Mountain Biking - Shimano Saint -- Heavy Duty?

I just came across this group set.. They say its for heavy duty MTBing?

Anyone in the forums have experience with these? Its a bit expensive though...

they are over rated. supposed to be super tough for downhilling/freeriding. yes, they are very expensive

Ok it is heavy duty. However the cranks are on par with profiles (a steelset of cranks) which offer more stiffness and strenght at an actual weight savings. However the cranks are sexier than profiles.

Many of my freeriding friends (the ones who the set is made for) hate the flippy shifters and have chosen to stick with rapid fire with the XT brakes. That and breaking the flippy shifter empties your wallet quickly.

The rear deraileur had some bad luck at the redbull because of breakage by 2 or the pros competing. However most people using them aren't having issues (40 ft hucks have a habit of breaking parts ;))

All in all it is a good gruppo but you could put together something equally strong with a better freeride rear hub (it is still lacking the engagement points many riders like) for less then the gruppo price.

Yep I agree way too much money for what you get. I read a review of several guys who broke the shifter/brake lever not once but twice. Also yes you can get many different cranks that ae just as good several better for far less cash. For the money you will spend you can get many Deore, LX, grouppos that if they break they cost nowhere near Saint.

Ok it is heavy duty. However the cranks are on par with profiles (a steelset of cranks) which offer more stiffness and strenght at an actual weight savings. However the cranks are sexier than profiles.

I dunno, I find my Profiles to be much better looking than anything else!

L8R

Oh yeah, I agree with what everyone has already mentioned. Too much $ for too little benefit!

L8R

I dunno, I find my Profiles to be much better looking than anything else!

L8R

Oh yeah, I agree with what everyone has already mentioned. Too much $ for too little benefit!

L8R

Too raw. I don't like the look of raw tubular steel. I do have a lot of friends that love the look though, I am just not one of them. :)

They also come in black powder coat!

L8R

Haha.,..I didn't realize. I have only ever seen the raw steel. Cool.

BAH! ShimaNO!

Flipper DH/FR shifters.

Notice that something is wrong in that phrase...

thats why you can specify the Rapid Fire shifters with the group when you purchase it.
It is an option you know..;)

Does not change the fact that the flippers are a bad idea.

Does not change the fact that the flippers are a bad idea.

Word!

By the way, bad idea imho, for fr/dh stuff. For xc maybe it is totally fine. On the flipside now, kudos to shimano...because my XT (2003) discs are much more reliable than hope offerings....(so far)

Also if you just want a rear Saint Derailleur, you can't. They bolt straight into the axle, this means you need a Saint hub. Did I mention the only disc brake that works with the Saint hub is a Saint disc. Not even other Shimanoe discs fit to Saint Hubs.

So you have to buy quite a bit as a set, only a few of the parts can be bought as a one off Saint piece.

Also if you just want a rear Saint Derailleur, you can't. They bolt straight into the axle, this means you need a Saint hub. Did I mention the only disc brake that works with the Saint hub is a Saint disc. Not even other Shimanoe discs fit to Saint Hubs.

So you have to buy quite a bit as a set, only a few of the parts can be bought as a one off Saint piece.

Companies are making 3rd party adaptors. I have heard rumours of hadley taking a stab at it. But really that was a lot of tech talk when saint first invaded us :D