I’ll simply soar proper in. So, I’ve been using Shimano’s new group, the XT LinkGlide, for nearly a 12 months. After logging just a few hundred dust miles on the group, I’ve been largely impressed. I’ve purposely completed some laborious shifting whereas underneath load on techy climbs. I’ve run it relentlessly, and unnecessarily I’d add, up and down the cassette for lengthy intervals whereas using.
To date it’s taken the abuse with aplomb. To not point out you can get the cassette, chain, derailleur, and shifter for the value of a number of the cassettes which are in the marketplace proper now. So tremendous massive kudos to Shimano for that.
I’ve been a Shimano person for fairly a while. And it’s sort 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 method again then, was the truth that it utilized the model new XT ST-M091 Speedy 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 fairly daring assertion, I do know. But it surely was friction thumb sifters 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 soar into it, that I’m not getting tremendous within the weeds for this overview. I do know it’s simple to do with drivetrain elements, however I’m going to withstand this and preserve this overview top-level. That method your eyes received’t glaze over. You will get all techy-tech from our authentic tech publish if you would like.
However for this overview, I’ll cowl how good it appears to be like, 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 possibly just a few antidotes and opinions alongside the best way. Who is aware of, we’ll see what variety o’ time we now have.
No massive whoop… let’s get on with it.
Shimano XT LinkGlide
Again in March 2023, once I was seeking to construct up my Rivendell Gus Boots Willsen, Shimano had reached out and requested if I wished to overview their new XT LinkGlide group. Should you learn my stuff, you realize 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 current 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 mentioned sure…I even instructed them what bike I supposed to apply it to, they usually have been on board.
The Cassette is The place the Tech is
Constructed to suit a regular HG cassette physique, the LinkGlide cassettes are designed to be extraordinarily sturdy and sturdy. They boast tooth which are formed in another way then the HyperGlide tooth, are method thicker, and have “2-way shifting guides”. Shimano says that the cassettes are 3 instances extra sturdy than their HyperGlide equal. As you’ll be able to see within the above footage, the XT M8000 cassette’s tooth (picture on the appropriate) are a lot thinner.
They’re advertising LinkGlide as optimum for each high-torque shifting purposes (e-bike customers) and “lower than good” shifting (newer cyclists). As talked about earlier than, the completely different formed and taller shift ramps differ from the HG cassette. These ramps permit a totally completely different shift level. In principle, these ramps will supply a smoother shift whereas shifting underneath load.
The LinkGlide system is just not speculated to endure from, what Shimano calls, “shift shock” whereas shifting. You recognize the sensation…the place the chain “drops” onto the cassette throughout a shift such as you get typically 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 might be. One of many cool issues in regards to the XT LinkGlide is that you simply 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 really needed to attain out to get one other chain as a result of my Gus’s chainstays are so fantastically lengthy.
The understated matte and gloss black coloration that adorns the XT LinkGlide was a pleasing shock. Often, or at the very least traditionally, Shimano’s extra entry-level elements have at all times appeared properly… entry-level. However, not so with with this group. It’s very good-looking and appears high-end.
Once I picked up the LinkGlide cassette field, I used to be shocked at how noticeably heavy it was. They mentioned it’s largely constructed with hardened metal and fairly heavy, however jeez Louise. So, I immediately weighed it towards the 11-46t m8000 XT HyperGlide cassette I had readily available (despite the fact that it’s not a real apples-to-apples comparability). I discovered the brand new 11-50t LinkGlide cassette to be 626g to the m8000 XT cassette’s 447g.
Two Totally different Cassettes
That being mentioned, the LinkDrive cassette that Shimano despatched me is the LG700-11 from their new CUES U-8000 sequence. It isn’t formally a part of the LinkGlide XT M8130 sequence. The proper cassette can be the LG600-11. That cassette has a metal, as a substitute of aluminum spider, and weighs in at a whopping claimed weight of 790g.
The LinkGlide shifter comes with a standard clamp, like mine, or the I-Spec with its ergo adjustability. After putting in the elements, 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.
It wanted somewhat little bit of a activate the “B” screw after which shifted completely. The derailleur doesn’t have a barrel adjuster, however the shifter does. This made it simple to regulate the system after the primary few rides. Aside from my distinctive scenario 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, that 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 completely 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 might throw two gears again down the cassette in a fast “double-click” push.
So utilizing the brand new LinkGide shifter took somewhat getting used to as properly. I needed to regulate how I approached just a few particular sections on two of my favourite rides due to it. And I’ll let you know, even after I acquired used to it, and have ridden a whole lot of miles on it, I nonetheless desire the best way commonplace 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, nevertheless, “endure” from the occasional “shift shock” or “pedal shock” that Shimano says the LinkGlide eliminates.
It actually wasn’t an enormous deal for those who’ve been using the HyperGlide stuff, trigger it occurs the entire time with that system. And possibly it could 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 like how sluggish the LinkGide shifted. Look, I do know I’m not racing or something, however I do like my bike stuff to work exceptionally properly. And I’ve actually gotten spoiled by the shifting of my present XT HyperGlide stuff. I’m a non-transitional human, and I like my M8000. Sue me.
Nevertheless, for those who don’t have that prime finish reference level, new riders will discover the shifting greater than sufficient. Wonderful even, if the comparability is different cheap teams that come on entry degree bikes.
You probably have an eBike, don’t want 12 speeds, and also you’re shifting underneath giant quantities of torque, then the XT LinkGlide is your group. If you’re 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’d run the XT 11-speed LinkGlide system, and it could be nice with me.
It’s simple within the pockets as properly. 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
- LinkGlide LG600 11-speed Cassette (XT Collection): $202 (Amazon)
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 Totally 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 highway 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 out there for the construct, and my interior weight weenie acquired one of the 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 properly 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 large cassette work with the massive chainring. Nevertheless, I discovered that Shimano presents an E-MTB chain, the CN-E8000-11. This chain is 138 hyperlinks as a substitute 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 modifications weren’t as a consequence of something associated to LinkGlide, however somewhat me making an attempt to run a variety MTB drivetrain on a hybrid e-bike with an enormous chainring.
Ultimately, all of it labored surprisingly properly 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 a number of the finesse that you simply’ll discover on the greater finish. With that mentioned, it really works nice, particularly when hammering via the gears on an ebike.
Previous to the LinkGlide set up, I’ve really damaged extra chains on this Raleigh than my different bikes mixed. So the truth that the LinkGlide drivetrain remains to be working flawlessly, is spectacular. Due to that, I’d haven’t any reservations about recommending this group to anybody on the lookout for a sturdy drivetrain on a funds.
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