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Fancy XTR gear... Discuss.
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
Well - I just purchased a second hand 2009 Anthem Ltd X. I have to sell my 2009 X2 Anthem now.
The reason for this post is in relation to all this XTR kit on my new bike. As much as some of it is lovely (eg, rims, gear shifts!), other parts (eg. brakes) seem no different at all. Besides the actual huge cost of XTR, I'm just wondering if any of the NoBMoB group have upgraded to XTR only to wish they hadn't? I certainly couldn't have afforded this bike brand new.
BTW - the bike is great. 
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I'll give you some nice new XT shimano gear and take that crappy titanium XTR gear off your hands for no extra charge.
It's brilliant!
what you complaining about???
Btw, the bike will be up for sale soon as I'm upgrading to a 2012 29er which has SRAM XX but I wish it had XTR!
I notice the difference after about 70k into a 100k race every little bit helps. You just want something that will keep working without feeling like you are trying to stop a truck or change gears on a non-snycro tractor.
XTR has always shifted very smoothly. It always worked and rarely needed tuning once set up right. Yes its lighter, and very expensivie, but the tech innovation starts with the flagship model (usually) and filters down. ie 2012 XT will take on characteristics of the 2011 XTR etc.
@Gazza - interesting you prefer XTR over SRAM XX.... I completely agree !!!
I didn't mean to have a 'negative' overtone in my initial post. I think I'm a little disappointed that the bike isn't quite as good in overall condition as I'd hoped. But the gear is great. Shifting in particular is a HUGE improvement. Hard to believe how smooth & quick jumping 3 gears can be. Also hard to believe that the brakes feel no different from my 'Deore' brakes.
If I ask from a slightly different angle, has anyone had any problems with XTR gear?
Cost of replacement cassettes and chainrings.
Chainrings are horribly priced, and they have a unique BCD so cheaper aftermarket or down-spec bits can't be used as a substitute for general recreational trail riding. The Ti XTR cassette is exxy as well, although the XX cassette that is machined from a single block of metal is in a league of its own price-wise.
I run 2010 XT 9-speed, and keep the Ti XTR cassette on the race wheelset that comes out only at events. Rest of the time I run SLX or XT cassettes.
Can't go past XTR chains, though. Hard-wearing and long-lasting, they well and truly pay for themselves several times over with the extra life they provide to the rest of the transmission. I run three chains in rotation per bike.
I'm hoping the XTR cassette will last much longer with the Ti & all... The XTR chains are a no brainer, especially when they really aren't that expensive at all. I also heard a rumour that they are corrosion resistant.
Nah, I'd put the XTR cassette to one side and keep it for racing / events and stick an XT cassette on there, they're about $80 from CRC or Wiggle.
Apart from the chain, XT lasts longest, XTR sacrifices some service life for performance and minimising weight.
I have come to find that XTR derailleurs do sacrifice strength for weight. I have been through 3 XTR deraileurs this year and only one XT. I spend more time on my NRS which has an XT groupset and less on my SCOTT which has XTR.
Impressive
4 rear derailleurs in one year??? Really? Are you trying to brake them?
I have race 15 or 16 downhill races this year and have only put a small scratch on my XO.
Only broken 1 RD an XT Shadow. The return spring failed. The XTR replacement has worked flawlessly ever since, that was 2 years ago.
I recently ripped my XT shadow off the bike and it had a holiday in the wheels during the C2C and both wheel and RD are fine so I am loving my XT rear d and my fulcrum red metal zeros, built like tanks lol.
Few scratches on the spokes and the RD but otherwise as good as always.
I've got a full complement of XTR on my bike, and I absolutely love it ... except for the brake pads.
Somehow I end up corrupting the brake pad material fairly regularly, and need to replace the pads well before they actually need replacement. No idea if this is common, or if it's just me ...
When the brake pads are new, the brakes are amazing. But usually after a few rides (for me) they start to get corrupted and lose a lot of their braking power. I never had any issue on my old Scott, doing the exact same rides, which I think had XT calipers.
I rate the XTR pads on mine, M965 M06 metallics.
I run full XTR on my XC bike and used to run SLX and XT on my other bikes. XTR is the gun!!! My current do-everything bike is getting converted slowly to full XTR except for the rear mech. I'd run the XTR, but the cage is carbon and does brake easy, compared to the aluminium cage that can be bent back into shape.
The 970 XTR brakes are a little under power compared to the XT, but very minimal (using the same metallic shimano pads)
XTR 970 cranks can take standard rings, but the granny needs to be spaced slightly (I use copper washers) as it has a different offset. I run Truvativ rings as they are noticably lighter and a shed load cheaper with no loss of shifing performance. I do use the 970 bigdog though for the look.
As said, the XT rear cassette is a no-brainer. It's damn cheap compared to an XTR and shifting performance is equal.
The new (2012) XT and XTR brakes are 11ty billion times better than the 770/970 series of brakes. Better modulation and more power with less weight and much sexier look. WIN WIN WIN! lol
I haven't really noticed any difference between the 2011 and 2012 XTR shifting performance. The XTR is just so much better. Less movement for shifts, plus 5 up shifts in one sweep of the lever, or double down shifts for those un expected sprints.
I use XT pedals as I can't justify the extra cost for a little bit of weight reduction.
If you are running the XTR for performance reasons, then dont go with the cassette - run an XX cassette as it is much lighter and shifts a bit better (i've tried both, with both rd's / shifters etc).
XTR brakes are incredible - the Mrs runs them and they are awesome. Fit and forget. I run the XX world-cups, and have bled them 5 times in the last 2 months. They work great, but need a lot of love.
If its more financially motivated, then just run an SLX cassette - same technology, more weight, but miles cheaper.
I use the M985 pads which run about $25 a set (off of Wiggle).
I actually don't know that much about the different pad materials, but when ordered they said they were "Sintered" ... what is that? Tha packaging says it's Metal though (G03TI).
The original pads that came with the calipers were Metallic with cooling fins, but they were too expensive to replace as often as I've been needing to replace them.
Metal pads in my opinion are the best for general use. They are much less susceptible to excessive wear in wet conditions, they last a lot longer in normal conditions as well when compared to resin based pads. The down side is less pad bite (though, the brakes are that powerful these days thats probably a good thing.) and they are said to be a bit noisier. In saying that, I run only Shimano metal or EBC gold (metal) and they are quieter than my resin pad elixirs. But that could be an elixir prob rather than a pad prob... Lol
Has anyone tried the cheaper 'Clarks' XTR brake pads?
I run the Resin XTR Clark's Brake Pads in my M775 XT Brakes. Fantastic Pad, zero noise compared to the Sintered ones that came with the brakes. I bought 4 sets expecting them to wear like butter, but they haven't yet. Seem good in the wet, and also have weared better than the real Shimano Sintered pads?!
XTR is better than XT but if I had to choose between an aluminium bike running XTR and a Carbon Fibre bike running XT I'd choose XT without hesitation.
Hence, I think the price difference between XTR and XT is better spent on frame, forks, and wheels.