But thanks to made-in-Portugal production it’s much cheaper than we expected, without cutting corners. And new BiTurbo RSX mountain bike wheels take the monocoque full carbon 6-spoke platform to new levels with a 33mm internal width, yet still a few grams shaved off. Ratios are limited to just two options, namely a compact 50/34T and a semi-compact 52/36T. Based in the Czech Republic for 15+ years, he is a technical mountain biker, adventurous gravel rider, short & medium-haul bikepacker. Cory travels extensively across Europe riding bikes, meeting with key European product developers, industry experts & tastemakers for an in-depth review of what’s new, and what’s coming next. A refined carbon layup let Bike Ahead widen to a 33mm internal hookless rim profile (5mm wider than the RS) while dropping 20g off the pair in either 27.5” or 29” diameters.
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With improved ergonomics and aesthetics, an extra cog and the continued high quality performance you expect, the 105 groupset remains a must buy. The subtle changes have improved it over the 11-speed, especially from an ergonomics point of view, and while there aren’t any huge changes in terms of performance, there really didn’t need to be. This 105 still delivers very well from a performance/cost point of view, making it the all-rounder choice for everyone from racers to weekend warriors, club run attendees to commuters and tourers. The total RRP for 105 mechanical is £986.91-£1004.91, which is a bit of a jump from the £630.92 the old 105 commanded in 2020. We all know how much prices have increased across the board since then, though.
According to the Bank of England’s calculator, inflation accounts for around £132 of the extra £356. The calipers are BR-7170, the same as with the Di2 groupset. These offer 10% more rotor clearance to minimise brake rub, especially when banking the bike side to side when accelerating or climbing, than Shimano’s earlier versions did. The cassettes use Shimano’s Hyperglide design, which involves shaping the teeth (and bits in between) to aid shifting.
The new ‘blade’ has a curvier shape when seen from the side, bringing it slighter closer to the handlebar. Officially the previous rear mech could handle a largest sprocket of 34T, but this newer version can cope with a 36T. Handy really, as that is the largest on offer in the range. Officially, the 6-spoke monocoque Bike Ahead BiTurbo RSX wheels are rated for cross-country, marathon, and downcountry mountain biking. They feature a 24.5mm rim depth, DT Swiss hub internals available in all the MTB freehub standards, and come with wheelbags & tubeless valves. Claimed wheelset weight is 1279g for a 27.5 pair, or 1329g for 29” wheels.
The shifting is as clean and crisp as ever, and as the 11-speed version is only marginally slower and less precise than its high-end Ultegra mechanical sibling, that is nothing to be sniffed at. Ultegra has since gone Di2-only, so comparisons with the new groupset aren’t possible anymore. Riding this 12-speed version alongside the 11-speed blindfolded, you’d never tell the difference unless you counted the rear changes from hyper mountain bike one side of the cassette to the other. Though by the time you got to 12, you’d probably have other things on your mind anyway, such as whether the paramedics would take the blindfold off for you without laughing. Fully made back at homebase in Germany, the new Bike Ahead BiTurbo RSX wheels get wider for modern riding with new 33mm internal width. Plus, they even made them lighter, although saving only twenty grams.
As I said above the gear changes are quick, crisp and (so long as you don’t let it all crust over with filth) quiet. From an aesthetics point of view the rear mech has changed quite a bit, with the face plate and body having a more blocky, flat-looking style to it. The whole action is light enough to be a pleasure even after many hours in the saddle, but there is enough weight there for good feedback, and a positive click as the mechanism locates the next gear.
There are subtle changes here as well, but you have to look closely to notice them. First up the graphics are a bit bolder, and ironically those kind of hide small changes to the lever body. The good news is that the 12-speed cassettes are compatible with the 11-speed freehubs, so there’s no need to change your wheels if you upgrade.