component-SW-M9050_R

The SW-M9050-R (right) and SW-M9050-L shifters weigh about 66g each - that is 30g lighter than the cheaper XT shifters. Most setups nowadays will only make use 

di2-dealer-manual-xtr-m9050

XTR M9050 Dealer Manual

manual-di2-mtb-shift-levers

MTB Shift Lever User Manual

component-SW-M9050-L

Did you know most 10-speed and 11-speed Di2 hardware is cross-series compatible? You can actually mix different series and even different generations of Di2 hardware, as long as you make sure you follow the Di2 compatibility chart!

Hidden somewhere on the Shimano E-Tube Project website is a [Di2/e-Tube compatibility chart](https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/e-tube/project/compatibility.html). This useful PDF helps you select your components, making sure they're compatible before spending $$$ and installing them on your bike.

Have a nice Ultegra 6870 setup but want the [newer R8000 shifters](/component/ultegra-dual-control-lever-st-r8050) so that you have [extra buttons on the hoods](/enable-the-buttons-on-your-di2-shifter-hoods)? You can!

Want to use the [mountain bike Di2 display](/component/xt-display-junction-sc-mt800) on your road bike? You can!

Feel like upgrading your derailleurs but not your shifters? Sure! You can!

## 12-speed Di2 compatibility
Before I get started though, a quick note on 12-speed Di2 compatibility. Shimano released their [12-speed DURA-ACE and Ultegra Di2](/dura-ace-r9250-ultegra-r8150-wireless-di2/) groupsets to the world on September 1st, 2021. 

While Shimano has been pretty good with backward compatibility in the past, these new groupsets actually feature *very* limited compatibility with the older Di2 series. There is [a page on 12-speed compatibility](/12-speed-r9200-r8100-and-11-speed-di2-compatibility/), so read that if you're looking for 12-speed Di2 information. 

The remainder of this page applies to 11-speed and 10-speed Di2 compatibility, **not** the newer 12-speed Di2.

## Compatibility chart? Where? How does it work?
The latest version of the compatibility chart can be found on the [Shimano e-Tube project website](https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/e-tube/project/compatibillity.html). At the time of writing the latest version of the chart is 5.0.1.

Let’s say you want to know whether your [Ultegra RD-6870-GS](/component/ultegra-medium-cage-rear-derailleur-rd-6870-GS) rear derailleur and [Dura-Ace ST-R9150 shifters](/component/dura-ace-dual-control-lever-st-r9150) are compatible with each other. Start with your battery and work your way down.

![Di2 e-tube compatibility - connected boxes](https://assets.bettershifting.com/di2_etube_compatibility_boxes_connected_87eca69a3c.png)

In the image above I have selected the [SM-EW90](/component/below-the-stem-junction-a-sm-ew90) Junction box, [R9150-series Dura-Ace shifters](/component/dura-ace-dual-control-lever-st-r9150) and two 11-speed derailleurs; the [RD-6870 Ultegra rear derailleur](/component/ultegra-medium-cage-rear-derailleur-rd-6870-GS) and the [Ultegra FD-R8050 front derailleur](/component/ultegra-front-derailleur-fd-r8050-f). Note that I could also have selected the [Dura-Ace FD-R9150 front derailleur](/component/dura-ace-front-derailleur-fd-r9150-f) if I wanted to.

Shimano recommends you use components all from the same series, because that’s when they perform best. However, this isn’t feasible for everyone and fortunately, they allow you to use different generation components on the same bike..

The only thing you can never do is mix different speed **derailleurs** or mtb / gravel / road **derailleurs**. **__All derailleurs have to support either 10-speed or 11-speed and from the same ‘category’__**.

### Mixing MTB and Road/GRX components
So.. can you use mountain bike di2 hardware with road hardware? Sort of… it’s complicated. You can definitely use road shifters on a mountain bike – but would you really want to? However, let’s say you wanted to build a 1×11 Di2 setup? You’d probably want to take advantage of the Clutch System Shimano equipped the mountain bike rear derailleurs with, but use your road shifters. You should be able to do this no problem! Alternatively you can use a [GRX rear derailleur](/component/grx-2x-rear-derailleur-rd-rx815) with road shifters, or the [Ultegra RX805 clutch rear derailleur](/component/ultegra-shadow-rd-rear-derailleur-rd-rx805-gs). 

