I run xt casette with xtr chain and xtr derailleur with xt shift lever.. the crank is Xx1 with AB oval chainring with shimano tooth profile. The reason is..I love the shimano shifting mech but i impressed by the sram carbon cranks. ✌️
I've never understood the obsession with a few grams of weight in cycling and bike components. If you have a decent dump or a pee before you get on your bike, that will save much more weight than lashing out hundreds of pounds for a very slightly lighter cassette for instance.
I understand you, those high end products are meant for racing, but that does not mean that people does wrong by spending money in a lighter bike. You can always stop to poo/pee.
thats what i always said. im sure a few grams isnt gonna make you get 8th place and if thats the case its not the weight of the bike but the rider. the weight of the frame is probably the only thing that would make a difference.
The last jump to XTR level components or any of the top level parts is generally a pretty massive price jump for a modest weight savings. If you add up all the weight savings and performance gains of the next level down across the entire bike it is definitely noticeable. Specifically in the wheels, but again cumulatively these differences add up to quite a bit. If you get a chance to ride a high end bike and then the low end model you may find the fun factor is worth the extra 2k in bike price.
@@NONO-hz4vo I always look at it from a supply / demand perspective. If there was no demand they wouldn't make it. People buy it because they have the money and they want it.
The SWEET SPOT is SLX chainring, derailleur and chain (best price to weight/performance), Deore cassette (steel durability) and XT shifters (functionality) PLUS SLX 4-piston brakes.
@@gabaslabas6897 There's been some good tests confirming the XT chain is significantly stronger. My bike came with an all SLX gruppo, and my only real gripe is that the XT shifters are amazing in comparison. Also bent the SLX chainring, and I'm going OneUp so I can replace the outter chainring easier and cheaper.
the slx derailleur is not an upgrade over the Deore. the Deore xt has sealed jockey bearings, but its noot a big deal as you can lube and replace cheaper ones when they wear out, but ok. the saving with slx is not the chainring, which is basically the same, but the hollow crank arm. the Deore cassette is heavier and absolutely NOT more durable. the difference between the deore and slx is the big cog, which is aluminium on the slx, steel on the deore. you will NEVER wear out the big cog. both cassettes are otherwise steel toothed. it is the xt chain which is hardened, the slx only has some nonstick coating which will wear off. the slx chain is just a waste. you are right about the shifter though.
@@Netox2 Deore is fine for everything, but if you want to upgrade xt for chain, xt for shifter, slx or xt for chainset, xt for cassette (it's only about weight), xt for derailleur, slx for brakes
I've got the 1x10 deore from 2020 and it has been flawless. Never mis-shifts and the cranks are super stiff. If you are budget conscious there's barely any downsides to sticking with plain deore.
My stock Altus on my mtb has been going strong for a year now, maybe I've missed a shift a couple times but no biggie, I'm pretty happy with it but have always wondered, is the difference in price between my Altus and a Deore (only groupset I could possibly afford to upgrade to) worth it to a casual rider like myself?
Tourney is the most expensive because it breaks down and needs replacement so much. Its cheaper to go Deore and only change chains and brake pads every once in a while. Trust me I did it. And if you want to upgrade Tourney the brakes, shifters, hubs and everything else is only compatible with the lower groupsets so you might as well buy a new bike. Start with Deore if price is a problem you won't go wrong.
My ideal setup: Crankset: Shimano SLX (maybe XT just for the looks) Chain: Shimano SLX Cassette: Garbaruk 12-speed Shifter: Shimano XT Derailleur: either Shimano XT or SLX with replaced pulley wheels
It's an absolute joke and just like rolex watches aren't expensive to make neither is that chainset. They're laughing at bikers wanting to shave 0.4 seconds off of a time.
@@doubleL_S learn something new about professional equipment: 0.1 seconds can be the difference between a win and a loss. If you are not a professional, you have no need for one. No one is forcing you to buy expensive parts, you can buy an Alivio if you want or whatever 😂
Fr i just recently bought my first bike and i was so confused by the different prices of the same model. How does one bike cost 500 and at the same time 1500$...
@@sepg5084 ouch.. That's my drivetrain! I pretty recently learned what that drivetrain is aimed at, and how cheap it is. And damn dude, it's way more than just 0,1 second. Do you know how much my fork and front wheel weighs? It's like having a small child strapped to my handlebars.. :( So strange to me to complain about prices for bike parts when you consider that a pair of pants can easily go for above 100€. I bet that people complaining here have no idea exactly how crappy the cheap parts really are. For example, the Alivio bottom-bracket in my bike is 70% plastic. It looks like a rat lives in there- that's how much dirt it collects. Sorry, had to rant.. I'm very frustrated with my bike atm. Everything is fucking crumbling.
After using a couple 1x11 Deore drivetrains (and finding them solid), the newer 1x12 Deore is a nice improvement, shifts noticeably better than the 1x11. I have a 1x12 SLX on another bike and it is the sweet spot IMO.
Actualy SLX is the worst IMO, from everything that we heard in this video and what I know from previos versions if you want to go on budget go Deore, if you want great performance, durability and tech go XT. XTR is for racers and for guys who have a lot of money to throw around. SLX is more expensive that deore but you dont get any more performance, same shifting and little less weight... and it looks fugly with that gray color.
