Is it worth upgrading to XT?

Specifically, I have a Giant Anthem X4 that comes with:

Deore (bog standard) front derailleur
SLX shadow rear derailleur
Deore (bog standard, I think) crankset
Deore shifters

Just wondering if I – bit by bit – upgraded these, would I notice much of a difference in the overall gear performance. I know SLX is practically as good. I'm a bit bitten by the bug (and like spending money when I have it), so am tempted to upgrade bit by bit when stuff comes up at a good price, which it seems to if you're patient. Then again, if the difference is minimal, I could be wasting my money?

Opinions welcome 🙂

go for it, xt works well, and better than deore.

Yes, you'll be wasting your money.
Even riding hard in shitty conditions that kit will give you a good few years of fun. When things begin to wear out consider upgrading then.

slx front mech
slx crankset
x9 shifters
x9 rear mech
loads of crisp shifting miles ahead

There are some brilliant deals out there. I know it's hard to quantify, but is there anyone who has gone from Deore to XT or SLX, or SLX to XT and really noticed a difference? I'm more XC than rough DH, so do like to feel the smoother shifting.

Also, I should have mentioned the rapid-fire shifters – big difference???

I'm quite prepared to wait until things wear out though …

… even though nice stuff is fun! (Amd I think I still have a job after yesterday's budget :?)

Well the weight would be less, that's for sure, and the quality of shifters is better / smoother. The crankset would be classier but the chainrings don't really last but with an XT bb you'd shave quite a fair amount of grammes….shame the arms scuff just the same as any other though.

i cant tell the difference between a xt front mech shifter and a slx

XT shifters noticeably better

XT shifters and rear mech are much better than boggo Deore.

I just upgraded from Deore to XT shifters on one of my bikes and it's a fair bit better – even with the same SLX mechs.

I've got SLX mechs and XT shifters on both my FS bikes now and they're great.

But SLX shifters are much closer to XT in performance than they are to Deore, if money is at all tight I'd recommend people to stick with SLX.

You'll notice the biggest difference by changing the Deore shifters to either SLX or XT. Anything else would be a waste at the moment IMO. XT or SLX shifters will feel crisper and more positive, an XT rear mech over the SLX you'd not notice any difference, front mech wise you'd not notice difference between Deore and XTR even, and as far as the cranks are concerned you'd barely notice any difference so not worth changing til they need replacing.

If you've got a bog standard Giant Anthem X4, and a severe case of upgrade-itis, then save a few quid more for some nice new lightweight wheels. Otherwise just replace anything else when it wears out…

You'll notice more performance gains with a higher spec shifter than mech. I run a xtr shifter and slx mech, and it shifts every bit as good as the xtr mech before it.

Get fitter, you'll notice the difference more than spending a load of money on bike bits. You can get faster, and the extra weight helps build fitness too. Things wear out just as fast in the winter, regardless of how 'better' they are!

slx front mech
slx crankset
x9 shifters
x9 rear mech
loads of crisp shifting miles ahead

Almost completely agree!

Except I have an XT crankset.

Also looks at good cables – XTRs are well worth the money IMO but don't upgrade until you wear stuff out.

Sounds like the shifters may be the way to go – I like the sound of the rapid-fire ones.

@mboy – new wheels were my first port of call, as they were the obvious "budget" compromise on the bike. Got some great MT65s from Merlin. Quite a lot lighter and seem to run brilliantly.

Would the SLX rapid-fire shifters fit with my existing drive-train?

*Deore front derailleur
*SLX shadow rear derailleur
*Deore crankset

I've seen they are designed for use with "precision 9 speed drivetrains" … I think mine should be compatible. Any ideas?

Yes they'll be fine

I have bought xtr mechs second hand – they are noticeably better but IMO only worth it at second-hand prices not new

I can't tell the difference between LX and XT

OK nice one on the wheel front already

Regarding your compatibility questions…

ANY shimano 9spd shifters will work with ANY shimano 9spd rear mech, and ANY front mech regardless of make.

