Hi ,
I’m thinking of upgrading my Salsa Cutthroat from GRX 600 11 speed to DI2 12 speed. I was just wondering since the GRX 1X DI2 will not be available till October in Canada, if I should just go with the XT DI 2 rear derailleur. I read somewhere that the GRX is just a XT rebranded, or should I wait for the GRX. Also does anyone see a problem doing this upgrade beside the obvious of installing a new micro spline cassette driver?
Thanks Mike
They are the same….the GRX is just the shorter cage XT option. Get the XT and ride the new stuff!
Have just picked up my bike after going with XT as GRX won’t be in Aus for a while ( and I have XT on my mtbs so can chuck it on them if I want to change later ) . Only road so far, gravel this wend. Super happy.
I had an 11 speed mullet using the older XT di2 and had the 46 cassette after trying Garbaruk etc with their 10-51 and also tried a one-up 47T ( both a bit rough/lots fine tuning).
The new Di 2 is so good.
Newer lever hood is comfy , I really like Shimano brakes. Shifting is fast, and the 10-51 cassette doesn’t have such a large jump as the 11 speed one did. You can use the 8100 cassette. 8200 slightly different material at the 2 biggest rings and the back looks a little bit more reinforced. Crank apprears the same as 810 but you would have to get a chainring separately or aftermarket ( I got the 40T 820)
My mechanic said the gear dump is quicker than SRAM.
If you don’t care about branding get the XT ( I got the upgrade kit so I’ll sell the MTB shifter ).
I also got the 825 shifters as both active, should they come out with a wireless dropper and you can program them anyway.
Battery easy out/in. RD is bigger than SRAM but I am not fussed.
E-tube easy pair.
Get it if you can, I am really happy I got it.
Also I have Industry Nine torch hubs but was able to find a microspline freehub.
Thanks, all the parts are ordered and will arrive soon, I did go for the XT, and went with the dumb left lever to save a few bucks. I’m looking forward to doing the upgrade and trying it all out.
Awesome, enjoy 
Thanks for posting this. I have a ‘26 Cutty frameset on preorder, and am deciding on drivetrain options. I’m leaning into new GRX Di2 1x12 and XTR crankset. The plan for the bike is to ride mostly gravel events where I’d like some more tire and some improved handling in technical terrain over my Diverge. Cheers.
Still loving the 12 speed XT di2 and 8200 cassette. Running perfectly, great at a recent 100km gravel event, cassette jumps well placed . Mechanic seen it again ( BB problem not the shifting ) and said it really is faster than SRAM) he had one around so could compare them. The road SRAM is app faster.