For those weenies out there, for comparison on my digital scales my XTR 30/42 chainset (WO BB) came in at 635g the new XT double 26/38 came in at 712g. Only 77g difference for a couple of hundred £ extra. Diminising returns and all that!

Not really like for like though is it. Smaller rings on the XT

You could probably make up the difference by shortening your gear cables a bit and with a few weeks wear and tear on your tyres.

I used to draw the VFM line at XT, however in the light of recent price hikes it’s looking a lot more like SLX these days.

Not really like for like though is it. Smaller rings on the XT

2g differnce in rings

At the end of the day I use what I can afford, biggest weight saving I can make is around my waist 😉

its not all about weight on XTR, there is a difference in torsional stiffness, and of course always the notion of what if….?

and of course always the notion of what if….?

what’s the current asking price for a replacement big ring? £120+?

Just replaced a big ring on my XTR and it came in at £70, I was suprised and impressed! The inners are only about £27. They do have the annoying 88bcd on the Race ones though that has led me to ordering a custom ring for when I use it in single ring 1×10 configuration. Not many options on that.

The new XTR looks mint – the new xt looks w@nk.

You pays your money etc etc

Previously for XTR M960 vs XT M760 (both triple’s) I found that while the difference with Shimano rings was 100g, once Middleburn ones had been installed on both it was only 50g.

And my XTR M960 with 3 Middleburn rings and Ti bolts weighs 709g – so that would make a 74g saving for the twin-ring, but then need to add the extra weight of a 10-speed cassette. Mmm, XTR 10-speed 11-36 = 272g vs XTR 9-speed 11-32 = 221g.

So 74g saving and need to add 51g – all in 23g saving going from XTR 9-speed to XTR 10-speed… Think I’ll stick with my old-fashioned gear.