Shimano Deore XT M8100 £416.95
XT’s affordable price, impressive performance and relatively low weight mean it comes out on top in this test. Shimano’s tech works best when you keep the full drivetrain in-house, rather than mixing-in other brands’ components. As on Deore and SLX, a Hyperglide+ cassette and chain help improve shifting efficiency, and the XT chainring is also profiled to aid chain retention. Bear in mind if upgrading to XT that the 10-51t cassette requires a Micro Spline freehub driver. The alloy mech has an adjustable clutch that can be switched on/off, and the jockey wheels use sealed bearings.
Installation and set-up were simple, with a useful B-tension guide mark on the mech cage, but as with Deore, care was needed when sizing the chain. Shifting was a joy – XT’s action is light, positive and defined, with a satisfying click. Multi Release enables you to push the chain up the cassette three or four gears at a time, using the cable-pull paddle. Meanwhile, the cable-release trigger has 2-Way Release (you can use either thumb or finger) and is also
Multi Release, so you can shift two harder gears in one push – we were surprised how often we used this. The cable releases instantly as soon as you push/pull the trigger, too. Lever travel is short, which makes for easier shifting, and both shifter paddles are excellently positioned and have grippy rubber pads. Shifting under power felt effortless and, although some tension was noticeable through the pedals, the chain never failed to shift. Overall running was silent and smooth, even when clogged with mud. The factory-set clutch tension virtually eliminated chain slap without causing heavy shifting, and chain control was excellent, with no gear skipping. However, we have snapped several XT chains after roughly 500km of riding, which is a relatively short lifespan. That said, the cassette and chainring teeth haven’t hooked or worn. In all, XT is a true performer worthy of its price tag. www.freewheel.co.uk