The MTB Problem Nobody Talks About But Everyone Has | Shimano XT Linkglide Review 

I love that Shimano is going the opposite direction of SRAM. Cheaper, durable, COMPATIBLE components.

Been exclusively using LinkGlide 11 for the past year and never had the slightest issue with it. Even after about 4000km the chain barely shows any sign or wear. Highly recommend

this is the best bike related review i've seen in years, feels like og GCN

please keep this attitude on this channel! The bike media world is too focused on race level components but this sport is dominated by average riders. PB has a lot of power to convince manufacturers to see it the same way.

I hope this is a sign the industry is starting to focus on the "normal" rider rather than trying to woo them with all the glitz of ultra-performance MTBs. Purchase prices and ownership costs have got ridiculous and, to me, it feels pretty clear they're alienating a lot of the community. Strong, light, cheap, pick two is probably the greatest engineering phrase ever, but I do believe people would sacrifice a bit of weight and performance if it meant things lasted.

This would be an awesome group to use in any future iterations of the "Budget vs. Baller" series! I really hope y'all bring that back for another round.

Been on Shimano 11 speed for 5 years and love it. Also have a sram 12 speed system on a bike. I never think about have 1 less gear and the shimano stuff has performed and held up way better than the sram.

I'll keep supporting Shimano as they have been delivering quality for a reasonable price. No fancy trends, just good products. Kudos to them ✌️

I'm doing MTB since 1991. 2011 started Bike Park DH for hobby. Since 2014 I work as a Bike mechanic. Because of that stupid old school knowledge, I always drove Shimano. Since 1991. Never any problems, always happy! When started at my first regular bike work shop, I got a really bad opinion about Hydraulic Sram-Avid brakes. And when they released the first eagle Cassette for 400 bucks, I became the biggest fan. Of Shimano 😁😁‼️‼️‼️

Finally a bike RU-vid video I can really get on board with. As cassettes get bigger and bigger and riders spend more and more time on the smaller cogs, I have had my eye on this solution next time I need to buy a cassette. CUES is the best thing Shimano have come up with in at least 2 decades.

I think the true MVP is Advent X, you can get the cassettes in steel or alu, and the steel ones were 10 bucks a pop at one point during sales! Lighter than XT/GX, HG freehub, servicable clutch, etc I had Deore and XT in the past and don't really feel like I'm missing anything with X and the entire groupset was like 80 bucks on sale

I was able to run 3x on my mountain bike till last year. I had clung to buying 3x bikes for so long because I understand the benefit of having 'gear range'. The last bike I was able to put 3x was a Niner RKT. (It's, I believe, the last modern mountain bike that can accept 3x). It was glorious. My granny gear allowed me to spin up the steepest of steeps. My big ring allowed me to crush open downhillss, and the flats. I recently switched to a new bike. A Rocky Mountain Element. It's a better bike in every way, but one. It's lighter. It climbs way better. It decends way better. It has (2) water bottle mounts - in frame). But it only comes with a 1x. It's set up quite well to handle super steeps. I haven't been wanting for lower gears for my steep climbs. BUT, man, on the flats, and for open downhills - I spin out so quickly. I suppose the 'silver lining' is that xc/marathon mountaing biking has kind of died off, so I'm not missing the ability to push hard on the flats and open downhills in my day-to-day riding. I so wish modern bike companies would bring back, at least, a 2x option. Would really open up modern xc/downcountry bikes...

Finally a pink bike video talking about simplicity

great, its not all about the latest and greatest. Love my 11speed on my 2016 winter bike with sitting on a standard steel hub. Holds up so much longer then my shiny XX1

10 and 11 speed are my favourites. They both offer enough ratio's and hardly ever need adjusting. I do love the SRAM GX shifter. So easy on the thumb and a nice positive action.

Inexpensive and durable 1x wide range drivetrains are needed everywhere, especially at the low end as that is where users often can not use two gear levers and maintenance will be lacking. Compatibility across systems would also be great and I could live with 10-speed too. I would personally prefer a narrower cassette with less extreme chain angles, less wear and (more) symmetric spokes on the rear wheel.

Thought I was cool going to AXS, then went to T-type… Just to find neither out perform XTR. Happy to be back where I belong. Thank you all for making a Shimano video 🙏.

