Shimano Drivetrain Comparison - XTR vs. XT vs. SLX vs. Deore

[@mrvwbug4423]

Protip: The XT shifter works on SLX and Deore, giving you double downshift capability (and nicer shift feel) on the cheaper groupsets.

[@Mike-oz4cv]

Good tip. Getting an expensive cassette, chain (consumables) or rear derailleur (likely to break) just doesn’t make sense.

[@isthisnametaken978]

Aren't all the Shimano components cross compatible between groupsets as long as they're the same gear count?

[@PedroHenrique-dn1dj]

@@isthisnametaken978 I'd say even beyond that..I use a zee derailleur in a 36 tooth cassette, which, although 10 speed like the derailleur, it shouldn't work because of the gap between cogs, but it's worked smooth for the last three years, plus, I use an altus 9 speed crank, and even with the bigger chainring pretty much destroyed for me using it as a bash guard it still works fine with and I never have chain dropping. Summing up, if you wanna follow the manual rules then the answer is not always (like zee components with bigger cassettes for instance) now if you don't mind experimenting a little, then you can even extrapolate that rule a little.

[@Mike-oz4cv]

@@isthisnametaken978 At least one counter-example comes to mind: The latest Shimano Tiagra 4700 road groupset is 10 speed but has a different pull ratio than other/older 10 speed groupsets.

[@isthisnametaken978]

@@PedroHenrique-dn1dj I've been using zee m640 shifter paired with deore xt m786 derailleur, both 10 speed. Shifts without a problem, except some delay in shifting down from 8th to 7th gear. Probably because I had to tighten the b screw to accommodate the 42t cassette, larger than m786 was intended for. Or could be because it's a cheapo offbrand cassette from China. Or a combination of both. But I doubt it's because the zee/deore xt combo.

[@chrismitchell4665]

It's incredible how genuine and honest he is. Not pushing higher priced items. I seriously only want to buy from these guys after seeing these videos. Great work!

[@WorldwideCyclery]

Thanks mate! I believe honesty is the best policy. I'm not here to BS people. 👊

[@matthewvale4545]

They don't call him Honest Jeff for nothing

[@adamf.8564]

Chris Mitchell you have no idea. They are the most humble dudes EVER. During this pandemic they have been nothing short of AMAZING. I have purchased stuff from them in the past 2 months and will do even more in the future. Jeff is amazing and the dudes who work for them as well.

[@jonl8816]

It's not always pushing the higher sale if they'll return it...

[@amahana6188]

This video made me a customer of theirs.

[@n1sm0r]

After watching this video I ended up going SLX rather than XT and have some $ left over for several rounds of post ride beers (once we are safely able to do so). Thanks for being a man of the people!

[@poduss44]

I feel like the difference is night and day when you are shifting in real life applications with loads of torque. This is when for example the XT or XTR truly shine as you can shift while at full power and it doesn’t cause any problems which for me is a game changer

[@poplaurentiu4148]

For competitions or as a sponsor bike ok i would agree otherwise for daily use the XTR doesn't make any sense with that price.. i get the upper quality materials are expensive but still one full XTR set costing 4x Deore sets is insane : like i could have 4 different fully Deore equipped bikes or one bike fully equipped with Deore set and still 3 full sets as spares to replace.. just say'n regarding XTR price, so in my case for double switching thru gears i would really get XT shifters +rear deraylor and everything else Deore since they are compatible and still benefit of the 2x faster nicer shift feel. brakes in my case i got full set front +rear Magura MT7 - with 4 pistons they work awesome.. so yeah..

[@serafinlagunas]

Youre crap is probably not adjusted correctly. For the average rider an slx or max xt is acceptable

[@poduss44]

@@serafinlagunas yeah you’re totally right. XT is perfect

[@ColaGangster1]

I really appreciate that you took the time to measure the parts yourself and avoid doing mistakes this way. Really nice video.

[@adamweb]

the R in XTR stands for Rich!

[@WorldwideCyclery]

😂 Probably!

[@graysonadams2485]

Either that or race

[@scottpatterson8289]

Xpensive To Replace

[@abhishekjmadan]

@@scottpatterson8289 SLX - slightly less xpensive

[@daulusmoretto]

Actuality it means, eXTraRich! See what I done there?🙃🤣

[@Deuteross]

Get the Deore and spend the saved money on a high end fork instead.

