Shimano advances MTB drivetrain offerings with wider-range cassettes, superior-retention chainrings
As announced this week, Shimano has taken the advancements of its XTR and Deore XT 1x11 mountain bike drivetrains even further, while introducing yet more range and options as part of its Rider Tuned philosophy.
Last spring, we had a chance to check out Shimano’s then-recently released Deore XT M800 groupset, whose new offerings in terms of mountain bike components included an 11-speed cassette, redesigned shifters and revamped pedals. Taking the XT M800 gear for a couple of test rides, improvements in front shifting, particularly—even when making the leap from big rings to smaller ones—were quickly apparent.
As announced this week, Shimano has taken the advancements of its XTR and Deore XT 1×11 mountain bike drivetrains even further, while introducing yet more range and options as part of its Rider Tuned philosophy.
In keeping with t
hat philosophy, Shimano developed its new XTR and Deore XT 1×11 chainrings with input from mountain bike riders across the Elite spectrum, whether cross-country or trail, all of whom tested the gear in different conditions, seasons and locales to reflect the varying challenges that MTB cyclists encounter aross the planet. The goal for those cyclists and Shimano’s developers was more efficient chain management. The chainrings that resulted from those efforts—the SM-CRM91, Shimano’s new XTR gear, and the SM-CRM81 on the Deore XT side—achieve that goal through a new concept: Dynamic Chain Engagement, or DCE.
With a modified tooth profile, both the CRM91 and CRM81 DCE chainrings are designed to do away with the annoyance of a skipping chain, make the drivetrain quieter, and enhance the gear’s durability. On the XT version, steel-plated teeth provide greater durability, while the XTR chainring features a reduced weight load, the result of using strengthened aluminum teeth. For enduro and all-mountain riders, the 1×11 drivetrain range has also been widened, providing those cyclists with optimal gearing.
New CS-M8000 cassettes are compatible with XTR M9000 and Deore XT M8000 drivetrains, too, with a target weight of 450 grams.
Of course, there’s always the prospect that you might have to perform trail repairs eventually. For that purpose, an 11-speed chain quick-link, the SM-CN900-11—a tool-free option compatible with all 11-speed Shimano chains—is available to make those fixes as quick and as painless as possible. If you need to build multiple chains in a hurry, on the other hand, a professional assembly tool, the TL-CN10, is also a new offering for dirt-riding gear specialists.
Updated gearing and brake options in the entry mountain component category are also available. Gear combinations on new 2×1 and 3×10 cranksets focus on lower gears, a concern when riding in steep, tricky alpine areas. New cranksets include the Dyna-Sis 11 FC-MT700 34-24T crankset, featuring Hollowtech II crank arms, while the 3×10 MT500 crankset uses 40-30-22T rings and a 2-piece rank arm, strengthened against the stress of the trail with a solid, robust construction.
New brake options include two new non-series M365 and M315 hydraulic disc brakes. Further reducing the weight load, the M365 uses a light, aluminum lever, while both the M365 an M315 use technology descended from premium disc brakes. The effect of this technology—and its benefit—is a quieter braking performance, while brake bleeding is clean and quick.
Finally, these new brake offerings are complemented by a new lock ring style developed for 160 mm and 180 mm SM-RT10 rotors. These, by design, are meant to simplify handling and installation, with the latter made quicker and more simply through the use of two new tools: the TL-FC36 outer serration wrench or the TL-LR11 inner serration socket tool.
As these new components are set to be available for purchase this summer, pricing has yet to be set.
