Summary

Shimano E-Tube Project is a software platform used to configure, customize, and update Shimano electronic bicycle systems. It allows riders and mechanics to fine-tune shifting behavior, motor assistance, and system integration across Di2 drivetrains and Shimano e-bike motors, serving as the digital backbone of Shimano’s modern electronic ecosystem.

Key Facts

Introduced: 2013 (initial Di2 configuration platform)
Category: Technology
Also known as: E-Tube, E-Tube App, E-Tube Project Cyclist / Professional
Used for: System configuration, firmware updates, diagnostics
Supported systems: Di2 road, gravel, MTB, Shimano STEPS and EP e-bike motors
Access methods: Mobile app (Bluetooth), desktop software (wired)
User types: Riders, dealers, service technicians
Core functions: Customization, diagnostics, firmware management
Official website: https://bike.shimano.com

Overview

Shimano E-Tube Project is the software layer that ties together Shimano’s electronic drivetrains and e-bike systems. While Di2 and STEPS hardware provide the mechanical and electrical performance, E-Tube is what allows that hardware to be tailored, updated, and maintained over time.

Originally developed as a desktop-based configuration tool for early Di2 road groupsets, E-Tube Project has evolved into a comprehensive platform supporting road, gravel, mountain, and e-bike systems. As Shimano expanded into electronically assisted shifting and integrated motor control, E-Tube became essential rather than optional.

Today, E-Tube Project exists in two primary forms: a consumer-facing mobile app and a dealer-focused professional application. Together, they allow Shimano systems to be customized at a level that would be impossible with mechanical components alone. Riders can adjust shifting logic, motor behavior, assist characteristics, and button assignments, while dealers can perform firmware updates, run diagnostics, and resolve compatibility issues.

In the context of e-bikes, E-Tube Project is especially important. Motors like the EP600, EP800, and EP801 rely on E-Tube for assist tuning, Di2 integration, and advanced features such as Auto Shift and Free Shift. Rather than locking systems into fixed factory behavior, Shimano uses E-Tube to make its electronics adaptable across disciplines and riding styles.

How It Works

At its core, Shimano E-Tube Project is a configuration and communication platform that connects electronically controlled components into a unified system.

System Architecture

Shimano electronic systems operate on a digital communication network. Each component — motor, battery, derailleur, shifter, display, sensor — is a node on that network. E-Tube acts as the interface that allows users to read from and write to those nodes.

Connections occur in two ways:

Bluetooth (LE): Used by the mobile E-Tube Project Cyclist app
Wired USB interface: Used by the E-Tube Project Professional desktop software

The system reads firmware versions, component IDs, and configuration parameters, then allows changes within Shimano-defined limits.

Firmware Management

One of E-Tube’s most critical functions is firmware updating. Shimano regularly releases firmware updates to:

Improve system reliability
Refine motor behavior
Enable new features
Resolve compatibility conflicts

Updates can apply to individual components or the system as a whole. On e-bikes, firmware updates often affect motor response curves, assist transitions, and shifting coordination.

Customization Layers

Di2 Shifting Customization

For electronic shifting systems, E-Tube allows users to:

Assign shifter buttons to specific actions
Change multi-shift speed and step count
Enable or disable synchronized shifting
Define front/rear derailleur coordination
Adjust shift timing and response

This flexibility is especially valuable for gravel and mountain riders who may want different control logic than road racers.

E-Bike Assist Tuning

On Shimano STEPS and EP motors, E-Tube allows riders to customize:

Maximum torque per assist mode
Assist start strength
Assist fade-out behavior
Two independent rider profiles

This means a single bike can have, for example, a range-focused profile and a trail-focused profile, switchable during a ride.

Di2 + Motor Integration

With compatible hardware, E-Tube enables advanced features such as:

Auto Shift: Automatically selects gears based on cadence, speed, and torque
Free Shift: Allows gear changes while coasting, using motor torque to move the drivetrain

These functions rely on tight coordination between motor firmware and drivetrain firmware, all managed through E-Tube.

User Experience & Access

E-Tube Project Cyclist (Mobile App)

Designed for riders, this app focuses on customization rather than deep diagnostics. Typical uses include:

Tuning assist modes
Adjusting shift behavior
Switching between rider profiles
Viewing system status
Applying over-the-air firmware updates

The interface is designed to be accessible without technical training, though some settings require basic system understanding.

E-Tube Project Professional (Dealer Software)

This version is used by certified dealers and service centers. It provides:

Full system diagnostics
Error code interpretation
Component pairing and replacement
Recovery from firmware faults
Advanced compatibility management

Certain functions — such as registering replacement motors or batteries — are restricted to the professional version for safety and regulatory reasons.

Role in Shimano’s Ecosystem

E-Tube Project is central to Shimano’s strategy of long-term system support. Rather than releasing entirely new hardware for every improvement, Shimano often delivers refinements through firmware and software integration.

This approach allows:

Older bikes to gain new features
Manufacturers to fine-tune bikes post-launch
Riders to adapt bikes as preferences change

It also helps Shimano maintain compatibility across product generations, ensuring that motors, drivetrains, and displays continue to work together even as individual components evolve.

In many ways, E-Tube Project reflects Shimano’s broader philosophy: hardware provides the foundation, but software defines the experience.

Notable Implementations

Shimano EP801 e-MTB systems – Full assist tuning, Di2 integration, Auto Shift and Free Shift enabled through E-Tube
Shimano EP600 platforms – Mid-tier motor systems with the same E-Tube customization as flagship models
Ultegra Di2 and Dura-Ace Di2 – Road groupsets using E-Tube for synchronized shifting and button mapping
GRX Di2 – Gravel-specific Di2 system with configurable controls and shifting logic
XT and XTR Di2 (legacy) – Early MTB electronic shifting platforms supported via E-Tube

Related Terms

References

Shimano E-Tube Project Official Documentation
Shimano EP Series Technical Manuals
Shimano Di2 Setup and Configuration Guides
Dealer Training Materials (Shimano Service Network)
Pinkbike: Shimano E-Bike Software Overview
BikeRadar: Di2 Customization Explained
Shimano Firmware Release Notes
Shimano STEPS System Architecture White Papers