Affordable gravel gears: The Shimano GRX 400 polarises in the test

BIKE conclusion on the Shimano GRX 400

Thanks to two chainrings, ten gears at the rear of the GRX provide a nice gear range with a fine gear gradation. The sporty, crisp shifting feel can easily keep up with more expensive road bike and gravel gears. For occasional and everyday gravel riders in particular, the GRX 400 is therefore a sensible option that you can buy with confidence.

Shimano GRX 400: The facts

Price and weight are manufacturer's specifications and refer to the complete shifting system with Trigger and Rear derailleur. For the smallest uphill gear, we use standardised parameters for tyre size and cadence and a 40 trekking chainring (28 inch, 47 millimetres, 60 rpm).

Electronic shifting, up to 13 sprockets at the rear or cassettes the size of pizza plates: the fireworks of innovation in bicycle gears have long since taken full control of trendy gravel bikes. The good old GRX 400 with its classic two front derailleurs and ten gears at the rear seems almost anachronistic.

Old but proven?

However, even if the new cutting-edge technology is justified, that doesn't mean that established technology can't continue to work well. And that is precisely the story of the GRX 400: as the most affordable gravel drivetrain in Shimano's Hyperglide portfolio, the GRX 400 is complemented at the top end by the 600 and 800 and the respective Di2 versions with electronic shifting.

Unlike the more expensive groupsets, the GRX 400 is only available as a 2x10 drivetrain and the technology is also somewhat older than the current GRX 600 and 800 models - the GRX 400 was not updated at the last model change. Trendy versions with only one chainring at the front are reserved for the more expensive GRX models.

Mechanically at a high level

On the other hand, the GRX 400 is still easy to operate for a mechanical gravel drivetrain. The hoods are rather bulky, but fit well in the hand. Thanks to the small 30-tooth front cassette, the GRX 400 also offers a slight gear reduction with the usual 11 to 34-tooth cassette. However, it is less suited to real mountain tours, as the gears are too tight for that.

Unfortunately, there are also no spare parts from Shimano to help with a different gear ratio. Beginners in particular should be able to do more with the small gears. As always, the jump from the small to the large chainring requires a little sensitivity when shifting.

The GRX 400 is much more comfortable with the large 46 mm front derailleur. For rough surfaces, the affordable GRX already offers a Shadow Plus lever for additional derailleur damping to prevent chain slap.

We would consider the more expensive GRX 600 to have an advantage, especially due to its slightly lower weight and the slight ergonomic updates after the model change. Functionally, there is a real leap forward only with the crisp electric shifting technology of the Di2 versions of the GRX (tested here).

Cues or GRX 400?

In addition to the GRX 400, there is now also a variant the all-round gear cues for affordable road and gravel bikes. It is explicitly designed for durability, but is heavier.

Our impression: The GRX 400 is the better compromise when it comes to a sporty, crisp shifting feel. Due to its durability, the Cues perhaps cuts a better figure as a pure everyday gearstick, but feels slower and not as crisp.

One argument in favour of the Cues: the inexpensive GRX 400 is already quite old. In the long term, the Cues is likely to take over this segment anyway. It's a shame, because if you want to enjoy cycling, you'll probably like the sportier GRX better.

The Shimano GRX 400 at a glance

Strengths

• Crisp and fast Hyperglide gearstick
• Good ergonomics
• Shadow-Plus damping

Weaknesses

• Little variable transmission

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