[Closed] XT/XTR shifter upgrade

They are compatible, are you 11 or 12 speed?

11 speed

I had a full xt M8000 2x11sp drivetrain and upgraded to XTR M9000 shifters and did notice a difference - slightly lighter yet crisper shifts. I've recently upgraded both derailleurs to M9000 (side swing front mech and SGS rear mech) and Noticed a difference again - shifting is now very light and crisp. Re-cabled when I put the new shift levers in.

I am running 11 speed on both my bikes... shifter XT on one, XTR on the other, XT rear derailleur on both. The XTR is considerably nicer to use. Better feeling, very tactile "click". If the XT one dies, I will buy XTR for both bikes.

But don't worry, in a few minutes someone will come along and tell you that the shifters are exactly the same apart from the name, and that you are some kind of wierdo for thinking otherwise! 🙂

Like you I have noticed a massive difference between my m8000 xT 11 speed and m675 SLX 10 speed. The XT is much more definite and shifts are clearer. The SLX is easier to change as it feels much lighter. I prefer the SLX.

How much of that is the 11 vs 10 speed I don’t know

I've had both shifters (11) and they're pretty close. The gap from SLX to XT is bigger than XT to XTR. If I had to describe it, then the XTR are a tad lighter feeling, whereas the XT are more direct. Maybe.

My own experience over the years is upgrade of shifters is hugely more noticeable in feel, than upgrade of the derailleurs - the latter more noticeable when hanging around at the trailhead with friends.

Having said that, and as owner of two XTR-equipped bikes - there really isn't that much difference between XT and XTR; XT is so good anyway, I probably wouldn't bother unless like me (I admit it!) you are shallow and like the tartiness of XTR.

XTR 11 speed has a much nicer clamp and I modified mine to give double up shifts in both directions.

As most have said XTR is a lighter feeling shift over XT and seems to be a more positive shift.