XT Shadow Gears
I used the new XT level Rapid Fire shifters combined with a Shadow derailleur to see how it fared over four months.
It’s not that long ago that Shimano was accused of limiting our choice in components.
Creating integrated gear shifters and brake levers meant that you had to use Shimano brakes if you wanted their gears. Their brakes in turn utilised a patented splined disc mounting system that meant you could only use their hubs/wheels.
Before you knew it the whole bike was covered in Shimano parts, even if you only really liked their gear shifting system. This has all changed in the last two years and choice now seems to be a key feature.
You can select between Dual Control and the revamped Rapid Fire gear shifters and the addition of the unique looking ‘Shadow’ derailleur means there are now three different rear derailleur types to choose from. I used the new XT level Rapid Fire shifters combined with a Shadow derailleur to see how it fared over a four-month period.
Shifter Pods
The new XT Rapid Fire pods provide a multitude of set-up options. They have a much slimmer handlebar clamp and the pod has two mounting positions on the clamp. This provides a good range of adjustment to suit your hands, different handlebars and it also makes it easier to use the XT pods with any number of different brake levers. In addition to this, you can decide whether you want to use the gear indicators or not.
The shifter pods come standard with gear indicators fitted, but they also have a small cap hidden behind the gear display. This cap covers the hole that remains if you remove the gear display. It provides a tidy finish and keeps the crud out of the shifting mechanism. Removing the gear indicators also frees up a little extra space which can help when fitting handlebar mounted suspension controls and other accessories.
The choice continues with how you choose to shift. The forward mounted shift lever on the updated XT ‘Rapid Fire Plus’ shifters can be triggered in two ways. Either pull it back with your forefinger (the old Shimano way) or push it forward with your thumb (like the current SRAM triggers). I found that I would use both methods. When out of the saddle with my weight forward I found that the old shifting method worked best.
The rest of the time it was easier to push the trigger forward with my thumb. Of course you can choose what works best for you and ergonomically it was hard to fault the new shift lever design. When combined with the high normal Shadow derailleur, you could shift gears in either direction while applying the brakes—something that their Dual Control system still fails to achieve.
This can really help when faced with a steep ‘down’ followed by a steep ‘up’ on the trail. Being able to shift while on the brakes allows you to engage a lower gear in readiness for the climb, without releasing the brakes on the descent.
Shimano still makes Dual Control and it has also improved with the latest update. They suggest that Dual Control is better for cross country riding and that Rapid Fire is for more rugged all-mountain use.
I tend to disagree as the trail situation cited above is common enough on any cross country ride and I feel that Rapid Fire works best when you need to brake and shift in unison. There is no doubt that others will disagree and that is the beauty of the new Shimano line-up—you can choose the system that you prefer as all the options are out there.
Shadow Derailleur
Shadow type rear derailleurs are now available as options in both XT and the top end XTR groupsets. The unusual double hinged frame mount has a very low profile and barely protrudes past the end of the quick release nut—it only time sticks out further is when you are in the smaller cogs on the rear cassette. Shimano lists this as a key feature in avoiding trail damage.
The low profile may lower the risk of clipping a rock but I usually destroy derailleurs when a stick gets jammed in between the cage and the spokes. The Shadow mechanism is equally vulnerable in this respect and I did collect a few sticks in my travels—luckily none managed to bend the derailleur.
The cable routing is more direct on the Shadow system and you no longer have a big loop of cable at the rear of your bike. This lowers friction and eliminates one of the main trouble spots that pools dirt inside the gear cable on a wet ride. This abbreviated cable routing has worked well for SRAM over the past decade and it does the job on the Shadow system as well.
Another similarity with SRAM can be found in the upper pivot of the derailleur system. Other Shimano derailleurs have a spring-loaded pivot where they mount to the frame. It allows the derailleur cage to fluidly follow the cassette and in part explains why Shimano’s gear shifting is seamless.
The downside is that the spring loaded upper pivot allows the derailleur to bounce around more over rough trails—in some cases the body of the derailleur will smack into the frame and make a racket.
There is no upper spring on the Shadow and it has a solid physical stop so it can’t hit the frame—even over the roughest trails.
The Shadow also uses a stiffer cage spring and a stronger parallelogram return spring. These changes give it a very different feel to your standard Shimano system.
It produces a very direct feel and the derailleur really forces the chain into the next gear with some authority. While some may enjoy this feel, it can also result in rough shifts if you just punch the gear lever with no mechanical compassion or finesse.
Forced gearshifts can drive the chain up into the next gear and miss the carefully engineered shift ramps that are machined into the rear cogs—the result is a rough and noisy gear change.
Shadow shifting may lack the silent and almost clinical feel of your standard Shimano derailleur but it fares better when the trail conditions turn nasty. The chain didn’t slap around as much (although it still seemed to produce more chain slap than a SRAM derailleur and I couldn’t put my finger on the reason why). The direct cable routing was less prone to fouling with mud and the stronger return spring was still able to move the chain when conditions turned muddy and foul.
The Shadow derailleur is definitely a worthwhile addition to the Shimano range but I don’t believe the much touted low profile design should be its main selling feature—it is better distinguished by the different shifting feel that it provides. Some will prefer the more direct shadow-shifting feel while others may not. At least the options are there and that seems to be one of the big drawcards for Shimano in 2008. Price-wise the Shadow derailleur sells for $145, about $10 more than a traditional XT rear derailleur while the new model XT Rapid Fire units go for $180 a set. At 224g for the mid-cage Shadow derailleur, the weight is also competitive with the other XT derailleurs.
Shimano Australia 1300 731 077 /
Image: John Hardwick
