New Shimano Zee 2012 downhill groupset

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Not everyone can afford Saint. And nobody can afford to keep landing on it from unsuccessful jumps, so Shimano has come out with Zee, it’s new downhill groupset aimed at the more amateur downhill enthusiast. (Wasn’t that what Hone did last time?) Anyway, it costs less than Saint, weighs in a little more, but has much of the technology, like IceTech rotors and ShadowPlus rear mechs.

Zee brakes. Neat one finger levers, but no tools-free reach adjust

 

Zee chainset - still a single ring only outfit.

 

Zee rear mech - runs the ShadowPlus clutch system. You can choose either wide range or narrow range cassette capability, but can't switch between the two.

 

Split clamp lever for those who love to swap handlebars. Ahem.

 

Prices:

Here’s a quick run-through of the new Zee prices

Bottom Bracket  29.99

Chainsets – HollowTech II – Includes bottom bracket cups (165-170-175mm available)

For standard 68-73 mm BB shell width. 36T ring only. £109

Cassettes – 105 narrow range £53. SLX wide range £55

Rear derailleurs

ZEE – M640 SS – Shadow+ – short cage – 23-28T close ratio £69.99
ZEE – M640 SS – Shadow+ – short cage – 32-36T wide ratio £69.99

Gear shifters – Rapidfire pods (pair) 2-way release £34.99

Disc brake – fully-bled Lever, hoses, and Calliper – custom fit £144.99 an end.

CentreLock rotors £24.99-£34.99. Six bolt rotors £19.99-29.99

Hubs – £54.99 rear (12mm x 135, 142 and 150). Front hubs £44.99

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Chipps Chippendale

Singletrackworld's Editor At Large

With 23 years as Editor of Singletrack World Magazine, Chipps is the longest-running mountain bike magazine editor in the world. He started in the bike trade in 1990 and became a full time mountain bike journalist at the start of 1994. Over the last 30 years as a bike writer and photographer, he has seen mountain bike culture flourish, strengthen and diversify and bike technology go from rigid steel frames to fully suspended carbon fibre (and sometimes back to rigid steel as well.)

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