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Can anyone give me some first hand experience of these please?
I am specifically interested in finding out how they compare to SRAM Apex/Rival levers when braking on the hoods. I’ve currently got Apex on some Ritchey flared bars, but find that the shift paddle crushes my fingers if they’re wrapped under the hood when braking. On full application, the shift paddle almost touches the bar. I’d thought about putting a bit more fluid in the reduce the lever throw, but wondered if this’d just cause pad clearance issues.
The reviews of GRX suggest that Shimano have designed the levers to give more power when braking on the hoods - I wondered if they’re a bit more powerful than Apex/Rival?
FWIW, I’ve got Shimano SLX/XT on my mountain bikes as I love the feel and power of them.
Only the top end di2 ones have the pivot point moved, the others have the same pivot point as ultegra/105 etc. Some of them do have servowave which might help. They do have nice grippy shaped rubber for sitting on the hoods though.
I use them on Ritchey Venture flared bars and have no problem locking up either wheel from the hoods if needed be. The levers have reach adjustment on them if that would help position them most effectively
I've got GRX Di2 on Ritchey Butano bars. Single finger braking while on the hoods is super easy and very comfortable. Much better than the Ultegra on my road bike.
Thanks for the feedback, it sounds promising. In a perfect (non-Covid) world I’d go an lurk around the bike shop to cop a GRX lever feel😉