So you can run any 9spd shifter (from Deore right through to XTR) of any vintage (can't quite remember, but think 9spd came in around 1999-2000) with your setup.

Personally, I'm not convinced it's worth upgrading to anything less than XTR, I have some SLX's and XT's and whilst they do feel better than Deore, it's not a revelation. XTR shifters on the other hand are an absolute delight to use!

You'll notice more performance gains with a higher spec shifter than mech. I run a xtr shifter and slx mech, and it shifts every bit as good as the xtr mech before it.

I'll agree with that. Have used a Deore rear mech with XTR shifters before, then changed it to an XTR rear mech. Little or no difference to be detected, but the XTR shifters were wonderful to use.

To be honest though secret squirrel, I just looked at the standard spec on an Anthem X4, and after changing the wheels, the next thing I'd look to change would be the brakes for something more consistent/powerful over the cheap OEM M486's fitted. If you google Ribble Cycles, they're selling a pair of XT disc brakes for £120 right now online. These would be my next port of call after the wheels…

Thanks for all the replies! Very helpful, as always.

@mboy, thanks for taking the time to look at the spec for the X4 … it's a lovely bike and I'm a little annoyed at myself for even wanting to change stuff (but that's just me!). I deliberately bought it for the frame and forks, with a view to upgrading some bits sooner and others as they wear out.

The new wheels have been a revelation … too fast for me at times, but very user-friendly. I'm not weight obsessed, but with lighter tubes I lost practically 1kg on this upgrade alone.

Re. the brakes, so far I'm actually pretty happy with them, but have come from basic disc brakes before that. I'll bear them in mind over the next few months.

I like the idea of the SLX rapid-fire shifters. The Deore ones are OK, but I find the travel long and sluggish – the SLX ones have excellent reviews … and they are £35 at Ribble (and they come with cables) – this could be a hard one to beat!

Thanks again for the advice – very useful and gratefully received from all. Now the small problem of needing to be up at 6am tomorrow 🙁

I think its funny because Secret Squirrel has clearly got the same disease we all have and we're all helping him get "the bug" even more.

just say "No".

Deore is fine in reality and the extra cost of Xt ain't worth it.

It will however make you feel a lot better, smugger, happier, more superior to those without "the bug" and will help you out until you need your next "Fix", which might be XTR or even a total swap to Sram.

No not really.

Maybe the shifters but the rest will all shift just as poorly 20 miles into a desperately muddy wet ride.

And a well maintained and serviced Deore works better than a slightly less well maintained XT.

Changing to X9 rear shifter and mech and 100% cable outer does give serious mud proofing though.

Or get 10 speed XT when it comes out, more gears = faster doesn't it?

In order , I'd upgrade shifters first, to SLX or XT, both work and feel much better than Deore.
Then the crankset, again to SLX or XT, both will save a chunk of weight.
The front and rear mechs I'd leave till they wear out, then upgrade to XT .

Avoid SRAM at all costs, it's terrible stuff! 😆

Complete XT group is nice to use, and weighs less (especially stuff like the cassette), but SLX is good enough for most. XTR is a step up again.

It'll be worth it.

After all, if you've managed to convince yourself that your new wheels are too fast for you, you can make yourself believe anything, if you spend enough.

I've just put a complete XT groupset on my latest build and its very very good. Most noticeable improvement over my old Deore based bike came from the shifters, they have a really nice feel to them.

SLX an excellent choice for value for money.

Am in a similar predicament secret squirrel – the stuff I have works fine, but I want more shiny! In my head, it's a bit like the Volkswagen brands – Deore being Skoda, SLX is Volkswagen, XT is Audi, and XTR is Lamborghini.

So SLX and XT are pretty much the same, except XT is more expensive and has better posing value amongst your peer group (so Singletrack members for groupsets, travelling salesmen for the cars).

Similarly, XTR is for rich young racers, or the slightly older amongst us, who maybe are compensating for a lack of hair, or slightly bulging waistlines.

(ahem, I'll stop with the metaphors now).

Just keep an eye on the clasifides and buy stuff when it pops up at a good price.

