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I have some new parts for my Cotic Jeht. Im fitting Hope tech 4 brakes and i was going to 'upgrade' my 12sp bar mount slx shifter to an XT i-spec ev shifter. However reading reviews on crc, it sounds like people prefer the feel of the slx shifter.
Does anyone have any thoughts or experience of this?
Thanks
Ian
Personally I swapped out my SLX as it shifts on release as opposed to push (if that makes sense) which I found a bit odd to get used to, almost a delay and had no reservations or wish to go back but everyone is different.
James
I have both on different bikes. The XT needs much more force to overcome the initial click. I don't think I have a preference on feel. But I do like the double-upshift feature on the XT. The XT is on my FS MTB and SLX on my rigid/adventure which I don't ride in anger, so I don't know which ones' feel I'd prefer for MTB. You're not going to accidentally shift the XT when it's rough and hectic.
The upshift (to a harder gear) on SLX is two-stage; it moves about halfway when you press, then the rest when you release. The XT upshifts when you press. Downshift on both is the same.
Deeply unscientific test I've just done shows SLX needs 40 "grams of force" to shift, whereas XT needs 100.
I've just 'downgraded' from XT to SLX. Feels slightly different but I wouldn't have a preference for better/worse. Main reason for the change was that my XT shifter pooped its pants when I was 1.5 days into a bikepacking trip and located precisely in the middle of nowhere. Apparently not uncommon with XT, but not an issue with SLX.
I've had 2 XT 12 speed shifters now that have 'pooped' their pants. Gone to Deore and all good so far!
Thanks all. I shall stay with my slx for now.
Ian
In my experience - XT is marginally nicer action than SLX and the double up shift is quite nice. There’s bugger all difference between SLX and Deore.
So the head purchase should be Deore, the heart would be XT and the reality is that you land on SLX.
My xt shifter died - it seems something snaps inside them after a while (would have been coming up for 3 years old in the autumn). Always been a bit stiff to push - the mech gets gummed up and needs servicing more often than I’d like.
Saw SLX on offer for under £20 so went with it. Feels a bit more plasticky but it’s softer / lighter to push. Not that bothered by the double up shift that I’ve lost as I have gx eagle on the other bike which doesn’t have it.
Prefer GX eagle to either Shimano option though. Lighter and snappier shifting.
So the head purchase should be Deore, the heart would be XT and the reality is that you land on SLX.
My best mtb bike is 11 speed xt. My winter do it all bike packing bike is deore 10 speed. It used to have a mix of deore and xt but as the xt has died I've replaced with deore. Deore just works, it's so well priced it's a bargain for what it is. The best part is according to strava I'm the same speed on both bike on the same route.
So, as much as I love XT it makes such little difference to my riding I don't see the point but I still buy it for the best bike. I must be an idiot!
Save your money for wheels, tyres and suspension. It makes far more difference to me. (but I'm very average and not a racer)