Shimano unveiled their redesigned from the ground up XTR M9001 groupset today with the top of the range offering more teeth, speed and pistons.
Until the emergence of SRAM’s X-line up, Shimano’s XTR ruled the roost. The latest incarnation of Shimano’s top flight groupset has been redesigned from the ground up, rather than just being an evolution of the outgoing offering.
Cassettes grow to 51t, speeds jump to 12 and there’s a 4-piston caliper amongst many other refinements in the new XTR M9100 range. Notably though, they are still offering a front derailleur and multiple front rings, but there is currently no Di2 option or wheelset.
The all-new Shimano XTR groupset has, as mentioned above, been thrust forward into the 21st Century, despite retaining the front mech.
Cassettes jump to 12 speed with a redesigned hub to match the additional width. The new hub comes with new internals with a view to silent operation and reduced drag while freewheeling. Unsurprisingly, the chain and direct mount chain rings have been made 12-speed specific.
Multiple cassette options are available, with the alloy, titanium and steel construction common between them. The 10-51t will come in both 12 and 11 speed guises though, while the 10-45t is 12-speed only.
Prices start at £289.99 RRP and will be available in Autumn.
Brakes will still be offered in the classic 2-piston guise, but a 4-pot joins the fold for M9100. A new clamp band and lever body changes at the bar end of proceedings. The 4-pot gaining more adjustment and ServoWave technology over the 2-pot, which focuses on low weight.
A lighter rotor in all sizes is claimed to run cooler than the outgoing models.
Both the 2 and 4-piston brakes come in at £579.99 per pair.
It’s not just speed, teeth and pistons though. Rear mechs and shifters have all be tweaked as well.
Three rear mechs are on offer, both long and short cage, with a double ring specific long cage option. Pulley wheels jump to 13t to aid chain retention in conjunction with Shadow RD+.
At the shifter end of things, the new I-SPEC-EV design allows 14 mm of lateral movement and 60 degrees of rotation meaning you can fine-tune you cockpit setup to suit.
As well as that, Shimano now introduces a dedicated dropper seat post lever that fits the I-SPEC-EV lever and is compatible with all major dropper posts, including, obviously, the PRO Koryak.
Rear shifters start at £94.99, rear mechs at £189.99 and and dropper levers at £44.99 RRP.
