CyclingCeramic colours and box contents
Video produced by Velo-Perso.com in 2024: the CyclingCeramic pulley wheel boxes in each colour, including their contents, so you can see exactly what the product looks like before ordering.
-€12.10
Shimano 12S Cyclingceramic pulley wheels
Reduced price:
€86.90
Tax included
These pulley wheels are aluminum CNC machined and anodized in France. Ceramic Bearings are handmade in France with passion.
Compatible with Ultegra and Dura Ace 12S (8100 and 9200 series). In 2026 lower and upper pulley are no longer market. Please mount the most machined pulley in lower position, and the less machined one in upper position
Simple drivetrain upgrade · Shimano 12-speed
The first CyclingCeramic upgrade without changing your derailleur cage
These CyclingCeramic 11-tooth derailleur pulley wheels directly replace the original pulleys on compatible Shimano 12-speed road rear derailleurs. You keep the original Shimano cage and geometry, while upgrading to CNC-machined aluminium pulleys with Grade 3 ceramic bearings.
This is the option we recommend if you want to start upgrading your drivetrain, replace worn stock pulleys or improve smoothness without making a major change to the rear derailleur. If you later want to go further, the natural next step is a complete CyclingCeramic 14/19T oversized derailleur cage: Race, Pro or Aero depending on your riding.
Velo-Perso.com expert opinion — updated for 2026
In our view, these pulley wheels already make a very worthwhile upgrade over the original Shimano pulleys. The first difference is immediately visible: you move from plastic pulleys to CNC-machined and anodized 7075 aluminium pulleys, with a much more premium finish and the possibility to add a distinctive visual touch to the rear derailleur.
The second difference can be felt as soon as you spin the pulley by hand: the CyclingCeramic ceramic bearings, lubricated with a light oil, rotate with outstanding freedom. By comparison, original Shimano pulley wheels can feel noticeably more resistant by hand, especially because of their more viscous factory lubrication.
This makes them an excellent first step for upgrading and personalising the drivetrain without replacing the original derailleur cage. If you want to go further, the natural upgrade is then a complete CyclingCeramic 14/19T oversized cage.
A slight metallic sound bothering you?
Aluminium teeth naturally produce a slightly more metallic sound than the original plastic Shimano pulleys. If you prefer a quieter drivetrain, consider using a good-quality chain wax. CyclingCeramic Road Wax — or another quality wax — can help reduce drivetrain noise while keeping the chain clean and running smoothly.
View CyclingCeramic Road Wax →Why these pulley wheels are such a good first upgrade
01 · Direct replacement
You keep the original Shimano derailleur cage and the original 11-tooth diameter. It is the simplest CyclingCeramic upgrade before moving to an oversized cage.
02 · Grade 3 ceramic bearings
The pulley wheels use Si3N4 Grade 3 ceramic balls with light lubrication. The result is exceptionally free rotation, very different from the more resistant feel you may notice when spinning the original Shimano pulleys by hand.
03 · CNC-machined 7075 aluminium
The pulleys are CNC-machined from 7075 aluminium and anodized, giving them a more premium finish than the original plastic pulley wheels.
Shimano 12-speed compatibility
This version is designed for the following Shimano 12-speed road rear derailleurs:
| Groupset | Rear derailleur | Pulleys | Spacers during installation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 12-speed | RD-R9250 | 11 / 11 teeth | Reuse 2 of the 4 Shimano spacers, on the inner cage-plate side |
| Shimano Ultegra Di2 12-speed | RD-R8150 | 11 / 11 teeth | Reuse all 4 spacers from the original Shimano pulleys |
| Shimano 105 Di2 12-speed | RD-R7150 | 11 / 11 teeth | Install without spacers |
2026 installation: which pulley goes on top and which goes on the bottom?
From 2026, the pulleys are no longer systematically engraved “Upper” and “Lower”. You therefore need to identify them from the tooth profile:
- Upper pulley: the less-machined / more conventional tooth profile.
- Lower pulley: the more heavily machined tooth profile, designed to better follow variations in chain tension.
Next step: a complete CyclingCeramic derailleur cage
Standard pulley wheels or a complete 14/19T oversized cage?
