All Arround MTB

E*THIRTEEN HAVE STRETCHED the range of the 11-speed cassette by incorporating a massive 44t largest sprocket and tiny 9t smallest sprocket on their newTRS+ block.

We've had a few months on several sets of Shimano's new flagship mechanical groupset so what do we think and where does it rank in the drivetrain charts?

SRAM has led the way in drivetrain innovation for allmountain riding ever since they introduced their radical 1x11 XX1 group in 2013. since then, 1x11 has almost taken over the market, although the wider gear range of a 2x system still has lots of appeal to certain riders, usually depending on local geography. This year, SRAM is releasing a completely new group called GX that trickles down 1x11 to lower price points and also adds flexibility by giving the riders the option to run 2x11 or 2x10 shifting setups.

SHIMANO'S LONG-AWAITED Di2 electric shifting might be the headline act of their latest-generation XTR groupset, but stripping it right down to an analogue 1x11 format reveals its outstanding level of detailing and build quality, and it's remarkably good value for money too.

IT'S GREAT TO watch technology shunt all the way down a price range over time and the Deore group now delivers all of Shimano's 2x10 durability and chain security features at a pocket money price.

X1 DELIVERS ALL the wide range single-ring simplicity, bad weather durability (compared to SRAM 2x10), decreased bike clutter and weight advantages of SRAM's 1x11 system in its most affordable - though still expensive - form.

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

IF YOU'RE NOT bothered about weight, Shimano SLX is literally a super-solid, full feature gearset.

SRAM'S RADICAL RESTRICTED range DH set-up is a rock solid close-ratio race specialist with super-positive shifting but a punishing price.

X7 IS THE cheapest way to get most of SRAM's latest 10-speed mech and shifter updates and it's a positive, secure set-up for fans of double or triple chainrings.

Flagship groupset goes high-tech for 2015