Shimano 2013 - Affordable SLX Ensemble Supercharged With XTR Features

Shimano turned its attention to the mid-priced SLX mountain bike ensemble and embellished it with technical innovations like Ice Tech brake pads and rotors, the Shadow Plus clutch in the rear derailleur, the new ultra-positive shift lever mech and a full complement of gearing options for the 10-speed SLX crankset and cassette – all features that only recently were the domain of XTR. Why? Well, the back story is that complete bike prices are expected to rise up to 30 percent by 2013, driven by higher manufacturing costs in Asia and unstable currency in Europe and the US. The new supercharged SLX group has a sharper appearance and is poised to deliver a closely matching performance to its illustrious (and expensive) XTR and Deore XT siblings.


Dollars saved by spec’ing SLX can be used by bike makers to buy into other technologies like a high-level fork and shock, or perhaps to make a carbon frame available at a particular price point. We expect to see a lot of SLX on mid-travel trailbikes in the 3000-dollar range, where experienced riders expect an off-the-rack machine to sport everything found on a pro bike - from a dual-chainring drivetrain to a dropper post. In a landscape where both retail prices and customers’ expectations are on a collision course, SLX must fill the shoes of Shimano’s Deore XT-level components.


29er technology
Shimano missed the bus on 29ers – twice - first when it launched the current XTR and again a couple of years ago when it followed with the new Deore XT group. SLX incorporates a low-profile front derailleur mech that makes room for 29er tires, a lower 38 x 24-tooth gearing option for its two-by crankset range, and a ‘Direct Mount’ rear derailleur option that adapts well to the 12-millimeter through-axle option that many 29er designers are using to stiffen up the lengthily hindquarters of their frames. The Direct Mount standard eliminates the Shadow derailleur’s B2 link and the frame’s wimpy replaceable derailleur hanger with a single part, and it can be configured for either standard quick-release or through-axle rear ends. Not exactly SLX, but still news for big wheel riders is the appearance of two new UST-compatible 29er wheelsets for 2013.


Shimano 2013 SLX Walk-through
Shimano was vague on some details of its new SLX components. Weight figures were missing, although the word is that its components are slightly heavier than XT, which stands to reason. The good news is that SLX seems to be designed specifically to survive the rigors of aggressive trail riding, which means that it will plug into bikes with suspension travel in the five to six-inch range that most riders are gravitating towards.

SLX Crankset
The beefy crankarms and bold shape of the SLX crankarms are a welcome sight. Better still are its ‘rider Tuned’ gearing options: The new-school 24,32,42 triple crankset, and three options for the SLX double chainring crank - 40 x 28, 38 x 26 and the new, 38 x 24 option. The chainrings feature stamped and pinned ramps, which are a bit harder on the eyes than the beautifully machined XT and XTR items, but we can expect clean, fast shift action from any Shimano crankset. Like Deore XT, SLX crank arms are separate from its aluminum, four-arm spider. The three-ring and two-ring spiders are different parts altogether, so if you want to configure a double-ring crank with a bash ring, you’ll need to order the triple crankset.


Shadow Plus Rear Derailleur Comes to SLX
Shimano XTR’s most useful innovation is easily the Shadow Plus one-way friction clutch that prevents the slack run of the chain from whipping around and derailing the chain from the crankset. SLX (along with XT) gets the latest version of Shadow Plus, which is reported to have a stronger and simplified clutch design. Non-believers can opt for a slightly lighter weight non-Plus rear derailleur. Both SLX rear derailleurs are sold in the 3 x 10-specific long-cage SGS or the 2 x 10-specific mid-cage GS configuration.

Direct Mount
All Shadow derailleurs for 2013 are available in a ‘Direct Mount’ option. Direct Mount is said to be a 29er-specific option, but that seems to be a rubberized notion, as the key benefits of the design are valid for any mountain bike that will be ridden to the redline. The Direct Mount link spans directly between the frame and the derailleur body, bypassing the B2 link and the dropout’s traditional replaceable hanger segment. To convert the Shadow to Direct Mount, simply remove the derailleur’s B2 link and attach the derailleur directly to the Direct Mount arm. We’ve inspected prototype Direct Mount mechs and it appears to a perfect marriage to the 142/12-millimeter through-axle standard, destined to replace the quick release in the very near future.


