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First Look: All-New Shimano XTR M9000 – 1x, 2x and 3x 11-Speed MTB Groups

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XTR M9000 Race001

Chances are good most of you don’t all have the same riding style. Some of you probably ride for a physical challenge while others ride for a technical challenge. Some for both. Some of you have specialty bikes devoted to one specific type of riding, while others a quiver of one that’s as versatile as possible.

The point is, when Shimano set out to create the next version of XTR, they didn’t feel that one drivetrain system would fit all riders. Calling on their 22 years of experience in making things shift, Shimano has introduced a new XTR M9000 group to be as versatile and capable as the riders it’s built for.

Those looking for an answer to the 1x trend will happily find it with 9000. And those looking for one of the widest range triples in history will find it as well. Details after the break…

Shimano XTR m9000 11 speed 1x 2x  3x (19)

At the heart of Shimano’s M9000 and M9020 groups is the concept of rhythm and range. One can easily see that Shimano’s 1x system doesn’t have the spread of their competitor;s wide range cassette, but in typical Shimano fashion the M9000 is all about system engineering and producing the most efficient drivetrain possible. Everyone wants to know about the 1x option of the new XTR so we’ll start with the new HG-X11 11-40 cassette.

Shimano XTR m9000 11 speed 1x 2x  3x (31)

No, there are no 10t or 42t cogs, but one of the main benefits of the cassettes is that it fits on standard Shimano freehub bodies without any new parts. Where their 11-speed road groups required a slightly wider freehub body, Shimano was able to squeeze 11 mountain bike gears into the space of 10 without making the gears any narrower thanks to the larger low cogs. Unlike a road cassette, the big cogs can be dished around the spokes since they sit out farther, so the freehub body and the hub spacing remain the same.

Tooth counts are 11-13-15-17-19-21-24-27-31-35-40, skipping two, then three, then four and finally a five count. Shimano calls it Rhythm Step gearing, and the idea is that you are able to save energy by staying in control of cadence and effort because of the closer steps in gearing. With the new cassette a single shift is a cadence adjustment of about 10 rpm, a double shift is a 20 rpm change which represents a terrain change, and a triple shift is about a 30 rpm difference for a reactionary or emergency shift.

HG-X11 cassettes use a multi-spider structure with two clusters built on a carbon spider and two clusters with aluminum spiders. There are six titanium, one aluminum, and four steel cogs. Weight is claimed at 330g.

Shimano XTR m9000 11 speed 1x 2x  3x (25)

So why not offer the range of XX1 for the XTR 1x? With the improvements to XTR, Shimano feels that if you need more range than the 1x system you are better off with the new Trail 2x crank which offers drastically improved performance, especially from the front derailleur.

The Hollow Tech II crank uses a 1x specific Hollow Glide chainring with titanium teeth. Cranks will be offered in a 560g M9000-1 Race version and a 590g M9020-1 Trail version each with 30, 32, 34, and 36t chainring options. When Shimano set out to build a 1x crank it had to be longer wearing, and offer exceptional driving stiffness while still preventing chain drop.

An interesting design feature of all of the XTR cranks is the modular chainring construction which allows 1x, 2x, or 3x on the same crank. 1x cranks will be sold as crank arms only with chainrings sold separately, while the trail double will be sold as 38/28, 36/26, or 34/24. Doubles will be offered in the 158mm q-factor m9000 crank which weighs 620g, and the 168mm q-factor m9020 crank at 645g. Trail doubles use the Hollow Glide chainring technology for the driving gear (big ring) and an aluminum granny gear.

Think of the most frequent gears you go to on your cassette. Shimano calls these the Driving Range. The new 2x system is designed to get you out of “granny gear jail” meaning that once you shift down to the granny gear you aren’t stuck there for the rest of the climb. There will also be a compact triple offered in the 11 speed group with a 22-30-40t gearing. Combined with the 40t cassette, the 22t will offer the “lowest gear in history of mountain biking ever.” The m9020-3 will weigh in around 655g.

Shimano XTR m9000 11 speed 1x 2x  3x (21)

The new Hollow pin HG-X11 chain is an asymmetric plate design for improved shifting front and rear that uses Sil-tec coated plates and rollers. The Sil-Tec coating uses embedded fluorine particles to reduce friction and improve lubrication properties. Claimed weight is 245g.