I'm actually thinking deore with the XT shifter (rapid shift also to smaller cogs). My bike came with SLX but if I were to build it myself or buy from a brand where I can pick all the components, I'd see no reason to go with SLX. Sure it's lighter but most bikes these days weigh so much that 300 grams don't matter a lot.
Not really feels *exactly* the same as Deore, so other than weight (which is legit reason for someone to go SLX) Deore is the sweet spot, preferably with XT shifter. Maybe go SLX crankset simply cos it's possibly the cheapest way to save 150 grams ever if you see difference in Deore and SLX crankset cost, but other than crankset potentially nothing from SLX makes sense over Deore.
super awesome. my life pretty much revolves around bikes, i work on bikes for a living right now(not for much longer though, thankfully) and i ride mtbs multiple times a week. i'm getting a little sick of seeing the same issues on bikes come through the shop but I never get sick of explaining what the differences are in products like these. I almost like selling bikes and talking about them more than i like working on them at this point. I've been doing it for years and years and I am quite comfortable and confident in doing 95% of all services but when it comes to talking to people about the really tiny details on different suspension products, drivetrains, saddles etc etc, it 's a never ending learning game and its nice because it keeps me stimulated vs just cranking away on bike repairs all day. videos like these really help me a lot
I feel your pain, I'm also a full time bike mechanic which is why all of my bikes are SRAM AXS drive trains and Magura brakes, set it and forget it. Flawless shifting all the time and brakes that once I set them up once I only have to touch them when it's time for new pads or fluid. I can proudly say I don't own a bike with a Shimano component on it.
I have been rolling a full SLX drivetrain on my 2021 Specialized Stumpjumper Comp Carbon 29 for about a year now.... awesome!! I really haven't cleaned it or messed with it worth a damn, and still shifting great!
Thanks for the video, it comes at just the right time. I am in the process of building a new MTB and first wanted to go XT but then SLX to save a little money. But I couldn't make much sense of some of the technical differences, the explanation in the video helped me a lot. I will stay with XT and try to save a little money in another place.
Brilliant, well explained, nice to know about SRAM also. People say they are all the same, just different materials, partly true but you have explained the other differences in a really easy to understand way. 😁
I got the full SLX groupset and brakes a coupe years ago (2x11 speeds). No issues ever. Everything has been perfectly functional and reliable. I've only had good experiences with Shimano stuff. The guy at the bike shop said that's what he bought for his personal bike.
I have Shimano SLX 1x10 groupset on my fatbike with 2,700 miles on it, haven’t replaced anything set. Minus the chainring I upgraded from 26T to 32T. Shimano builds quality components.
I've got the XTR rear...XT front...with XT Rapid Fire Plus shifters. All my rings are Race Face. I also put on steel braided Flack Jacket cables. Bottom bracket and crank are also Race Face. The thing shifts like butter. The durability has been top notch. Highly recommended. Worth the $$.
The XT and XTR have an access port on the clutch cover for adjusting the clutch on the fly. The Deore and SLX require you to remove the clutch cover to make adjustments. I find periodic adjustments are necessary with Shimano derailleur clutches.
if you want to make your bike lighter replace the air in tires with helium = No joke Helium has 0.0114 pounds per cubic foot. For a one cubic foot helium filled balloon , gravity pulls the down on the helium with a force of 0.0114 pounds while the air pushes up with a force equal to the weight of the air the helium displaced, or 0.0807 pounds.
@@MartinTheGhostthis is right! That's why we do not see the full spectrum of bikes we wanted to see... But the presenters need to pay there bills with the paycheck from GMBN so they have to pretend they are independent!!!
I was lucky when I was looking to upgrade my groupset because I found a mix groupset, shifters and crank were SLX and the cassette, chain and rear mech (deraliuer) were XT and in my opinion the a winning combination became you've got the durability of the XT and the smother shifting from the SLX
PRO tip: You can upgrade Deore rear derailleur with XT cage (full aluminium with bumper) and XTR pulleys (light sealed bearing) - result is almost Deore price but XT level.
That's what I did when I smashed my XT mech. Bought a new Deore and swapped over what I could (as above plus the clutch tension adjuster cover). Haven't noticed any difference in use between the two.
Not much, it just makes life easier if an adjustment is needed (no need to remove the cover on XT). The part was there so I thought I may as well fit it.
I remenber trying to bend/break a 90's xt rear derailleur cage plate. Bending it in the vise was hard and it would spring back perfectly. A little further and saw some surface fractures, bit sprang back perfectly. Yet further and in snapped. Case hardened with a good spring temper on the inside. Amazing quality.
Let me boil it down for you: More money = Fancier features + narrower market demographic who will actually benefit from those features. Buy the best stuff you can afford and be happy with it.
What everyone usually fails to mention is that manufacturers are cross compatible too! Especially with component shortages recently many of us are running mixes of SRAM, Shimano, Sunrace, KMC etc.... How about a "best mix and match" groupset with both value and performance results?
On my other bike (hybris) I have ultegra crank and chainring front derailleur with sram rival cassette and derailleur and sram rival thumb shifters. Works fine, took a bit extra setting up messing the the front derailleur screws to limit the rubbing when in low and high gears.
I bought a microshift advent group set. All in it was about $150. It works very well and has a clutched derailleur. I cannot imagine the skill that would be required to actually get the most out of a group set that costs 10 times that price.
