Embargo June 4th @ 9am PDT. {Warning: Contains MANY Asides Inside.}
Long before I noticed the first-for-Shimano 9-tooth* high-cog, the first real Shimano disc-brake update in 13-years, or even that the hardwired MTeeB version of the new Di2 XTR is compatible with both 12-speed HG+ and 11-speed LinkGlide {but the wireless version is not}, well, long before any of that, I saw the so-fresh M9220 crankset.
And because it’s the new-new, and a total graphic departure, and the tie-in with the chainring is just ‘WOW,’ my brain immediately elevated it to the all-time premier step for best looking X-T-R crankset of all time. For the record, overtaking my grom-nostalgia for the FC-M951 DH crankset. Relegating FC-M980 to the third step. And, based on the new World Cup MTB rules, knocking fresh-from-the-box FC-M9020 arms out of a podium spot.
And if you’re nodding along that they look great but wondering what else has changed, well, that’s why they’re so rad. In a sea of everything’s new all the time, these are simply another refinement of the decades-old Hollow Tech II 24mm axle system and stiff, light, durable, aluminum MTB arms. Add Shimano’s direct mount chainring mounting and go. They just work, awesomely.
Oh! While they look the same, the M9220 Trail/Enduro arms are optimized for durability, while the M9200 XC arms are optimized for weight. There’s more in the photo caption just below, but they also have different Q-factors, and the M9220 comes in a 160mm length option.
*{An e13-inspired option allowing for a mullet-friendlier mid-cage rear derailleur without giving up a 500% gear range. But wait, why not an 8-Tooth-High gear? Ha.}
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So, how does the new XTR ride? I don’t know, I haven’t seen it in person. I have talked to a few non-partisans who have proper rides on the new Di2 XTR, and the word is that it works like it needs to. Shifting is fast, crisp, essentially electronic-HG+. Shifter ergonomics are excellent, again as you’d expect. It’s better great than never?
In the same way that I was jazzed to try the previous XTR Di2, SRAM AXS, and later T-Type, I’m excited to push pedals at some point and see what all the hype is about. You know, indulge in every Luddite’s secret fetish for multi-speed sag-wagons with more batteries.
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But, hey now, XTR is XTR. The real question is if this new Di2 will trickle down through the whole HG+ phylum. Is The Only Drivetrain That Matters also going to be the only battery-powered drivetrain that matters?
Whether you’re a Shimanophobe or Shimanophile, or somewhere in the middle, a budget-friendlier Deore Di2 would move battery-powered shifting out of the luxury-level stratosphere. All talk of straw people aside, I know that push-button electronic shifting does legitimately increase accessibility for some number of folks.
For those of us who are in the anti-battery crowd, the added benefit of making robot-ratio-adjustment more Louis Garneau than Louis Vuitton is that it stops batteries from being ‘better’ just because they’re boutique. In a debate between XT {or Deore} LinkGlide cable-driven shifting and XT {or Deore} HG+ Di2 battery-powered shifting, I’m confident that, the mystique of wireless removed, there are plenty of folks who would be better suited by cable-shifting.
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I can’t be the only one cloud drawing shorter, way shorter derailleur cages in the clouds? Not just for the latest and greatest Di2 stuff, cable-driven trail drivetrains like Deore M5130 LG and XT M8130 LG. I mean, how much range, off-road, does the average rider need for most locales? And, would they be willing to compromise for clearance, especially with more and more bikes sporting 27″ rear wheels?
Also, Shimano, can we please have some bigger and smaller chainrings for your Direct Mount standard? I appreciate that you make a 28t, but I would really like a 26-tooth ring. Thanks!
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Yeah, so. Everyone knew that Shimano was poised to release a new, wireless XTR drivetrain. Frankly, just for market share alone, they had to. Regardless of how we single-speeding, friction-thumb-shifting, I guess I’ll index a timeless 10-spd Zee drivetrain, Luddites feel about the subject, the mountain-cycling masses agree that they want that push-button robot shifting. So, no surprises there.