Shimano XTR m9000 11 speed 1x 2x  3x (36)

At first glance the new 1x specific chainrings don’t look like 1x specific rings, but it’s all in the details. Rather than using a narrow-wide design made popular by many manufacturers, Shimano created teeth that are wider and taller than the standard tooth and also includes a hook to the front, all of which helps keep the chain in check. Shimano claims the system is good for complete chain retention without a guide in 99% of riding.

The other interesting part about the chainrings is that they are a three part design utilizing carbon, aluminum and titanium. The driving gears are titanium for long wearing instead of a hard anodized aluminum which should keep the gears running longer. Each part of the structure works together to make an extremely stiff chainring for 1x efficiency.

Shimano XTR m9000 11 speed 1x 2x  3x (22)

Of course no modern drivetrain would be complete without a clutched derailleur and the RD-M9000 steps in where the previous derailleur left off.

Shimano XTR m9000 11 speed 1x 2x  3x (20)

Still building on the Shadow Plus design, the derailleur has new geometry that reduces shift effort and an offset parallelogram that improves rear derailleur stability and shifting accuracy. An offset top pulley brings the chain further down as it goes up the cassette, adding clearance off the larger cogs to ensure easy shifting.

This wasn’t something Shimano was really advertising, but apparently this XTR rear derailleur is 30mm narrower from the outside of the bike compared to the competition.

Shimano XTR m9000 11 speed 1x 2x  3x (30) Shimano XTR m9000 11 speed 1x 2x  3x (29)

The on/off switch for the clutch mechanism is functionally the same, but it looks a bit different and has a new adjustment trick up its sleeve. While the previous Shadow+ derailleurs had a clutch tension adjust, you had to remove the cover and fiddle with the derailleur to make the change. Now the derailleur features an allen key adjustment that is covered with a protective cap so you can easily make the clutch tension higher or lower depending on your use. The XTR RD-M9000 will be sold in GS (mid cage) and SGS (long cage) versions.

Shimano XTR m9000 11 speed 1x 2x  3x (32)

Shimano XTR m9000 11 speed 1x 2x  3x (23) Shimano XTR m9000 11 speed 1x 2x  3x (24)

One of the reasons for going 1x has always been to ditch the front derailleur because they can be hard to adjust, are affected by suspension travel, and can limit tire clearance. Enter Side Swing. Rather than having the bulk of the derailleur behind the cage, it now sits above it which drastically improves tire clearance. The derailleur also uses a front mount cable which provides a much cleaner entry to the derailleur from the downtube. Side Swing derailleurs will work with all four of the previous derailleur mounting standards – D type, E type, High clamp, and Low clamp depending on the frame. Weight on the new derailleur? Just 100g.

Shimano XTR m9000 11 speed 1x 2x  3x (34)

Shimano XTR m9000 11 speed 1x 2x  3x (26)

Finally, everything is controlled by the new Rapid Fire Plus shifters. Packed with Shimano features like Vivid Index for feel, and multi-release for dropping more than one gear, the shifters use a new lever geometry which is longer to offer more leverage for today’s clutch equipped derailleurs. The levers are also carbon and feature textured surfaces for grip. At 100g per shifter, M9000 may make you rethink taking that front shifter off your bike. Shift effort is reduced by 20 percent and will be compatible with the new i-spec II mounting system.

New wheels and brakes posting separately.

Bike.Shimano.com

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98 Comments
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Pasabaporaquí
Pasabaporaquí
9 years ago

Oh my!
I recently went to 10sp, and with this I’ll be outdated again…
On a serious note, this is the ugliest XTR ever. No doubt it will work better than anything before, but from an aesthetics point of view, it’s awful.
This groupset has gone down with each incarnation, from the gorgeous 1992 version to this.
Come on Shimano! Your groupsets are awesome, make them pretty as well 😉

Henry
Henry
9 years ago

I think the finish on those cranks looks awesome!

K11
K11
9 years ago

shimano seems to be slowly adding composites/carbon to their products. i prefer the current xtr crank looks over the new. the crank has a middleburn look.

João
João
9 years ago

Congratulations, but i must tell that first SRAM build and then SHIMANO copies 😉

Quinn
Quinn
9 years ago

WTF Shimano??? a 33 speed drivetrain with an 11-36 cassette and and 2/3-speed crank ratios that make NO sense to me.

