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I’ll simply soar proper in. So, I’ve been using Shimano’s new group, the XT LinkGlide, for nearly a yr. After logging a couple of hundred grime miles on the group, I’ve been largely impressed. I’ve purposely performed some laborious shifting whereas beneath load on techy climbs. I’ve run it relentlessly, and unnecessarily I’d add, up and down the cassette for lengthy durations whereas using.
Up to now it’s taken the abuse with aplomb. To not point out that you could get the cassette, chain, derailleur, and shifter for the worth of among the cassettes which might be in the marketplace proper now. So tremendous massive kudos to Shimano for that.
I’ve been a Shimano consumer for fairly a while. And it’s type of the camp that I’ve hunkered down in since shopping for my first actual mountain bike again in late 1988, early 1990. What bought me on that bike means again then, was the truth that it utilized the model new XT ST-M091 Fast Fireplace “push-push” 7-speed shifters.
As much as that time in my using, I had not skilled such exact and senseless shifting. That’s a reasonably daring assertion, I do know. But it surely was friction thumb shifters for me up till then. And, after the rapid-fire shifters, I by no means appeared again.
Maintain On…
I simply wished to say, earlier than we do truly soar into it, that I’m not getting tremendous within the weeds for this evaluate. I do know it’s simple to do with drivetrain parts, however I’m going to withstand this and preserve this evaluate top-level. That means your eyes gained’t glaze over. You will get all techy-tech from our unique tech submit in order for you.
However for this evaluate, I’ll cowl how good it seems to be, what new tech it has, what it weighs, how simple it was to put in and regulate on my mountain bike, and what I considered its efficiency. And perhaps a couple of anecdotes and opinions alongside the best way. Who is aware of, we’ll see what variety o’ time we’ve.
No massive whoop… let’s get on with it.
Shimano XT LinkGlide
Again in March 2023, once I was trying to construct up my Rivendell Gus Boots Willsen, Shimano had reached out and requested if I wished to evaluate their new XT LinkGlide group. In case you learn my stuff, you understand I’m not at all times pumped to attempt one thing, simply because it’s the “latest-greatest”. So, initially I assumed, “Naw, I’m good, thanks! I’ll simply use my present m8000 XT shifter, cassette, and rear derailleur”.
However I reconsidered after they instructed me who the LinkGlide was supposed for, the way it was speculated to carry out, how a lot it value, and the way it was completely different. So, I stated sure…I even instructed them what bike I supposed to apply it to, they usually had been on board.
The Cassette is The place the Tech is
Constructed to suit a typical HG cassette physique, the LinkGlide cassettes are designed to be extraordinarily sturdy and sturdy. They boast tooth which might be formed in another way than the HyperGlide tooth, are means thicker, and have “2-way shifting guides”. Shimano says that the cassettes are 3 occasions extra sturdy than their HyperGlide equal. As you possibly can see within the above photos, the XT M8000 cassette’s tooth (picture on the precise) are a lot thinner.
They’re advertising and marketing LinkGlide as optimum for each high-torque shifting purposes (e-bike customers) and “lower than excellent” shifting (newer cyclists). As talked about earlier than, the completely different formed and taller shift ramps differ from the HG cassette. These ramps enable a totally completely different shift level. In idea, these ramps will supply a smoother shift whereas shifting beneath load.
The LinkGlide system just isn’t speculated to endure from, what Shimano calls, “shift shock” whereas shifting. You understand the sensation…the place the chain “drops” onto the cassette throughout a shift such as you get generally with the HyperGlide system. I discovered this to be true… more often than not… extra on that later.
XT LinkGlide Set up
The XT LinkGlide was put in on my Gus simply sufficient. I used to be simply utilizing the shifter, cassette, and rear derailleur. There’s not a LinkGlide crankset. Unsure if there ever will likely be. One of many cool issues concerning the XT LinkGlide is that you just don’t want a particular chain to run the group such as you do with HyperGlide. LinkGlide will work with any Shimano or aftermarket chain.
They despatched the group to me with the Dura-Ace/XTR chain, in order that’s what I used. I truly needed to attain out to get one other chain as a result of my Gus’s chainstays are so superbly lengthy.
The understated matte and gloss black coloration that adorns the XT LinkGlide was a nice shock. Often, or no less than traditionally, Shimano’s extra entry-level parts have at all times appeared nicely… entry-level. However, not so with with this group. It’s very good-looking and appears high-end.
After I picked up the LinkGlide cassette field, it had some notable heft. In case you’re used to smaller cassettes with the bigger cogs produced from aluminum, this might really feel pretty heavy. So, I weighed it towards a Shimano Deore CS-M6100 10-51t 12-speed cassette. The 2 cassettes aren’t suitable, however each cassettes have full metal cogs with an aluminum spider to cut back weight. The decrease tier 12-speed Deore cassette has one other gear, extra vary, and continues to be lighter, however solely by 31g. I discovered the brand new 11-50t LinkGlide cassette to be 626g in comparison with the Deore cassette’s 595g.
Two Completely different Cassettes
That being stated, the LinkGlide cassette that Shimano despatched me is the LG700-11. This cassette is the very best match for the XT LinkGlide sequence, however in line with Shimano, “is a non-series cassette that lives outdoors of the branded households, it’s the greatest pairing for the XT LinkGlide”.