Super interesting take. I never would have considered comparing Linkglide to T-Type. I'm not sure I'd swap my XT 12 speed for it, but I do admit that I sometimes shift with little mechanical sympathy, and my cassette shows it.

Agreed on most fronts, this seems like a great drivetrain for *most* people. I will say I’ve ridden on a 12 speed XT drivetrain using a GX cassette for 3 years now and it’s been great the entire time. No signs of impending replacement necessary.

This is the reason I love microshift advent. It's just straight functional with no frills. It's cheap, and it's durable.

Thank you. No one I know races, no one I know cares about anything aside from durability and reliability.

Bro love this. My go-to is Sram NX 11s shifter/derailleur because I want a clutch, range, and don't want a 12s chain that's thin as floss. But I run an all-steel 11s 11-50t Sunrace cassette on a HG body -- precisely for compatibility and durability.

I love the sensibilities discusses here. I love simple bikes.

This makes more sense than any product I’ve seen in a while.

XT Linkglide is the most underrated drive-train out there, ESPECIALLY when it comes to ebike applications.

Still on my Sram first gen GX Eagle, since 2018 and some 15.000 km later, still does not miss a beat! Drive trains have come a long way since the early twenty tenths!

My 2020 habit came with 11sp SLX which I immediately switched for new takeoff XT I got for cheap. Its been flawless and I can't imagine needing anything else.

Finally, been waiting for you guys to talk about it.

I got last summer the 10 speed linkglide to an old Cannondale. So happy how it is working. Before I had to plan the shifting before the uphill, now it shifts nicely always.

I think the way for Shimano to stick it to SRAM is to make a quality drivetrain at a realistic price. Not all of us want to spend $2K or more on a drivetrain, no matter how nice it is. I have two Trek XC bikes, one with XO1 and the other with Alivio 3x9. I enjoy both and don’t notice much of a difference in quality. The XO1 is a little smoother, but not enough to justify it costing 4X what Alivio cost. Plus I have a 48 tooth large ring upfront, so I can spin at road bike speeds going downhill.

If you live in a relatively flat area, you can get light AND durable with Saint. The cassette-- which is a 10spd Ultegra road cassette-- is lighter than the top end XTR. Since it is 10spd, the gears are thicker, which allows them to be more durable than thinner 11 and 12spd options. I run a 11-32 since it is pretty flat in the middle of NC, but there is a monster cassette available if you actually need big range. You may not. When I was younger and we all had triple cranks, the marketing had me convinced that I needed my 22 tooth granny gear to turn my 30 tooth cassette at a rate that would get me up the steeper local climbs. I figured out over the years that if I carried more momentum into the climbs, I didn't need that granny gear at all. I ended up converting the triple to a 1x and using a Dremel to trim my cassette to a 11-28.

As a Deore XT Linkglide user i could comfortably say, that for (almost) ALL Mtb and especially Emtb driver, it will be the absolute best Choice! Most of us are „normal“ drivers, that means that first of all, we like to have components that just works, are relatively cheap and extremely durable and that’s exactly what you get here! 👌🏼 Another thing that is extremely nice is, that it shifts extremely soft! Often you don’t even feel the gear change! Which is extremely impressive and comfortable to drive with! I personally think you can really „feel“ that the linkglide is really solid and will last for a long time! Which is also a thing that just makes you happy and comfortable to drive with! Because you never have the feeling, that it can possibly break! And believe me, the deore Xt linkglide is really fast! Yes, there are expensive components out there who are faster, but it’s still pretty fast! I personally haven’t even thought one single time that it’s not fast enough! And i am pretty sure, that’s the case for 99% of mtb drivers! When i first heard that it’s not the fastest, i thought „ohh, hopefully it’s not that slow“. But when i tested it for the first time i really was impressed by the gear changing speed! I mean, you have to think about the price point and all the other positive aspects that the linkglide has! And especially for all the positive points it’s extremely fast! 👍🏼 I would say for „Pro drivers“ who are used to lightning fast gear changes it could be to heavy or a little bit to slow. But for all the other Hobby drivers i would say it’s the best choice and that with a BIG GAP! ☺️ Especially if you drive an Emtb it’s an absolute No brainer! I would even say it’s a must have! Because of your motor the wear and tear on the chain etc. is A LOT Higher! And exactly for durability, linkglide is perfect! 👌🏼 I will never buy other systems for my E-Bikes in the future! There is simply no comparison to the Deore Xt Linkglide!

