Shimano MTB Groupsets
Whether you are a diehard mountain bike fanatic or just looking into buying a mountain bike for the first time, you will be faced with a number of different groupsets that can be purchased. The groupsets available will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and then again by level and quality. Shimano is one of the top manufacturers in the world for mountain bike accessories and with a number of groupsets available, it’s a good idea to take a look at what they have to offer in order to decide which is best for you.
History of the Company
An international manufacturer of cycling components, gears, and rowing equipment, Shimano Inc. was established in 1921. It wasn’t until the 1970’s however until Shimano really made a conscious effort to enter into the cycling market alongside another Japanese manufacturer Sun Tour. Rather than heading into the high end cycling market however, Shimano began to focus on creating innovative designs and technologies which would increase the level of efficiency experienced by cyclists. It wasn’t long before Shimano gained an unparalleled reputation in the cycling market and even now their groupsets and parts are still in high demand.
Shimano Mountain Bike (MTB) Groupsets Products
Shimano produce a number of different mountain bike groupsets that vary depending on their use
and efficiency. These include:
XTR (cross country)
The new 2011 Shimano XTR groupset is race ready and super light; despite being under 700g it maintains all the strength and durability of much heavier models. The .2 x 10 Drivetrain, Shimanos’ first ever off-road double ring crank, provides great joy to off-road bikers.
SLX (cross country)
This is an all purpose mountain bike groupset which is primarily designed for freeriding, cross country and light down-hill riding. It comes in both nine and ten speed along with disc brakes. The cranksets are well equipped to deal with a variety of terrains and the included bash guard protects riders from rocks and stumps that may be encountered during cross country riding.
Deore XT (cross country and trekking)
The Deore XT is a cross country groupset that is lightweight and designed for smooth performance. It comes complete with hydraulic brake levers and Instant Release technology for quick and efficient gear shifting.
Deore (cross country and trekking)
The Deore is one of the cheapest Shimano mountain bike groupsets and is primarily designed for cross country rides and treks. Available in nine speed only it offers many of the features and benefits of some of the higher level group sets for a much more affordable price.
Alivio (cross country and trekking)
Not really intended to cope with freestyle or downhill rides, the Alivio is quite a heavy groupset and can often be found on entry level bikes. The Alivio groupset was primarily designed for recreational and leisure use and is a preferred by many cross country riders and trekkers.
Shimano MTB groupsets are cost effective, light in weight and have smooth shifting gears. They provide a reliable service when fitted correctly and when compared to other manufacturers. Due to the high level of performance, Shimano are a household name in many biking families and when you encounter one of their groupsets you will understand why.
