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Shimano XT M8250 Di...
 

Shimano XT M8250 Di2 Upgrade Kit review

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[#13536113]

The new wireless shifting future from Shimano is very good, although it simply had to be.


 
Posted : 29/06/2026 10:03 am
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 nuke
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I've had this kit on my hardtail for about 6 months having only ever run standard Shimano gears (no sram axs or otherwise) and my main grumbles are all related to the shifter:

- As has been said in the review, no 2 way shifting...miss this a lot

- not much offset on the paddles. On the standard Shimano shifters the rear paddle is longer so it's offset more. I find naturally finding the rear paddle not as easy on the di2 and can accidentally hit the front paddle...given it only takes a light tap to change gear this has caused some unwanted shifts the wrong way

- no obvious indicator you've run out of gears top or bottom. You know you've run out with a standard Shimano shifter. Be good to have some indication you're not going higher/lower... vibration through the paddle/beep/locked-out?

Overall I do love di2 but it's good to get these grumbles off my chest


 
Posted : 29/06/2026 2:11 pm
nicko74 reacted
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If you run a Garmin you can make it beep when you hit the largest and smallest cogs with Sram gears. Don’t know if Shimano can do the same?


 
Posted : 29/06/2026 2:52 pm
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Posted by: mashr

If you run a Garmin you can make it beep when you hit the largest and smallest cogs with Sram gears. Don’t know if Shimano can do the same?

and have battery levels on screen plus get a 'sensor battery low' warning if you end a ride with a low battery.  Any of that available with Shimano?


 
Posted : 29/06/2026 3:50 pm
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£409 at Winstanleys 👍 


 
Posted : 29/06/2026 3:51 pm
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Garmin Edge Explorer 2 can't connect to your Di2 XT mech, and show your gear and the status of your battery. You can buy an app to do it though.


 
Posted : 29/06/2026 6:28 pm
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Shimano claims the new system is as good as the old clutch- is it? Other reviews suggest maybe not?


 
Posted : 29/06/2026 6:46 pm
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I've yet to unship a chain after six month's pretty hard use on a hardtail in rocky terrain, @honourablegeorge
@nuke - I'd heard that a top tip was to swap the (slightly differently shaped) shift paddles around. This does seem to give you different shifting positions, though perhaps not enough... 


 
Posted : 29/06/2026 8:03 pm
nuke reacted
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What about noise, @chipps? Does the chain bang about a lot?

 


 
Posted : 29/06/2026 8:19 pm
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I've not noticed any, to be honest. It does have a pretty rubbery chainstay protector on. I'll see if I can bolt a GoPro on and watch... 🙂


 
Posted : 29/06/2026 9:17 pm
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I've had this on the eeb since December and really like it. So much so I'm considering getting another set or maybe the deore version for the other bike. The only potential issue I've noticed is the battery compartment not being fully weatherproof although the dirt doesn't seem to infiltrate the top area where the contacts are. 


 
Posted : 29/06/2026 9:34 pm
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What appeals most to me is the idea of a gs medium cage mech with a  9 - 45 cass. You just don't need the huge dinner plate jobs with an ebike. Only trouble is my Amflow comes with Sram. Might see if I can get it swapped out.


 
Posted : 30/06/2026 11:16 am
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Had the xt kit on the sus' for a good while and coming from SRAM axs before it, and as a big Shimano fan, it's everything I wanted it to be. 

That distinctive Shimano click, shift feel at the block and it hasn't once thrown a chain. 

Off the back of the pink bike review saying it is noisy, I was hesitant to order it. Needn't have been. It's not noisy at all. No more than any other mech, or even less so I'd say. Put it this way, I haven't noticed it. 

Spot on and getting a second one for the h'tail. 

The other benefit is the battery last ages. Like 10x the SRAM. Im guessing that part of this is down to it only waking up when you shift, it's not wasting battery in the back of the van or whenever you move the bike around. 

 


 
Posted : 30/06/2026 11:36 am