[@mazditzo]

Or treat your other half so you can ride anytime you want :D

[@mattpatt]

@@mazditzo works best if she really wants a Garmin watch and the watch is already in the mail when you order a new bike!

[@mrvwbug4423]

Yup, Get Deore with XT shifter, spend the money you save on other upgrades.

[@Manetty6]

*get cheap suspensions components (a base model to serve as a chassis) and made them custom tuned by someone (eg. avalanche). it will be faaar better than anything fancy, over marketing bullshited, heroin priced shit.

[@colintraveller]

You don't need a high end fork you dunderheed .. you just need better riding skills ....dave yer money If you really want suspension that actually works .. Buy a Motorbike

[@cortarelva]

I don`t race and I have a family to support so the Deore stuff looks just right for someone who only rides for fun and does not give a crap about MTB snobs.

[@nasonguy]

Ain’t that the truth! I am lucky enough that I can ride almost every day of the week. I am rocking a budget build, got about $700 in it right now. SLX brakes, used XT homemade 1x10 drivetrain, no name rims with Shimano hubs, midrange suntour fork, etc.... It never fails to put a slightly sadistic smile on my face when I pass people on their high end full sus carbon frame bikes. But then I realize that they’re just out there riding also, having probably just as much fun as I am and I’m just being a judgemental asshole. Who am I to judge their 8k bike. I would ride it if I could afford it, lol.

[@Fred_the_1996]

@@nasonguycouldn't agree more

[@phillipconnolly5020]

@@nasonguy Ha someone who actually made a fair point on the Internet for once. Refreshing. Also many people, myself included would ride every day but I have a business to run. I go to the gym 5 days a week in the early AM and ride on the weekends. I can afford expensive bikes but only because I work hard and have been lucky at other times. At some point though the team will be big enough where I can ride more during the week :) Cheers and happy riding mate.

[@nasonguy]

@@phillipconnolly5020 Keep the rubber side down buddy!

[@frankhungtw]

Ironic that you rae the only snob here lol

[@bengoh26]

On older models, XT and XTR allows instant shifter release, meaning the chain drops right after the shifter lever is pressed before returning, but Deore shifter lever has to return before chain drops. Something to note and I got the XT for this reason.

[@Yertman6966]

As a bike tech, yes you can see the quality differences when you tune the bike. However, SLX and Deore run so well, and if you could ride blindfolded, the only difference between these is how they sound shifting and the double trigger downshift. Absolutely love the quality of Deore, definitely worth it over Sram SX and even NX

[@hamsterworks]

The SLX and XT shifter also has 'instant release' - It drops the cog when you press, not when you release. If is minor, but adds to a snappy feel.

[@northwestmountainbikeaddic6874]

Plus the weight difference

[@WorldwideCyclery]

Which Shimano drivetrain would you run on your bike? Btw, we have a SRAM version of this same comparison: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3vQhmioarmSjbc

[@sebastiendoucet06]

Worldwide Cyclery the one they put on Walmart bikes

[@ericr7162]

Xt or slx

[@tommorellato470]

XT because of the number of clicks to change the gears and the clutch adjustment, also price for me 🤘🏻

[@diegovillacrez8349]

Mix of Deore and SLX, May have to get that XT Shifter for double upshifts.

[@joshdonley2842]

ride whatever comes on my bike then upgrade to xt when ive used stuff for a year or so

[@mjojrjr6231]

Definitely the best comparison of different groupset and their prices with the best most transparent feedback 👍👍👍

[@WorldwideCyclery]

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

[@steven44goldberg]

You guys rock! Thanks for all the great content. Cant wait to see you evaluate and breakdown SRAM’s Eagle lineup of XX1, XO1, GX, NX, SX, XX1 AXS, and XO1 AXS !

[@WorldwideCyclery]

It's coming!

[@steven44goldberg]

Can’t wait!!!!!!! I had no doubt you guys were!

[@deathstroke1537]

@@aamgdp you sure about that?

[@spiral99able]

@@WorldwideCyclery that's what she said.

[@patrickcordero6673]

One of the best review I've ever watched. Very detailed and well organized when it comes to comparing.

