Shimano Reviews 79

Dear Dealer [redacted], CUSTOMER CODE: 314774,
with reference to the assistance request concerning the ST-R9270-L (DURA-ACE) lever, we inform you that the material has been inspected at our facility.
The reported issue (LOSS OF PRESSURE) is not a defect of the component, but the result of excessive tightening of the clamp bolt.
Furthermore, rust and corrosion are present on the lever.
Therefore, the warranty claim is rejected.
Kind regards,
SERVICE TEAM
Shimano Italy
With reference to your response dated 03/03/2026, I would like to request a technical clarification on two points.
1. Causal link between the clamp and the hydraulic circuit
The clamp bolt is an element external to the lever body whose function is solely to mechanically secure the lever to the handlebar.
The internal hydraulic circuit — consisting of the hydraulic chamber, piston, sealing gaskets, and fittings — forms a sealed system structurally independent from the external tightening mechanism.
I therefore ask Shimano to explain, with technical reference to the internal construction of the ST-R9270-L, how excessive tightening of the clamp bolt could transmit mechanical stresses sufficient to compromise the integrity of the internal hydraulic seals, and which torque values were measured on the inspected component.
2. Rust and corrosion on a top-tier component
The ST-R9270 is a component of the Dura-Ace line, positioned at the top of the Shimano range, with a retail price exceeding 300 euros.
It is therefore reasonable to expect that the materials used — both for the lever body and for the exposed parts — provide adequate resistance to corrosion.
It is well known that road bicycles are used in rainy conditions, and that contact with the rider’s sweat is also a foreseeable circumstance.
I therefore ask you to specify which materials were used in the construction of the levers.
I kindly request a response that does not appear to be a standard reply.
Thank you.

Avoid Shimano motors. Don’t buy.

I’ve had a Bakfiets electric long-john cargo bike for four years, equipped with a Shimano motor. After only about 7,000 km, the motor began losing power, then developed a loud clack-clack noise, and eventually the pedal froze completely.

My repair shop, Royal Bikes in Nantes (France), opened the unit and found that an internal part had literally disintegrated. This is not wear and tear. This is a manufacturing failure.

Shimano was contacted. Their solution? Offering just 25% off a replacement motor.

In other words: they sell you a defective motor, it dies far too early, and then you have to buy the same motor again. Imagine driving a car for 8,000 km and being told your engine must be replaced because the original one was poorly built. It’s absurd.

Do not buy Shimano motors. The product failed, and the company refused to take responsibility.

They don't appear to have any way to contact them directly in the uk other than through a small number of cycle shops who may not have sold the product. Not exactly good cutomer service.

Shimano DU-E8000

My nightmare started 3 months ago and it’s not over yet. This is my story:

E8000 with 6000kms got really noisy so I decided to have it serviced. I did it numerous times over the years with Bosch motors; the official refurbishment kit was around 200 euros, installation included. The kits are sent out to local certified Bosch centers and you have your bike serviced there, easy peasy.

So, Shimano Italia doesn’t do any of that for some reason, and your only option for mechanical wear and tear problems is to buy a new motor from them. I find this outrageous for so many reasons, but anyway: if you send the faulty motor back to them, they discount the new one to an extent. That extent is not known to you though, because local shimano centers will charge their own fee for the installation (cool!) and will add that to the discounted price of the replacement. I got quotes from two different shops, one was for 850 euros and the other 770. This is crazy to me coming from the Bosch experience, but i bite the bullet and go with the cheaper option.
That was June. My tech tries to contact shimano to send them the faulty motor, they say the replacements are not currently in stock and to try again in two weeks.
Two weeks later, same answer. The motors are not available and a delivery date was unknown.
Time passes by and my motor gets increasingly noisy, i know it’s on the brink of giving it up; it sounds like a lawnmower at this point. I’m starting to panic so i personally contact shimano through an info address that i found buried on an mtb forum. They write me back a cool full month later (!) saying that motors are now back in stock, so i ask my tech to send the faulty e8000.
He sends it, 10 days pass by with no news, my tech calls shimano and they say that in the meantime they ran out of motors AGAIN and they’re waiting for another shipment.

It’s now the end of August and this issue is still open. My bike is gutted at the shop since two weeks ago, and i don’t know when (or if, at this point) it will be serviced.

Obviously, this will be my last Shimano motor.

A problem that Bosch is able to fix in a couple of days with minimum fuss and expense, is taking Shimano three whole months and counting. The cherry on top of that is the money i’m burning to fix what’s probably just the internal bearings being water damaged.

Shameful anti consumer post sale tactics, paired with lousy support service make for a really bad experience, overall; i won’t make that error again

I’ve always trusted Shimano for quality components, but I was very disappointed when my Shimano Tiagra rear derailleur suddenly broke after less than a year of moderate urban use. The break occurred at a structurally unusual point near the mounting bolt — and without any crashes or visible external damage.

The part was purchased in April 2024 through a well-known retailer (Oggi). I’ve submitted a formal complaint with photos and description to Shimano’s support, and I’m currently awaiting their evaluation and solution under warranty.

