"XTR has same weak spots as XT, SLX and Deore" can also be translated into: "Shimano offers very similar performance regardless of price - the pricier stuff is just lighter". I really like this approach - cheap SRAM stuff is not only heavier than expensive SRAM, but also less functional. I can live very well with the weakness as outlined here - have XT, XTR and GRX820 without relevant issues...

A lot of work put into this. Thanks for the knowledge sharing👍

My experience with Deore derailleur is the parallelogram bushings wear out quickly because I shift a lot. I've worn them out in a single year of riding. Excessive play in the parallelogram leads to imprecise shifting, inadvertent shifting and skipping of chain side to side that cannot be alleviated by cable tension adjustments. XT last for years likely due to better bushings

Running an XT/XTR shifter with a Deore mech is the best of both worlds

Thanks for this very informative and highly technical video. Learned a whole lot today. Best from the Netherlands.

Just a heads up, XTR usually has many hollowed out parts, like a skinner pulley bolt that needs extra machining, or the hollow cable fixing bolt, or some of the pin is hollow. you can check it out.

I did not service my XT derail. for 12 years (only the jockeys) and its still working!

That was a lot of work put in that video, thank you

Thank you, all your videos are very informative and helpful

First class information and video. When I stripped down my XTR rear mech I was more than dissapointed with the poorly designed sealing of the spring housing. I hope packing it with grease will help keeping the water/dirt out somewhat but grease just gets any ingress of dirt sticking to it. I will see on the next stripdown. The clutch mechanism works well but it is very fidly to reassemble and where to put the lightweight grease is not obvious and tricky to implement. I always regularly check that the rubber cap for the clutch enclosure is in good condition and fitting well as they cannot be bought separately.

Get the Deore RD. When the pulleys finally wear down and the cage has rusted, get the SLX cage replacement parts and XT pulley wheels. Oh btw, get the XT shifter for the Deore RD for maximum performance and value

Deore looks the most robust. Has more material on the Bracket and links. Next time I break my XT on a rock I'll use Deore with XT jockey wheels.

good idea. in the future, maybe you can make a clip in which you compare and explain the differences between the hubs. or of other shimano components, pedals, pedal arms, pinions, etc.!

Good video Danny. I have 11spd xt snd 11 spd deore and both are the same to me.

I reccomend greasing where this rubbish seal is, and some lube there might help too, reduce noise, keep water from getting inside. I've never had issue swith rust. Keep the spring coated in light grease too. Also Deore does not have the clutch cover with a hole for adjustment, which has a rubber cap that falls off, making the clutch rust as water and snow with road salt gets in. No such issue with Deore, I had this issue on XT M8000, bought a new cap, same thing happen in few days, so had to fully he hole with thick grease to prevent it. So if you have xt or XTR a upgrade is actually to buy the Deore clutch cover, it's avaiblena as spare part. I don't know if Shimano has fixed the expanding and falling off issue for the rubber cap.

Thank you!

Thank you for your time and work, this kind of videos is very educational 🍻🚵‍♂️

Got the XTR M9120 and I think I'll now have a look inside before the season starts. Shifting was a bit back and forth last year, so I'll have a go with my derailleur hanger alignment tool as well. Purchased a brand new bike that was delivered with a too short chain, so not sure if that did manage to mess something up or not. It was 2 links too short and I did feel something was a bit "funny."

any chance on a video about the shimano zee and saint versions?

i have never found the need to go beyond xt even if i had extra cash. i would use slx if i need to go cheap on any component.

Great video! Yeah, it's a pretty good idea to grease up the cage spring (p-spring?) if/when you open them up; they're simply not that well sealed and water tends to get in. Not great engineering.

Hi, I have one question I bought shimano deore rd m5120 and I need 10spd shifter I found one m610 for cheap will it work with that derraileur?

@sickbiker You didn't cover the fact that all Shimano 12s Derailleurs (the 4 you have shown) have a critical manufacturing error. If your clutch is dry/not greased well - when you land a drop or heavy impact and the cage seizes (or is slow to return) in the extended position.... upon the next impact the entire lower cage body (including the clutch assembly) shears off and snaps at the two M1 female bolt attachments of the clutch cover. Other cases even mention that the failure happens even if the clutch is in good, greased condition; purely due to excessive impact and cage extension. Too little material causes this failure... which cannot be replicated in the older gen models like the 11s or 10s derailleurs. Not having an ideal clutch should have been thought of before shaving off so much supporting material at the bolt areas. Look around forums and your LBS and you will find many tales (and probably derailleurs broken in half) of such defects. Not sure why not many MTB media covers this issue... and Shimano has yet to address the issue even after 3 full years. Disgusting manufacturing and R&D.

Try to find some time to talk a bit about Shimano M8100 Deore XT LinkGlide 11 speeds and on how to setup it correctly.

1) The pulley bearings 2) The clutch and the spring's rubbish seal 🦭

This video is great. I've got a deore drivetrain with the XTR jockey wheels and an XTR chain. I feel like something is missing in order for it to feel perfect but I'm not sure what it is. I think it's the shifter but I've never used any of the others to compare.

I've had the bearing cap on XT 12sp crush the bearing seal multiple times. It has caused the bearing of the pulley wheel to stop rotating and sometimes braking the derailleur. The design of the bearing cap on XTR is a lot better in terms of that not happening. This never happens with the bushing type pulley wheels.

1. Jockey wheel bearings upgrade? 2. Grease the clutch

If you are not UCI Pro Racer you will be fine with SLX

Pivot points need oiling regularly.Also jocky wheel cog bearings

i changed my XT derraileur to a sram GX one because of that spring that blow up randomly

XTR 9100 shifters made before mid 2021 were prone to fail due to a non-replaceable broken pivot spring. They have been improved since then but Shimano has never admitted anything as usual.

Great video and explanation. I have Deore setup and after every ride I clean and lube the drivetrain. My bike is 5 months old so, I haven't yet greased the clutch. It might be time to do so.

Just picked up the xt derailleur and xt shifter for £100. For the price difference it wasn't worth getting the deore.

Which grease to service the cluch? normal premium grease of shimano? or more thin grease like freehub or cable grease?

*DEOREE*

If you have money 💰 to burn go for XTR. But for the price of one XTR I can replace a worn SLX twice. Derailleurs a disposable wear and tear item and easily broken by an errant branch 🌴. And the XTR doesn’t make your bike faster than the SLX

Una precisazione, la gabbia del SLX non è di alluminio ma di acciaio!

next ltwoo please

Must say shimano falling behind quite alot when compared to sram T-type nowadays. Especially when it comes to build quality and outright strength. I have both a XO and XX SL Transmission groupset and I must say being honest I love it, although definitely not silent or cheap. Alot noisier than old axs. But, shifting under load and outright racing/ serious riding performance, overall 10/10. Sorry shimano, as much as I love the simplicity and overall feel of your brakes I can't say the same for your groupsets...

ouch, i have a XTR RD-M9100 too 🥲, the XTR costs that much because of carbon fiber cage and branding in my opinion