slx/xt/xtr

jamabikes

Old School Grand Master
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looking to up grade my new full susser and wondering if i can justify xt or xtr over slx stuff?

the slx stuff looks really nice! anyone used any or all of them? my riding is mostly xc stuff but the frame (mac mahone) is rare and exotic so does it deserve better than slx?
 
Slx i reckon. Excellent value and i prefer the bionic looks.
Not used the stuff but its not really low end is it...
 
I got a load of slx stuff on a bike I bought recently.

I was going to take it off and put all my old XTR stuff and Middleburn Uno crankset on it. I'm never really that bothered about going super-lightweight, but I just thought I'd weigh the slx crankset/BB compared to favourite lightweight old burns.

Turned out the slx crankset was lighter and also seems to be very well made.

I think the place where you can feel the real difference in quality is the shifter. I'm running 1x10 so I bought an XTR shifter, an XT rear mech and kept the SLX cranks.
 
useful info thanks wynne :)

got a very nice chainset already so will be going for shifters, mechs, and brakes. will probably be 9 speed too as have just bought a new chain and cassette.
 
SLX for the stuff that will wear out (Cassette, Chainset)

XT for the stuff that won't wear out (Shifters, front mech, rear mech)

SLX chainsets are stiffer than XT chainsets, or so I'm led to believe

Not a massive weight or performance difference between SLX & XT cassettes & mechs

But the XT shifters are well worth the extra cash, the action & feel is much nicer than the SLX

Brakes: I prefer Formula & Hope brakes to Shimano's brakes.

Formula RX or R1 are both very good brakes, the RX is the cheaper cousin of the top of the line R1 brake.

RX brakes can be had for ~£120 each end

R1's can be bought from £200 each end

There is also a R1/RX combo brakeset which is a little cheaper then the R1's, generally only seen as OE equipment but they are now available aftermarket if you have a good google for them
 
so a good mix would be

xt shifters

slx brakes, although xt are only an extra £30 the pair

xt mechs? with a poss xtr rear upgrade....

see already talked my self into xt :LOL:
 
I'd stick with just XT at the rear, if you break an XTR mech it's not that cheap to replace and the performance/weight difference is not enough IMHO to warrant the extra cash for XTR over XT

But yes

XT shifters and mechs

As for SLX or XT brakes, I have not used the newest versions so I have no real opinion of them, the older brakes were good, but there are better brakes... unless you wanna be a bit of a bike tart and have it all matching.... ;)
 
Andy B":t5s1210h said:
I'd stick with just XT at the rear, if you break an XTR mech it's not that cheap to replace and the performance/weight difference is not enough IMHO to warrant the extra cash for XTR over XT

But yes

XT shifters and mechs

As for SLX or XT brakes, I have not used the newest versions so I have no real opinion of them, the older brakes were good, but there are better brakes... unless you wanna be a bit of a bike tart and have it all matching.... ;)

:oops: :oops: :LOL: bike tart here!

always used hope in the past but hate the races(poor power and naff feel on the few ive tested/fixed/serviced) and the tech levers are a bit butch for this build..maybe some nos mono mini's may be the answer. unless, can you use the old mini/mono levers with the new brakes and vice versa?
 
Look out for groupset buys at
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop ... B/list.htm
often cheaper and if they have offers or 10% off even better. Flog the bits you don't want and/or use them for a bit till you want something newer.


Though if you look at the price difference (£35) between the XT and SLX transmission groupset, you may as well get XT at the moment.
Similar for the discbrake groupset.
 

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