The 11-tooth pulleys on this page upgrade the pulley material and bearings while keeping the original Shimano geometry. A complete CyclingCeramic derailleur cage goes further by using larger pulleys — typically 14 teeth at the top and 19 teeth at the bottom — reducing chain articulation in addition to using ceramic bearings.
| Solution | What you change | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| CyclingCeramic 11/11T pulleys | Pulleys only; original Shimano cage retained | First upgrade, replacing worn pulleys, simple installation |
| Race 14/19T cage | Complete carbon cage + open-design oversized ceramic pulleys | Road riding, sportives, performance + customisation |
| Pro 14/19T cage | Complete cage + solid oversized pulleys | Fast / aero-oriented road bikes, distinctive look, performance focus |
| Aero cage | Complete cage designed around aerodynamic performance | Time trial and triathlon |
View Race cage for Ultegra / Dura-Ace →
View Pro cage for Ultegra / Dura-Ace →
View all Shimano cages, including 105 Di2 →
Not sure which route to take? Start with these 11-tooth pulley wheels if you want a light, straightforward modification. Move directly to a Race or Pro cage if you want the complete oversized-pulley solution and are happy to make a more substantial change to the rear derailleur.
After the derailleur cage: what about the bottom bracket?
If you want to optimise a Shimano drivetrain as a complete system, the bottom bracket is another obvious place to improve smoothness. Velo-Perso offers CyclingCeramic versions for standards including BB86 and BSA.
CyclingCeramic BB86 Shimano 24 mm → CyclingCeramic BSA Shimano 24 mm →Velo-Perso videos: see the pulley wheels, installation and finish
We produced these four videos in 2024 to show the product as it really is: the different colours, the look on a Shimano Ultegra R8150 rear derailleur, the installation process and a close-up of the ceramic bearings.
Red pulley wheels on Shimano Ultegra R8150: real-world appearance
Video produced by Velo-Perso.com in 2024: a Shimano Ultegra R8150 rear derailleur fitted with red CyclingCeramic pulley wheels, showing the real aesthetic result once installed on the bike.
How to replace the original pulleys on a Shimano R8150
Video produced by Velo-Perso.com in 2024: a demonstration showing how to replace the original pulley wheels on a Shimano Ultegra R8150 rear derailleur with black CyclingCeramic pulleys.
Close-up of a pulley wheel and its ceramic balls
Video produced by Velo-Perso.com in 2024: a detailed close-up of a CyclingCeramic 12-speed pulley wheel, clearly showing the ceramic balls and the high-quality finish.
Technical specifications
| Type | Pair of rear derailleur pulley wheels |
| Number of teeth | 11 teeth / 11 teeth |
| Material | CNC-machined and anodized 7075 aluminium |
| Bearings | Grade 3 Si3N4 ceramic |
| Drivetrain | Shimano 12-speed road |
| Main compatibility | 105 Di2 R7150, Ultegra Di2 R8150, Dura-Ace Di2 R9250 |
| Manufacturing / machining | France |
| Velo-Perso stock | France |
FAQ — CyclingCeramic Shimano 12-speed pulley wheels
Are these pulley wheels compatible with Shimano 105 Di2 12-speed?
Yes. They are compatible with the Shimano 105 Di2 RD-R7150 rear derailleur. On this derailleur, the pulleys are installed without the spacers used on the Ultegra and Dura-Ace versions.
How do I identify the upper and lower pulley in 2026?
The upper pulley is the one with the more conventional, less-machined tooth profile. The lower pulley has more heavily machined teeth. 2026 production is no longer systematically marked “Upper” and “Lower”.
Do I need to replace the derailleur cage to install these pulleys?
No. These are 11-tooth replacement pulley wheels designed to work with the original Shimano cage. A CyclingCeramic oversized cage is a different upgrade using a 14/19T geometry.
What does a complete CyclingCeramic cage add compared with these pulleys?
These pulleys let you keep the Shimano cage while upgrading to aluminium pulley wheels with ceramic bearings. A complete cage adds oversized 14/19T pulleys and is the next step if you want the full oversized-pulley solution.
Why can these pulley wheels sound slightly more metallic?
The pulleys are machined from aluminium rather than plastic. This material difference can make the drivetrain slightly more audible. A quality chain wax such as CyclingCeramic Road Wax can help produce a quieter, very smooth-running drivetrain.
Do these pulley wheels require special maintenance?
Like any low-friction bearing system, they work best when kept clean and correctly lubricated. Avoid directing a high-pressure water jet at the bearings and check the drivetrain regularly.
Want to understand oversized cages before upgrading?
Explore our 2026 Shimano OSPW guide and range: oversized pulley principle, compatibility, B-tension adjustment, chain length and Race / Pro / Aero options.
View the Shimano oversized derailleur cage guide →| Size | 11T |
|---|---|
| Material | Aluminum |
| Bearings | Ceramic (grade 3) |
| Drivetrain | Shimano 12S |
| Storage location (from where it's shipped to you) | France |
| Manufacturing location | France |
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