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It is the longest-serving mountain bike drivetrain of all and, even in its mid-forties, is still synonymous with common sense and consistency. If you want a lot of gearing for a fair price, Shimano XT is the right choice.
A bike with a number two in the Japanese product hierarchy gives salespeople a strong argument. The XT also impressively proved its durability in our last wear test. The chain and chainring are exceptionally durable and have the life expectancy of a giant tortoise.
The wear gears of the steel XT cassette also age slowly and can be replaced individually - for as little as 4.95 euros. What's more, Shimano's Evergreen is light. To be precise: the complete groupset weighs 1837 grams - less than 100 grams more than the XTR Di2, which costs three times as much.
The new Sram Eagle 90 Transmission makes competition
However, none of this can hide the fact that even the current version of the XT is now more than six years old and that the wheel of time has also moved on in the mountain bike segment. No question: The XT still cuts a fine figure with its discreet black look, but looks a little old-fashioned, especially with regard to the filigree rear derailleur. Especially when the bike next to it is fitted with the new Eagle 90 transmission from the competitor from the USA.
After rumours had been doing the rounds in the digital orbit for some time, Sram finally presented the analogue version of its transmission shifters in March of this year. And while Shimano is sticking to the tried and tested, Sram is now also consistently breaking new ground with its mechanical gearsticks. Like its electronic siblings, the Eagle 90 rear derailleur also dispenses with a derailleur hanger and is instead mounted directly on the rear wheel axle with wide support. This ensures a more stable connection and eliminates the sensitive predetermined breaking point of the derailleur hanger.
Simplified setup on the Sram gearstick
Assembly has also been completely turned on its head, as Sram has created a direct reference point between the rear derailleur and cassette by dispensing with the derailleur hanger. The cumbersome setup via wrap and end stop bolts - words that alone give many mountain bikers a knot in their brain - is now obsolete. Instead, adjustment and assembly involve just a handful of clearly defined steps that are as simple as assembling Ikea furniture.
If you follow the procedure exactly, you only have to fine-tune the gear steps using the cable tension - the only step that is still reminiscent of a classic rear derailleur with shift cable. And if you do get stuck at some point, you are guided through the setup step by step by elaborately produced video tutorials.
Smooth and precise shifting
However, the real aha moment comes when you swing your legs over the saddle after successful installation and take your first familiarisation lap on the trail. On the new Eagle 90 shifter, the gears can be shifted smoothly but with clear definition. The shift levers are ergonomically comfortable and easy to reach - even if they could be a little more tactile.
The Eagle 90 shares the cassette with the GX Transmission - and therefore also the special shifting lanes where the rear derailleur shifts the chain to the next sprocket. As a result, the Eagle 90 sometimes takes a while for the chain to get to the next sprocket, but gear changes are virtually silent and extremely precise. The shifting of individual gears is only accompanied by a barely perceptible "ping ... Ping" - even under full load, up and down. In addition, the Eagle 90 shifts several gears at a time more quickly than its electronic counterpart, because the rider himself provides the impulse for the shifting process and not the electric motor.
The Shimano XT is faster, but less precise
Only Shimano's XT is faster, as it allows you to shift up four gears instead of two and shift two gears instead of just one onto the smaller sprocket. However, shifting under load and changing several gears at once are often accompanied by a loud metallic grinding noise - and the chain shifts quickly but less precisely over the sprockets. Added to this is the shifting feel with a hard pressure point and little feedback on the finger, which makes it easy to skip the desired gear in the heat of the moment.
The Eagle 90 Transmission is easy to maintain, but heavy
It should also be mentioned that the new Eagle 90 rear derailleur is easy to repair. In addition to the parallelogram, damper and derailleur cage, almost all components can be replaced relatively inexpensively in the event of a defect. However, there is one downside: at 2106 grams, Sram's new mechanical groupset is really heavy. The robust rear derailleur and the bulky crank are particularly heavy. So if you want a lightweight, inexpensive analogue drivetrain, Shimano's classic is still a good choice. In all other respects, however, the Eagle 90 Transmission is superior to the Shimano XT.
The Eagle 90 Transmission is the absolute surprise in the test and THE tip for all those who want to continue shifting mechanically. You can hardly change gears more precisely - even under full load. However, the heavy groupset will hardly be an option for racers. If you combine the Eagle 90 with lighter components from the Sram range, it quickly becomes expensive. - Stefan Frey, BIKE test editor
The most important information about the Shimano XT M8100
- Price: 672 Euro
- Weight: 1837 grammes
- Rear derailleur (long cage) 135 Euro / 282 g
- Gear lever (clamp mounting) 79 Euro / 117 g
- Cassette (10-51 teeth) 165 Euro / 466 g
- Chain (126 links) 54 Euro / 279 g
- Crank handle (170 mm / 32 teeth) 239 / 639 g
Translation and options
- Bandwidth / gradation 510 % / 10-12-14-16-18-21-24-28-33-39-45-51
- Chainrings 28 / 30 / 32 / 34 / 36
- Crank lengths 160 / 165 / 170 / 175 / 180 mm
- Cassettes 10-51 / 10-45 teeth
- Special featuresFriction damper can be deactivated; sprockets 10 to 18 can be changed individually; up to four gears can be shifted at once; downshifting with index finger
Conclusion on the Shimano drivetrain
Strengths and weaknesses of the Shimano XT M8100
Strengths
- Very good value
- Low wear
- Fast with Multi-Shift
Weaknesses
- poorly defined gear lever with high manual forces
- Low shifting precision, especially with fast gear changes
- Increased background noise
- complicated setup
I didn't expect the differences between the mechanical groupsets from Sram and Shimano to be so significant. Apart from the lower weight and the favourable purchase price of the XT, there is no reason for me to bolt the former bestseller onto my bike. Max Fuchs, BIKE test editor
The most important information about the Sram Eagle 90 Transmission
- Price: 790 Euro
- Weight: 2108 grammes
- Rear derailleur 205 Euro / 390 g
- Gear lever (clamp mounting) 55 Euro / 129 g
- Cassette (10-52 teeth) 300 Euro / 443 g
- Chain (126 links): 60 Euro / 285 g
- Crank handle (170 mm / 32 teeth): 170 / 807 g
- The Sram Eagle 90 Transmission groupset is, for example available here
Translation and options
- Bandwidth / gradation 520 % / 10-12-14-16-18-21-24-28-32-38-44-52
- Chainrings 30 / 32 / 34
- Crank lengths 155 / 160 / 165 / 170 / 175 mm
- Cassettes 10-52 teeth
- Special features: No rear derailleur and adjustment screws; various spare parts for rear derailleur; bashguard can be removed
Conclusion on the Sram drivetrain
Strengths and weaknesses of the Sram Eagle 90 Transmission
Strengths
- Clear and simple setup
- Very high switching precision
- Strong friction damper
- Switches very quietly
- Alternative function rear derailleur
- Many spare parts for rear derailleur
Weaknesses
- quite heavy overall (crank/swivelling mechanism)
- only fits frames with UDH derailleur hanger
The detailed evaluation of the circuits in comparison
Stefan Frey
Editor