Pick your preferred price bracket and go to town, they're all brilliant. That said, there's exactly two items I always always always go XTR on - shift cables (brake lines back in the day too) and chains. The flurocoated super slippery XTR cables will make EVERY groupset shift better. The ferrules with little hoses will help keep crud out of the lines and ease high friction points. The only upgrade from there is DI2. Chains are a tricky one because all of the proper magic is inside. Leave watts saved for the world class athletes and think of longevity. More expensive chains use better quality steel, are made to tighter tolerances and have expensive surface hardness/friction modifying treatments applied to more of their bits. XT chain in a pinch, but XTR everywhere simply because they last longer - and by extension wear less into the ultra expensive cassette and chainring.
My neighbor used to race regionally. As a kid, I would ask to go over and just stare at his bike. He had the latest and greatest every year. All the stuff I would see in the magazines. He always used XTR
I have 2x10 drivetrain on my XC bike. It contains Shimano XT shifters, XT front and rear derailleur, SLX crankset, XTR bottom bracket, XT cassette and Campagnolo C10 chain. I know, that isn´t complete Hyperglide system, but functionality is flawless and service life is much longer than Shimano XT chain. In my long-term experience this drive and shift set has the best possible Price/Performance ratio😀
When your pulley/jockey wheels wear out on your SLX mech replace them with XT units. (…..well it works very nicely with 11sp, M7000/8000). XT shifters…..always.
Probably the best bang for the buck is a mostly SLX drivetrain up front and rear derailleur with an XT shifter (two upshifts and nice feel) with an XT or XTR chain (shifter nicer) and an XT cassette (biggest weight savings in one piece for lowest price per the weight saved). I tried a mostly XT bike with XTR shifter coming from a mostly SLX bike with an upgraded XT shifter and the XTR is hardly better. If I didn't know it was XTR I wouldn't know it shifted better and most of that bike was mixed XT derealleur and SLX rear cassette. The single nicest upgrade of all is probably the XT shifter if you can only get one get that the feel is amazing and you get the most gear changes per pull/push. Everything else is marginal in upgrade/performance.
Been running 1x11 Deore on my Beargrease and am surprised by its smoothness. My first 1x drivetrain. Still love my 2x10 and I may be a bit weird, but my old XTR rapid rise is my favorite. Set-up on an old Trek 8500.
@@tobyg4556 65g is still a good chunk to come off the rear wheel. The xt cassette is 122 grams lighter. I went from a deore to xt and i noticed how much less harsh the rear was straight away. Next your going to tell me you dont feel a difference between an alloy and carbon frame
I got two sram nx and after a year came lose shift bad... need tuning every 4-5 ride. Now i have a group set slx and it smooth as hell, i never go back with sram.
There are just a few SLX shifters with instant release. The normal SL-M7100 doesn’t have it. I have all SLX with XT derailleur. Works great! But doesn’t have instant release.
Oh my! I just ride for fun and at some point I realized that all my fastest ride times, and most enjoyable rides were on my old single speed bike. So that’s the drivetrain I’m going with for now lol! It’s cheap, lightweight, quiet, and pretty much maintenance free
I'd love to see a version of this video covering the SRAM components. My new bike has SRAM, all entry-level (Deore-equivilent) and I'd love to know about the higher end stuff that I might want to swap on.
IMO Deore sits somewhere between NX and GX -- heavier than GX but similar build quality. SX is heavy and flexy but can be good for people starting out on a budget.
I have several bike but the only one with Shimano is DEORE and it works very well. And I have Shimano for all my brakes :) MT510, and 2 sets of SAINTS brakes
On my MTB im riding 1x12 Deore Mech with XT pulleys and XTR shifter. On my touring bike i got a hacked high range1x10 with a XT 11x Mech with a Saint shifter.
Very informative thank you! Looking at bike trim levels and trying to understand why it’s worth/not worth the upgrade fees is greatly helped by breakdowns like this. Thank you!
Surprised how much more expensive the shimano sets are. The mid tier eagle NX is roughly the same price as the Deore. :o Thanks for getting into all the dirty details Doddy!
Just to stir the pigeons I’m been experimenting with running a Deore 12 speed cassette and SLX hyperglide chain with my sram eagle mech and shifter and so far it shifts sweeter and is cheaper to maintain than the full eagle set up for sure. Seems the big rule is shimano cassettes hyperglide chains 🤙
Imo the slx group is the one that makes the most sense for most riders. Its a tad lighter than Deore, considerably cheaper than XT, but doest really miss any necessary feature. That being said though, i personally would go with: SLX cranks and chain, XT cassette and shifter, and Deore mech..
Just finished installing a full XT MTB drivetrain and brakeset onto my touring bike. Drives nicely. Highly recommended to ditch the multi chainring stuff and get this instead! Less is more.
There’s not a lot in it with modern shifters and derailleurs. The Deore 1x10 and newer are great. The 12x can be very sensitive to changes in cable length. I use a 1x11 and it’s amazing and cheap components too when it wears
That was a really great and concise overview of the Shimano MTB lineup. In general I'm an XT guy, I've had a few XTR bikes over the years when an opportunity knocked, but it's pretty much XT as a rule. XT stuff is always an incredible value when you look at cost, weight, performance, and forever kind of durability. I have riden everything from BMX to downhill with a long period of trials riding thrown in there. Lots of broken stuff along the way. Somehow my full XT bikes just seem to just go on forever and I can't say enough good things about the shifting. Working on building up a Salsa Blackthorn right now with... full XT.
