Shimano MTB Components

Shimano is probably the largest transmission components manufacturer in the world. Their components range from the really cheap to the very expensive. Shimano is leader in bicycle technology innovation. Many of their components are some of the best you can buy (which is a strong statement in huge MTB market). But what's maybe even more remarkable is the value of their components. Shimano can't be really beaten for value. Period. Even in the top range, if you want better quality/performance than Shimano, you have to usually pay crazy money for only a little gain.

Does it sound like we like Shimano? Yes we do - and so should you!

Note: Of course Shimano can't be best at everything, and it can't offer best value with every individual component, but what we say above applies in most cases.

Shimano manufactures 10 different MTB components groupsets. Each is of different quality and of course, price. Better the groupset, better the materials are used, technology is more advanced, components are lighter, are performing better and are more durable. Cheap components require more attention, don't offer high performance and are less 'smooth' to operate. Some high-end groupsets are designs specially for toughness, and top-end XTR in particular is designed for cross-country racing - all this at a corresponding price of course.

In the table below there are normal retail prices of selected essential components (rear derailleur, front derailleur, pair of shifters and triple chainset) for each Shimano groupset in pounds as of June 2007. This is just to give you some idea about how these different groupsets relate to one another. You can of course combine individual components from different groupsets as you require (there are limits to this though).

Bellow you will find short description of each groupset with pictures of essential components. If you wish, just scroll past this section for our recommendations and conclusion.

Tourney (£60)
Cheapest of Shimano range. Some components within this groupset are better than others, but they all work surprisingly well. Tourney is proof of Shimano's great skill and experience in manufacturing - dirt cheap but still miles better than cheap non-Shimano components. Don't touch bike if it doesn't have at least the cheapest Shimano transmission. 6/7 speed.

Altus
Still quite low-end, but slightly more refined than Tourney. For 2007 this groupset seems to be bit 'neglected' in Shimano's range.. 6/7 speed.

Acera
All is getting better with Acera. Some nicer components start to appear at this point. It could be consider the cheap minimum you should accept on real bike. We are reaching 8 speed here.

Alivio (£100)

Top of the 7/8 speed range. Beyond Alivio lies current MTB maximum - 9 speed groupsets. Alivio is usually considered as a minimum for at least half-satisfactory mountain riding. Anything less is much better suited for relaxed riding along canal towpaths and such.

Deore (£118)

Hello 9 speed! Shimano it's self sees Deore as starting point of more serious mountain riding. Deore is probably best value for money you can get from any manufacturer - for years (and years) now. It is usually sign of a decent bike.

Deore LX (£170)

It gets only better and better now. If Deore is low-end of a high-end, LX is somewhere in the middle. Many components are noticeably better than Deore. Specially the fantastic chainset. Hollow forged crank arms turn on external bottom bracket system - current state of the art in chainset/bottom bracket design (found among Shimano's competition too). There are rumours though, that this technology will soon trickle down to Deore groupset. We are certainly looking forward to it .

Hone (£190)

Shimano's first 'tough' groupset. Not intended for downhill yet, but certainly strong enough for most riders. It shares most of it's design with Deore LX, although there is one very special feature here - rear derailleur. It is hub axle mounted for exceptional strength - no more broken mech hangers! The derailleur itself is also very beefy.

Deore XT (£230)

Oh yeah, Deore XT. For long 25 years it has been the benchmark of MTB components. Fantastic value for money, fantastic technology through and through! You won't probably ever need anything better than this (unless you are XC racer or seriously burly rider). Simply superb. And for 2008 (available this autumn) Shimano is completely revamping this groupset, introducing some really cool innovative features. Competition beware!

SAINT (£325)

Shimano's seriously tough groupset. As seen on downhill & jump bikes of the planet's best riders. Rear derailleur uses same axle mounting system as the one from Hone groupset. Currently the strongest derailleur available from any manufacturer. Another star component here is the chainset. Bottom bracket/crank interface that actually works (unlike many of its posh competitors), ultra stiff, very strong, surprisingly light and as always with Shimano - dirt cheap (for what it is). This is the right answer to your burly riding needs. If you don't find this strong enough, you'll probably have to go for BMX style 3-piece Cr-Mo cranks.

XTR (£490)

XTR stands for "cross-country racing". And that's what it's about. State of the art technology through and through. Crazy light. Super smooth. Very durable. And very expensive. You should really consider XTR only when you are either a racer or have lots of money to spend on bikes ;-) Deore XT offers much better value. That said, if you want top-end, this is it. If you want even better stuff than XTR, prepare to spend crazy money - but you won't get much more for it.

Below are the websites of the three leading groupset manufacturers which you may want to compare: