After three radical changes (shifting, chainset and brakes) in one go, we’re not surprised that Shimano have gone for an evolutionary rather than revolutionary approach to the rest of the kit. Here’s the low down anyway.

The main difference with the rear mech is that it’s a Rapid Rise set up, which gives a lighter action at the downshift and causes less cable stretch and general mechanical strain. Cosmetically its been rounded and smoothed and given a glossy metallic finish with the missing corners also knocking a few grams off overall weight.

Showing their attention to detail and user feedback they’ve also solved a problem we’d never even heard of. Apparently if you ran the chain at full stretch for any length of time (downhillers etc) the lower jockey wheel pin could unscrew and the wheel would drop out. The new Shimano XTR gets a circlip round the axle rather than a screw in bolt so things should stay put.

Another nice detail touch is a moulded rubber bumper to quieten any impacts with the chainstay or dropouts.

The front mech cage is stiffened slightly while the mechanism gets a slight modification so that it can work as a top or bottom pull mech,. It still comes in top swing or bottom swing versions and the E-type plate mount changes from carbon to aluminium for ease of manufacture. Weight on all versions is about 15g heavier.

The V brakes use an identical mechanism to the old type, but with the new smoother shinier finish. Weight is unchanged.

Finally the already excellent XTR cables get further smoothing and weather sealing thanks to silicon grease pre-injected along their whole length. Hmm slick.