Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,728
Likes: 2,106
From: Madison, WI
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
No need for the latest 10 or 11 (or more?) gears on the cassette. I am quite happy with 8 speed, many tourists are doing well with 9. For a rear cassette, I like the 11/32, I use Sram but Shimano is certainly good too.
I would avoid the newer XT rear, starting with the M770 series, the smaller bearings did not do as well as the older ones. I use rear M760 and M756 rear XT rear hubs which are good, but as noted by others the lower level groups are just as good.
Will your new frames take 135mm rear hub width?