Mark @ GRAVELBIKE
9 years ago

Are the rear shifty bits compatible with Shimano’s 11-speed road shifters?

drewandnotu
drewandnotu
9 years ago

It really seems like they’ve gone to great lengths to avoid acknowledging that SRAM got it right. They can talk all day about ratios and numbers and tech but at the end of the day who wants this? Clearly riders want 1X drivetrains, and they don’t even have a short cage derailleur option? I honestly prefer the feel of shimano shifters, and I prefer their 10 speed chains and cassettes over SRAMs, but if this is what’s going to trickle down to XT I don’t see any reason to ditch my X01 setup (which I LOVE).

Dustin
Dustin
9 years ago

I’m a Shimano guy at heart, but this is not going to get me to give up my XX1.

If SRAM would only come out with a X9 equivalent version of the 1×11 system they’d rule the market. It’s the cost holding most back at this point, as seen in the proliferation of the Wolftooth-type 42t cog solutions.

Flash
Flash
9 years ago

Now give the 1×10. That’s what I’m waiting for. 11-40 would be fine thank you.

Dustin
Dustin
9 years ago

Shimano seems to have come out with the ultimate 2X solution at a time when many are finding ways to go 1×11. And for going 1×11, SRAM clearly figured out a better way. If SRAM would only come out with a X9 equivalent version of the 1×11 system they’d rule the market. It’s the cost holding most back at this point, as seen in the proliferation of the Wolftooth-type 42t cog solutions.

This is all coming from a guy who has traditionally been a shimano guy and SRAM hater.

pmurf
pmurf
9 years ago

Super random idea amidst all the discussion, but with remote lockouts and dropper posts abound, would it be beneficial to have a 3rd paddle on the rear shifter to remotely engage and disengage the clutch function? I’ve never used a clutch derailleur, and don’t know how often you really need to switch it on or off, but seems like it would be annoying to have to get off the bike to do it. Thoughts?

Jimmy John's
Jimmy John's
9 years ago

{auto bike forum response script}

I’m sticking with my {insert pre-1989 gruppo name} components on my {insert old-a** bike brand}, which still works after {current year – 38 years} years.

Can’t believe these {insert profanity} bike companies keep coming out with new stuff when the old stuff works just fine. My original bike cost only {insert pre-inflation adjusted original price} back in {current year – 38 years}. I was at {insert LBS name} the other day and I saw a bike that cost {insert pre-inflation adjusted original price * 20}! Who’s going to pay that much? I can buy a {insert car or motorcycle} for that much money!

{end script}

KitKat
KitKat
9 years ago

I agree the look is not very cool. I like the idea that the cassette actually fits everything that’s already out there without the need for a proprietary driver body (WTF?) Interesting FD design, very different approach. Cable routing from under the BB will be difficult and twisty. Shimano vs SRAM on shifting is stiff a matter of preference (even though I’m a Shimano guy), but the brakes are the most impressive parts. Fiddle with SRAM on a drivetrain-Aok. Brakes=only Shimano.

Bono
Bono
9 years ago

First head over to singletrackworld.com for the videos – amazing. it seems Shimano have really engineered this group set to enhance current bike design allowing shortening chain stays and the fact this can fit on current hubs (as far as I currently understand it)

this for me is better than SRAM x1, if you’re into cycling really steep sections x1 upfront isn’t for all of us! yes shout ‘you’re weak’ but I can clear sections most people mostly walk up. cycling isn’t always about going down hill fast sometimes getting over that gut busting aching steep section is important and rewarding. We all can’t be animals and world cup level athletes

when this technology (front dérailleur in particular) trickles down as it assuredly will – it’s going to have benefits for lots of folk

Tyler
Tyler
9 years ago

@pmurf You only need to disengage the clutch on the rear derailleur to remove the wheel, otherwise leave it on at all times.

JasonK
JasonK
9 years ago

Pmurf: I have an XT derailleur with a clutch. The only time I disengage the clutch is to remove the rear wheel. Since I rarely remove the rear wheel while riding, I don’t mind getting off the bike to grow the clutch disengagement lever.

Under what conditions would you want to disengage the clutch on the fly?

JasonK
JasonK
9 years ago

Grow=throw in my post above. Also, Tyler beat me to it.

greg
greg
9 years ago

it doesnt take a crystal ball to see that this is going to blow sram out of the water. 100g front derailleur? super-long wearing titanium teeth on their 1x chainring? externally adjustable clutch? unlike sram, shimano doesnt force you to go 1x if you want the latest and greatest.

Jez
Jez
9 years ago

@pmurf the clutch stays on all the time when riding. Only comes off when working on bike to make it easier to move. No remote needed.

