Shimano Deore XT M780 transmission

XT M780 IS now Shimano's oldest serving MTB gearset but it's still delivering shifting in a light, smooth and ultra durable format.

The rear mech comes in the regular Shadow version seen here or in Shadow Plus format with a chain-taming clutch for an extra tenner. Either way, the 3D formed SGS parallelograms give excellent stiffness and durability. The cartridge bearing jockey wheels last for ages too and the alloy cages can often be bent back after being mangled (unlike composite ones) yet the mech is still almost 50g lighter than the SLX equivalent.

The slick shifting 10-speed cassette carries most of the cogs on a lightweight alloy spider, saving 32g for only 12$, and the HG95 chain is a longevity benchmark. Shifting is sharper and faster than with SLX, with an extra gear (four, rather than three) per downshift too. Shifting can feel slightly indistinct compared to SRAM on rough trails but XT tolerates age and cable contamination much better.

The front trigger is dual directional, the shift indicator windows are removable and more kit is appearing that's compatible with Shimano's I-Spec combined clamps too. Shifters are available separately if you're planning on going 1x10.

WEIGHT 1,302g

FORMAT 2x10

PRICE 368$ (w/ Shadow mech)

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