You can mix and match as long as the rear derailleur actuation ratios are the same & the front derailleur inner / outer cage sides accept the chainring sizes you intend to use . Also rear derailleur capacity . There are other minor considerations but these are the main ones . Also chain types are important .
I have to vent a pet peeve of mine: The correct names are not "shifter" and "mech", but "shift controller" and "shift actuator". Also, it's amazing how Shimano has managed to reduce the functionality of drivetrains by removing the high/low chainrings, while continuing to charge the same price.
Doddy, great video. I think you did a great job covering the differences. I have an SLX drivetrain on my eMTB. It works really well. I would like to go to a XT shifter for the double shifting, and maybe the XT cassette as well. Thank you for this informative video.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Do you ride a Shimano groupset, if so which do you use? Do you mix and match components? Let us know down below! 👇
I run deore rd slx casette xtr shifter….
I run XT casette, rear mech, chain and shifter, and a Race Face Turbine Crank and chainring.
complete deore
Cassette- DeoreXT
Rear D- Deore6100
Chain- XTR
Crank-Deore XT
Chain Ring-SLX
Shifter-Deore 6100
I run xt casette with xtr chain and xtr derailleur with xt shift lever.. the crank is Xx1 with AB oval chainring with shimano tooth profile. The reason is..I love the shimano shifting mech but i impressed by the sram carbon cranks. ✌️
I've never understood the obsession with a few grams of weight in cycling and bike components. If you have a decent dump or a pee before you get on your bike, that will save much more weight than lashing out hundreds of pounds for a very slightly lighter cassette for instance.
Im just looking down at my beer belly and thinking oh for a few less grams 😍
I understand you, those high end products are meant for racing, but that does not mean that people does wrong by spending money in a lighter bike. You can always stop to poo/pee.
thats what i always said. im sure a few grams isnt gonna make you get 8th place and if thats the case its not the weight of the bike but the rider. the weight of the frame is probably the only thing that would make a difference.
The last jump to XTR level components or any of the top level parts is generally a pretty massive price jump for a modest weight savings. If you add up all the weight savings and performance gains of the next level down across the entire bike it is definitely noticeable. Specifically in the wheels, but again cumulatively these differences add up to quite a bit.
If you get a chance to ride a high end bike and then the low end model you may find the fun factor is worth the extra 2k in bike price.
@@NONO-hz4vo I always look at it from a supply / demand perspective.
If there was no demand they wouldn't make it. People buy it because they have the money and they want it.
The SWEET SPOT is SLX chainring, derailleur and chain (best price to weight/performance), Deore cassette (steel durability) and XT shifters (functionality) PLUS SLX 4-piston brakes.
For me XT chain lasted a lot longer than SLX. I would recommend getting XT chain instead for sure.
@@gabaslabas6897 There's been some good tests confirming the XT chain is significantly stronger. My bike came with an all SLX gruppo, and my only real gripe is that the XT shifters are amazing in comparison. Also bent the SLX chainring, and I'm going OneUp so I can replace the outter chainring easier and cheaper.
the slx derailleur is not an upgrade over the Deore. the Deore xt has sealed jockey bearings, but its noot a big deal as you can lube and replace cheaper ones when they wear out, but ok.
the saving with slx is not the chainring, which is basically the same, but the hollow crank arm.
the Deore cassette is heavier and absolutely NOT more durable. the difference between the deore and slx is the big cog, which is aluminium on the slx, steel on the deore. you will NEVER wear out the big cog.
both cassettes are otherwise steel toothed.
it is the xt chain which is hardened, the slx only has some nonstick coating which will wear off. the slx chain is just a waste.
you are right about the shifter though.
@@thelawnet then, what would be the right combo in your opinion?
@@Netox2 Deore is fine for everything, but if you want to upgrade xt for chain, xt for shifter, slx or xt for chainset, xt for cassette (it's only about weight), xt for derailleur, slx for brakes
I've got the 1x10 deore from 2020 and it has been flawless. Never mis-shifts and the cranks are super stiff. If you are budget conscious there's barely any downsides to sticking with plain deore.
Try sram xx1 or xo1 derailleur shifter you never want Shimano again
My specialized ebike came with Deore and its been great
Deore But still get an XT shifter for a small amount seems the best for my usecase
@@ridesouls2830 I did. I never wanted Sram again..
My stock Altus on my mtb has been going strong for a year now, maybe I've missed a shift a couple times but no biggie, I'm pretty happy with it but have always wondered, is the difference in price between my Altus and a Deore (only groupset I could possibly afford to upgrade to) worth it to a casual rider like myself?
I can only afford a Tourney but the joy in mountain biking is priceless 😎
As a bourgeois: I currently use an Altus, the Tourney's XTR. Couldn't afford the Acera ;-)
Tourney is the most expensive because it breaks down and needs replacement so much. Its cheaper to go Deore and only change chains and brake pads every once in a while. Trust me I did it. And if you want to upgrade Tourney the brakes, shifters, hubs and everything else is only compatible with the lower groupsets so you might as well buy a new bike. Start with Deore if price is a problem you won't go wrong.
