Part 2 from 2
Part 1: Shimano XTR Di2 and Fox iCTD - First test of shifting and suspension
Part 2: Shimano XTR Di2 and Fox iCTD - strengths and weaknesses
The electronic Shimano XTR Di2 is the first choice of cross-country world champion Julien Absalon. And he, too, has already married the e-shift with his Fox suspension. We tested XTR Di2 with the brand new Fox iCTD suspension.
XTR Di2 plus iCTD = technology visualised on the display
On the GT Helion test bike, not only the gears but also the suspension is battery-operated. Fox's ICTD is an expensive but exciting option, with a slider on the right and servos on the shock and fork taking over the adjustment from Climb to Trail to Descend. ICD has been around since 2012, the 2015 iCTD has a newly integrated trail mode, just the T in the abbreviation.
In principle, Fox iCTD and XTR Di2 have nothing else in common - apart from the shared display. The Di2 display lights up for a few seconds with every action (adjustable). Regardless of whether you are adjusting the suspension or shifting gears. You can see the number of gears, the chainring engaged and whether the Fox iCTD suspension is working in Climb (up arrow), Trail (centre arrow) or Descend mode (down arrow).
In the case of iCTD, you could do without it because you can read the mode from the small thumb slide switch (filled circle, half-filled circle, circle not filled). ICTD therefore also works well without Di2, the combination of both developments is logical for technology freaks, but just as unnecessary for traditionalists as electronic shifting per se.
The only real advantage of linking iCTD and Di2 is that both use the same battery. On the GT pre-production bike, it is attached to the down tube, but it can also be concealed in the frame or the seat post.
The lockout for the suspension is good, it reacts quickly, the thumb pushes the control up or down, you quickly get used to it. The small slider beats the mechanical alternatives (especially the cable-operated Fox version) hands down. You don't have to loosen the grip on the handlebars, it takes no effort.
Conclusion:
Julien Absalon rode a BMC 29er fully with Di2 and iCTD at the World Championships. Did this technology help him to victory? We don't know. What is clear, however, is that a new era is dawning. With the advent of electronics, the mountain bike has lost its innocence and has become dependent on power sockets and computer boards. The bottom line is that iCTD and the XTR Di2 are a technically convincing gimmick for people who like this kind of thing and can afford it. It's a step forwards, but not one that will change the sport in the long term. Mechanical bikes are just as much fun - and they are less noisy. Even if you can switch off the beeping in the software.
Fox iCTD - strengths and weaknesses:
+ Usability, ergonomics
+ Three-stage iCTD system makes more sense than iCD
+ Fast response
+ Presumably long battery life
- Additional weight due to battery
- High price
- Noise development
Shimano XTR Di2 - strengths and weaknesses:
+ shifting speed
+ Defined pressure point
+ Several gears can be changed in succession (all)
+ Technically impressive solution
+ All gears can be shifted with one lever
+ Di2 makes it easier to handle the large number of gears. Gear shifting thinks for itself
+ Finer gradation of the cassette than with Sram (11-40 compared to 10-42)
- Clear functional noise
- Lever travel as long as with mechanical shifting
- High price
- Battery life shorter than with Dura Ace Di2
- Gear range with single cranks weak due to 11-40 cassette
Further features:
Crash Mode: System protects itself in the event of a hard impact and sets the rear derailleur to the centre position.
Dead Battery: If the voltage drops, you can only shift gears at the rear.
The fact that you can mount the lever for the dropper post on the left and control the entire gear ratio with your right thumb speaks in favour of the XTR. That sounds exciting for all-mountain use, not to mention the tidy cockpit, where the shift cables can be hidden.
Part 2 from 2
Part 1: Shimano XTR Di2 and Fox iCTD - First test of shifting and suspension
Part 2: Shimano XTR Di2 and Fox iCTD - strengths and weaknesses
The article with further useful information on the Shimano XTR Di2 appears in BIKE issue 11/2014 - a
b 7 October at the kiosk, in the DK-Onlineshop and as a digital edition for all end devices.