[@bensimon8646]

Awesome video Jeff and all at WWC! I’ve been wondering about the differences between the tiers and this comparison knocked it out of the park

[@skfunk4550]

Holy moly poo, seriously if you guys had a shop in England, i would spend my money with you even if i had to pay extra compared to others for the simple reason that, i like honest, well explained and fun. It's everything i haven't got anywhere near me. Ok, now i'm waiting for the next video😁

[@overland_adventure_nz]

I'm loving my Shimano XT 2×12 groupset on my bikepacking mountain bike 👍

[@andys4971]

2x group sets get bashed a lot but not all of us want a 1x, not everyone wanted less gears for less complexity. It’s a preference thing

[@joshdonley2842]

Would like to see the brake sets compared

[@WorldwideCyclery]

We basically did that and more in this video in article - www.worldwidecyclery.com/blogs/worldwide-cyclery-blog/sram-vs-shimano-brake-buyers-guide-the-ultimate-comparison-video

[@mrvwbug4423]

so from my own personal experience, SLX 4 pistons are amazingly good, only thing XT gets you is a small weight reduction.

[@quaaludes7898]

@@mrvwbug4423 That's what i take from it. If I'm not mistaken the calipers are the same throughout the range, the difference being the external finish.

[@wareagle4130]

Shimano seems to refer to these as; Doere, SLX, "Deore XT", & XTR. Throwing the "Deore" in on the XT name feels like Shimano is actively trying to confuse us. Thank God for WWC for helping demystify this stuff!

[@WorldwideCyclery]

Dude! Don't get me started on confusing BS Shimano does. Have you looked at the part numbers and shifter / brake lever mounting terms and variants?! 😂🤦‍♂️

[@theshonen8899]

SLX used to be Deore LX. So it used to be worse.

[@luggasw9009]

In the 90 ties they were all „deore“ and there also was a DX

[@bartverstraeten2701]

Now this is a detailed review. As always perfect explanation.

[@NoBrakes23]

Nice to see that SLX cranks are still lighter than XT, (this trend goes back at least 2-3 generations.) And it still looks like a mix of SLX/XT is still a nice balance between cost and features. (I'm trying SRAM on my new build, but still running a XT/SLX/Saint/Zee mix on my 26" bike and 105/XT/SLX/Zee on my road bike.)

[@fanihermiani2450]

I would really like a video about what are the difference between sram and shimano groupsets !!

[@WorldwideCyclery]

Oh it's coming!

[@SnootchieBootchies27]

Main difference is sram is overpriced and feels clunkier.

[@christianholmstedt8770]

Shimano is better. That's the main difference LOL.

[@Kovacs-sf1hi]

Yuuup the difference is Sram is overpriced and feels smoother**

[@ianlynch6345]

It would be great to see a xt vx gx! thanks

[@daedelus6602]

I run a SLX 11s set with the XT shifter ( 4 down/ 4 up) and loving it.

[@cgreeneblue]

You get 4 gears with a lever push?

[@martinc6987]

Weight comparison normally comes with a total weight difference !! Maybe you can put it up in the description .Because thats important. Thanks a lot for talking through the parts individually,but the big picture would be the difference in total. deore 4216 slx 4262 + 46 xt 4127 - 89 vs deore (- 135 vs SLX) xtr 3582 - 634 vs deore Now drink a bit more than half a litre of water before starting and the weight is same like Deore starting thirsty ; )

[@yourfatson8262]

I use the Deore cassette Bc the steel is more durable and xt derailleur and cranks and xtr shifter

[@Alexandros_Patsialidis]

That’s a rad combo!

[@conman1395]

So you use the cheapest component that makes the biggest difference in performance? They all shift the same but feel is only 10% difference at most. But the cassette is the biggest tangible difference because it's so much heavier

[@roilev]

I'd use SRAM NX cassette instead. Not only it is more durable but also compatible with Shimano HG. Missed opportunity here by Shimano

[@yourfatson8262]

Ivo Roilev I have a micro spline hub thought and the range is 1 tooth less

[@Ropetable]

@@roilev shimanos 5100 cassette is 11-51teeth and compatible with the old hg freehub. 11 speed though

[@MR-dv6ms]

Old school equivalent of Deore LX, Deore DX, Deore XT and XTR

[@aldeux7086]

SLX is the sweet spot for me. Great quality for a cheap price.

[@NickyNicest]

Deore cassette Ftw Bc it’s steel and stronger. Then again I have an emtb so I’m not counting grams by any means..

[@phantomxo18games98]

Yep, definitely best bike shop ever doesn’t just sell bikes but also give us all the updates/information we need to know about.