Just bought a mtb with 11 speed and I'm absolutely loving it so far. Shifts buttery smooth and is nice and quiet

I love Hyperglide+ and like it better than SRAM’s offerings, but for a budget build, I think this is a great option, especially when compared to something like Microshift’s Advent X.

This is what makes Pink bike such a great place, you guy make real world sense .

Any time a bike company acknowledges that 99% of their customers aren’t professional competitive riders they should be rewarded. We need tech for bike enjoyment.

The nine speed era was always the best. When everything worked with everything else. Almost.

Crazy, I have this drive-train on my Devinci hardtail, works great, although coming from a GT aggressor with a much cheaper shimano of some sort 3x7 gearset I tend to shift really lightly and only on flat or downhill never "under load" for fear of hurting my drive. Its good to know its one of the tougher drive trains out there, as I prefer my 29er to be more like an oversized geared BMX/Dirtjumper, tough as nails and on the heavier side. I also try to degrease and wash my cassette every ride or every other ride then relube and remove excess, it might be tough but its still my baby and deserves love. I have absolutely no problem with range either, the 11-51 paired with a 30 is a massive enough range for me, its harder than my BMX which runs a 9 with a 30 because wheel size maths of 20inch vs 29inch, and the climbing gear is more than light enough for pretty much any climbing.

Perfect drivetrain to put on the new Aluminum bikes with better forks, shocks and wheels on them. It seems the industry might finally be listening to us all around. Give us a good bike that lasts for less, we all don't need the top of the line Carbon/Kashima bikes that require a second mortgage to buy or the 1 step above entry level bike that needs upgrades from the moment you purchase it.

Thoughtful. Thanks for this.

Good luck with counter strike dominance Hotel Quebec , another banger of an article. Ebikes have highlighted the ridiculous life span of older top end cassettes, what a great step forward to have steel 11s , perfect gap , perfect chain gauge compromise. Until we go belt drive 2.0 and never look back

So to make it simple, Sram makes you pay thousands of dollars on a new "transmission" to get a smoother shift under load while Shimano provides you with just a cassette to achieve the same thing. I've always known that Shimano had a better mechanical technology but damn, this makes me love them even more. This is what engineers should be focusing on: improving existing technology instead of trying to bring new ones that also bring new problems with them. Kudos Shimano, you are the ones ahead of your time!

I’m actually very interested in this. Partly as well I have an emtb that I think will eat drivetrains for breakfast. And due to the design the “reduce pressure before shifting” thing doesn’t work so a better shift under load is more interesting.

i see the application of a cassette like this great for ebikes where durability is more an issue than in regular mountain bikes.

Props to the steel cassette. I use them on any bike I want to be reliable and low maintenance. Commuter, indoor trainer.... Less time in the shop = more time biking.

Awesome advice.

Always preferred shimano since you can index finger upshift, but linkglide is just another reason to stick with them. Honestly the bikes that I would want a 10 or 9 tooth cog I would just have a 2x on since it would be for xc racing, or just run a bigger front cog since the bike is so light+efficient.

I bought linkglide 11sp because I was putting a lot of stress through drive train. It's been a pleasure for a year. For low cadence shifting it's noticably smoother.

Had a 1x10 with a pretty close spaced cassette on a 26” bike, had such a blast with it

I just bought and XT 12 speed groupset (including disc brakes) for the price of a t-type cassette!

Great vid mate I’m going down this road on my Fuel EXE great ebike drive train 👍

I bought a huge quantity of xt 11sp on closeout. Love the stuff.

Henry? Henry!? THE Henry from GMBN tech? Thats great news! Im happy you are presenting again :) !

I see the same on marketing full suspension.The most of us don't!!! need it. Reliability like a good trail Hardtail cannot be topped

Excellent review, many times we only focus on weight (specially for XC) but durability must be considered. You have to address also that ultra light hubs are fragile so in order to pair a most durable cassette maybe you have to own a sturdy hub.

