Shimano 25 Complex XR Review: Specs, Features & Drag Performance

The Shimano Complex has been renewed with a newly designed gear. The winding torque has improved significantly, making it easy to reel in lures with strong resistance. Despite this, the lightness of the winding due to the lightweight rotor remains unchanged, and the agility of operations like winding and stopping is currently at the highest level. The weight is also extremely light, making it a reel highly suitable for bass fishing operations.

However, regarding drag performance, it is not equipped with Super Slow Oscillation (Infinity Loop), so it is clearly inferior to the high-end 23 Vanquish. Therefore, fine drag adjustments are required during a fight. Also, since the winding feel is inferior to the high-end models, it is necessary to consider it as a mid-range price model.

This time, we will introduce the 25 Complex XR, which has extremely light winding and weight, although the drag performance is slightly inferior. My personal evaluation is as follows:

Features of the 25 Complex XR

The exterior of the 25 Complex XR is somewhat simple, likely because it is a mid-range priced reel.

No Super Slow Oscillation (Infinity Loop)

The biggest feature of recent Shimano spinning reels is the Super Slow Oscillation (Infinity Loop), but unfortunately, it is not installed on the 25 Complex. The spacing of the line on the spool is more than twice as wide as that of the Super Slow Oscillation.

Therefore, the cast feel with little resistance, like the 22 Stella or 23 Vanquish, cannot be felt, and the drag performance remains the same as before. In addition, with Super Slow Oscillation reels, the up and down movement of the spool is small, so the winding is stable without wobbling, but the 25 Complex has a large wobble and remains the same as before.

Shimano's Typical Drag Characteristics

We set the drag to 800g so that the line comes out 30cm per second, and measured the drag values at low speed (10cm/s) and high speed (90cm/s) more than 10 times to find the approximate average values. The results are as follows:

Shimano's spinning reels tend to have a poor initial drag response; the drag is hard to pull out at low speeds and easier to pull out at high speeds. In the 23 Vanquish, perhaps because the friction resistance between lines was reduced by the Super Slow Oscillation, the initial response at low speeds has been dramatically improved. However, perhaps because the 25 Complex is not equipped with Super Slow Oscillation, the drag is hard to pull out in the low-speed range, making it a conventional Shimano drag.

Also, the model tested this time was the 25 Complex C2500F4, which is equipped with a High Response Drag. I thought the initial drag response would be good, but the result was the opposite, tending to come out easier in the high-speed range. Conversely, in the low-speed range, the drag is hard to come out, so it is necessary to loosen the setting value.

Drag Performance for Finesse Applications

Since the 25 Complex C2500F4 is a dedicated finesse machine, we also verified it with a weak drag setting. We set the drag to 500g and measured the values.

Even with a weak drag value, the tendency did not change at all; the drag was hard to pull out at low speeds, while it tended to come out smoothly in the high-speed range.

Bearings Installed in the Spool

Although it does not have Super Slow Oscillation, the 25 Complex XR has bearings installed in the spool and shaft related to the drag, and it is adjusted so that the drag comes out more smoothly compared to the 24 Vanford. It's just the difference of having a bearing or not, but I feel that this alone makes it worth choosing the 25 Complex over the 24 Vanford.

Anti-Line Trouble Rotor Fins Installed

Rotor fins have been introduced since the 22 Stella equipped with Super Slow Oscillation, and they are also installed on the 25 Complex. Since the 25 Complex does not have the crucial Super Slow Oscillation, I think line troubles are prevented even more than before. With the Super Slow Oscillation of the 22 Stella or 23 Vanquish, repeating short casts with stiff lines can rarely cause backlash, so the 25 Complex can be said to be superior in preventing line troubles.

Evolved Line Stopper

In the 25 Complex, the line stopper has evolved similarly to the 23 Stradic, making it possible to secure the line by winding it from the left side. With conventional Shimano spinning reels, if you wind it around like the 23 Vanquish, it cannot be fixed well.

Lightness of Weight

The weight of the 25 Complex is 155g for the C2500 with a 43φ spool, and the actual measured value was 153g. The 2500 size with a 47φ spool is also 175g, which is moderately lightweight and suitable for rods handling light rigs.

Top-Class Lightness of Winding

Shimano's MGL rotor is overwhelming in terms of winding lightness, surpassing Daiwa reels and currently being top-class. This feature is also installed in the 25 Complex, and it is not inferior to the 23 Vanquish at all in terms of winding lightness.

Rotor Rigidity is Minimum Necessary, with Large "Deflection"

Because the 25 Complex uses a lightweight resin rotor, you can clearly feel the "deflection" when pressing it with your finger. In this respect, it is equivalent to the 23 Vanquish. Especially the deflection on the opposite side of the line roller is strong, and if you press it hard, it bends enough to touch the spool. (Note: The 23 Stradic, which emphasizes strength despite being a resin rotor, does not feel any "deflection" at all.)

Winding Rigidity is Not Bad

The winding torque of the 25 Complex XR is very good, and it can easily reel in lures with somewhat large resistance. In this regard, it is very excellent and feels like the performance advertised by the manufacturer. However, be slightly careful about individual differences. Depending on the individual unit, the roughness of the gear may be large, and you may feel winding noise.

Hard for Line to Tangle on the Spool & Rotor

Shimano's line tangle prevention is very excellent, and in this regard, the 25 Complex is the same as the high-end 22 Stella and 23 Vanquish. A large stopper is attached, so the line rarely tangles on the shaft. Also, the rotor rotation prevention parts when the bail is raised are completely covered, so there is no worry about the line tangling.

Affordable Price

The price is very attractive, and you can purchase a light and highly rigid winding feel in this price range. However, regarding drag performance, I personally cannot say it is good, and if you want drag performance, I strongly recommend models above the 23 Vanquish or Daiwa's Luvias.

Disadvantages

No Super Slow Oscillation

The biggest feature of recent Shimano spinning reels, the Super Slow Oscillation structure, is not installed in the 25 Complex. Therefore, the drag performance is poor, the cast feel is not great, and the winding is not stable because the spool's up and down movement during winding wobbles.

Comparison with Other Reels

Comparison with 24 Luvias

Probably the biggest rival of the 25 Complex is the 24 Luvias. Both are designed seeking lightweight and a light winding feel, but the 25 Complex has the advantage in winding lightness and its own weight lightness. Daiwa reels have a slight drawback of being heavy with a large 48φ spool. Also, the 25 Complex is slightly lower in price. However, the 24 Luvias wins overwhelmingly in drag performance. Therefore, it comes down to choosing the 24 Luvias for practical fishing performance or the 25 Complex for operational feel.

Comparison with 23 Vanquish

Many people probably compare it with the 23 Vanquish when purchasing the 25 Complex. Honestly speaking, the 23 Vanquish wins overwhelmingly in rigidity and drag performance due to the price difference, but if you don't like Super Slow Oscillation, the 25 Complex wouldn't be bad either. The difference in practical fishing is only the presence or absence of Super Slow Oscillation, so if you are good at drag adjustments during a fight, you can choose based on your preference.

Summary

The 25 Complex XR introduced this time has: - Winding lightness and weight lightness not inferior to the 23 Vanquish. - Extremely high rigidity, though with slight individual differences. - Drag initial response is inferior to Super Slow Oscillation machines, so frequent drag adjustments during a fight are essential.

It is an extremely highly rigid, lightweight, and light-winding recommended model as a mid-range price machine. If you don't like Super Slow Oscillation, it is highly recommended, but since the initial drag response is not great, frequent drag adjustments during a fight are essential.