Running a 2x drivetrain on a gravel bike gives you the gear range to handle everything from paved approaches to steep fire roads without the compromise of massive cassette jumps. The ST-RX600 Dual Control Lever handles the left side of that equation, combining front derailleur shifting with hydraulic braking in the same gravel-specific ergonomic package as the rest of the GRX 600 lineup. This is the lever you need when running a double chainring setup rather than the brake-only BL-RX600 designed for 1x builds.

Shimano built the shifting mechanism using technology borrowed from their mountain bike groups, which means the internals are robust enough to handle contamination from gravel conditions while still delivering light lever action. Front shifts happen with minimal effort, and the engagement feel is positive without being harsh. The lever includes Optislick stainless steel shift cables and OT-SP41 housing, both of which reduce friction at the entry point and through bends in the routing. Compatible front derailleurs include the FD-RX400 and FD-RX810, both of which use GRX's wider chainline designed to clear larger tires and shed mud.

The hood shape matches the gravel-specific design across the GRX family, with a raised hood head that prevents your hands from sliding forward when terrain gets rough. That raised position also creates a more natural wrist angle during long days in the saddle compared to road-oriented levers. The brake lever blade features anti-slip texture across its surface, maintaining grip when conditions deteriorate or your gloves get soaked. Reach adjustment lets you position the lever closer to or farther from the bar to match your hand size, though this is a tooled adjustment you set during initial setup rather than something you change on the fly.... Read More