The only real limitation is that derailleurs you use have to be either road/gravel or mountain bike derailleurs – **__you cannot mix these derailleurs__**. Other than that you’re free to do whatever you want.

<LImage width="250" height="250" alt="Alfine MU-S705 motor unit" src="https://assets.bettershifting.com/component_MU_S705_c44237316f.jpeg" />

## E-Bikes, Di2 hubs, motor units
Plenty of people are building Di2 E-Bikes using the [MU-S705](/component/alfine-internal-geared-hub-motor-unit-mu-s705/) or **MU-U500**/**MU-U510** motor units and [Internal Geared Hubs](https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/product/component/alfine-s7050s705-di2/SG-S7051-11.html). 

While the hubs are Di2-specific, they are not actually connected to the Di2 system. They're just designed to work with the Di2 motor units and can handle the forces the motor units produce.

When it comes to compatibility though, looking up information on these units can be a little confusing. If you look up the hub, you'll find only a couple of entries. 

So what gives? Are the hubs only compatible with Bosch E-Bikes? Are the hubs not compatible with current parts at all?

Don't worry - everything is fine. You see, for compatibility purposes, that hub does not matter at all. **Di2 compatibility** for these systems is **determined by the drive unit**. Ignore the hub, just look at the MU-UR500/510 and the MU-S705 entries instead.

## Compatibility charts
Like you’ve read above, I've linked the Shimano Di2 compatibility charts. Click the image below to view the full compatibility chart PDF. Note that the pages relevant to your setup depend on which series hardware and, perhaps more importantly, which battery or battery mount you’re using.

[![Di2 e-tube compatibility charts image link](https://assets.bettershifting.com/di2_etube_compatibility_charts_link_e9de0203b8.png)](https://bike.shimano.com/content/dam/e-tube/assets/images/contents/project/compatibillity/pdf/en/HM-CC_5.0.1-00-EN.pdf)

featured-di2-etube-compatibility

Di2 Compatibility - mix Ultegra, DURA-ACE, XTR, XT and GRX components

This page has moved to [Installation guides > Installing MTB style shifters](/installation-guide/mtb-style-shifter/). You should be redirected automatically, but please click the link if that doesn't happen.

Install the SW-M8050 / SW-M9050 MTB shifter

small_install-sw-m8050-featured.jpg

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On this page I'll show you how to install a set of MTB shifting buttons on a bike. It's not hard, but there are a couple of things to think of when installing these. They are not just limited to mountain bikes either - you can use these shfiters on any Di2 bike

MTB Style Shifter SW-M8050 / SW-M9050 Installation Guide

Have you made the plunge and are you making the step to mountain bike Di2? You’ll have to install at least one shifter, depending on the number of derailleurs you are installing on the bike.

Like with most [Di2 components](/components-and-accessories/), installing these shifters isn’t hard - you just need to know what to do. This page will guide you through the process.

My MTB only has a rear derailleur (1x11) and a dropper post remote on the left hand side of the handlebar, so I’m installing just the right shifter here - [SW-M8050-R](/component/xt-firebolt-shifter-sw-m8050/) or [SW-M9050-R](/component/xtr-firebolt-shifter-sw-m9050/). The installation method is exactly the same for the left shifters though.

Also, if you're building a Di2 mountain bike you may be interested in learning [how to install your Di2 battery in the fork steerer](/install-the-di2-battery-in-the-fork-steerer/).

When installed, this is what it’ll look like:

![Install the SW-M8050 / SW-M9050 MTB shifter end result](https://assets.bettershifting.com/install_sw_m8050_end_result_61dd3b4c25.jpg)

## Preparation and required tools
You may have already figured this out looking at the image above, but these shifters are located behind the brake levers. This means that if you have already installed a brake lever and handlebar grips, you’ll have to remove those first.

