Previewed: 2009 Shimano Saint M810

The Saint M810 thumb shifter

Saint RapidFire Plus shifters deliver crisp and precise shifting. The Saint shifters feature short-stroke, Instant Release Technology for an immediate shift. Two-Way Release action allows the release lever to be operated in two directions for a rider’s preference. These shifters have been developed with variable positioning that allow for inboard or outboard mounting.

The high-clamp version of the Saint M810 front deraileur, a low-clamping version is also available.

Dual-ring Front Derailleur
The new Saint Front Derailleur is the first (aside from Shimano's new SLX front derailleur) double-specific mountain bike front derailleur, that can accommodate and accurately shift a wide 36X22 gearing. The new design allows for super wide tires, steep chainstay angles and less chain drag due to a compact, re-profiled cage.

The Saint M810 dual ring cranks, single ring versions are also available.

Stiffer, lighter cranks
The Saint Hollowtech II Cranksets come in a single and dual chainring option. The new Hollowtech II crank arm and spider design is over 200% stiffer than Deore XT, yet lighter than original Saint M800 cranks. The Saint dual chainring crankset is Shimano’s first purpose built wide-range mountain bike crankset that offers superior shifting when combined with the new Saint and SLX double front derailleurs. This new crank arm design enables more ankle clearance while a new honeycomb bash guard improves impact resistance.

The Saint M810 rear hub

Lighter hubs
Saint Front Hub and Freehub components are both lighter and stiffer. The freehub is lighter by 100 grams and stiffer thanks to bearings being positioned wider apart and the freehub body was developed with Shimano’s Micro-Ratchet engagement technology enabling quick engagement. In both front and rear hubs, a standard sized center lock mount sheds weight while maintaining strength and sealing is increased by 400% from improved labyrinth seals.

The Saint M810 front hub

What do you think of the new Saint? Leave a comment below.

Reader Comments 

Posted Sat Apr26, 2008, 12:40 PM — By DISCO

A company with the resources Shimano has would do well to take a look around at what is actually selling. Although I like the new components, and know they will sell, there are too many choices and price points across their line. I will specifically target hubs: though the SLX and Saint improve upon their predecessors they fail to evolve in the way XT and XTR have. Rather than dated hubs why not make us a wheel set that rivals the new offerings from Crank Bros and has wide enough rims and strong enough pawls and axles to take the abuse. I could care less about better seals, build me a product that will not bend (thank you for listening in the crank department however). The problem lies in the behind closed doors development approach, this only adds unnecessary time from the market and imparts obsolescence before launch. Furthermore play nice, stop reinventing the wheel with center lock, Dual Control, and 15mm axles? Don't make me say Biopace or expect riders to shift every time a new idea could be viable.

Posted Sun Apr27, 2008, 2:02 AM — By jOHN

Better is better whether or not the consumer is ready. Shimano makes the best stuff whether or not it sells. I'd rather buy best Shimano at any price than Taiwan-made "American" brands that fail to pass any production cost savings on to the consumer. Instead, these Taiwan-made "American" brands spend your extra $ on graphics and finishes on their products to fool consumers into thinking theay are getting value.

Posted Sun Apr27, 2008, 5:41 AM — By Doug H

Nice to see high quality still rules at Shimano. The Saint rear D looks great for aggressive riding as XT and XTR don't take the knocks so well and some quality hubs to put with what ever rims you please instead of the crap most manufactures put in the built up wheel sets.

Posted Mon Apr28, 2008, 5:57 PM — By trailrider

Disco - in one sentence you say Shimano's Saint hubs are dated and they should try to compete with Crank Brother's untested and unconventional wheel design, and then in another sentence you plead with Shimano to "stop reinventing the wheel"... Make up your mind, you're totally contradicting yourself!

Posted Sat May 3, 2008, 7:27 PM — By bipolar-xc-ridin-fool

when can I buy this stuff :)???? This is what I need for my Trek Liquid 55 to make it an even better All-Mtn cruise and abuse weekend warrior...

Posted Sat May10, 2008, 1:56 PM — By DISCO

Trailrider; My issue is Hubs, specifically regular flanges and the lack of straight pull spokes. I am particularly enamored with the new crank bros because their driver has six pawls versus two or three for Shimano. Being a person who blew up three freehub bodies over the last year leaves me wanting durability and think the Allen bolt axles are a good place to start. The phrase "innovate or die" comes to mind when I see a warmed over previous edition that is the same design as the lower end units (flanges and pawls) with new seals and eye catching anodized bits that account or the weight savings over the hone's steel parts. What I would like is to see a complete wheel set that would rival the Dee-Max or Atomlab's offerings in terms of strength to weight. With all the advances of the last decade or so it seems foolish to neglect the needs of average riders who abuse their equipment to embrace the minority of leg shaving gram counters who chase podiums and spend more money on spandex and nu

Posted Fri Jun20, 2008, 2:35 AM — By Jonathan

I guarantee you that any serious American brand that makes their products in Taiwan, will have must higher standards of quality than what they build in the good ole USA. I tell you this because I am in the manufacturing business, and we have both factories in the USA and in China, and our products from China are far superior in quality than the product made in the USA. USA quality rules and requriements are at best outdated. My bike is made in Taiwan, and it is $1,500 dollars cheaper than a TREK Top Fule9.9 or than a Specialized Works blah blah, and I can assure you the quality is at least as good, but I am pretty sure it surpasses the quality of the trek and specialized bikes made in the USA. And my bike is a GT Marathon Team 2008. I will buy some parts of the new Shimano Saint group, starting with the rear derailleur. My XTR R.Drlr. will probably only last until the end of the year. I saw this group set tried out in the moview SEASONS, you guys should check it out. If that guy can do that safely, I'

Posted Tue Aug 5, 2008, 2:58 PM — By David

Sounds like Disco has some pent up aggression towards shimano. I have been into mountainbiking since 1991, there have been so many improvements and technology upgrades, it can be hard to keep up. I think the 15mm axle will be huge. I think this is all good and we can learn from mistakes like "biopace and centerlock". But Keep hope alive, and remember, its all about having fun and shredin' some singletrack or whatever ur into. Shimano rocks!!

Posted Tue Aug 5, 2008, 2:59 PM — By David

Sounds like Disco has some pent up aggression towards shimano. I have been into mountainbiking since 1991, there have been so many improvements and technology upgrades, it can be hard to keep up. I think the 15mm axle will be huge. I think this is all good and we can learn from mistakes like "biopace and centerlock". But Keep hope alive, and remember, its all about having fun and shredin' some singletrack or whatever ur into. Shimano rocks!!

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