[@jaytroxel3495]

Hell, I like the fact that he's got the Bourbon bottle behind him for decoration... lol. Looks like it's been tapped and some is missing too. Great, honest review!

[@thetruth6267]

Awesome video! I have the deore set-up on my Kona... I've always thought it was the smoothest I've had, and wondered if it was even possible to have a better set-up!! The fact that you said they all shift like butter, makes me think about spending that money elsewhere on my bike now! Good stuff!!

[@garydecker3281]

I am currently working on getting a SB130 with XT build.

[@James-yy4vl]

Nice

[@villekokkonen1841]

Thanks for this. Basically, one should get an SLX drivetrain with XT shifter. Best price/funct/weight ratio, imo.

[@adamwasser4960]

Great information! One thing not mentioned in this video is the durability of each groupset. Are they also more durable as you move up to better groupsets? and if so can that help to justify the price increases if you don't need to replace parts as frequently?

[@paulwhat322]

Yes!! But the opposite is true. Xtr is for racing and less durable than xt.

[@Fitnesstrainingpersonaltv]

@@paulwhat322 that was the GOLD Answer i was waiting for!! Thank you so much! You made me finally get the point for a decision. So I will stay on XT rather than changing to XTR for less weight because as you mentioned XT is the more durable one ! ❤️

[@paulwhat322]

@@Fitnesstrainingpersonaltv You are welcome!👍😁. I mean XTR is beautiful stuff and often the focus of my fantasy lol🤣, but with what I've seen and heard it's all about weight saving which a few grams make a difference in a professional race, but seems that in normal use xt is slightly more robust and durable. The important thing is to get out there and ride. Whatever you are on😉👍👍 Enjoy and good luck!

[@alcapone4242]

The longest life has an deore and SLX groupset. XT and XTR are lighter but are made of softer materials. So you have to replace the higher sets (cassette, chain, chainring) more often than on the deore and SLX groupsets. Have a look on here kzbin.info/www/bejne/jquWg3xqqMyph7c XTR cassette needs to get fixed by this guy to not remove the whole expensive cassette

[@leereinhardt6885]

Interesting fact that would put weight into perspective for a lot of viewers...My iphone XR with case weighs approx 260grams.So roughly an iphone X difference between the xtr and deore cranks.(I now imagine a bunch of mtb geeks,like myself, holding there iphone in the palm of their hand weighing it up) That's quite a bit, if you're a weight weenie, which I can only hope to afford to be some day... I think about this as I'm geeking out on all this MTB shiz. Thanks Jeff. Love your reviews.

[@brothereldrian9913]

So now we know what to do. Save yourself a lot of money by leaving your phone at home!

[@TangoOne]

WWC tells me that shipping may be slower due to covid. I placed an order on friday and got it on Saturday (the next day... with free shipping)

[@WorldwideCyclery]

Oohhh yeah baby 👊👊💩

[@kahoycrafts]

Great comparison video! I used to only buy XT, but now SLX is the sweet spot, and Deore is a close runner-up. Btw never noticed or felt any of my crank arms flex, maybe I'm not strong enough.

[@paulwhat322]

Yeah, the bike frame will flex long before the cranks

[@coconutmallman]

I like how when he's talking about weight he pulls out an LG gram

[@Sutta92]

I'd go Deore for the chain and derailleur, SLX for the cassette and crankset, and XT for the shifter. That looks like it would be the sweetspot in terms of weight & features for the price. Maybe I'd go for an XT cassette as well if I'm feeling spendy, that would save 120g. Great vid!

[@likeris2]

why not everything for XT?

[@Sutta92]

@@likeris2 money

[@IIISentorIII]

​​@@Sutta92 I sold 350 Bitcoins 3 years ago and have no clue what to do with all that $$

[@Sutta92]

@@IIISentorIII send me some

[@judithcarvalho4810]

Very interesting video. I just wonder about the durability of the components.

[@musbox]

Excellent video for a newbie like myself who's been researching his next "value"bike and getting lost in the component woods...

[@woduk]

Hope don’t make carbon cranks either. hmm new hope ally cranks and xtr 12spd on my bike would look nice.

[@C010rbl1nd]

What a great video, I have a pretty hefty MTB, but I drive slow, and only on bikelanes (yes Im old now) I run a 42T front and a 10-25 tenspeed back, I drive slowly (backinjury so I need the slow Kadence). Please do a video on suspension sadel poles and handelbar rising options for a more upright seating position.

