Maelstrom 

I know there have been other posts about the Saint gruppo but here is one that actually does a bit of a review of the parts and goes into a little more detail about the engineering aspect.

I still don't like proprietary parts (reminds me of macs) but they sure look sexy for the first time.

https://www.nsmb.com/gear/saint_04_03.php

fubar5

Looks sweet.

Dannihilator

Won't use it until heck freezes over.

Raiyn

I like the derailieur idea but hopefully someone else will come up with a six-bolt hub that can take the new axle

a2psyklnut

I like what I'm currently running, but with prices on complete bikes, it's inevitable that I'll eventually have some. I DO like the new Rear Derailleur, and as soon as there is a kit to replace my rear axle to fit, I'll get it!

L8R

Raiyn

Get in line A2

Dannihilator

You all can have it.

Raiyn

So what's your issue with it danka? :confused: I'd really like to hear this one.

Dannihilator

I'm still mad about the change that is going to be done to xt in 2004, but it will eventually die out. But the reason I'm refusing the saint line is because I have other loyalties that shimano will eventually take away if I stay with them. Shimano is an evil empire right now, I don't want a bike that has 100% percent shimano parts, I'm actually having more problems with shimano than Sram currently, as of tomorrow I will be Shimano free.

fubar5

geez Louis, 2003 stuff is hardly out and there's already 2004 specs released?

Just read the article more in-depth, and I really like the der. idea. That makes alot of sense. I also like the new BB and Crankset design that started with '03 XTR.

Raiyn

What changes to XT? I hadn't heard of anything. SRAM makes great stuff, but I love the idea of that Rear D

Dannihilator

XT is going to go the way of XTR in 2004.

Raiyn

What do you mean? The new Crank / BB design or those goofy shifter / brake combo levers? Hubs too?

Dannihilator

Both

Raiyn

I'm cool with the crank / BB deal but not the rest. How are SRAM;s trigger shifters coming? I can't stand twisties,but it looks like I might have to learn to like them, if all Shi**NO will give us is those stupid combo things

schnell

That was my first thought when I saw it. The new stuff is good in some ways and not so good in others.

The crankset(s) both use the new 2-piece design. It's light and very stiff, but the chainline is not perfect. I have an '03 XTR crankset on my bike and I had to reverse the spacers to get an even chainline. I put 2 spacers on the non-drive side, and one on the drive-side. The chain is even, but the crankset is left of center on the bike...granted only by a couple mm, but it's still a gripe.

math2p14

If shimanot introduces XTR03 shifters to XT then we should all degrade to LX/Deore....and if they go further down the line then sram will be the only option....i really hate the new XTR....both cranks and shifters...

Scooby Snax

Raiyn, ahhh... LX shifers are still halfway decent, and you will be able to pick up XT parts real cheap after they swap format in 2004...

Dannihilator

For the 2005 year, the LX gets the integrated BS.

iamlucky13

The rear derailuer sounds cool, but I don't think I like the idea of the combined brake/shifters expanding to XT and LX. I admit I haven't tried them, but I feel more comfortable handling the tasks of shifting and braking seperately.
Might be when I buy my next new bike I will have to do the same thing as the last time I re-installed my OS: upgrade to the previous version.

a2psyklnut

Does anyone know if Shimano is ONLY going to produce the shifter/brake combo's. Seems to me, with so many different brake manufacturer's, that Shimano would HAVE to keep producing the Shifter Pod ONLY in addition to the shifter/brake combo's.

Can anyone verfiy or deny????

L8R

Jim311

I think Shimano is dumb for trying to change something that's already great in the first place. Rapid Fire is awesome. Having completely seperate brake and shift functions is great. I haven't tried the integrated lever setup, but then again I DONT WANT TO!! Who asked them to change it anyway? It doesn't even save any weight over the original setup, so that's obviously not the reason. Don't throw away something old just because it's old! It works fine if you ask me. And if they stop producing the seperate shift/brake levers, I'd be willing to bet a bunch of people would be riding Gripshift! I liked Rapid Fire just the way it was.



And does anyone else think that having the derailler directly bolted to the axle seems like a VERY bad idea? Granted, it's a strong mounting point.... but tearing off the entire derailler as opposed to just the hanger seems a better option than completely mangling your entire derailler assembly.

Maelstrom 

I think it is horrible...when something breaks something will REALLY be broken. I am a fan of weak cages and removable dropouts. If I run into something 50$ later my bike is running again. That can't be said for this new creation. When I have the cash and have actually tested the rapid fire pods from sram I intend to stop giving shimano my money.

I am not even going to get into the shifting combo. For freeriding. Has anone at shimano done any freeriding with this gruppo. What a joke.

And then the price. My god....I am done wih shimano.

KleinMp99

2005.....2 years from now. Cant we just forget about it and ride the shît thats out right now??

Jim311

I think Shimano is shooting itself in the foot. And when they fall, they'll fall hard