# Electrical Bike Gears The Shimano XTR M9050 Di2 Uses Electrical Cables to Shift Gears Smoothly By Rahul Kalvapalle | Published 2014-06-11 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shimano-xtr-m9050-di2 References: [gizmag](http://www.gizmag.com/shimano-xtr-m9050-di2-electronic-shifting-mountain-bikes/32336/) & [bike.shimano](http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/news_and_info/news/mountain_bikers_enter.html) Japanese cycling component manufacturer [Shimano](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eleglide-m1-plus) will soon be releasing the Shimano XTR M9050 Di2 gear mechanism, a contraption that permits mountain bikers to utilize [electrical wiring](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mag-drive) instead of the usual derailleur cables. The Shimano XTR M9050 Di2 electronically transmits signals from the gear shifters to the motors located in the front and rear derailleurs. This allows for extremely consistent, quick and smooth gear shifts. The use of electrical cables ensures that a lot of the issues caused by traditional cables -- such as slackening of the steel cables or build-up of contaminants -- no longer pose a problem. This sytem is capable of shifting both the front and rear derailleurs simultaneously via a single shifter. The contraption coordinates the two derailleurs so that they shift together without getting caught up in each other's chains. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.6/10 - Popularity: 6% | Activity: 4% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Electrical Bike Gears:** The Shimano XTR M9050 Di2 is a great example of how electrical cables can be used to shift gears smoothly on bikes. - **Consistent & Quick Gear Shifts:** The use of electrical cables instead of regular derailleur cables enables consistent, quick and smooth gear shifts. - **Two Derailleurs Simultaneously:** The single shifter of the Shimano XTR M9050 Di2 contraption can shift both front and rear derailleurs simultaneously, achieving coordinated shifting without getting caught up in chains. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Bicycles:** The bicycle industry can explore the innovative ways of incorporating electrical cables instead of regular derailleur cables for smooth gear shifts. - **Cycling Components Manufacturing:** Cycling components manufacturers can look into developing innovative gear mechanisms that use electronic signals instead of regular cables for quick gear shifts. - **Mountain Biking:** The mountain biking industry can benefit from implementing gear contraptions such as the Shimano XTR M9050 Di2 that can shift both front and rear derailleurs simultaneously with coordinated shifting without getting caught up in chains. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Smart-Shifting Trail Bicycles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/trail-bicycle.md) - [Predictive Shifting E-Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gocycle-gxi.md) - [Streamlined Bicycle Drivetrains](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bicycle-drivetrains.md) - [E-Bike Transmission Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/automatic-bike-transmission.md) - [Drivetrain-Devoid Concept EBikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/concept-ebike.md) - [Gearbox-Packing E-Bike Motors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gearboxpacking-ebike-motor.md) - [Smart Ebike Powertrains](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sram-eagle-powertrain.md) - [Automatic Foldable E-Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gocycle-g4.md) - [Gear-Laden Folding E-Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gearladen-folding-ebike.md)