Front Derailleurs
Four front derailleur configs’ are available next year: two clamp-types with a high and low-mount option (the low-mount is a nod to the 29er folks); and two direct-mount models, also in high and low-mount options. The far-more-complicated-than-necessary levers and cable guides of past Shimano front mechs have been streamlined to take up less real estate behind the seat tube and thus make room for more important stuff like 29er tires and suspension linkages. While on the subject of suspension, Shimano reconfigured the profile of the front derailleur cage to compensate for the change in angle of the chain as the rear suspension compresses – and also to reduce rubbing when riding in the extreme cross-over gears.


Shift Lever Love
Shimano reports that SLX shift levers have been upgraded with the crisper, more positive action of its XT and XTR mechs. The trigger paddles have also been redesigned for better ergonomics and the left-side shifter can be configured for either three or two-chainring cranks with an XTR-like mode switch. SLX shift levers, like its expensive kin, can be had in the ISPEC, multi-mount version, or with a standard handlebar clamp arrangement. An optical gear display is also an option.



SLX Brakes Get Ice Tech Rotors
Last year, SLX brakes could be had in the aftermarket with Shimano’s stainless steel/aluminum sandwich rotors and finned brake pads. Now all SLX brakes will be fitted with Finned pads and the exotic rotors that are said to dissipate heat nearly 20-percent better. The not so great news is that all standard SLX brakes will feature the softer-stopping organic OEM pads, not the super-stopping, sintered semi-metallic aftermarket option. Rotors are sold with Shimano’s splined Centerlock interface and a six-bolt version is also available. Diameters are 160, 180 and 203 millimeter. Not so new, but worth a mention is that SLX calipers have the same ceramic pistons and one-way bleeding feature as XTR and upstairs, SLX features the top-dog’s shorty lever and ServoWave action as well.


SLX Hubs
Some call them cup-and-cone, some call them angular contact bearings, but the good news is that they are well sealed and you can easily adjust them. Shimano’s SLX hubs can be found in standard quick release axles or with a 15 millimeter through-axle for the front and a 12-millimeter through axle for the rear. Shimano also has increased the engagement points for the freehub cassette so riders will enjoy near-instant acceleration response. All SLX rear hubs feature the splined Centerlock brake rotor interface. Shimano and DT Swiss offer six-bolt adaptors should you feel a panic coming on.


New Wheelsets
Shimano’s wheel factory has been working overtime, with two new rim profiles, both UST certified. Shimano completely hand builds it wheels, which is a wonderful thing to watch. The MT66 rim is a 19-millimeter ID cross-country profile that is available in both 29er and 26-inch diameters. MT66 wheels feature rear quick release and 142/12 through-axle options while the front hub is 15QR thro0ugh-axle only. The MT68 rim has a wider, 21-millimeter profile that will accept up to a 2.5 inch width tire and is targeted the 26-inch-wheel aggressive trail/am rider. MT68 front wheels feature 15QR through-axles while the rear hub can be spec’ed with a quick release or 142/12mm through-axle. Colors are white or black. Shimano’s 29er wheels use 28 spokes in the rear and 24 up front to balance the strength requirements of the larger format hoops, while the 26-inch wheelsets use 24 spokes front and rear. The straight-pull hub/wheel configuration allows for higher spoke tension and longer lasting wheels.


Claimed weights are 910 grams (15mm front) and 1050 grams (12mm rear) for the 26-inch MT68 wheelset. Weights for the MT66 29er wheelset are said to be 945 grams front (15mm) and 1080 grams rear (quick release), with the 26er version making 840grams front (QR) and 985 grams rear (QR). Release dates are July for the MT66 wheels and September for the MT68. Prices have not been officially released, but Shimano says that the 66 and 68 wheels will fall into the SLX price range for both OEM and retail customers.


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