There is no need to disconnect your brake hose though, just slightly loosen the clamp bolt and slide the brake lever off the handlebar. It can sometimes help to rotate the handlebar slightly as you do this.

Also, I’m afraid the Di2 mountain bike shifters do not support the **I-Spec** standards, so they don’t integrate nicely with the brake levers. They will fit **22.2 mm - 22.5 mm** diameter handlebars.

You will need a **4 mm hex wrench** to remove the brake lever and a **2 mm hex wrench** to tweak the shifting button locations. A **3 mm hex wrench** is used to tighten the shifter clamp band.

Finally, make sure you have an [EW-SD50 wire](/component/di2-electric-wire-ew-sd50/) long enough to connect the shifter to your [display or Junction A](/sc-mt800-sc-m9051-system-information-display-installation-guide/).

With that out of the way, let’s get started

## Install the shifter on the handlebar
Take the shift lever out of the box and loosen the clamp bolt slightly. Make sure you don’t loosen it *too much*, because that can cause the square nut to fall out - and getting it back in can be a pain.

If this happens to you just put the nut back in where it belongs and apply pressure as you screw the bolt back in. The bolt is relatively short and you’ll have to press it harder than you’d think, making sure it engages the threads on the nut.

![Install the SW-M8050 / SW-M9050 MTB shifter slide it on](https://assets.bettershifting.com/install_shifter_slide_on_bar_e86b8c4ef9.jpg)

With the clamp loosened, slide the shifter over the handlebar, to roughly its correct position.

The recommended tightening torque is **2 - 2.2 Nm**, but I wouldn’t fully tighten it just yet. First slide the brake lever and your grip back on, so that you can decide on the correct position for the buttons.

<LImage alt="Brake lever, Shift buttons and grip installed" width="1100" height="575" src="https://assets.bettershifting.com/install_shifter_brake_lever_grip_installed_da0d38885a.jpg" />

As you can see in the image above, the position of the Di2 shift buttons is somewhat limited by the brake lever (clamp) position. You can still tweak the button left/right offset though, so I'll do that next.

Position your bike so that you can look underneath the buttons, or simply rotate the entire shifter if your clamp bolt is loose enough. 

See those two bolts? You can use a **2 mm hex wrench** to loosen the bolts and move the buttons around.

<LImage alt="Move the MTB shifter (M8050 / M9050) buttons around" width="1100" height="646" src="https://assets.bettershifting.com/install_sw_m8050_move_buttons_2b56757a2d.jpg" />

I have actually moved them to the far right in this image above - they are positioned all the way to the left out of the box. There is no *best* configuration that’ll work for everyone, so just play around with it and see what works for you.

## Let’s connect the wire
Yep… I had already connected the [EW-SD50 electric wire](/component/di2-electric-wire-ew-sd50/) when I took that photo. How you install the wire actually depends on the handlebar you use and whether or not it supports internal wiring.

The first step is the same for both methods though - you grab that part with the groove in it and pull it right off. Don’t twist it, just pull. You can probably get away with twisting and pulling it, but you’re not meant to - there is a groove on the inside too.

This is what it looks like with the part (cable cap) off:

<LImage alt="Cable cap removed from Di2 MTB shifter" width="1100" height="555" src="https://assets.bettershifting.com/install_sw_m8050_cap_off_5be90c596b.jpg" />

Pass the wire through the cable cap and plug it into the shifter. You can do this with the [Shimano TL-EW02 tool](/component/di2-cable-plug-tool-tl-ew02/), or just do it by hand. Either method will work.

Now slide the cable cap back onto the shifter and secure that in place. It can only go on in a certain way - there is a groove on both the cable cap and the shift unit.

The [Shimano Dealer manual](/learn-how-to-use-the-shimano-documentation/) states that the wire connector can get damaged if the cable cap isn’t installed and while I doubt this will happen when you’re just riding along… it probably *does* add a bit of protection against the plug snapping / twisting / breaking when hitting obstacles like trees or rocks - or anything else you’ll find on a mountain bike trail.

