At the DH World Cup in Maribor, Slovenia, Loris Vergier and Greg Minnaar are running unmarked derailleurs that look quite different from the current Shimano Saint M820.
Shimano's Saint components have remained largely unchanged for the last 7 years, a testament to how refined the parts where when they were first released. However, given that the XTR, XT, SLX, and Deore drivetrains have all recently received significant updates, it would only make sense that the venerable Saint group would be the next in line for some revisions.
The most noticeable change is the shape of the parallelogram. The distinctive X-shape of the
current version is gone, replaced by a rectangular piece with more material in the center. The entire derailleur looks more compact, which could be a sign that it's now designed specifically for downhill cassettes with 7 or fewer gears – the original was designed to work with up to a 10-speed cassette. The derailleur also uses a standard mount, as opposed to the direct mount compatible design used previously.
The adjustable clutch mechanism hasn't gone anywhere, and like Shimano's other derailleurs a lever is used to turn it off to help with wheel changes.
Loris was using an XT shifter to operate the new derailleur, but there's likely a new shifter floating around somewhere too - we'll see what we can dig up.
I kid, I kid...
PBer: WAY too much! Enjoy it DR's and Yeti owners.
We don't want riders to be at each others throats, why do we wish that to photographers and journalists?
Chill!
I'm not high, I promise!
www.pinkbike.com/news/tags/spotted
There’s Greg Minnaar cranks.
But seriously, shouldn't it be 8- or 6-speed microspline to compete with the other S, and have a motor in the clutch that runs off a watch battery? Funny Vergier already won something with it
So far 12 speed from Shimano are awesome, the only disadvantage on 27.5 bikes you literally few inches from the ground comparing to 11 sp grossest
I would venture to guess that you'll be able to get electronic shifting (from SRAM, anyway) for $300-400 within the next 2 seasons. They'll keep cable drivetrains an option, but in general the cable versions will become the lower-end, cheaper spec.
I could go for another brand I suppose, but I already have the bleed kit, oil and tool necesary to bleed shimano brakes.
I wonder what new Zee will be like. I wonder what it will be called.
For me the biggest question is over whether they decide to go down the 12 speed actuation route, or reduce the number of gears to increase reliability for DH and ebikes. That would be the ticket in my opinion. Hopefully they don't got the SRAM way of having a 12 speed setup with just seven cogs and the offset flange with the big waste of space spacer.
When I got my Zee mech, I also got the Wolftooth Goat Link which replaces the upper part of the mech. I thought it would be a good idea as it supposedly would get me more chain wrap over the smallest sprockets hence wear them less. But it did require more range from the cage to use the full 11-36 cassette. Which it didn't have and there was insufficient tension to keep the chain from skipping over the smallest sprocket, so I converted it back. But I might try it with an other 10sp Shimano rear mech some day. What it does is that it tilts the rear mech counterclockwise (when looked at from the right of the bike) so when in the heaviest gear the guide pulley is a bit higher, hence the whole cage along with the tension pulley gets lifted up a little too. Haven't tried that yet as I don't have another 10sp rear mech to try this with (other than Zee) but if you do then it may be worth a consideration. There is a Goat Link for 11sp too.
I think there is obvious crossover between ebikes and DH bikes in terms of the reliability being more important than gear steps.
It seems like an obvious gap in the market to me. I would go for maybe a 9 speed cassette with 10-50 for ebikes and 10-25/30 ish for DH. Two derailleurs (a short and a long) and use the exact same shifter, brakes and crank arms.
Thanks for the tips about Deore. I really hadn't considered that. My son's bike has an 11-36 XT cassette but up front it's a 32t ring. I would love to give him a lower gear - I think a 26t up front would be perfect but there don't seem to be any 150mm DM cranks. With the 104BCD the lowest I can go is 30t and it's not really worth the effort to just drop two teeth. A ten speed Deore setup might be better but I am going to guess the cassette is super heavy. Will look into it though.
BY putting covers over drive keep it clean & maintenance free
Plus do not need a clutch?
Unless you find some old stock, nowadays 8-9spd road components are entry level, lower end stuff, and the rear derailleurs are not designed for "racing cassettes" (although even some of the pros are starting to move to wider range cassettes). Even a short cage 8spd Claris or 9spd Claris is designed to work with an 11-32 cassette and a double, so they don't have a very short cage.
A 10spd ZEE rear derailleur costs like £50-55, it has a clutch and a tiny cage. I don't see the point in getting an old shifter and a road rear derailleur that doesn't have a very short cage, doesn't have a clutch, and it has a double pivot design with springs made out of cheese.
But clutches are not needed & also affect the function of suspension!
That's what she said.
*sigh*
Even if you're running a chain guide, a clutch is a nice addition IMO.
Yeah, sadly it affects the rear suspension.
@spencer81 I want anti gravity tyres. I stand by what I said.