Also, the pending release of the new primary-cylinder brake setup isn’t news to anyone who’s been looking at photos from the WC race pits. As someone who has spent a lot of hours on Saint, XTR, XT, and Deore four-piston brake systems, I’m excited to feel if the new lever-blade pivot-point and other changes make for the lighter feel that I love.
As with new-Di2, I’m excited to see how and when the new brake tech permeates through other product lines.
No, the only thing that’s truly surprising about the new XTR M9200 is the addition of a 9-tooth cog. This is from a brand that I’m shocked ever agreed to make a cassette with a high-gear smaller than an 11-tooth, just down to efficiency losses. Does it matter if a drivetrain has a 410%, 450%, or 500% gear range if we’re talking about running an 11-tooth, 10-tooth, or 9-tooth cog?
I mean, the sky is not falling. I have hundreds of hours on e13 cassettes with 9-tooth small cogs, and while they obviously don’t feel as clean as 11-tooth, or even 10-tooth, cogs, they work fine. The only time I ever used the 9-tooth was riding to and from my ride on the road.
I’d still choose the 9-45t cassette and mid-cage derailleur over a 10-51t cassette with its satellite dish low-gear and long-cage derailleur. So, 27″ rear wheels aren’t going anywhere between mullet rigs and the pending dual-27″ comeback, and so derailleur cages that dangle low on dual-29ers are practically doing trail work {clearing drains} with smaller rear wheels!
Okay, okay, it’s an exaggeration. But I think ‘Zee’ way forward is still shorter derailleur cages.
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Yes, there is pricing. But, it’s XTR, so if you have to ask? I imagine the entire bikernet is overrun with pieces about new XTR today, and I’m sure all the other ones have things costed out. Always happy to talk about price when it matters. Say we’re talking about converting a ’90s 3×8 MTB to a 1x ATB using a CUES U6000 drivetrain and narrow-wide front chainring vs. a fresh drivetrain that will work with the old shifting system.
Okay, fine, the one SKU everyone wants to know about. An XTR M9200 12-spd cassette {9-45t OR 10-51t} carries an SRP of CA$650. And yes, that’s CA$225 less than a SRAM T-Type XX1 SL XS-1299 cassette at CA$875. I’m going to leave this un-editorialized for the moment because philosophically there is no greater daylight in the ShiRAMano duopoly than cassette construction, and I’ll be back with a piece about that down the trail.
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Yes, there are weights too. Yes, provided by Shimano, but real-world parts on real-world scales. They even put together some example builds. As with pricing, someone has probably already figured out that a 9-45t (500%) XTR cassette is still heavier than a 10-52t (520%) XX1 cassette, but not by as much as they figured it would be. And then, did they factor in running a shorter derailleur cage, fewer chain links, and a smaller chainring for the same high gear?!
Look, if you’ve never shown up at your local shop with your brand-name kitchen scale to weigh an entire box of XC tires, so could pick out the lightest ones, you don’t really care what this stuff weighs anyway. If you are a bolt-trimming, tire-batch-weighing, straight-posting, ass-hatchet-saddle riding, proud-to-be-super-weight-weenie, drop me an e-mail, and I’m happy to look up anything you want. Respect.
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Yeah so. I don’t hit many press releases over here in MEATengines land. And Di2 is about as far from 50,000:1 club we can go without finding ourselves in the world of MAP & PAM {motor-assisted-pedaling & pedal-assisted-motoring}. Heck, the eeb-specific version of this drivetrain will shift for you if you’d like, but if I write anything about that, I’ll have to add a GEShole tag to this post.
Anywho, where I was going with that is, as duopolistic as it all is, the counter punch that is a new Di2 seems like the sort of big news every site about mountain bicycling will be carrying {whether we’ve ridden it or not}, so I guess this is my mainstream moment.
Besides, that crankset is gorgeous. I’m stoked it doesn’t come in a 52mm chain line, so I’m at no risk of impulse-ordering one for my single-speed. Oh, and for you short-crankers the trail version does come in 160mm, 165mm, 170mm, and 175mm {thank goodness} versions.
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