jhota

https://newxtr.shimano.com/publish/co...n/RD-M971.html

so Shimano is bringing back the option of a "top normal," i.e. standard, rear mech for '07. while i applaud this decision, i have to wonder why...

does anybody have any insight on why Shimano is moving in an arguably retrograde fashion?

juicemouse

"Arguably" is the key word here. Some like low-normal, some like high-normal. Some like Dual Control, some like Rapid Fire / trigger shifters. They're trying to take back some market share from SRAM. Looks like they have a lot of great innovative options to offer in these new groups (XT will have a lot of the same features). And I'm really happy they're staying with 9-speed (for now).

HillRider

I think 9-speed may be the final configuration for MTB components for the forseeable future. It seems to be durable enough and 10-speed chains and cogs are thinner to the point that durability must have been an issue.

If Shimano and SRAM thought they could make 10-speed (or 11 or 12 for that matter) MTB component that would stand up I'm sure one of them would have done it.

Also, 10-speed seems to be the stopping point for road components. Campy came out with 10-speed years ago and Shimano has only matched them. If Shimano could have leap-frogged Campy with 11-speed, I'm sure they would have done it.

Wider dropout spacing would allow a wider freehub body and more cogs while retaining adequate cog thickness, chain width and wheel dish but that would obsolete current frames and cause heel clearance problems on road frames. I think 9-speed MTB and 10-speed road groups are the limit for awhile.

well biked

I think a well-designed, reliable low-normal derailleur, used with Rapid Fire shifters, would be the ultimate for me for mountain biking. The index finger "trigger" would be used for downshifts, using the spring action of the derailleur, just like the front shifter. For downshifting under stress, this makes perfect sense. Yes, upshifting would be more cumbersome, using cable pull with the thumb lever, but for mountain biking, quick, smooth downshifts are usually more critical.........I haven't used the new integrated mtb brake lever/shifters, so I can't say what that's like with a low normal or high normal RD. But I can say that from all I've heard, Shimano's finally got the design of the low normal RD's right. The old XTR RD's offered in "Rapid Rise" (low normal) were finicky to say the least........As for why they would offer both high and low normal RD's in their mountain bike line.........why not? They've proven they can make bulletproof high normal RD's, and if there's a market for them, it makes sense to keep them on the market along with the newer low normal models. I agree with the above comment that it's probably about market share. And high normal RD's have been the norm for so long, there's going to be resistance to change, no matter how good the new design is........Funny thing, a year or two ago when the new low normal stuff was first introduced, you could find special closeout deals on the "old" stuff ('03, '04 models?). I bought two XT high normal RD's for $25.99 each from Nashbar. Now, I'd kind of like to mate an XT low normal model to my Rapid Fire shifters. But to do it, I'll have to ignore the fact that I've got a perfectly good, five year old XT der. on my bike that shows no signs of wearing out anytime soon, and I've also got one of the two RD's I bought from Nashbar still in the box! Oh well-

AfterThisNap

I know it's not just me. The sti configuration (integrated shifter/brake lever) of the past few years SUCKED IMO.
Can I get a halleluja for 2007?