Shimano MB groups
06-05-08, 09:48 AM
#1
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Shimano MB groups
All:
This may be a dumb question, but I am unfamiliar with Shimano's mountain bike component groups. What are the various levels of quality of the various groups? Is there a level of component group that simply is not par for quality?
Thanks!
This may be a dumb question, but I am unfamiliar with Shimano's mountain bike component groups. What are the various levels of quality of the various groups? Is there a level of component group that simply is not par for quality?
Thanks!
06-05-08, 10:31 AM
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From lowest to highest. Hone and Saint are Downhill groups. LX and XT are the "sweet spot" in my opinion with the best balance of cost vs. features and durability. XTR is great stuff and built for racing but is not nesscarily any more durable than LX or XT for the casual user. SRAM has some very competitive products to Shimano that have proven to be quite reliable as well. I use the X.9 stuff and it seems to be the "sweet spot" int the line.
Shimano:
Alivio
Deore
LX
Hone
XT
Saint
XTR
SRAM:
3.0
SX4
X.5
X.7
X.9
X.0
Shimano:
Alivio
Deore
LX
Hone
XT
Saint
XTR
SRAM:
3.0
SX4
X.5
X.7
X.9
X.0
06-05-08, 10:36 AM
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XTR, XT, LX, Deore, Alivio, Acera, Altus, Tourney.
How thinly can you slice the balogna? Any of them will work but the more expensive groups will be made from more expensive materials with more precise manufacturing processes so they'll weigh a little less and operate more "crisply". The high end parts look cooler too.
The price really shoots up as you move up the food chain. XT is about double the price of Deore and XTR is double the price of XT. I can't subjectively tell any difference if I move up or down one group level but I think that I can sense if I move up or down two groups.
I don't like to use parts lower than Deore for bikes that I'm working on and I just can't justify using XTR.
How thinly can you slice the balogna? Any of them will work but the more expensive groups will be made from more expensive materials with more precise manufacturing processes so they'll weigh a little less and operate more "crisply". The high end parts look cooler too.
The price really shoots up as you move up the food chain. XT is about double the price of Deore and XTR is double the price of XT. I can't subjectively tell any difference if I move up or down one group level but I think that I can sense if I move up or down two groups.
I don't like to use parts lower than Deore for bikes that I'm working on and I just can't justify using XTR.
06-05-08, 02:49 PM
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06-05-08, 03:02 PM
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From lowest to highest. Hone and Saint are Downhill groups. LX and XT are the "sweet spot" in my opinion with the best balance of cost vs. features and durability. XTR is great stuff and built for racing but is not nesscarily any more durable than LX or XT for the casual user. SRAM has some very competitive products to Shimano that have proven to be quite reliable as well. I use the X.9 stuff and it seems to be the "sweet spot" int the line.
Shimano:
Alivio
Deore
LX
Hone
XT
Saint
XTR
SRAM:
3.0
SX4
X.5
X.7
X.9
X.0
Shimano:
Alivio
Deore
LX
Hone
XT
Saint
XTR
SRAM:
3.0
SX4
X.5
X.7
X.9
X.0
I would add this change:
Shimano:
Alivio
Deore
LX = Hone
XT = Saint
XTR
Hone and Saint are marketed towards downhill or Freeride type riders (think big mountainbikes that jump huge jumps and drops). Supposedly they are made "extra strong" for this endevor.
I am just as happy most of the time with LX as XT.
and or x.7 as with x.9 for SRAM stuff.
if you do go up a notch go first for the shifters then rear derailer then front derailer in that order.
SRAM and Shimano don't play well together if mixing rear shifters with rear derailers.
I use the X.9 stuff and it seems to be the "sweet spot" in the line
06-05-08, 05:37 PM
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Not a dumb question at all. I'd always wondered about the lower-end groups that show up OEM on cheaper bikes (i.e. Acera vs. Alivio on $300 hybrids). Bike geeks never talk about this stuff (except for snorting at it occasionally), but those low-end groups are what get many of our friends and family around.