[@C010rbl1nd]

yes its an electric MTB, I cant ride a normal bike, well so dos my back tell me.

[@aldana86al]

With xt you can actually drop 3 gears if you use both thumb and index shifter.2 thumb push and 1 index pull on its way back.😉👍

[@Poplavskyi]

Could you record a video how to do that? Would be useful for many people

[@matthewkeisling2776]

This is interesting. I am kind of old school, and I have older components in the Alivio and even Acera line which have three-gear downshift on one stroke. I’m sure there must be some reason why this is now considered a premium feature in higher end groups.

[@karlavelo2482]

You're absolutely right about the multiple shifting feature, it's nothing new at all ...

[@Psyclist80]

Thanks for the breakdown fellas!

[@dr.emilschaffhausen4683]

That Jack Black scene had me cracking up. Gotta wonder how many takes it took to perfect it and how much the crew was laughing as they shot the scene! Thanks for the great review comparing and contrasting the group sets. Just got a new bike that has the SLX and will see how it performs. Willing to upgrade to XT or XTR in the future.....

[@marinberndt4049]

Hey world wide Cyclery...I’ve tried to find some videos about all the rockshox shocks and what the differences is between them but I couldn’t find any. So could you maybe consider making a video about these differences between this shocks? That’ll help me out a lot, love you’re channel!!!

[@benasquith26]

Slx cassette, cranks and derailleur with an xt shifter, don’t want to spend lots on a derailleur as that can easily be broken and i don’t want to spend lots on a cassette as that will wear out and I’m not bothered about the wait or the cranks, they’re just cranks. But I do like the double shift on the xt. In my opinion this is the better value option if your doing a bike build, you can then spend more money on other stuff like suspension which will give you more of a benefit on the trail.

[@AbdullahAdnanID]

Hey nice thoughts. Still building my bike here. I will try your build

[@aimanhazim1219]

Currently riding this set up and its great!

[@consentofthegoverned5145]

BTW shifting to a higher-ratio, harder/faster gear is upshifting, so it's a double-upshift shifter.

[@stilianivanov3377]

I use SLX groupset with XT shifter. Also I have drilled the cap thats covering the clutch, so I can access the bolt underneath, so I can adjust it quickly. Of course I covered the hole by tapping threads in the plastic and I 3d printed a screw which fits perfectly. I also added an O-ring to make sure no water is going inside the clutch. I really hate the cycling industry, since they can never justify their prices for what you get....

[@Medievalfan94]

I would certainly mix and match parts as they are interchangable. I definitly would not pay extra on things like chains or cassettes where the cost to effect ratio is just so small. Also both are consumables, so I save in the long run. Regarding the derailleur, unscrewing three more screws to tune something that one tunes once in a blue moon is totally fine. no need to pay extra to get quick access. I would maybe pay up the extra to get that downshift feature of XT, but I would not go over SLX for the rest and not over DEORE for consumables...

[@oscarpenman675]

I run a 1x10 speed drivetrain with XTR cranks, XTR shifter, XTR derailleur and XT cassette and XT chain also paired with Hope chainring and jockey wheels and I've never had any chain slips. Brought the XTR bits second hand so it didn't cost me a fortune. If your on a budget but still wanna shred hard, I would recommend going full XT and possibly even SLX as its still superb quality and requires little maintenance however I would swap out the shifter for an XTR one because of the grip feel on the levers and it also requires around 30% less force to shift! Even if you went full Deore, I would still combine it with the XTR shifter, it makes shifting very crisp. Trust me its worth it!

[@mattdelcomyn8012]

Great review! I've wanted to hear something like this for a long time! Thanks!!

[@timothywild9980]

XTR and XT have ball bearings on the derailleur pulley wheels. You can buy them separately and slap them on your Deore or SLX.

[@liamwoods5353]

I know they make great fishing products, are they new to the bike industry???

[@snat6299]

No they have been making bike stuff for 50 years

[@joystix11]

I didn't even know they made fishing products until last month.

[@MBdrummer3288]

An absolute excellent job on this comparison. Now, I want to know what you’re running on your bikes!

[@WorldwideCyclery]

Well to be honest... Always Sram. I have many reasons but that is an entire other video we need to make 😁

[@davidwilfong7262]

Please do, I’m looking to upgrade one bike and buy another and would love the advice

[@MBdrummer3288]

Worldwide Cyclery thanks for answering and I AM looking forward to that video! Great stuff Jeff. Really enjoy your vids man.

