Rode a friend's bike with XTR 9 speed and it was so light, smooth, slick in shifting. Made me question my XT 11 speed functionality!
So what's the slickest combination 9 speed upwards?
I don't think XTR970 has been bettered.
it was so light, smooth
Did it have a clutch mech? Probably not, that's why it was so light n smooth.
Yup - M970.
2007-ish XTR (Rapid Rise) was the smoothest and slickest I've had. Seemed to be manufactured to a higher standard too.
Dura Ace 7800.
Shimano Dx
Anything Di2
Or if limiting to mechanical then DA9000, all the road 11spd stuff shifts really nicely.
Edit, never mind.
A properly set up one with a nice straight mech hanger and fresh optislick cables.
The next one, always the next one.
I don’t think XTR970 has been bettered.
This^^
and..
Dura Ace 7800
New XTR 12 speed is amazeballs for a mechanical MTB gruppo. Next to that anything Di2
Latest Dura-Ace Di2, with a tightly spaced cassette and a brand new chain.
the XTR 9 speed shifter (no idea what series number) was bloody lovely - really smooth & light and lasted forever
I miss it. Now on 11sp XT which works fine but very clunky by comparison
Di2. I have XT on my mtb and Ultegra on the roadie and it’s as slick as a hipster’s hairstyle.
Had Dura ace on an old Boardman Pro, it was buttery smooth, very nice indeed.
Tried Ultegra di2 for the first time on a test bike last week... I have ordered one and collect it this week. Very impressed..
Actually a mix, Ultegra shifter, XT mech and cassette..
Love the 12 spd XT stuff - shifts faster and smoother than XTR Di2. Also fixes the draggyness that 11 spd Shimano had in extreme chainlines.
For road, Di2 wins by miles. I wasn’t so enthralled with MTB though, the shift itself is as good as anything, it’s just the shifter (on both XTR and XT) feels a bit meh. Way too much free stroke before you get to the actual click of the button. Road shifters (and that other brands MTB leccy system) feel much better.
7, 8, 9 speed triple and maybe 10 speed, smashing chain angles without the “clunk and graunch”
Dura Ace 7800.
The pinnacle of mechanical shifting.
I don’t think XTR970 has been bettered
Particularly with a RapidRise rear mech.
I had shifters and mechs on my Sanderson. Lovely to use and bullet proof.
Dura Ace 7800 lovers - I was running this on my winter bike until this spring, and honestly, it feels no better than the Ultegra 6800 I have on my summer bike installed with optislick cables. Dura Ace 7800 shifters rattle like crazy after a few years too.