My bike came with a Deore level 12 speed drivetrain. I added an XT shifter and it’s an incredible combination for the money.
You did it right. The shifter is one of the best upgrades you can do. It can make a lower level derailleur work much better.
My ideal setup:
Crankset: Shimano SLX (maybe XT just for the looks)
Chain: Shimano SLX
Cassette: Garbaruk 12-speed
Shifter: Shimano XT
Derailleur: either Shimano XT or SLX with replaced pulley wheels
When the groupset costs more than your bike, you know they ain't playin.
It's an absolute joke and just like rolex watches aren't expensive to make neither is that chainset. They're laughing at bikers wanting to shave 0.4 seconds off of a time.
@@doubleL_S learn something new about professional equipment: 0.1 seconds can be the difference between a win and a loss.
If you are not a professional, you have no need for one. No one is forcing you to buy expensive parts, you can buy an Alivio if you want or whatever 😂
@@sepg5084 I dunno what that is but 🤷🏻♂️ brakes are brakes if you're not a fat c**t you don't need amazing ones. They all stop pretty much the same.
Fr i just recently bought my first bike and i was so confused by the different prices of the same model. How does one bike cost 500 and at the same time 1500$...
@@sepg5084 ouch.. That's my drivetrain! I pretty recently learned what that drivetrain is aimed at, and how cheap it is. And damn dude, it's way more than just 0,1 second. Do you know how much my fork and front wheel weighs? It's like having a small child strapped to my handlebars.. :(
So strange to me to complain about prices for bike parts when you consider that a pair of pants can easily go for above 100€. I bet that people complaining here have no idea exactly how crappy the cheap parts really are. For example, the Alivio bottom-bracket in my bike is 70% plastic. It looks like a rat lives in there- that's how much dirt it collects.
Sorry, had to rant.. I'm very frustrated with my bike atm. Everything is fucking crumbling.
After using a couple 1x11 Deore drivetrains (and finding them solid), the newer 1x12 Deore is a nice improvement, shifts noticeably better than the 1x11. I have a 1x12 SLX on another bike and it is the sweet spot IMO.
My son has a mix of Deore and SLX on his bike and it really great value for money👍
1x12 SLX shifter & rear derailleur mix with FSA crankset, KMC chain with 9-50t e-13 cassette on my hardtail & they shifts butter ❤️❤️❤️
SLX is definitely where your getting your moneys worth. Less than half the price of XTR and lots of similiar features.
I agree, but after getting an XT shifter, I'd never go back.
Actualy SLX is the worst IMO, from everything that we heard in this video and what I know from previos versions if you want to go on budget go Deore, if you want great performance, durability and tech go XT. XTR is for racers and for guys who have a lot of money to throw around.
SLX is more expensive that deore but you dont get any more performance, same shifting and little less weight... and it looks fugly with that gray color.
I'm actually thinking deore with the XT shifter (rapid shift also to smaller cogs). My bike came with SLX but if I were to build it myself or buy from a brand where I can pick all the components, I'd see no reason to go with SLX. Sure it's lighter but most bikes these days weigh so much that 300 grams don't matter a lot.
@@bitumen83 I agree, I have Deore XT shifter and Deore RD on my Dartmoor primal, prolly best combo I had on a budget
Not really feels *exactly* the same as Deore, so other than weight (which is legit reason for someone to go SLX) Deore is the sweet spot, preferably with XT shifter. Maybe go SLX crankset simply cos it's possibly the cheapest way to save 150 grams ever if you see difference in Deore and SLX crankset cost, but other than crankset potentially nothing from SLX makes sense over Deore.
No better person on EARTH to discuss this. I love this guy
Doddy's the expert! Thanks for watching!
Also, XT and XTR derailleurs have a port to adjust the clutch without removing the cover.
super awesome. my life pretty much revolves around bikes, i work on bikes for a living right now(not for much longer though, thankfully) and i ride mtbs multiple times a week. i'm getting a little sick of seeing the same issues on bikes come through the shop but I never get sick of explaining what the differences are in products like these. I almost like selling bikes and talking about them more than i like working on them at this point. I've been doing it for years and years and I am quite comfortable and confident in doing 95% of all services but when it comes to talking to people about the really tiny details on different suspension products, drivetrains, saddles etc etc, it 's a never ending learning game and its nice because it keeps me stimulated vs just cranking away on bike repairs all day. videos like these really help me a lot
I feel your pain, I'm also a full time bike mechanic which is why all of my bikes are SRAM AXS drive trains and Magura brakes, set it and forget it. Flawless shifting all the time and brakes that once I set them up once I only have to touch them when it's time for new pads or fluid. I can proudly say I don't own a bike with a Shimano component on it.
I have been rolling a full SLX drivetrain on my 2021 Specialized Stumpjumper Comp Carbon 29 for about a year now.... awesome!! I really haven't cleaned it or messed with it worth a damn, and still shifting great!
Check your drivetrain for dirt or dust. If I were you I'd baby that thing once or twice a week depending on how much time you spend riding it. 👍
I have to admit I am a Shimano fan boy from XT XTR, it's all I run on all my bike, I'm a firm believer you get what you pay for. Awesome insight 👏🏼
Thanks for the video, it comes at just the right time. I am in the process of building a new MTB and first wanted to go XT but then SLX to save a little money. But I couldn't make much sense of some of the technical differences, the explanation in the video helped me a lot. I will stay with XT and try to save a little money in another place.
