Wireless gravel shifting used to mean a compromise between reliability and a clean cockpit. The Shimano GRX ST-RX825 Di2 Dual Control Lever with Caliper closes that gap by cutting the Di2 wires between the levers and the derailleurs entirely, leaving only the hydraulic hose to route through the frame. Each lever runs on a pair of CR1632 coin cell batteries with an expected service life of one and a half to two years, and when they eventually die you swap them at the workbench instead of hunting for a charging port on a bikepacking trip.

The hood shape is where the RX825 earns its gravel-specific designation. Shimano rounded the transition from bar to hood to match the sweep of a flared drop bar, and the ribbed textured hood cover plus the anti-slip coating on the lever blade give you something to hold onto when your hands are wet, dusty, or vibrating loose after two hours of washboard. Three Di2 buttons sit on each lever—two in the traditional side positions and a third on the inside of the hood that most riders program for satellite shifter functions or accessory control.

FRONT SHIFT NEXT is the customization piece that changes how a 2x drivetrain feels day to day. Assign it to any button and a single press toggles the front derailleur between chainrings—up one press, down the next—which frees the other buttons for satellite shifters or lets you run a simplified control scheme with fewer inputs to remember mid-effort. The levers are also compatible with all three SW-RS801 satellite shifter variants (climb, sprint, and TT-style extensions) if you want additional shift points on the tops or in the drops.... Read More