Best of luck in your counter strike career Henry😂

As a homebuilder, I have a 3 times 11 gears, a full Shimano 33 gear XTR set on my Vision Kilo Frame, with originally absurdly expensive XTR Wheels (bought used on E-bay), tubeless if wanted (I don't) on top of that. It is probably the lightest possible bike to built with all that! I like to be able to select my area in front and with double caliber XTR9120 disc brakes, it is exceptionally fine braking! I was afraid that they would brake too much, but they feel extremely well functioning!! I can't even start on a flat road in the low gears, but going up an absurdly steep hill they are indeed fine, expecting to fall backwards! Finn. Denmark

I wish I could like this video again. Needs to be seen more

This is fantastic. Fewer gears equals less harsh chain angles. I wonder if Shimano could find a way to adjust the side to side position of the front chain ring to help reduce the chain angle even more.

Running an 11 speed groupset. XTR shifter, deore cluster and derailleur. No worry in the world. Works perfectly and feels premium.

Great see big boys reporting on something other than top-end tech! The expensive trend of drivetrains and lack of durability has also prompted another wave of gearbox interest too - a real, durable investment for the average user... especially considering the impending recession and forthcoming fluctuation in the market after this awful spell.

I'm loving linkglide 10 speed on my ebike. I went through a couple sam and smano setups that kept breaking before this. I'm looking forward to seeing what Shimano comes out with to update hyperglide +.

Makes me happy to know Henry plays Counter Strike lol

Such a good video.

That's a dope Flannel!

This is a great step in the right direction. It would be cool if they would also make a cassette with something like a 14 or 16 tooth smallest cog to get the cog spacing tighter on the gears people actually use most up at the top of the cassette.

CUES is a BRILLIANT move, it dumps the overly complex hierarchy and goes to 9, 10, and 11 speed 2 tier system that is interchangeable. It's going to be cheaper and with linkglide more durable.

ive been saying this for years, pretty much when 12 speed became really popular, that 11s was a far better and more robust system than 12s for MTB.

Good stuff, as per usual. Just a bit of a clarification on number of shift ramps and the delay in the system executing shifts. The rate at which shift ramps are encountered by the chain is dependent on the rear wheel's rate of rotation, not cadence, as cassette rotation is tied to rear wheel rotation.

Currently own both an XT 12 speed, XT 11 speed and XX1 AXS group. All three are really great IMHO and if somebody offered me a bike with either one on it I would be stoked. I was bummed out that none of my bikes had an UDH on it to buy and run T-Type (luckily working in the industry I have been able to try it on several bikes). I was always a big proponent of AXS and how well it works, but lets be honest, the cost to purchase and own the new group is just crazy. They will last a long time, if taken care of. I have an XX1 cassette with over 2000 miles on it and it still works like new and is on its second chain, but not everyone meticulously cares for their drive trains to get that distance out of them. I am not looking forward to telling the guy that bought the XX equipped bike that his chain and cassette replacement is going to cost him $650. Especially when it only has 2 seasons of riding on it and he never once cleaned or lubed it.

Definitely my next drivetrain when my Sam 12 wears out

I still have a 2x10 XTR on a cross country bike and think it's perfect for the needed range. This 11 speed looks perfect for entry to medium level bikes. I can always tell a dirt roadie because they have to buy the best, and count their miles then swap parts for Ultimate performance..while they are 55 and 35lbs overweight.

Not only is Link Glide stronger or more durable, you can also replace the 3 smallest cogs that get warn out first on an E Bike. They also cost about 1/3 the price of a SRAM cassette. E Bikes have so much torque that they need to have a stronger drive train. Weight isn't an issue for everyone especially when it comes at such a great cost.

Road bike with 9s cassete since 2010. Happy, easy and cheap to maintain

this 11 speed is amazing. the gears ratios are spaced perfectly. I put this on my endureo bike. We have two full sus e-bikes and this should be the STANDARD drive train for MTB e-bikes. the 12 speeds on our MTB e-bikes are not durable enough and cost is high for replacement chains etc. The 11 speed is cheap in comparison and work equally as well even on standard trail and enduro bikes. unless you are pedaling flat out on the road you don't miss the 10 tooth gear at all, and if you need more speed, size one chain ring larger if your bike accommodates it.

I had a 2020 Stumpjumper that came with an 11 speed Shimano cassette. Had no issues whatsoever with it. Sram GX on the other hand lots of skipping and clicking.

