conflicted reports. Curious if anyone has successfully set up with older hardware.

X2.... really want to know if it will expand to 9070, and when. thanks

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wovebike.com | Wove on instagram

So would you change that to block A 10-11 and B 1-2? Seems that the intitial setup would prevent cross chaining in the small ring but not the big ring? I too really hope it rolls down in a firmware update.

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Team Zoot - Great Lakes

I thought it was going to require upgrading to the new junction box?

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"They're made of latex, not nitroglycerin"

Did some maintenance yesterday and synchro shifting is now available to 6870 and 9070 as of Mar 9.

Have you tried it out yet? Does syncro shift work??

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"I swim because that's how I get to ride my bike."

Just on the workstand but yes it does work. You'll have to double click on the junction box to switch between custom settings.

Works on mine too - either full or semi syncro

Working for me as well. 6870 with RS910 Bar End junction and new internal battery (BT-DN110). No wireless units needed.

Ok, awesome! I'll try it out when I get home.

Thanks for the info.

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"I swim because that's how I get to ride my bike."

Latest compatibility info here. Apparently synchro shifting requires a BM-DN100 / BT-DN110 battery.

Both of the shift modes can be set for either semi or full synchro shift independently with the E-TUBE app.

Someone briefly explain the benefit to me before I do the upgrade.

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Favorite Gear: Dimond | Cadex | Desoto Sport | Hoka One One

Makes an 11-speed cassette behave like a 1X 14-speed cassette.

I've done the programming for syncro mode and downloaded to the junction box. I've got the SMB2 battery internal. The system doesn't autoshift. What do you mean by double click the junction box (or link to a doc that describes this as the programming guide for syncro doesn't mention anything). Thanks.

Per the specs, synchronized shifting requires either BM-DN100 battery mount or BT-DN110 internal battery.

arkie wrote:

Did some maintenance yesterday and synchro shifting is now available to 6870 and 9070 as of Mar 9.

Which battery mounts / internal batteries and which junction boxes do you have in these set-ups? The specs are confusing, as even with BM-DN100 or BT-DN110 Shimano caveats "SC-M9050, SC-M9051 or SC-MT800 is required for synchronized shift", which doesn't seem to be the case anymore with the 3.0.0 derailleur firmware.

Those are referencing syncro for MTB shifting.

For the road the only thing you need, hardware wise, to enable syncro shift is the DN100 internal battery or external battery mount. Basically, the new battery structure has more circuitry in it to enable the extra processing power needed to handle syncro shift. Once you have updated your internal battery or external battery mount you simply need to download the latest 3.0.0 firmware and you will have syncro shift available to you.

I wouldn't get too excited. I have tried it and disabled it before I'd finished my first ride with it. I like full manual control, but to each their own.

Maybe a dumb question, but can you have BOTH semi-syncro and syncro working at the same time? Or once you have full syncro shift up do the front derailleur shifter buttons do nothing anymore?

In syncro, can you pre-emptively shift chainrings, or do you have to shift the rear until front derailleur shifts by itself?

If anyone needs to update their battery/battery mount, competitive cyclist has 20% off everything. It's rare to have shimano stuff on sale. I just ordered the new battery mount to try this out.

For those who tried it, what did you like/dislike about it? Is synchro shifting fast and crisp enough?
I'd love to have pro and con opinions on how it feels before deciding on an uograde (only the battery and a new d-fly for my 6870)

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Sr. Salitre

Don't get me wrong, syncro shift is fast and very crisp - better than I can do manually in fact. The problem I had is that I don't always want to shift the rear cogs when I shift rings. Coming to the top of a hill and about to go down quickly and pick up speed quickly, I don't want the rear to downshift when I shift into the big ring. Doing that only makes me have to upshift the rear one or two more cogs than I otherwise would need to do. Doing it fully manual, I can tailor what I need for any given situation.

It's not a big deal. Some may well like it and I am sure it will come in handy on TT bikes when one wants to use only one shifter to change gears and I have no doubt that syncro is much more applicable for MTB bikes, which is why it was introduced in that arena before the road.

To each his own.

Stupid question, the BM-DN100 is the only external battery mount right? So if I have an external battery mount with DA 9070 I just need the firmware upgrade correct?

No, 9070 would have originally come with the BMR2 external battery mount. The BM-DN100 external mount is new. If your battery mount is more than six months old then you most likely have the older mount that will not support syncro shift.

Ok. Thanks.

Is the D-Fly unit needed in order for synchro/semi-synchro to work? Or is the D-fly purely for upgrading firmware and sending Di2 info to the bike computer?

I'm wondering if a bike bought this month (May 2017, Giant Propel) with Ultegra Di2 which presumably has up to date firmware will already come with the S1 and S2 modes prepared in the system or if it needs to first be activated via etube either through D-fly and the app, or via the computer etube?

Thanks in advance.

You do not need the D-fly unit to enable syncro-shift, only a new battery (if using internal) or new battery mount (if using an external battery). I don't know the answer to the second question. You should hook up your bike to E-Tube and find out. Some of the components on your new Giant might have shipped from Shimano to Giant as much as six months ago, which would have pre-dated the updates to the E-Tube software that enabled syncro.

It's just for the BT communications with the E-Tube phone app and ANT+ communications with bike computers. Not needed for syncrho shift to work.

Hard to say for sure, but I wouldn't assume a newly purchased bike has the latest firmware in the various Di2 parts. I recently purchased the new 9150 shifters, and had to upgrade the firmware after installation. So it's worth doing the E-Tube connection to check firmware versions.

If you don't have the cable for e-tube connection and want to check if synchro-shifting is available on your bike, you can tell by activating the status display on the junction box. Press and hold a shift lever button, or simultaneously press both shift buttons on a shift lever. The lights on the junction box will first show you battery status (solid green, flashing green, or red), then they will show you the current shift mode (sold red+green = manual shift, double blink red+green = S1/semi-synchro, and triple-blink red+green = S2/full-synchro).

You can change shift mode by double-pressing the button on the junction. This can be a little finnicky to get the timing right, but if it works you'll get the red+green light indicating the new shift mode.

This may be a dumb question, but I can't find a user manual anywhere that says how to shift the chain ring manually (which I presume is how semi-synchro is supposed to work). Is there a magic button/button combination/prayer/sacrifice needed to do so? This is with the new single button levers and new bar ends.

I have not figured out a way yet to manually shift the FD in a current 8050/9150 single-button TT Di2 setup. The annoying question is “why do you want to?” I have not ridden mine outside yet, but I have a lot of miles with a friend on synchro shift. The whole synchro thing can be tuned to favor big or small, and you could have two shift modes with different synchro settings for flat vs hilly courses.

x2

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