Not only dirt and mud, but also the additional load caused by e-bike motors drive the Chain and sprocket wear upwards. Shimano now offers a reinforced version of the Deore and Deore XT groupset for mountain bikers, which should last up to three times longer than conventional chains and sprockets. LinkGlide is aimed at all those who place more value on durability than on the lowest possible weight and yet do not want to miss out on the usual shifting performance. Entry-level eMTBs in particular are to be equipped with the LinkGlide components from Shimano be equipped.
Shimano's Deore 1x10 and Deore XT as a 1x11 version are perennial favourites, especially on more affordable e-bikes. It therefore stands to reason that these drivetrains are the first to be reinforced. The difference to the 12-speed versions of the Deore and Deore XT lies in the materials used. A stronger chain, stronger sprockets and a stronger chainring should ensure greater durability. However, this not only makes the groupset heavier, but also changes the gear ratios. LinkGlide components cannot be combined with the conventional Deore and Deore XT parts. So if you want to switch to LinkGlide, you have to replace the entire drivetrain including the shift lever. Only chains that are recognisable as "E-Bike Rated" can be combined with LinkGlide components.
More material, more weight, less wear
Thanks to the increased use of materials, LinkGlide chains and cassettes should last three times longer than conventional Shimano components. However, in addition to the durability, the weight is also increased. At 780 grams, the LinkGlide Deore XT cassette should weigh around 369 grams more than a Deore XT 11-speed cassette. For comparison: the 12-speed cassette with 10-51 teeth weighs 469 grams. The new 10-speed Deore cassette should weigh 634 grams. LinkGlide is only available for the 1x10 Deore and the 1x11 Deore XT. The 12-speed variants of these MTB drivetrains are trimmed for low weight and, according to Shimano, will not be available as LinkGlide versions for the time being.
Thanks to climbing and dropping aids, the shifting speed and smoothness of the LinkGlide version should be just as good as that of the regular Deore and Deore XT. The new rear derailleurs also feature the familiar Shadow Plus damper. The friction mechanism keeps the chain reliably on the sprocket and chainring even in rough stone fields. Both the XT and Deore shifters are attached to the handlebars with a clamp. The XT shift lever can also be combined with the brake clamp using the I-Spec quick release. The LG500 version weighing 257 grams is used as the chain for both drivetrains. The chain is also compatible with other 11-speed drivetrains from Shimano. The prices for the LinkGlide groupsets are not yet known. They will probably be priced at the same level as the conventional 11-speed or 10-speed groupsets. The street price of the Deore XT 11-speed is around 400 euros.
