Dura-Ace 9200 compatibility?

[AlbionJackal]

Hi all,

I'm a long time user of Dura-Ace groupsets and wanted to upgrade to the relative new 9200 series.

I'm perfectly happy with my 11 speed set- up but would especially like to accommodate an 11-34 cassette. I therefore would like to install the new 9200 Rear Derailleur.

Up to now, most reviews I've read insist that it is not compatible with the the old standard 9100 set-up, citing the difference in the new cables (SD300) compared to the old ones (SD50).

The trouble is I've just found out that Shimano do an adapter, the EW-AD305.

In terms of backward compatibility is it just a case of the new cables that render the 12 speed incompatible with the old 11 speed?

Given that there is now an adapter (EW-AD305) that can link the new SD300 to old SD50 cables, is the new Rear Derailleur usable?

 

[King Boonen]

No, they also need to be running the same firmware and unless Shimano have changed that since I last heard about it, the only 11 speed stuff that got updates were TT shifters/Satallite shifters.

The 11 speed medium cage Ultegra RD with run an 11-34 though and while I've never checked I assume those are compatible.

 

[AlbionJackal]

Yes, thanks, you're right I had it confirmed by bettershifting.com

The firmware is the problem. Shimano do not appear to allow backward compatibility.

Currently looking at getting an old Ultegra RD-8050 GS which can accommodate an 11-34 but it seems that they're rarer than hens' teeth at the moment.

To such an extent I'm actually contemplating the nuclear option of a whole new bike with the 9250 set-up... 🤦🏽‍♂️

 

[King Boonen]

Higher end components really do seem to be hard to get hold of these days. Makes me glad I do nearly all my riding on a fixed gear.

 

[cogwheel]

Good that you have sorted it out. Just for future reference you can check official shimano website for compatibility issues
https://productinfo.shimano.com/#/com