Brilliant, well explained, nice to know about SRAM also. People say they are all the same, just different materials, partly true but you have explained the other differences in a really easy to understand way. 😁
I got the full SLX groupset and brakes a coupe years ago (2x11 speeds). No issues ever. Everything has been perfectly functional and reliable. I've only had good experiences with Shimano stuff. The guy at the bike shop said that's what he bought for his personal bike.
I have Shimano SLX 1x10 groupset on my fatbike with 2,700 miles on it, haven’t replaced anything set. Minus the chainring I upgraded from 26T to 32T.
Shimano builds quality components.
Dude you are going broke the 2nd time!
I run thru about one Deore chain every year, and a cassette about every 1.5-2, and I'm not riding 2700mi. Lol
Great video. Would we be able to get a similar video for Shimano brakes?
I've got the XTR rear...XT front...with XT Rapid Fire Plus shifters. All my rings are Race Face. I also put on steel braided Flack Jacket cables. Bottom bracket and crank are also Race Face. The thing shifts like butter. The durability has been top notch. Highly recommended. Worth the $$.
My trekking bike has a 3 x 10 Deore/Deore XT mix and it's been working flawlessly ever since 2017!
The XT and XTR have an access port on the clutch cover for adjusting the clutch on the fly. The Deore and SLX require you to remove the clutch cover to make adjustments. I find periodic adjustments are necessary with Shimano derailleur clutches.
I own bikes with XTR, XT, Eagle etc. and by far the XTR is the best shifting of all of them. Value proposition is personal.
You are bang on Doddy. The cross compatibility is great because you can customize your transmission without compromising
Exactly right! 👍
A nice chart with all of the weights and prices would have been a great way to wrap this all up.
Worldwide Cyclery did that:
ua-cam.com/video/5uUqYofiYVc/v-deo.html
He said and displayed it all.
if you want to make your bike lighter replace the air in tires with helium = No joke Helium has 0.0114 pounds per cubic foot. For a one cubic foot helium filled balloon , gravity pulls the down on the helium with a force of 0.0114 pounds while the air pushes up with a force equal to the weight of the air the helium displaced, or 0.0807 pounds.
this is my mix. Hope evo cranks/chain ring , KMC 12 spd chain , Sunrace 12 spd cassette, XT rear derailleur , SLX shifter ... works fine
I have the deore Shadow+ with praxis M24 on my 2022 full suspension trail bike and it works great.
I don't know about others but I would like to see the same video with Sram.
Sram sucks.
@@silver_c1oud why’s that?
On Road Bikes Sram AXS is the way to go. But on the MTB Shimano is the unbeatable King!!!
they can't as gmbn is sponsored by shimano (that's why most bikes they use come with simano drivetrains)
@@MartinTheGhostthis is right! That's why we do not see the full spectrum of bikes we wanted to see... But the presenters need to pay there bills with the paycheck from GMBN so they have to pretend they are independent!!!
I was lucky when I was looking to upgrade my groupset because I found a mix groupset, shifters and crank were SLX and the cassette, chain and rear mech (deraliuer) were XT and in my opinion the a winning combination became you've got the durability of the XT and the smother shifting from the SLX
PRO tip: You can upgrade Deore rear derailleur with XT cage (full aluminium with bumper) and XTR pulleys (light sealed bearing) - result is almost Deore price but XT level.
That's what I did when I smashed my XT mech. Bought a new Deore and swapped over what I could (as above plus the clutch tension adjuster cover). Haven't noticed any difference in use between the two.
@@ukbren What do you get with clutch cover?
Not much, it just makes life easier if an adjustment is needed (no need to remove the cover on XT). The part was there so I thought I may as well fit it.
@@ukbren Do you have a part number maybe? :-/
Sorry, no. I just happened to have the part available on the broken derailleur.
Great vid! Could you please do one on the Shimano brake lineup compared?
I remenber trying to bend/break a 90's xt rear derailleur cage plate. Bending it in the vise was hard and it would spring back perfectly. A little further and saw some surface fractures, bit sprang back perfectly. Yet further and in snapped. Case hardened with a good spring temper on the inside. Amazing quality.
That was a long awaited clarification and summarization. Please do more of this. Maybe with brakes etc.
Let me boil it down for you: More money = Fancier features + narrower market demographic who will actually benefit from those features.
Buy the best stuff you can afford and be happy with it.
simply the best breakdown of this ever. Thank you. This answered all my questions at once. You rock.
What everyone usually fails to mention is that manufacturers are cross compatible too! Especially with component shortages recently many of us are running mixes of SRAM, Shimano, Sunrace, KMC etc.... How about a "best mix and match" groupset with both value and performance results?
On my other bike (hybris) I have ultegra crank and chainring front derailleur with sram rival cassette and derailleur and sram rival thumb shifters.
Works fine, took a bit extra setting up messing the the front derailleur screws to limit the rubbing when in low and high gears.
I bought a microshift advent group set. All in it was about $150. It works very well and has a clutched derailleur. I cannot imagine the skill that would be required to actually get the most out of a group set that costs 10 times that price.
Absolutely brilliant summary 👌
Pick your preferred price bracket and go to town, they're all brilliant.
That said, there's exactly two items I always always always go XTR on - shift cables (brake lines back in the day too) and chains.