I hope Shimano maintains its reputation by recognizing the issue and providing a fair resolution.

Just spend the "best" XTR brakes 4 piston blablabla frontbrake just seized and crappy bleeding system, Air enters As an educated bicycle mechanic I almost had a stroke in anger burst. Disc brakes for bicycles are to delicate. I bleeded my motorbike with no hassles
you prefer quantity over Quality, hopefully there are better brands out on the market
Your a Shame to Japan.might have been good in the 70/80,90ies. now its just profit and poor quality

Surprised how bad the customer service is.
Really bad attitude.
Can't answer a question about their own product.
Shame on you Shimano for employing rubbish people

This company has sent me several junk emails this evening, thanking me for registering a fishing product. What? I never bought a fishing product in my life. Beware, shimano must be a scam.

Owned a Dura Ace crankset. On a recent ride the crankarm snapped in two causing me to crash. Lucky to just receive some bad road rash and no broken bones.

Had an e-bike with Shimano electrics. Decided to buy a high output battery (500£). After 9months the potential mileage dropped overnight by 10p.cent. after a hassle it was changed. Same again. This time no replacement; apparently the bike's computor decided l was no longer capable of the same mileage so is not charging to the same level as when new. When asked to explain why the original battery still maintained the same level of charge as the day it was bought, although 6 years old, answer was there none. I would recommend a Bosch unit to anyone.

A big thank you to Samuel at Shimano NZ customer service. I had a warranty claim for an Type J Game rod I purchased in NZ. I live in Australia and the claim process could have been a PIA. The team could not have been more helpful and really went the extra mile.
Awesome service & great product as well.

I can’t describe how bad this shipping experience has been; Shimano put an item I desperately need on UPS, who tries deliveries at random dates and requires a signature. I can’t change the delivery or pick up directly at UPS, because only the seller (Shimano) is able to do so. I’ve tried calling but they can’t do that on their end. So it’s an endless loop - UPS tries random days in 6h windows I can’t receive the package, and I’m unable to change that. Just terrible. Customer service also terrible.

Shimano stopped making EF flat bar shifters for hybrid bikes with caliper brakes leaving thousands of hybrid bike owners in the cold. Everything is now v-brake compatible which no hybrid road bike has or can fit on the bikes.

builds e-bike batteries that can only be disposed of at the slightest defect, e.g. charging adapter on the battery itself, and cannot be repaired. they also do not offer adequate customer service. Sustainability = 0

I tried both Shimano and SRAM and I can confidently say that Shmano gives more precise shifting for both Mounting bikes and road bikes.
It’s not a big difference but for a rider who has some experience it will be noticeable I am almost sure.
Plus Shimano makes their equipment universal, unlike SRAM who always implement some unique stuff which is impossible to fix fast.

Horrible customer support.
Living in Benelux area would expect them to be better.
Require minimum 3 months for replacement under warranty of brand new bike and they wont show the minimum effort to try.
Get something reliable, there's a reason why their reviews are so low

The best reels all the way. They’ve never let me down.

I have purchased a Merida MTB with their ep8 motor and handlebar display. I have also purchased shoes and replacement SPD pedals from them. (I have just come from a Haibike full7 with a Yamaha motor.)
The kit appears good quality and works fine so far.
The main problem is their website, especially in relation to instruction manual and info on how to operate the motor. They are AWFUL! The website for manuals is terrible: clumsy, counter intuitive, with no sympathy for someone with no knowledge of their site or how it works. It’s like a 1990’s website and has really put me off them.
The handle bar display for the ep8 motor is another example of poorly thought out controls for the display (the display itself is okay giving you info on battery charge, power usage, a variable display which can give speed, range, distance etc, and which power mode you’re in); they need to go and speak to MTBers and find out what they want to see on the display and how change it quickly from one mode to another using one finger without stopping. At present you have to press a button that you would have to take your hands off the bar, i.e. stop cycling. They’re maybe shortcuts for this, but their manual is so poor you have to read through pages of bumf about safety to find two lines of useful information. At present to change from speed, distance, range, time or to switch the headlamp on you have to stop and faff about with a button on the bottom of the display; to me it’s ridiculous. My old Haibike was able to do all this on the move or with a dedicated button.
The E-TUBE app for the motor is another disappointment; they need to collaborate with someone who knows how to create a useful app, like Garmin, Strava etc.. You download the app onto your phone and connect via blue tooth to the motor and it allows you to create profiles based on difference settings for the motor which is useful, but that’s it; there’s no stored info which would be useful which could be used for fitness or logging trips etc.. No suggestions from previous usage as to how to change these settings to benefit your style of riding etc.. Sorry this is so negative, the motor itself works well so far and the range is good. It just needs a little more time and thought put in I think.

Going the extra mile to make sure Di2 is hard and expensive to repair. Requiring expensive proprietory tools for diagnostics, different tools needed between generations and groupsets (105 vs. Ultegra). Proprietory USB charging port and cable instead of going USB-C. CR1632 batteries instead of something more widely available (CR2032). There are no benefits for the customer in doing this. This is intentionally going against the concept of right to repair.