Shimano XTR front derailleur/rear derailleur
Tested: 2 x 11 side swing/long cage
Mud and snow have done almost nothing to the rear derailleur and front derailleur. The idler and guide pulley look like new, only the front derailleur plate shows clear signs of wear. The new side-swing front derailleur and the rear derailleur shift powerfully and precisely, but a precisely adjusted XT groupset doesn't shift any worse. The Shadow Plus lever is a little fiddly. On the other hand, you can now adjust the spring tension precisely: from very firm to light (low operating forces).
Shimano XTR crank
Tested: 2 x 11 Race, 36/26 teeth, 175 mm
After just a few hundred kilometres, the crank arms looked as if someone had gone over them with sandpaper. The coating does not seem to be as resistant as on the previous cranks. Because of the 36/26 gradation, we rode almost exclusively on the large chainring. This consists of a mix of aluminium and carbon fibre-reinforced plastic and still looks very good after 2000 kilometres. The smallest gear with 26-40 teeth corresponds to around 24-36 on 10-speed drivetrains. The right-hand side of the press-fit bottom bracket is already running a little rough.
Shimano XTR chain
Tested: HG 900-11
The XTR's directional single-pivot chain is not the same as that of the single-pivot road bike groupsets. However, the specially coated chain disappointed us in terms of durability: according to the wear theory, the 50 euro pin and plate construction was ripe for replacement after just 1500 kilometres. The low weight of the narrow 11-speed chain seems to come at the expense of durability. Shimano also offers a cheaper, slightly heavier model. This should be somewhat more durable. This assumption was confirmed by our wear test of the 11-speed drivetrains in BIKE 10/2015, which showed that the 11-speed chain of the Shimano XTR wears out faster than the old 10-speed model of the XTR.
Shimano XTR cassette
Tested: CS-M9000, 11-40 teeth
After we fitted a new chain after 1500 kilometres, it slipped over the 11th sprocket under load. However, all the other sprockets of the 300 euro cassette worked perfectly. This is not surprising, as six of the sprockets (19 to 35 teeth) are made of titanium. But we see another problem: Due to the narrow crank gradation (36/26), you almost only use the small sprockets at speeds above 25 km/h. These wear out more quickly as the cassette wears out faster. They wear out faster because the chain load is distributed over fewer teeth than with larger sprockets.
Shimano XTR shifters/cables
Tested: SL-M9000 2/3 x 11-speed with clamp
In the past, the XTR shift levers were already slimmer and more delicate than those of the cheaper groupsets. The 2015 XTR continues this trend. Shimano has retained existing features such as shifting multiple gears with index finger and thumb levers. Shifting is very direct. The lever travel on the front derailleur is not noticeably different from a current XT. The sealed cable housings including the polymer-coated cables function flawlessly and with little friction after 2000 kilometres.
Conclusion on the Shimano XTR test
The triple XTR groupset is like a Ferrari engine: an absolute high-end product with impeccable function and minimal weight, but expensive to maintain. Relatively high wear and tear.
Functionality ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ (6 out of 6 points)
Durability ■ ■ ■ (3 out of 6 points)
Weights and prices of the Shimano XTR 2015:
* all weights: BIKE measurement
