Shimano Debuts New XTR

It’s human nature to complain. It feels good to find fault with things, especially when those things are highly technical and delicate pieces of equipment. That’s why it’s going to be difficult for people to grasp Shimano’s 2007 XTR group. Think Shimano’s pieces are boring? Devoid of options, of bling? Shimano’s giving us all reason to stop bitching and start raving.

Overall the new group drops almost a full pound and looks more aggressive than ever before thanks to the double anodized finish and big, mean X’s across each component. But the best news is the numerous options.

Gone are the days of forced Dual Control. The integrated brake/shift levers will still be available, but for 2007, riders also have the option of RapidFire Plus shifter pods. The shifters themselves appear to be a marked improvement over yesterday’s RapidFire, too. They feature two shift levers (think standard shifters), but the lever that releases cable tension can be activated in two directions. This way the new RapidFire Plus shifters can be ridden like SRAM’s triggers (push, push) or Shimano’s standard RapidFire (push, pull). And the pod can slide on the handlebar clamp to adjust positioning.

The Dual Control levers were also refined for 2007, with a reduction in weight, improved ergonomics and a nice big X across the clamp. Shimano added the ability to click through two gears at a time in both up and down shifts, too.

Shimano is offering new versions of both it's trigger shifter (seen here) and its integrated shift-brake lever.

On the derailleur front, the old standard Top-Normal versions will be offered as well as Rapid-Rise. Shimano’s testing has proven that Rapid-Rise derailleurs provide more efficient shifting into easier gears, which increases durability of both chain and cogs. But they still acknowledge that Top-Normal is unbeatable for rapid shifts down the cassette, making it the ideal choice for gravity athletes.

With this new version of XTR, Shimano directly addresses many of the complaints riders had. The 2007 XTR should be available by next fall, but there’s still no word on how much this technology will set back the old bank account.