In a sudden announcement, Shimano has enacted a significant reduction in its top-end component and wheel prices. The reduction ranges from approximately 40 to 20 percent depending on the part.

The price change primarily affects Shimano’s higher end components: for mountain, SLX and above; for road, 105 and above. The change affects Di2 electronic shifting drivetrains as well. A complete Ultegra mechanical group is now $756 (was $975); a complete XTR 1x11 Trail group is now $1551 (was $2005). Some wheelset prices are cut too. An XT wheelset is now $554 (was $800); a Dura-Ace C24 clincher wheelset is now $1090 (was $1200). Here are some more examples:

Dura-Ace 9070 Di2 Old Price New Price STI shift/brake lever set $700 $539 Front derailleur $400 $339 Rear Derailleur $700 $550 Cranks $600 $490 Cassette $270 $209 Brakes Calipers (pair) $320 $273 Wires, junctions, internal battery $460 $367





XT M8000 Old Price New Price 11-42 Cassette $140 $90 Crank w/ 36/26 rings $280 $184 Chainring (1x) $75 $52 Disc Brake (rear, no rotor) $160 $120 Rear Derailleur $120 $83 Front Derailleur $50 $32 Pair Shifters $150 $98 Rear Shifter Only $75 $50

A Shimano XT crank upgrade is now almost $100 less Shimano

I spoke to an employee at a local bike shop in Durango, Colorado about Shimano’s price changes. He welcomed the price drop because it puts him in a better position to compete with the large online bike shops, particularly the overseas shops. “A guy came in looking for XTR disc brakes [before the price drop], and when I told him what I sell them for, he was like, 'Uh, that’s more expensive than what I was looking at online.' Now I want to call him and tell him the new price.”

RELATED: Shimano Ultegra Di2 Disc: The Best Road Group Ever

The XT rear disc brake's price was cut from $160 to $120 Shimano

Even with the price reduction, some international online retailers are still selling for less. In a story about Shimano’s price reduction on Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, Mike Jacoubowsky, owner of a shop in California's Bay Area called Chain Reaction Bicycles, said of the Shimano , "Even at the new lower cost, many items are still available cheaper overseas than here. They haven't really addressed the problem.”

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A quick search found that online retailer Ribble Cycles is selling the XT 11-42 cassette for $71.89, with $8 shipping and no tax (new US retail is $90). However, if you order from overseas, you may get hit with import duties, and a service fee from the delivery company. This doesn't always happen. A scan of online forums makes it seem like a game of chance: sometimes you do, sometimes you don’t, with seemingly no reason or consistency.

So, if you don’t have to pay shipping and import duties, the online retailers may sell for less than your local bike shop. Or, the online retailers may look like they sell for less, but if you do get hit with shipping and import duties, the final price may not be much cheaper than the price at your neighborhood shop.

Before the price cut an XT-derailleur-crunching crash would set you back $120, but now it'll only cost you $83 Shimano

Not only did derailleurs and shifters get price cuts, wheels did also Shimano

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