Shimano XTR Shadow Rear Derailleur
| Shimano XTR Shadow Rear Derailleur |
The new XTR Shadow Rear Derailleur (M972) is a work of art to look
at. The new X outer plate and the carbon fiber cage will appeal to
those of us motivated by bling! At a claimed weight of 180 grams it
comes in just a little less than 20 grams lighter than the XTR M971.
As promised, the new design has eliminated the chaistay banging
common to past Shimano derailleurs, and the profile of the new
derailleur is considerably slimmer than past designs. Both of these
traits are effects of eliminating the bracket axel spring that
surrounded the mounting bolt on past Shimano designs.
Admittedly, it was with some trepidation that I bolted the new XTR
rear mech to my bike. In scouring the web for reviews of the new
offering from Shimano, I found two types of reviews - Those who are
paid to write marketing reviews, which generally said the derailleur
walked on water, and a handful of reports of pretty serious issues
with the retention spring. The weekend before I mounted my new
rear mech, I talked with a guy at a race who I noticed had the carbon
cage of his new XTR rear derailleur taped to his chainstay. As with
the online reports I had read, one end of his retention spring had
come off the mounting pin and the derailleur became chain jewelery
mid-race. With the new single retention spring design if something
goes wrong with it, there is nothing to hold the chain on any single
rear cog, so your chain jumps around the cog with any bump or lean
of the bike.
After much consideration, I did decide to give the new XTR a shot
anyway. In terms of performance, I have not been disappointed. I
have been running the derailleur for just over a year now and have
had no issues. I have noticed considerably more chain slap on rocky
decents, likely due to the single retention spring, but have had no
issues effecting performance.
I have ridden a number of races and hard training rides in just about
every imaginable conditions since installing the new mech. The XTR
Shadow derailleur has done it's job in all the situations I have put it
in. I have pushed it as hard as I could, shifted under heavy climbing
loads, and doled out just about every other abuse I can think of and
it has performed. While I still consider the shifting crisp, it is not quite
as crisp as the XTR M971 that this derailluer replaced. The direct
routed cable is a big plus and reduces cable resistance drastically.
This also gives a very clean look by eliminating the housing loop
feeding into the derailleur. However I did notice the cable routing
causes the cable to stand out to the side of the bike more than the
previous routing.
All in all, the new XTR Shadow Rear Derailleur lives up to its
heritage. It will be interesting to see this new design evolve. If the
$239 price tag doesn't make you wince, you will get your money's
worth. If the cost will stretch your budget, pick up the XT Shadow
which uses the same design innovations, or go with the standard
M971 XTR Derailleur. Either of these options provide comparable
performance albeit without the bling. Whatever you decide to do,
keep an eye on the Shadow technology as it continues to evolve.
at. The new X outer plate and the carbon fiber cage will appeal to
those of us motivated by bling! At a claimed weight of 180 grams it
comes in just a little less than 20 grams lighter than the XTR M971.
As promised, the new design has eliminated the chaistay banging
common to past Shimano derailleurs, and the profile of the new
derailleur is considerably slimmer than past designs. Both of these
traits are effects of eliminating the bracket axel spring that
surrounded the mounting bolt on past Shimano designs.
Admittedly, it was with some trepidation that I bolted the new XTR
rear mech to my bike. In scouring the web for reviews of the new
offering from Shimano, I found two types of reviews - Those who are
paid to write marketing reviews, which generally said the derailleur
walked on water, and a handful of reports of pretty serious issues
with the retention spring. The weekend before I mounted my new
rear mech, I talked with a guy at a race who I noticed had the carbon
cage of his new XTR rear derailleur taped to his chainstay. As with
the online reports I had read, one end of his retention spring had
come off the mounting pin and the derailleur became chain jewelery
mid-race. With the new single retention spring design if something
goes wrong with it, there is nothing to hold the chain on any single
rear cog, so your chain jumps around the cog with any bump or lean
of the bike.
After much consideration, I did decide to give the new XTR a shot
anyway. In terms of performance, I have not been disappointed. I
have been running the derailleur for just over a year now and have
had no issues. I have noticed considerably more chain slap on rocky
decents, likely due to the single retention spring, but have had no
issues effecting performance.
I have ridden a number of races and hard training rides in just about
every imaginable conditions since installing the new mech. The XTR
Shadow derailleur has done it's job in all the situations I have put it
in. I have pushed it as hard as I could, shifted under heavy climbing
loads, and doled out just about every other abuse I can think of and
it has performed. While I still consider the shifting crisp, it is not quite
as crisp as the XTR M971 that this derailluer replaced. The direct
routed cable is a big plus and reduces cable resistance drastically.
This also gives a very clean look by eliminating the housing loop
feeding into the derailleur. However I did notice the cable routing
causes the cable to stand out to the side of the bike more than the
previous routing.
All in all, the new XTR Shadow Rear Derailleur lives up to its
heritage. It will be interesting to see this new design evolve. If the
$239 price tag doesn't make you wince, you will get your money's
worth. If the cost will stretch your budget, pick up the XT Shadow
which uses the same design innovations, or go with the standard
M971 XTR Derailleur. Either of these options provide comparable
performance albeit without the bling. Whatever you decide to do,
keep an eye on the Shadow technology as it continues to evolve.
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