The LinkGlide shifter comes with a conventional clamp, like mine, or the I-Spec with its ergo adjustability. After putting in the parts, I ran the housing and cables. The rear derailleur was simple to arrange. I simply set the excessive and low stops after which set the cable and it shifted completely.
The derailleur doesn’t have a barrel adjuster, however the shifter does. This made it simple to regulate the “stretch” out of the cable after the primary few rides. Apart from my distinctive state of affairs of mixing two chains on my bike, the set up was simple.
How Did it Carry out?
General I didn’t thoughts the best way the XT LinkGlide shifted. It was a slower shift than that of the XT HyperGlide. And, which will have led to the occasional feeling that the shifting felt cumbersome. And talking frankly, it took some getting used to.
One other small studying curve was the LinkGlide shifter. The shifter means that you can throw a two-gear soar up the cassette with one push. However, limits you to a single push/pull to return again down the cassette.
I’ve been using the 11-speed XT M8000 stuff solely on each mountain bike I’ve owned since 2017. As most of you most likely know, the M8000 shifter can throw three gears up the cassette in a single lengthy push. And may throw two gears again down the cassette in a fast “double-click” push.
So utilizing the brand new LinkGlide shifter took somewhat getting used to as nicely. I needed to regulate how I approached a couple of particular sections on two of my favourite rides due to it. And I’ll inform you, even after I acquired used to it, and have ridden a whole lot of miles on it, I nonetheless favor the best way normal XT shifts over this.
In Conclusion
General, the XT 11-speed LinkGlide system appears to be very powerful. And after a whole lot of miles of use and purposeful abuse, it by no means missed a gear shift. I did, nonetheless, “endure” from the occasional “shift shock” or “pedal shock” that Shimano says the LinkGlide eliminates.
It actually wasn’t a giant deal should you’ve been using the HyperGlide stuff, trigger it occurs all the time with that system. And perhaps it will be eradicated if I used to be utilizing this method on an eBike.
I by no means did fairly get used to it, nor did I really like how gradual the LinkGlide shifted. Look, I do know I’m not racing or something, however I do like my bike stuff to work exceptionally nicely. And I’ve actually gotten spoiled by the shifting of my present XT HyperGlide stuff. I’m a non-transitional human, and I really like my M8000. Sue me.
Nonetheless, should you don’t have that high-end reference level, new riders will discover the shifting greater than ample. Wonderful even, if the comparability is different cheap teams that come on entry-level bikes.
In case you have an eBike, don’t want 12 speeds, and also you’re shifting beneath massive quantities of torque, then the XT LinkGlide is your group. In case you are okay buying and selling weight financial savings for sturdiness? Then the XT LinkGlide is your group. The sheer sturdiness of the LinkGlide cassette will prevent cash on chains and cassettes in the long term. If I owned an eBike, I might run the XT 11-speed LinkGlide system, and it will be wonderful with me.
It’s simple on the pockets as nicely. At Jenson USA, as of the writing of this text, the costs are as follows:
- XT LinkGlide Rear Derailleur: $122
- XT LinkGlide Shifter: $67
- LinkGlide LG500 Chain: $23
- LinkGlide LG700 11-speed Cassette (as examined): $130
That’s solely $342 earlier than relevant tax and transport for the group. That features the cassette that was examined, a LinkGlide chain, the XT LinkGlide derailleur, and the XT LinkGlide shifter. That may be a nice deal.
A Completely different Tackle XT LinkGlide (From Zach’s POV)
Together with Ron, I additionally acquired an XT LinkGlide package to take a look at. Initially, I had deliberate to apply it to a fats bike. My thought was that winter street salt, sea salt, and all of the mud and grit are notoriously troublesome on fats bike drivetrains, and one thing that was extra sturdy and cheaper can be an incredible possibility.
However… I additionally had some lighter Shimano 12-speed Deore/XT components obtainable for the construct, and my internal weight weenie acquired the very best of me. That left me with an XT LinkGlide group to placed on one thing else.
Then it hit me. My Raleigh Redux commuter got here with a 9-speed drivetrain that was in want of an replace. Provided that LinkGlide is designed to work nicely with ebikes, it appeared like an ideal match… solely the hybrid gearing up entrance made it somewhat attention-grabbing.
Like Ron, I additionally wanted an extended chain to make the massive cassette work with the massive chainring. Nonetheless, I came upon that Shimano provides an E-MTB chain, the CN-E8000-11. This chain is 138 hyperlinks as an alternative of 116, and was lengthy sufficient for me with out having to make use of two chains. I additionally needed to take away one facet of the chain information plate across the chainring and shift the chainring over utilizing chainring spacers to create a chainline that may work with the rear cassette. These adjustments weren’t on account of something associated to LinkGlide, however somewhat me making an attempt to run a variety MTB drivetrain on a hybrid e-bike with a giant chainring.
In the long run, all of it labored surprisingly nicely and I used to be left with a drivetrain that had far more vary. Like Ron, I discovered the shifting to be completely different, however I didn’t have any drawback getting used to it. It’s a really optimistic really feel to the shifter and lacks among the finesse that you just’ll discover on the greater finish. With that stated, it really works nice, particularly when hammering by means of the gears on an ebike.
Previous to the LinkGlide set up, I’ve truly damaged extra chains on this Raleigh than my different bikes mixed. So the truth that the LinkGlide drivetrain continues to be working flawlessly, is spectacular. Due to that, I’d don’t have any reservations about recommending this group to anybody in search of a sturdy drivetrain on a funds.
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