[@jared_erickson]

Looking at the Stand box in the background and now I am hungry :/ GIMMIE ONE OF THOSE BURGERS

[@kmazzanti]

Total rookie here, just bought a 2020 Salsa Timberjack SLX. Specs state SLX,10-51t, 12 gears. I swear this thing allows me to down shifts 1, 2 or 3 gears, my choice. Based on this content what am i missing?!? My son loves his 510 shoes we got from you guys!!

[@WorldwideCyclery]

Well this is kind of my fault. I say down shift and mean the chain going down the cassette into a harder gear. This is confusing because technically that is up, not down, in gear number and in automotive language I'm saying it backwards. But a lot people do this in cycling because down and down the cassette visually makes sense. Hope that helps 💩

[@kmazzanti]

HA! Still A rookie!! I say down as in down to an easer gear but i guess that’s wrong and i Promis I will work on what is true to MTB. But, what about the ability to single or triple (easier) shift!?!?! Totally willing to start with operator error, thanks!!

[@keithchristner4522]

great video! i'm currently in the planning process of my Marino chromoly hardtail, and i was actually planning on going with the Deore groupo to begin with, but now that I know it's under $300, i'm totally sold on it. i don't think there really is ANY bad Shimano groupset. my 2x Acera is still a pretty decent, smooth shifting drivetrain and i'm pretty sure it would cost less than Deore 1x.

[@davidzimmerman7770]

I'm a big Clydesdale 255-270 depending on the season. XT is all I can use I've crushed SLX cassettes in about 100 miles or so. I do ride all levels of trails.I an currently running a 1x11XT setup and am very surprised how long it has lasted I'm on my second season with it. Shifts very well even when muddy very happy with it.

[@Atrophyiies]

Please make a guide like this but in 10 speed or 11 speed but nonetheless very helpful and informative!

[@joshdonley2842]

Thank you so much for this video

[@davetaylor7664]

Super useful! Trying to work out which groupsets are better than which was a minffield for me!

[@mtb4l484]

Do all of the cassettes require microspline? Will the 12 speed cassette fit an 11 speed freebody hub on any of these or do they all require a specific freebody?

[@WorldwideCyclery]

All require microspline

[@Justin-ny6un]

Deore M4100(10s 11-46)/M5100(11s 11-51) are also available and for standard freehub. Or M6100 and Sunrace/SRAM 12s cassette If you don’t want to change freehub. Shimano released a Microspline freehub with the Deore 12 speed. FH-MT410/FH-MT410-B for about $/£30 and uses cartridge bearings. I had my wheel rebuilt using one of these until I buy a new wheel set

[@roilev]

You can use SRAM NX cassette, it works with retro shimano (unlike shimano).

[@jfkusa123]

You can get a 12 speed sunrace cassette that will work

[@nodammit]

You're saying "downshift", but the levers you're pushing are for "upshifting". Like a car, a "down" shift is shifting to a lower/slower gear, just as "up" shifting is going to a taller/faster gear.

[@darkhorse581]

My 2006 Sram X0 downshifts 3 gears at a time

[@jeffloucks2120]

Yeah I don't get the limited shifts and then it's only 2? I could swear my old 90's XTR reversed 9 speed could do 3 as well. I just want that thing back.

[@benasquith26]

That’s going down the gears, I think he said it the wrong way round, you can do lots of shifts down, from the little one to the bigger ones, but can do only on on up on SRAM stuff, 1-12

[@xx-----------xx873]

You can go down 3, and up 2. Eagle can go down 5 and up 1. Eagle Grip shift can go 11 up and 11 down

[@randybrown6709]

I like the XT for my money and would consider an XTR rear cassette for the weight difference. I want to upgrade my Shimano 1x11 with XT 1x12 eventually. I'm glad they offer so many different levels and love that you can mix and match.

[@Dpher]

Just bought Xt groupset this weekend!

[@digilux4017]

Flex in XTR, Dura-ace, Ultegra, XT/SLX, Campagnolo Record.. All the flex was gone when I moved to friction shifters. Being a road racer in the 80’s with friction shifters only, I have rediscovered the the ultra precision and foremost the ultra fast shifting with friction shifters. And the reliability - there are no parts that fan break or wear out in a friction shifter… and it is light. The experience is like going back from a modern Porsche with PDK to a analog Porsche without any driving nannies, or going from Spotift back to LP.

