Agree 100% with m730 and DX stuff, pinnacle of retro MTB.
I'd like to throw suntour xc pro into the ring. Arguable better than anything Shimano had at the time, if only the rear freehub wasn't so proprietary when it came to cassettes.
I'd also add Shimano xtr m952. For me the best gearing, shame the bbs and chain rings are now hard to come by (I am lucky enough to have a stockpile for my bikes wearing it).
I'm also partial to m970/2 stuff. It's pretty and works, took all that was good from m95x and added carbon, dual pull shifters and works really well. The last, best 3x drivetrain imho.
I'd like to throw suntour xc pro into the ring. Arguable better than anything Shimano had at the time, if only the rear freehub wasn't so proprietary when it came to cassettes.
I'd also add Shimano xtr m952. For me the best gearing, shame the bbs and chain rings are now hard to come by (I am lucky enough to have a stockpile for my bikes wearing it).
I'm also partial to m970/2 stuff. It's pretty and works, took all that was good from m95x and added carbon, dual pull shifters and works really well. The last, best 3x drivetrain imho.