The flurocoated super slippery XTR cables will make EVERY groupset shift better. The ferrules with little hoses will help keep crud out of the lines and ease high friction points. The only upgrade from there is DI2.
Chains are a tricky one because all of the proper magic is inside. Leave watts saved for the world class athletes and think of longevity. More expensive chains use better quality steel, are made to tighter tolerances and have expensive surface hardness/friction modifying treatments applied to more of their bits. XT chain in a pinch, but XTR everywhere simply because they last longer - and by extension wear less into the ultra expensive cassette and chainring.
My neighbor used to race regionally. As a kid, I would ask to go over and just stare at his bike. He had the latest and greatest every year. All the stuff I would see in the magazines. He always used XTR
XTR is 100% amazingly efficient with no compromise.I gave my girl a ride and she said that bike flies.
Also is Shimano's lightest mtb groupset and with the best quality finish
I have 2x10 drivetrain on my XC bike. It contains Shimano XT shifters, XT front and rear derailleur, SLX crankset, XTR bottom bracket, XT cassette and Campagnolo C10 chain.
I know, that isn´t complete Hyperglide system, but functionality is flawless and service life is much longer than Shimano XT chain.
In my long-term experience this drive and shift set has the best possible Price/Performance ratio😀
My Deore level chain is going on its 3rd season with no measurable wear. Wonder why the high end ones arent more durable.
My ideal setup:
Shifters: xt/xtr if you can afford
Crank: slx
Chain: xt
Cassette: deore
Mech: xt
I'm running an old XTR 2x10 on my S WORKS and I'm not going to change it for anything , because it is simply perfect and works flawlessly
PERFECT REVIEW! Nothing to add. Nothing to remove.
When your pulley/jockey wheels wear out on your SLX mech replace them with XT units. (…..well it works very nicely with 11sp, M7000/8000). XT shifters…..always.
With the SLX crankset, the chainring is a very heavy two piece construction. Spend £30 on an aftermarket ring and easily save 60-70g.
Probably the best bang for the buck is a mostly SLX drivetrain up front and rear derailleur with an XT shifter (two upshifts and nice feel) with an XT or XTR chain (shifter nicer) and an XT cassette (biggest weight savings in one piece for lowest price per the weight saved). I tried a mostly XT bike with XTR shifter coming from a mostly SLX bike with an upgraded XT shifter and the XTR is hardly better. If I didn't know it was XTR I wouldn't know it shifted better and most of that bike was mixed XT derealleur and SLX rear cassette. The single nicest upgrade of all is probably the XT shifter if you can only get one get that the feel is amazing and you get the most gear changes per pull/push. Everything else is marginal in upgrade/performance.
Well played, Shimano. You just talked me into an upgrade. 😆
It is called "Upgraditis" and it is super contagious
Been running 1x11 Deore on my Beargrease and am surprised by its smoothness. My first 1x drivetrain. Still love my 2x10 and I may be a bit weird, but my old XTR rapid rise is my favorite. Set-up on an old Trek 8500.
What year trek 8500 do you have? I have a 2006 8500 and planning to put xt 1x11 on it
Deore, is more than good enough for recreational riders, it's better than SX and NX, all of them have great fit, finish and build quality
Just use a slx or xt cassette. The weight is considerable noticeable on both pedaling an suspension performance.
@@MrSupermugen I disagree, the most weight saved would be changing from deore to slx cranks.
@@tobyg4556 ita not about overall its about the weight on the rear wheel... which is what i basically said...
@@MrSupermugen I don't believe that 60g is going to make any sort of noticeable difference in suspension performance.
@@tobyg4556 65g is still a good chunk to come off the rear wheel. The xt cassette is 122 grams lighter. I went from a deore to xt and i noticed how much less harsh the rear was straight away. Next your going to tell me you dont feel a difference between an alloy and carbon frame
I got a new mtb recently no brand name from China...came with majority deore and m200 brakes and suntour suspension...must say im happy with the 1x12
Excellent! Thanks for helping me understand drive trains better.
I got two sram nx and after a year came lose shift bad... need tuning every 4-5 ride. Now i have a group set slx and it smooth as hell, i never go back with sram.
There are just a few SLX shifters with instant release. The normal SL-M7100 doesn’t have it. I have all SLX with XT derailleur. Works great! But doesn’t have instant release.
Oh my! I just ride for fun and at some point I realized that all my fastest ride times, and most enjoyable rides were on my old single speed bike. So that’s the drivetrain I’m going with for now lol! It’s cheap, lightweight, quiet, and pretty much maintenance free
thanks Doddy, this is what i needed I'm pretty much a born again biker and new bikes are alien to me, great stuff
I'd love to see a version of this video covering the SRAM components. My new bike has SRAM, all entry-level (Deore-equivilent) and I'd love to know about the higher end stuff that I might want to swap on.
IMO Deore sits somewhere between NX and GX -- heavier than GX but similar build quality. SX is heavy and flexy but can be good for people starting out on a budget.
@@szurketaltos2693 more like sx is the only option when starting out
Full XT build on both my last bikes, no complaints
That was great . Liking the interchangeable parts. Works for me
Also xt and xtr have externally adjustable clutch tension
Yeah, that's worth noting! 👍
I have several bike but the only one with Shimano is DEORE and it works very well. And I have Shimano for all my brakes :) MT510, and 2 sets of SAINTS brakes
Deore with XT pullys is a nice mid-level setup.
