Shimano Auto Shift - How Auto Shift Works In Reality

The new Shimano Auto Shift and Free Shift systems are potentially some of the most ground-breaking tech in the mountain bike world in recent memory - but how do they work when it counts in the real world? Steve Jones took to the hills around Riva del Garda to put the system through its paces.

⏱ Timestamps ⏱
0:00 - Intro
0:42 - Compatibility
1:03 - The setup
1:48 - Manual vs. Auto Shift
4:04 - Things to consider
4:27 - Auto Shift in action
5:29 - The Free Shift system
7:34 - Auto Shift mode setup
9:18 - Switching Auto Shift modes

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What do you think of Auto Shift? Have you had a chance to try it out yet? Let us know in the comments!

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[SQUIDwarrior]

I think this is awesome. ABS, auto shift, give me all the tech! I don’t know if I’d actually use this personally but I love seeing cool new stuff like this.

[ml]

Nice, that is awesome, finally I can focus on important stuff like texting, playing a game on my phone or checking the stocks while doing a steep uphill climb or a technical descend!

[jeanmarc_in_Hudson]

Great content thanks!
I can see FreeShift working for me, not sure about AutoShift, I hear a lot of “bad” noises that I normally try to avoid when going uphill. Good to see some R&D progress on drivetrains. 👍

[The.JZA.]

A system like that is reactive whereas a good rider is proactive. Good for noobs I guess. The one feature that genuinely looks useful is the ability to shift while keeping the pedals level. This could be handy if you are going downhill through a gnarly section and you know that there is a punchy climb coming up, you could shift down, ready for the climb without having to risk clipping your pedals.

[elakObad]

This is perfect for me. I just broke my right hand, being able to ride with just one hand is what I need

[racingwithryan]

Amazing how tech evolves! I am not able to ride as much as i did due to medical reasons. Looks like this would be a great option for me so i can go back to riding!

[to]

As long as tech brings new riders to our sport I’m all for it and this seamless. This would be awesome for my spouse or as part of a rental fleet!

[chargeriderepeat]

Not buying till theres a cigarette lighter

[Twentykixx]

Linear progression is one thing where a semi-smart power ratio dilemma can be solved easily. However, the instantaneous progression over obstacles is quite a different story. If you can have both running simultaneously, using both modes, or all 3-simultaneously. So manual and terrain settings might make it worthwhile. If he said it’s possible, I didn’t hear that.

[invisiblealex]

What about timings? The best time to shift a gear is before climbing, insted of do it during uphill 😮

[GrahamStorr]

That's going to snap some chains that like . Shifting under such high pressure going through pedals 😜😱

[pluc-pl]

I tried one yesterday and, while I liked it a lot in manual mode, I was less than happy about its gear decisions in A1. On a decent gravel road I went from a nice downhill gradient around a curve to a similar uphill. The A1 setting kept me in 9th gear struggling uphill where I would have expected 4th or even 3d gear. I kept waiting for it to shift and finally went manual to 3d. If the rain lets up I'll give it another go today.

[inkrider]

I’m stoked on this new tech, got me thinking of selling my current EMTB and buying this new one.. but I will give it a year for any bugs to be worked out first, until then shred on..

[corwath]

"Longer component life"? How exactly? Those crackling noises under load indicate quite the opposite.

[NotSoSuave]

Looks like great addition to enjoy the ride more

[davidking]

Free shift seems useful... the same as a internal geared hub... not sure about Autoshift... and the shifting under load has me concerned... still waiting for a real gearbox and a belt drive system on a mainstream bike...

[Stratocaster]

so when i manually shift as im climbing i can time it so i take off some pedal pressure. How does this system NOT lead to that horrible gear grinding and destruction of your equipment. I know its more durable, but i cant imagine its good for it when you are pressing hard up a hill and it just shifts anytime it wants. otherwise, sounds really neat.

[kaltonian]

the psi on the chain linkage must me immense on some changes, because it will change gear as you would expect, but at times you might not expect it, still a great tool to help you

[dunkie]

Very nice but there sounds to be a lot of banging coming from that drive train changing gear under full load, I wonder if we are about to have a chain snapping epidemic 🤔😬

[dansacco]

This seems like a better fit for something like a nuvinci that is infinitely variable under power. The drivetrain crunching is brutal here!