WHEN NEW TRANSMISSION technology is rolled out for flagship groupsets such as Shimano's XTR it's often hugely desirable, but the hefty price tag puts it out of reach of many. Fortunately, thanks to the trickle-down effect, those new features and refinements tend to find their way into cheaper groupsets in time, as has happened with the latest Deore range.
The new Deore may not offer the Multi-Release shifting of pricier transmissions, where you can skip multiple sprockets with a single push, but the shifters do offer 2-Way Release, which lets you shift into harder gears using your thumb or index finger. While the paddles don't have dimples for extra grip, they're well shaped and the shifters are easy to set up in your preferred position, whether you clamp them directly to your bar or integrate them with your Shimano brake levers using l-Spec mounts.
The stiff, clutch-controlled spring of the Shadow+ rear mech audibly reduces chain slap, making it ideal for single-ring set-ups, and its low profile helps protect it from harm. Even if you forget to engage the clutch after replacing your rear wheel, the shifting stays as reliable as ever. Our only complaint is that the action could be a little lighter.
Of the myriad front mech options available, we tested the direct mount, top swing M615 E2 version. The cable routing was a little tricky but once set up, the mech performed well. The snappy spring makes downshifts almost instantaneous, while the cage guides the chain on to bigger rings with relative ease.
The chainrings maintain Shimano's reputation for quick front shifting even under power. Each is constructed differently to balance weight and durability - the inner ring is steel, the middle a combination of steel and glass fibre, and the outer aluminium. While the cranks and chainrings are impressively stiff, with no chain rub on the front mech when climbing out of the saddle, we were disappointed by the finish. After only four or five rides we'd worn the anodising from the arms.
We've been riding the M612 version of the crankset, which comes with slightly smaller chainrings than standard. The 22/30/40t ratios are 29er friendly, where lower gears can be used to counteract the gearing-up effect of the bigger wheels. The latest 10-speed Deore HG62 cassette comes in ll-34t and ll-36t flavours, giving a wider range of gears than the former ll-32t standard.
The latest Deore kit offers great performance for the money with only a few minor niggles
PRICE: 405$ (Crankset, front and rear mechs, shifters, cassette and chain)