[@braddevers526]

Jeff I got a 2013 Trek Ex9 full XT is the way this bike came stock, after you pointed out the double down shift feature, you can also single down with your index finger, well guess what .... theres also a double up shift feature!!!! Im at least XT from here on out... that is a awesome feature that I didn’t even know I had until recently thanks for the info!

[@peterchowra8022]

One thing not mention in this video is that all four groups are cross-compatible. So you can spend on the shifter and derailleur to get XT or XTR, which have the additional features not present on SLX or Deore, and save on the cranks, chain and cassette. A great drivetrain from a cost/benefit perspective would go something like XTR shifter, XT derailleur, and Deore or SLX cranks, cassette and chain.

[@hubdeep9452]

One of my bikes still has it's original deore DX groupset and it still works as slick as new. Another bike I hooked up DX thumbshifters to a Sora rear mech and it works great (even though it shouldn't). I've still got xtr rear mechs from the 90s that work despite over 20 years of being battered. Shimano stuff can last ages. I hope my new stuff lasts as long as my old stuff.

[@_xnk7257]

Great video, great production quality and very insightful

[@NorthernSkiAndCycle]

I upgraded my Trek Fuel EX 9.7 from an NX/GX combo to full XT 12 speed and it feels incredible. I didn't know SLX and Deore didn't have the double downshift (or up?), but turns out I use that features ALL THE TIME. I rode a friends bike with Deore M6000 10 speed and kept wanting to use the double shift, but it didn't have it.

[@grayisagirl]

Weird that my 10 year-old SLX shifter on XT Derailleur can downshift 3 gears at once, so does my friend's Alivio shifter with an Altus Derailleur

[@fazza2104]

I’m confused, I thought Deore was the name of their drivetrains like “Deore xt m8100”

[@pythological1505]

Faz5HD imagine the XT as a Deore Pro, no idea why they still keep Deore in the XT brand name

[@lavithhcm]

the best mountain bike video ever 🙂

[@jonathanwarren4288]

Great video, love the in depth comparison. You guys should do one comparing a the new brakes too!

[@OZZYANK]

This explained things so well for s dummy like myself. Thanks guys.

[@cooperandrus1443]

Keep it up, sram is better in my opinion

[@battleboy5164]

I have the XT on my bike...one thing I will say that I have noticed...the derailleur clutch system does get condensation either from the gasket or the flip cap quick access...mine was corroded in no time...so much that it locked up...so people that have that great feature on the XT and XTR...keep an eye on that

[@dirceualejandrogutierrezca7515]

Wtf, my deore shifter actually makes up to 3 downshifts at a time 🤣

[@trp1751]

Gripshift

[@mattquinn1147]

I get 2 out of an alivio lol i was going to change the shifter to match the slx derailleur but really haven't felt the need to it works thats all that matters

[@erod6468]

Those are up shifts you are talking about, when you're about to go up a hill. He's talking about down shift, right after an uphill and now you'll be going down hill and need to down shift to pick up speed quickly. You are confusing the up shift/down shift brother.

[@dominicabbott991]

Only 'MERICAN designed, Chinese built, drivetrains touch my Taiwanese carbon bike. 'Merica! SRAM for life!

[@WorldwideCyclery]

😂

[@wolver1n]

isn't sram designed in germany?

[@erikherrenbauer4398]

@@wolver1n Yes. Every Sram drivetrain component is designed in Schweinfurt in germany. Sram bought a german drivetrain company a while back to gain the knowledge. Calling Sram american designed is bullshit. Nothing merican to be found there

[@timoeveraers336]

@@erikherrenbauer4398 They bought Sachs in 1997 and replaced their name around 2000.

[@erictuthill9029]

Brand new into MTB, just bought a 2021 Scott Genius 950. Came with all shimano deore gear, derailleur says "Deore XT" on it. I can double or triple shift with the thumb. No limitation on the shifter lever!

[@stefanpariyski3709]

The double/triple downshift is BS, much cheaper Shimano systems like Alivio for example has it. Just a marketing move, crippling the Deore and SLX and making XT/XTR "have" more features.

[@jonl8816]

I wasn't the only person to notice that. I have an Acera and can triple downshift

[@teodorvangelov]

@@jonl8816 which model?