I have a xt 11-42 11 speed cassette and it’s more than enough range. And run 10 speed on my other bike and love it.

Henry's 300% jokes are mad😂😂😂

When my sx wears out, ill try the cues 9 or 10... on my 26er. I dont need much gear on my bike. And I dont have problem with my recent drivetrain. Its still running smooth for 2 years now and Im only ride on weekends.

As soon as my cassette wears out I'm going back to 11spd and probably a 28-30t front ring.

I’ve recently dabbled with higher end 12 speed chains, looking for better longevity. SRAM X01 so far has lasted x3 as many miles as a GX & still going, Shimano XTR lasted exactly as long as a Deore. 😮

I use Deore's 11 speed 11-51. It works perfect and when I smash the derrailleur with a rock I just throw a new one for a few bucks, win-win.

The real reason SRAM is ahead is you can get an NX groupset anywhere. Jump on your favorite bike shop website and they probably have ready to go NXs and probably GXs. I love Shimano, but at the lower to entry level you have to cobble your groupset together from all over. Now in that ~$300 and under range there is also Microshift and Box and that puts even more pressure on that market segment.

11 speed Cues is the best bang for the buck on the market, and probably the most bulletproof drivetain you can buy reagrdless of price.

Good review! Smart move by Schimano to simplify and go back to durable. My only complaint was two years ago I have scrounge the Linkglide components from all over the globe, I hope that problem has been solved by now.

Just purchased the cues 11 speed 6000 for my sons bike. Simplicity and durability

My feeling is that as long as we still have a choice 12, 11, 10, single/double chain ring, mechanical/electronic to suit riding style and budget then all is fine with the world.

I’m better of with 10 speed, i love how my Advent X works for me on trails.

Completely agree with the sentiment displayed in this video.

I bought a Box 3 Prime 9 for a little over $100 on sale. It works great, way better than the one I had before. Reduced chain slap greatly, don't drop my chain and now climb things I couldn't before. Before that went on sale, I was looking at the Advent drivetrains. They're customizable with gears and derailleur length too and for much cheaper than SRAM and Shimano.

Now that I’m used to XD driver, I can’t imagine wanting to go back to an HG with the cogs wearing into the splines and becoming difficult to remove. I also like the 10t cog occasionally. That cassette is an absolute boat anchor…maybe for a touring bike, but for my regular MTBs, I’d stick with XO1.

I still have my 2x11 and I love it. Front 26/36, rear 11-42 (29er mtb)

Shimano XT is the goat and I am still on 11sp from 2018.

I bought an XT LG 2 weeks ago to put on a new bike build. I have been doing more enduro races recently and i think durability is better than faster shifts

My no expense spared custom frame hardtail I built up passed up on 12 speed in favor of a 11spd shimano drivetrain on an e thirteen cassette. No regrets

Henry is such a good presenter.

I feel cursed because I fell in love with GripShift shifters 30+ years ago and they are still my favorite. I love Shimano but since only SRAM make GripShift, I am stuck. Oh well.

Switched my emtb to linkglide. Durability, smooth shifting, and bang for the buck ftw, extra weight is nothing with the motor. On my mountain bike I have 11s XTR di2, older tech but still my favorite drivetrain.

i happily run a M8000 xt 11-46 cassette, its 200g lighter and 40$ cheaper. for sure wont go as long though. my good wheels are HG freehub its great to see more options.

My bike is a shimano 11speed 2018 GT Alloy Sensor Comp 29er. When I upgraded the wheels I went to 12 speed - why? Well, partly because I could, but I'm not a hard ripper - more the weekend rider and visits to Bike Park Wales (40 mins up the road from where I live) - at 66 not bad! So the benefits - well I opted for the 10/45 cassette - closer ratio more comfortable for me, plus I can utilise the shorter medium derailleur so better rock clearence which is pertinent around here, rocks everywhere. Also I can use the 10t on the flatter trails and canal tow paths which means I can keep up with my wife (who is a few years younger and fitter than me!) The future? I'll probably change to 11sp Linkglide when the parts wear out. If Linkglide had been available at the time I'd have probably opted for it. I've ridden Shimano most of my life. SLX is my go to standard, but also run the brilliant Deore on my hardtail and other bikes about the family. Linkglide is probably the best choise for most of us - including my new ebike! Keep pedaling.