Home > Bike Types > Mountain Bike

Shimano PRO Components Adds Di2-Integrated XC Handlebar, Stem & Seatpost

24 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

Shimano PRO Tharsis XC mountain bike handlebar stem and seatpost with Di2 integration

Just after launching their amazing new XTR Di2 group, Shimano’s PRO components division unveiled a full cockpit group built to hide the wires from shifter all the way back.

Using ports on the handlebar, wires can run inside the bar, through the stem and directly into the frame. From there, the battery will sit in the seatpost or, thanks to a “new headset design”, you can stash the power supply directly inside the fork’s steerer tube.

All junction boxes can then be tucked in the tubes or stem, and a special steerer cap provides access to the front junction for charging. More pics below…

Shimano PRO Tharsis XC mountain bike handlebar stem and seatpost with Di2 integration

At the moment, we don’t have tech details and specs, so we’ll update as soon as we get more info. In the meantime, the pics give some of it away.

Shimano PRO Tharsis XC mountain bike handlebar stem and seatpost with Di2 integration

Shimano PRO Tharsis XC mountain bike handlebar stem and seatpost with Di2 integration

 

Putting the battery in the steerer would preclude using a star nut or expansion wedge, so we’re intrigued by this bottom cap design. We’ve got a call in to Shimano for details.

Shimano PRO Tharsis XC mountain bike handlebar stem and seatpost with Di2 integration

A removeable top cap lets you access the battery and/or Junction A for charging.

Shimano PRO Tharsis XC mountain bike handlebar stem and seatpost with Di2 integration

The seatpost uses their standard clip to retain the battery.

Shimano PRO Tharsis XC mountain bike handlebar stem and seatpost with Di2 integration

Fork steerer or seat tube, your choice. Unless you have a dropper post.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

24 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Leven
9 years ago

This is cool. How come they haven’t introduced products like this for road bikes? Seems the only folks trying to fully conceal electronics on road bikes are custom builders. I’m perplexed.

fraser
fraser
9 years ago

(allmost) all of Pro’s seatposts are Di2 ready. Just visit their homepage and see for yourself. 🙂

But the battery in the streerer tube is very nice! 😀

Scottchy
Scottchy
9 years ago

Stem is easy to figure out.
1. Tighten top bolt
2. Adjust headset load with ‘bottom cap’
3. Tighten bottom bolt.

Will probably see this on weight weenies bikes in an effort to shave the weight of the star nut regardless of Di2.

Flip
Flip
9 years ago

@Leven – Literally every single Di2 bike from major makers like Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, Giant hides the Di2 cables inside the frame and uses a discreetly mounted or internal battery. The only exception I’ve seen are older models, retrofitted for Di2, and first generation models; and even then, it’s just the battery that’s visible.

Obviously the handlebar wire issue is basically irrelevant on road bikes, because the wire is run under the bar tape alongside the brake cables.

stampers
stampers
9 years ago

Is it me or do the wire ports on the handlebar seem too far out on the bar? How do you get your grips, brakes, and shifters on there without covering the ports? Looks like just normal grips alone would cover up the ports.

XtrPickels
XtrPickels
9 years ago

Those cutting guides on the bar indicate that it is the very end. However, that port looks to be long with multiple entry points. I bet the furthest out port (the one shown in the picture) is useful for something like a shifter integrated with bar ends.

-s
-s
9 years ago

@stampers, I think that is the point. The cord sits in the grove aimed towards the shifters. This would allow you to adjust the distance the shifter sits from the end of the bar without it running into a port issue if it was right next to the shifter.

Shanghaied
Shanghaied
9 years ago

@Scottchy, weighy weenie bikes will have carbon steerers where you can’t use star nuts anyway. It’s already pretty common to adjust the preload with one of those carbon steerer adjusters, tighten the stem, and then remove the adjuster.

K11
K11
9 years ago

@shanghaid. i think scottchy was using “star nut” as a general term in use with carbon steerers, such as what some 3T forks use, or expansion plug systems.

dislivello
dislivello
9 years ago

Is so much.. shimano everywhere..but sram is wireless..i thinks e a rly can we see mtb sram electronic..and shinano become old just born.is a war..

Gabe
Gabe
9 years ago

Klein Mission Control 2 collet system anyone?

anonymous
anonymous
9 years ago

Putting the THREAD in THREADless headsets, since 2014.

mac
mac
9 years ago

As far as I’ve seen in most bikes that need service, when you open up the stem/steer tube/top cap you find more crap and crud than anywhere else besides the bottom bracket. I’m not so sure about putting any more servicable items in there for the sake of sanity. For that matter why not just put the battery in the handlebar itself?

MaLóL
MaLóL
9 years ago

They copied Gary Klein alu frames (cannondale), they copied his hidden cable system (20 years later). They copied his oversized headtubes (20 years later). His “press-fit” bottom brackets, not matched yet though… maybe in 2024? They finally copied his headset system, hell yeah!!!! Hope they copy his rear drop-outs soon.

Erik T
Erik T
9 years ago

MaLol – Klein’s dropouts aren’t so good with disc brakes. Rearward facing horizontal dropout will spit out the wheel when brake is applied. Kind of moot when it’s all going to 12 x 142 anyway.

bielas
bielas
9 years ago

So complicated… Sram electronic is wireless! All this proprietary parts from Shimano just to make up for the wired technology. Wait for Sram to bring the wireless electronic drivetrain to Mtb gruppos. With the added complication of full suspension systems to run wires cleanly and safely, a wireless system seems a must for Mtb

Mindless
Mindless
9 years ago

What is wrong with having a wire outside?

MaLóL
MaLóL
9 years ago

Sram wireless sounds really cool. But shimano may be affordable with XT Di2 in… let’s say 2017. Sram might be affordable, hopefully in 2025… Just look at XX1 prices… still more expensive than xtr mechanical… shame on sram!!

Kevin
Kevin
9 years ago

I don’t get wireless. Battery on the each shifter and each derailleur all to save a small wire running through the frame.

Flip
Flip
9 years ago

@Mindless – What’s wrong with hiding the wire?

Joey Brown
Joey Brown
9 years ago

@kevin – You and me both! Given Sram’s track record I will stick with Shimano and a wire.

kurti_sc
kurti_sc
9 years ago

I just clicked through so I could say how uneccessary and stupid this stuff is.
After reading all of the positive responses, I do have to acknowledge that this technology appears more popular than I would have guessed.
If it keeps up, it’s going to transform the way and the locations in which we ride – for better or worse.
We’ll all want loops with good access to fire roads and parking lots. We’ll all volunteer more to keep the trails buff and in good repair.
The term ‘mountain biking’ may become a little bit misplaced.

Mindless
Mindless
9 years ago

@Flip: Expense and hassle.

greg
greg
9 years ago

Next step Samsung Smart Bar for both road and mtb. It would be nice to hold a conversation with my handlebar! Yes! I did watch Nightrider as a child!

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.