Building on the experience of some of the world's best mountain bike racers, Shimano is making racing technologies available on a smaller budget. The new Deore XT M8100 series, the latest generation of Shimano's very first mountain bike groupset, continues its legacy with powerful features for today's demanding and adventurous mountain bikers and will be available from mid-June 2019.
At the same time, the new SLX-M7100 series has also been carved from the same DNA as XTR and Deore XT. It will also be available from July 2019.

Deore XT - durability and performance for modern mountain bikers

The new Deore XT M8100 series includes features such as Shimano's 12-speed Micro-Spline cassettes with either 10-45 or 10-51 teeth. This also includes 1x12 or 2x12 "Hollowtech II" cranksets, adjustable iSpec EV shifters and precise shifters and derailleurs. Also new are the powerful two-piston or four-piston brakes with fast-cooling "Ice Technologies Freeza" brake discs and complete cross-country and enduro wheelsets.

Cranksets

The new XT and SLX cranksets feature "Hollowtech II" crankarms with an integrated axle. The chainrings come with the "Dynamic Chain Engagement+" tooth profile which, with its narrow and wide teeth, ensures better chain retention as well as smoother and quieter running. The Directmount chainrings are screwed directly and simply onto the crank.

The Deore-XT offers chainrings in sizes 28T, 30T, 32T, 32T, 34T and 36T. Those of the SLX range from 30T to 34T. The crank lengths for the SLX are 165, 170 and 175 millimetres, while the XT cranks are also available in 180 millimetres.
Shimano also offers cranks in the XT and SLX category for 2x12 fans. These come with 26 and 36 teeth and are combined with a 10-45T cassette.

Cassettes

Shimano's XT and SLX 12-speed cassettes also come with micro-spline freehub gearing. They are available in an option with 10-45 teeth and in a version with 10-51 teeth. All cassettes feature HYPERGLIDE+ technology, which enables fast upshifting and downshifting with quiet running. While the XT cassettes have ten steel and two aluminum sprockets on the carrier spider, the SLX cassette has eleven durable steel sprockets and one aluminum sprocket. The cassettes weigh 461 and 470 grams and 513 and 534 grams respectively.

Shifters and derailleurs

The Deore XT rear derailleur is available in single (RD-M8100-SGS) or double (RD-M8120-SGS) versions and enables precise and fast shifting over a large shifting range. Both rear derailleurs feature "SHIMANO SHADOW RD+" positioning, impact brakes and large 13-tooth cogs. The rear derailleur weights are 284 and 290 grams. The same applies to the SLX counterparts, except that they weigh slightly more at 316 and 322 grams.

The derailleurs are available for 48.8 and 51.8 millimetre chainlines and for D, E or M mounting types.

Brakes

The stoppers come in two versions for both categories: a two-piston version for cross-country and a four-piston version for trail and enduro use. Externally with an enhanced look, the brake pads remain the same as those of the previous models.

While the XTR has a specific brake lever for the Trail and XC versions, the XT and SLX use the same brake lever for Trail and Cross Country. Thanks to the new servo wave system, however, the brakes offer better performance with a shorter free travel.

Shimano's new Deore XT groupset will be available on complete bikes from June. From June 14, 2019, it will be available as aftermarket components from selected dealers. The SLX components will be available from mid-July.