If your handlebars do not support internal routing then this is it for you. You connect the other end of the wire to your [display (Junction A)](/sc-mt800-sc-m9051-system-information-display-installation-guide/) and you’re done! Make sure the wire is long enough - but not too long - and possibly run it along the brake hose if you like. 

<LImage alt="Installed the EW-SD50 wire" width="1100" height="534" src="https://assets.bettershifting.com/install_sw_m8050_wire_ee128a168a.jpg" />

I used a 150mm wire and that was just perfect. I’m not worried about it being pulled loose by trees, branches or anything else.

## Internal cable routing
If you own a Di2 compatible handlebar, chances are pretty good you can route the wire internally. You need a special groove or a perfectly located hole in the handlebar to let you do this, so not just any bar will do. 

The PRO [Tharsis](https://www.rideshimano.com/global/en/tharsis-xc-the-cleanest-cockpit-on-the-trail/) / [Koryak](https://www.pro-bikegear.com/global/mtb/handlebars/koryak-flat-top-di2-handlebar) Di2 handlebars support this, but there are probably others too.

Instead of simply plugging the wire into your Junction A and shifter, you route it through the handlebar, into the groove and then slide the shift lever over the wire/groove:

<LImage alt="Install MTB wire internally, through handlebar" width="1100" height="535" src="https://assets.bettershifting.com/install_sw_m8050_through_pro_bars_03a558fcea.jpg" />

Now just like before, slide the shifter cable cap over the wire and plug it in. Then push the cable cap back onto the shifter. The final step is to push the wire into the cable cap’s groove. This will make it look a lot better.

With the wire routed through the cable cap's groove, this is what it’ll look like:

<LImage alt="Hook the wire on the cable cap" width="500" height="315" src="https://assets.bettershifting.com/install_sw_m8050_wired_internally_d6ab35921d.png" />

## You can change the button assignments
One of the great things about Di2 is that you can change the button assignments and switch them around if you want to. Personally I found the default configuration to work good for me, but others prefer to shift up/down using the other button.

Changing it around is simple. You can do that using either E-Tube Project for Windows, or using the mobile app. Since most mountain bikes will have a display installed (and thus also BluetoothLE/ANT connectivity), I’ll quickly show you how to do this using the mobile app.

If you’ve never connected your phone to the bike before, [read this first](/change-di2-wireless-passkey-using-mobile-e-tube-app-or-pc/). 

Press and hold the button on the display until the “**C**” appears. Now load up E-Tube Project on your phone or tablet, make sure Bluetooth is enabled and connect by registering a new bike *or* tap an existing bike to connect to it. 

<LImage alt="" width="1100" height="978" src="https://assets.bettershifting.com/install_sw_m8050_change_shift_buttons_connect_app_ff42380f94.jpg" />

Now open the **Customize** screen and select the shifter.

Changing the buttons around is easy, you tap either one of them, select the new assignment and then tap '**Confirm**'. You can automatically set up the other button by checking the "*Assign opposite function...*" box.

<LImage alt="Done swapping the buttons around" width="1100" height="648" src="https://assets.bettershifting.com/install_sw_m8050_change_shift_buttons_done_9aa8f18121.jpg" />

When you're happy with the button assignment you simply tap **Apply** to save and apply the settings. Make sure you disconnect the bike by tapping the app's *disconnect* button. If you forget this last step the bike will not longer respond and you need to reconnect the mobile app and disconnect it using the button.

## All done!
If anything is unclear or if you spot any mistakes, please leave a comment or [send me a message](/contact/) and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Are you building a Di2 bike? Be sure to check out [the bike building](/di2-bike-building/) pages as well!



Firebolt Shifter

XTR SW-M9050

Affiliate Links

Specifications

Related components

Related pages

Di2 Compatibility - mix Ultegra, DURA-ACE, XTR, XT and GRX components

MTB Style Shifter SW-M8050 / SW-M9050 Installation Guide

Installation Guide: MTB Style Shifter

Manuals & other documents