Deore XT is a mountain and touring bike groupset first introduced by Shimano in 1983. It was Shimano's first mountain bike groupset, based on their existing Deore touring groupset, and it consisted of a triple-, double- or single chainring crankset, front and rear derailleurs, handlebar-mounted "finger" shifters, cantilever brakes, and large-flange hubs. Since then, it has become their "second-tier" offering, the list of components has expanded to include hydraulic disc brakes, a complete wheelset, a chain, and clipless pedals, and it is offered in silver or black finish.
Model history
The groupset was designated by model numbers M7xx; beginning with M700, and ran to M780. Touring groupsets were designated by model numbers T7xx. Current groupsets are designated by model numbers M8100 and T8000.
M700 1983 friction (Deer Head) M730 1987 6-speed M732 1989 7-speed M735 1992 7-speed M737 1993 8-speed M739 1995 8-speed M750 1999 9-speed (first groupsets sold already in 1998, these sets are code-stamped WK onwards) M760 2003 9-speed M770 2008 9/10-speed Rear derailleur: introduction of Shadow low-profile design, which reduced the risk of damage from side hazards. Shimano has released four models of rear derailleur in M770 lineup: RD-M770, 9 speed, reversed spring RD-M771, 9 speed RD-M772, 9 speed, Shadow profile RD-M773, 10 speed, Shadow profile Front Derailleur: FD-M770, 9 speed M780 2011 10-speed Shifting Lever: SL-M780-B-IR, 10 speed, I-spec B SL-M780-B-IL, 2/3 speed, I-spec B SL-M780-R, 10 speed, clamp band SL-M780-L, 2/3 speed, clamp band Front Derailleur: FD-M785, 2 speed, clamp band, top swing, dual-pull FD-M785-E2, 2 speed, e-type, top swing, dual-pull FD-M786, 2 speed, clamp band, down swing, dual-pull (top-pull exclusive) FD-M786-D, 2 speed, direct mount, down swing, dual-pull (top-pull exclusive) FD-M780-A-B, 3 speed, clamp band, top swing, dual-pull FD-M781-A-B, 3 speed, clamp band, down swing, dual-pull FD-M781-A-D, 3 speed, direct mount, down swing, top-pull FD-M780-A-E, 3 speed, e-type, top swing, down-pull Rear derailleur: introduction of Shadow Plus technology, which added a switchable clutch used to stabilize chain tension. Shimano has released two versions of the rear derailleur - M781 (without clutch) and M786 (with clutch). Both versions were sold in two cage length options - GS (medium) and SGS (long, 95 mm between centres of jockey wheels axis). RD-M781-SGS, 10 speed, Shadow, long cage (total capacity 43T) RD-M786-SGS, 10 speed, Shadow Plus, long cage (total capacity 43T) RD-M781-GS, 10 speed, Shadow, medium cage (total capacity 35T) RD-M786-GS, 10 speed, Shadow Plus, medium cage (total capacity 35T) Brake Lever: BL-M785-B, hydraulic disc brake, open clamp band, compatible with I-spec B T780 2011 10-speed M8000 2015 11-speed Shifting Lever: SL-M8000-R, 11 speed, clamp band SL-M8000-L, 2/3 speed, clamp band SL-M8000-IR, 11 speed, I-spec II SL-M8000-IL, 2/3 speed, I-spec II SL-M8000-B-IR, 11 speed, I-spec B SL-M8000-B-IL, 2/3 speed, I-spec B Front Derailleur: FD-M8000-D, 3 speed, direct mount, side swing, front-pull FD-M8000-E, 3 speed, e-type, side swing, front-pull FD-M8000-H, 3 speed, high clamp band, side swing, front-pull FD-M8000-L, 3 speed, low clamp band, side swing, front-pull FD-M8020-D, 2 speed, direct mount, side swing, front-pull FD-M8020-E, 2 speed, e-type, side swing, front-pull FD-M8020-H, 2 speed, high clamp band, side swing, front-pull FD-M8020-L, 2 speed, low clamp band, side swing, front-pull FD-M8025-H, 2 speed, high clamp band, down swing, dual-pull (top-pull exclusive) FD-M8025-L, 2 speed, low clamp band, top swing, dual-pull (down-pull exclusive) FD-M8025-D, 2 speed, direct mount, down swing, dual-pull (top-pull exclusive) FD-M8025-E, 2 speed, e-type, top swing, dual-pull (top-pull exclusive) Rear Derailleur: RD-M8000-SGS, 11 speed, Shadow Plus, long cage (total capacity 47T) RD-M8000-GS, 11 speed, Shadow Plus, medium cage (total capacity 39T) Brake Lever: BL-M8000, hydraulic disc brake, open clamp band, compatible with I-spec II T8000 2016 10-speed M8100 2019 12-speed Shifting Lever: SL-M8100-R, 12 speed, clamp band SL-M8100-IR, 12 speed, I-spec EV SL-M8100-L, 2 speed, clamp band SL-M8100-IL, 2 speed, I-spec EV Front Derailleur: FD-M8100-D, 2 speed, direct mount, side swing, front-pull FD-M8100-E, 2 speed, e-type, side swing, front-pull FD-M8100-M, 2 speed, clamp band, side swing, front-pull Brake Lever: BL-M8100, hydraulic disc brake, open clamp band, compatible with I-spec EV