Offrhodes
Offrhodes
9 years ago

Can they make a 10spd cassette with that 40t?

Alex
Alex
9 years ago

Overall this is a fail.
But the cassette fits a standard 10spd freehub body so I could run a 28t chainring and this 11-40 cassette and have roughly the same gearing as my 30t w/ 11-42t but with Shimano crispness. For the price of a cassette, shifter and chain.
I don’t get what they’re doing with the crank and front derailleur.

J Train
J Train
9 years ago

@pmurf There isn’t really any good reason to disengage a clutch, in my humble opinion. That’s one of several areas where SRAM got it right, especially with the cage lock mechanism.

Wow, I was beginning to think that Shimano was now invincible with all of their new road group successes, but this release clearly demonstrates the ebb and flow of manufacturer dominance. @drewandnotu hit the nail on the head: They won’t acknowledge that the 1×11 drivetrain is fantastic and riders are loving it. I think this group is too far removed from current rider needs and wants. I mean, seriously, who needs a 22t-40t combination? I mean, a strong gust of wind could turn that ratio up a climb. Also, the FD and crankset is atrocious.

Andy
Andy
9 years ago

Definitely gonna have to wait and see if the chainrings actually work. I doubt they will work as well as narrow-wide ones do, but we’ll see. Sure seems like they’re being stubborn about not needing it.

David R.
David R.
9 years ago

I have had problems with 2 XT clutch RDs dropping the chain off the lower pilot wheel and jamming it against the cage. Happened during a race and by the time I finished, the chain had cut through the cage. Shimano replaced the RD, and now I leave the clutch in the off position almost all the time.

groghunter
groghunter
9 years ago

“Those looking for an answer to the 1x trend will happily find it with 9000.” No. They won’t.

Burnt Orange
Burnt Orange
9 years ago

all I want to know is if the cog spacing is the same as sram xx1
might make a good training cassette , hope they come out with an xt version

Sardinian Rider
Sardinian Rider
9 years ago

agree with .

It all sound complicated by reading it but I’m sure unlike Sram this stuff will be a set it and forget it deal. I love Shimano.

gerald t.
gerald t.
9 years ago

i don’t think they could have made that crank any uglier. it looks like they trickled up styling cues from acera.

Aaron
Aaron
9 years ago

I really, really don’t like those cranks.

Everything else I’m sure is flawless in typical Shimano fashion. I personally have no need for a 10-42T cassette cause I’m not a giant weenie. Closer ratios are preferred, at least to me.

jen
jen
9 years ago

I still cant figure out what is wrong with the front mech and why people want to get rid of it, maybe the really problem is bolding real ale drinkers that cant change gear properly.

jls
jls
9 years ago

“22 years experience”?

Damien
Damien
9 years ago

What a huge disappointment. The rear derailleur and the crank are some of the ugliest, cheapest looking product I’ve ever seen Shimano make, especially for an XTR level group. As my coworker states, the rear derailleur is using trickle up product design from a Deore.

As a shop salesperson, we have sold ONE! high-end bike mountain bike using XT in the last 7 months. Everything else has been either XX1 or XO1. Your results may vary, but for the riding in our locale, a 1X setup is the best setup to run, with the exception of those who race cross country. And our customers feel the same way.

As a user of both current XTR and now XO1, I will never go back to a front derailleur, ever!

As the Interneters says, Fail!

BT
BT
9 years ago

The crank reminds of a cheap hubcap…aesthetics aside, it looks to be pretty cool. Can’t wait to see it trickle down to XT/SLX level.

MikeC
MikeC
9 years ago

Last year this time, when Shimano reps were asked, “When is the answer to XX1 coming?” the answer was, “Never, we don’t think 1×11 is a good setup.”

And then here we are today…

Good on Shimano for making the 11sp cass work on 10sp freehubs.

I wonder if anyone who was tempted to go with one of the aftermarket 40 or 42 t cogs for their 10sp setup will reconsider now that this is out and make the switch to 11sp…

jorge
jorge
9 years ago

Kind of a ‘meh’ move from Shimano. I expected something that would REALLY blow sram out of the water!

This is what I would do: Because you can run the cassette with your standard FG cassette body, I would use the new cassette (11-40t), new RD, new shifter and chain and just run the awesome Raceface Next SL cranks at the front and use one of Raceface’s sweet wide/narrow 30t integrated sprockets. Done deal, 1×11+Shimano’s awesome shifting.