[@jonl8816]

@@teodorvangelov it's from 2019 so fairly recently

[@CaLiDaRi]

I'm going to upgrade my drivetrain once 16 speed is available. 1x16 lets go!

[@hollycow123445]

I have XTR because I completed 144 Shimano S-tec modules for that sweet sweet discount. My brain has turned to mush but my bike looks very nice.

[@IbrahimObertoLucero]

Excelente video pero mi reseña es por la poca durabilidad de los cassettes SHIMANO, varios de mis amigos estan presentando desgastes prematuros en los piñones de 10 y 12 dientes en los conjuntos de 12 velocidades, todos son DEORE o SLX. Mi recomendación es cambiar la cadena al 0.5% de desgaste. Saludos desde Venezuela Excellent video but my review is due to the poor durability of the SHIMANO cassettes, several of my friends are presenting premature wear on the 10 and 12 tooth sprockets in the 12 speed sets, they are all DEORE or SLX. My recommendation is to change the chain at 0.5% wear. Greetings from Venezuela

[@frankthetankricard]

I just got the 10-11 speed deore derailleur for my hardtail because I didn't want to replace my rear hub to go 12 speed and I still had to order this older model from germany because it doesn't exist in my country. We literally have shimano distributors and they've never heard of their 1+ year old products. :) For the products I have nothing bad to say. I mean the stuff they replaced are 10+ year old Alivio parts and they went on my commuter bike because they still work flawlessly, I just wanted to upgrade to a clutch.

[@kingpet46]

Swap my SLX to NX. Shimano is too noisy for my liking and I love the short shifting from SRAM.

[@arnoldwerschky9413]

He should do a video on box drivetrains cuz I use their box one groupset and I freaking love it

[@nickk6109]

I steered clear of XTR in favour of XT as the XT seems to take more abuse. I've seen XTR deralier pins snap taking out spokes in the middle of a cross country ride - not fun with a single gear limping back to the car. The only issue with the old hollow tech II style crank is that on some downhill cross country the crank comes loose, so you need to ensure the crank and HTBB connection has enough grip (and it's not just about doing the nuts up tighter). Best thing you can do for a bike is to switch out the old heavy wheels and hubs, front forks.. then worry about the drive chain. Biggest improvement was going titanium rims/spokes (mavic) and HOPE titanium hubs - made my steel frame Kona Lavadome xc bike lighter than most I rode with - the folks change made it more pleasant ride (Z2 lights back in the day) and the change to XT made shifting easier/more confident.

[@lukasbormann4830]

Sram wins it by far in the looks department

[@juansanchez-tr1dq]

And don't forget performance department!

[@lukasbormann4830]

@@aamgdp nah gx works amazing 🤔😂

[@bullseye0112]

Awesome video thank you I was curious what my XT could do. Only a half a pound lighter for the XTR with a massive price difference in my opinion it's not worth it even though I know the parts and components are a little bit better. My XT drivetrain works awesome. Thanks for again for putting out this video really good

[@borspeti]

Great video, lot of help. I'd love to see the differences between the brakes and hubs as well.

[@brycehiigel235]

Just what I needed. Looking to buy my first mtb. Not familiar with the mtb component grades. Mainly ride road bike know them better. When I bought my specialized tarmac I got the 105’s because the next step up is the ultegra’s for a $1,000 dollars more to save grams

[@IceGizz]

You forgot to mention one thing about shifters-according to Shimano website, the SLX is the only one which don't have instant release. It means you have to push and release to shift to smaller cage. Not sure about Deore, but XT and XTR both have it for sure which makes shifting down faster a bit. I had SLX shifter, but changed it to XT because of 2 gears downshifting, instant release and better overall feeling.

[@sebastianreddan1647]

Had xt and xtr on previous bikes, they were pretty much maintenance free, slx on my current bike needs more maintenance to keep shifting well, squeaky pulleys, sticky shift action because of friction in the parallelogram links and sticky clutch spring retraction. All fixable with maintenance but never needed on my previous derailleur.

[@rajm1976]

It's great you can mix and match Shimano groupsets. A good mix would be, SLX chainset and Cassette, XT Mech and Shifter. Deore is great for a budget build though, especially if you save weight in wheel choice.

[@DaviCupra]

Great video! Cheers from Portugal!

[@Rawkus919]

Great video, Interesting to see that 12sp isnt really any lighter than 2x10.