Nice 1st setup if you dont want to go any lower than deore... then just upgrade whatever wears out or breaks... specially if its for a first bike
Great video! Just a quick correction: SLX doesn't have Instant Release (at 10:39).
Keep up the good work! Cheers!
On my MTB im riding 1x12 Deore Mech with XT pulleys and XTR shifter. On my touring bike i got a hacked high range1x10 with a XT 11x Mech with a Saint shifter.
Great video and most of all, amazing editing👌🏻
Defo upgrading to an XT.. Thank you for the info!
crank: deore
bb: xtr
chain: deore
shifter: deore
rd: xt
brakes: slx
cassette: slx/xt
I tend to turn up at my local mechanics, grab something second hand which fits my bike, stick it on and go out to the trails!
I still have and loving my bombproof 3x10 $300 2014 deore group...
Very informative thank you! Looking at bike trim levels and trying to understand why it’s worth/not worth the upgrade fees is greatly helped by breakdowns like this. Thank you!
SLX for the win!
Ive been riding slc everywhere except the derailleur and shifter (xt). Seems to be the sweet spot for performance for money.
Thanks for the video ! To be constructive, I would have enjoyed an array to compare groupset main differences !
Surprised how much more expensive the shimano sets are. The mid tier eagle NX is roughly the same price as the Deore. :o
Thanks for getting into all the dirty details Doddy!
I've always found Deore's quality and longevity to surpass NX.
Thanks for the nice overview, my take away is XT for the „good“ bike and Deore for the daily. 👍👍👍
Just to stir the pigeons I’m been experimenting with running a Deore 12 speed cassette and SLX hyperglide chain with my sram eagle mech and shifter and so far it shifts sweeter and is cheaper to maintain than the full eagle set up for sure. Seems the big rule is shimano cassettes hyperglide chains 🤙
Great information and you made it all make sense.
Honestly i think the LX (or SLX now lol) is the best bang for the buck.
Imo the slx group is the one that makes the most sense for most riders. Its a tad lighter than Deore, considerably cheaper than XT, but doest really miss any necessary feature. That being said though, i personally would go with: SLX cranks and chain, XT cassette and shifter, and Deore mech..
Thanks your great gald to have u back
Great vid! Super helpful. Please do one for SRAM drivetrains. Also do these vids for brakes.
Just finished installing a full XT MTB drivetrain and brakeset onto my touring bike.
Drives nicely.
Highly recommended to ditch the multi chainring stuff and get this instead!
Less is more.
Oh and BTW, 678 euros for a full XT drivetrain? In your dreams!
More like 800 to 850 euros depending on cassette/derailleur choices.
I was dreaming of it, Doddy made it.
Great informative video! Saving this one, thanks!
There’s not a lot in it with modern shifters and derailleurs. The Deore 1x10 and newer are great. The 12x can be very sensitive to changes in cable length. I use a 1x11 and it’s amazing and cheap components too when it wears
I have an SLX rear mech & shifter, a SRAM cassette & chain & a Hope crankset!! It is excellent :-)
I love my SLX rear mech & I love my Hope crankset!
Hey Doddy, Last time I was in the shop I was looking at a range of chains from 601($48 Cdn) to 701 ($68 Cdn) to 901($98 Cdn!)
What´s your point???
That was a really great and concise overview of the Shimano MTB lineup. In general I'm an XT guy, I've had a few XTR bikes over the years when an opportunity knocked, but it's pretty much XT as a rule.
XT stuff is always an incredible value when you look at cost, weight, performance, and forever kind of durability. I have riden everything from BMX to downhill with a long period of trials riding thrown in there. Lots of broken stuff along the way. Somehow my full XT bikes just seem to just go on forever and I can't say enough good things about the shifting.
Working on building up a Salsa Blackthorn right now with... full XT.
Send us a picture of the Blackthorn into the bike vault when you're finished! We'd love to see it 👉 upload.gmbn.com
That was great and informative, thank you.
Awesome video Doddy!
As a comple package it go for the slx. It seems to be a good step up from the deore but only a little bit more money
That was helpful. I gotta read more on the clutch for the derailer feature though.. I didn't understand what it was from this video.
Interesting video for me. Never owned a mountain bike but this video is like the equivalent of road group sets, Sora-105-Ultegra-Dura-ace. Cool watch.
You can mix and match as long as the rear derailleur actuation ratios are the same & the front derailleur inner / outer cage sides accept the chainring sizes you intend to use . Also rear derailleur capacity . There are other minor considerations but these are the main ones . Also chain types are important .
I have to vent a pet peeve of mine: The correct names are not "shifter" and "mech", but "shift controller" and "shift actuator".
Also, it's amazing how Shimano has managed to reduce the functionality of drivetrains by removing the high/low chainrings, while continuing to charge the same price.
Doddy, great video. I think you did a great job covering the differences. I have an SLX drivetrain on my eMTB. It works really well. I would like to go to a XT shifter for the double shifting, and maybe the XT cassette as well. Thank you for this informative video.
I just got a XT shifter snd Derailleur . Will make my SLX Spares 😎
Super helpful video, Thank you! Now lets wait a couple of year for any of this to be in stock xD
Can you please do one of these video for sram, I’d love it