Quinn
Quinn
9 years ago

MTBR just posted an article that explains the whole thing Much better- I like the Shimano cassette much better, as for the rest of it, it’s crap!

Kark
Kark
9 years ago

Jen, there isn’t anything particularly “wrong” with the front mech, but there are a number of minor but real benefits to ditching it. (for some) Culling extraneous parts when possible simplifies and lightens the bike.

I found I was very rarely shifting out of my 32t front and the whole mess up there is a bother to clean, service and is several more things to go wrong. (not that it was a frequent issue by any stretch).

Having just switched to a 1×10 I found that it was a good experience and made the front mech redundant so it’s staying off.

That said, if you’re finding the 2x or even 3x useful then keep it and ignore the trend and the internet gobshites who believe there’s only one way to solve a problem.

wheel-guy
wheel-guy
9 years ago

I’m a big Shimano fan, but this is super disappointing. No reason to leave xx1 for this. Hint to Shimano: anybody who currently has xx1/x01 will never go back to a front derailleur again! For the racing I do (50 to 100 mile endurance), the 10-42 cassette range is perfect. 11-40 is a lot smaller range. Why would I want to reduce my range or go back to a stupid front derailleur?

john spartan
john spartan
9 years ago

That crank is hideous!

MissedThePoint
MissedThePoint
9 years ago

Not excited. I’ll be one of those late adopters, if ever. Perhaps if someone makes a bike I want that doesn’t make annoying noise (bad luck with press fit BB) and doesn’t have bits coming loose, slipping, etc (bad luck with DW-Link/VPP2 pivots, modular dropouts). I’ll perhaps get a new bike that’s equipped with Shimano 11spd.

The aesthetics look like part road-part deore, which I was conditioned to think was not high-end MTB.

Jeff
Jeff
9 years ago

I really like this setup. I am not too crazy about 2×10 as it is and this looks like the answer. I have looked at Sram’s 1×11 (although I have never ridden it) and the gear spacing seemed too wide for spinning. While Sram’s 1×11 seems to cover a fairly good range, 2×10 just seems better overall for the average rider. Shimano seems to have addressed the issues that I have had with current setups… too bad I can’t afford this… and too bad I just purchased another 2×10 drivetrain. I think they just killed Sram’s 1×11 with the fact that this does not need a dedicated hub.

Marcassin
Marcassin
9 years ago

This is a great news, no need for a new freehub body. Ok we will not have a gear ratio as good as what Sram is offering with the 10-42 but at least it will be a very good upgrade alternative.

John
John
9 years ago

Shimano:

Two bleeds, and two teeth less than SRAM/Avid.

Also this stuff looks like something out of the Halo video games, aka futuristic ugly. I guess that’s technically ahead of its time…

Nick
Nick
9 years ago

11×42!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

groghunter
groghunter
9 years ago

@jorge
10×42 is a much larger range. The 10t makes a much bigger difference than you’d think. Shimano traded range for existing freehub compatibility, and they may find fairly quickly that it was a poor choice. What they seem to continue to not realize is that MTBers are willing to adapt their cadence to the terrain, and will readily trade smooth jumps for extended range.

@MikeC
Can’t speak for everybody, but why would I spend the money on a whole new drivetrain, when I can get a bigger range than this for $80? Heck I can match this range, & keep my existing drivetrain, including the clearance a short cage derailleur provides.

badbikemechanic
badbikemechanic
9 years ago

Wow there are allot of sram fanboys/ shimano haters on this forum. I have always preferred shimano over sram for the machined styling over gaudy “look at me graphics”, cassette that doesn’t require a ridiculous free hub body, and ofcourse the set it, leave it and it works functionality. The new xtr is going to be fantastic and whoa 11 speeds on a normal cassette body! You can run any hub and wheel you damn well please. GJ Shimano!

Jason
Jason
9 years ago

SRAM is bringing a group called 1x soon says my SRAM rep. X9 level but still on XD driver.

badbikemechanic
badbikemechanic
9 years ago

The crank looks phenomenal. It looks like a updated take on the 90’s xtr. There is no carbon to fray, chip or snap. So sick brah

cole
cole
9 years ago

Those chainrings would last almost twice as long if they were able to be mounted 4 ways (like normal mtb rings) so that the teeth in the dead zone could be swapped to the power zone. But reducing rotational symmetry is cool too though and makes perfect sense, I guess?

hoser
hoser
9 years ago

The crank looks to me like their Altus crank found on $500 hybrids, but polished. I still want it, though.

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