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- Four Decades of Shimano MTB Innovation
- From RAPIDFIRE trigger shifters to wireless Di2, explore the key Shimano mountain bike drivetrain innovations that transformed shifting performance over nearly four decades.
- 30/09/2026
It is impossible to overstate SHIMANO’s contribution to the advancement of mountain bike drivetrain technology. From the earliest iterations of RAPIDFIRE to today’s 12-speed Di2 electronic systems, SHIMANO’s been at the forefront of improved MTB shifting performance, delivering expanded gear ranges, quieter drivetrains, enhanced chain retention, and improved shifting precision and control even in the most technical terrain.
SHIMANO continues to help improve the on-trail experience for mountain bikers worldwide. Here is a look at some, but certainly not all, of the most important moments in the nearly four-decade march forward from downtube-mounted friction shifters of old to today’s fast, precise, robust, and reliable Di2 electronic systems.