No point upgrading untill stuff breaks though. Deore shifters will last you a couple of years before falling apart (XTR will last indefinately, even LX/SLX is almost indestructable).

The only noticeable upgrade that I've ever made (apart from when something's just worn out) is gear cables. XTR are worth the money.

Only noticed going to SRAM, but as it was a first change of shifters and mech in several years, the snappiness can't just be attributed to a change of system.

Use it, wear it out, then replace. Once your cables are manky though get some Nokons they have been fantatsic, only changed inners once in about 4 years.

I ride an X4 and transferred the XT cassette, mechs and SLX shifters from another bike I was planning to sell (along with the ZTR wheelset on that bike). Bought an XT chainset and sold the Deore one.

Be warned – once you start changing parts for aesthetic or weight saving reasons it becomes addictive and expensive.

Thanks for all the replies … I especially like the Skoda, VW, Audi, Lamborghini metaphor – very true. Now the problem is that I drive an Audi but think SLX will do fine (although I'm wondering now if I should be thinking more of XT :wink:), and my husband drives a Skoda (and knows absolutely nothing about bikes – is just learning to MTB on my old one, so Deore will be fine for him for, as he doesn't believe in maintaining either bikes or cars).

Yes, Secret Squirrel is actually a girl, but one who has had an on-off obsession with bikes since childhood … it can afflict us too! I built my first road bike in my teens because I couldn't afford the one I wanted (- a Dawes Galaxy). Managed to control it when I married a man without the ability to ride a bike and took up rock-climbing instead, but I keep getting bitten by the bug. It's one that keeps coming back.

I totally agree that I should wait until things wear out, but might just go for some shifters – Ribble have SLX Rapid Fire for £35, and I think this is quite a good price. Maybe I will get a Golf next time I change car too …

I have both and rate SLX above XT for form and function.
XT needs a revamp-it's long in the tooth.

I "downgraded" from XT to SLX when the prices started going up, but can't say I've noticed any functional difference. I suppose it's a few grammes heavier, if that bothers you.

I don't think any of those things are worth changing for the sake of it at the moment. Just use it till it breaks/wears out and then see what's around at the price you like- this will be soon enough for the chainrings and you'll probably be able to pick up the previous year's XT for the same sort of replacement money, so a good time to upgrade.

The latest Deore kit, if that's what you're getting, is pretty nice- I suspect a lot of people will be judging based on older kit.

If it's still in good nick it's all quite sellable, otherwise keep it til it wears out, IMO.

I noticed the difference moving up to XT.
It's hard to 'feel'the difference in the chainset, but it is lighter.
My XT rear mechs again faultless and need hardly any fettling.
XT front mech. Right the XT is much better but it's not something you'll feel. I really think that people don't look at how much work a front mech does. Just think about the huge shift it has to make, not a single tooth shift but nearer ten under load. The XT is a better put together peice of kit and time will prove it. IIRC even the Shimano electronic kit struggles with front mech shifts or it uses loads of juice.
XT cassettes just very good.
On the downside my XT hubs were a dissapointment.
I don't use XTR as a rule but I do always use the XTR shifters.

Just got a new Deore HT2 ready to go on wife's bike (she's killed her Octolink one) and I have to say, it's a nice bit of kit. Recently upgraded from SLX to XT (chainset) on my bike and the Deore isn't a million miles behind.

A big SRAM fan for cassette and chain though – always a 991 chain and either 970 or 990 cassette.

Any Shimano front mech seems to last forever – SRAM aren't so hot at front mechs (or chainsets) but IMO their rear mechs kick Shimano's ar5e.

Also prefer SRAM shifter – X-9 on mine and I cannot fault them.

Some recommendations for sram gears here, though i'd say stick to shimano unless you've got big thumbs.

Mrs Inkster just got a new bike with sram x-9 and doesn't like it, finding it much more of an effort to change gear [lever is firmer and has to move twice the distance of shimano] She is replacing with xt.

As others have said, within the shimano range, only the shifters make a noticeable difference, xt being far smoother, quicker and less effort to move than deore and worth the £60 or so if you get them from Ribble or Merlin cycles.