Shimano LX R.I.P, long live Shimano SLX

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May 24, 2012, 07:00:39 AM

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[tron]

Shimano LX is from now on a groupset for city and touring bikes, but there is a new sheriff in town: Shimano SLX - a brand new all mountain groupset!



More interesting is a new 15mm standard developed by Fox and Shimano, E-thru. Lighter than 20mm standard, stiffer than 9mm QR. A new E-thru XT wheelset is supposed to weigh in at 1702 grams.


Source: Happymtb.org

[steveb]

Interesting. Can't blame Shimano really as LX is kinda no mans land, we stock Deore, XT and XTR but never had any LX in store.

I think that new front BT system is a total non starter thing though IMO. It's saving wheel weight in the least important wheel component, the hub. For the same sorta money I can build a stronger wheelset that will weight about 50g more yet proper 20mm bolt thru.

[Nugget]

ur spot on why bother try change the 20mm axle which is standard and try introduce a new smaller system for the sake of 50gms... worthless... surely shimano could have put more effort in and developed there own 'Maxle' system...

re: SLX, i see there is a shadow SLX mech, sweet...

[tron]

It's not only Shimano, but also Fox. They'll use 15mm on their 32 series. Yet another standard might be a bad thing, but bolt through on the 32 series would be really nice....

[steveb]

I've been thinking about this one, and actually, I've changed my mind. Think about it....

There are already two standards: 20mm BT and QR. 20mm BT is excellent, but it does carry a weight penalty. QR, really is a bit crap at forks of 140mm plus, but manu's use it cus 20mm is OTT on 140mm forks so there is no alternative. Also QR has a certain safety issue when used with disc brakes and it's clear for ages that manu's are looking for an alternative.

So, E-Thru might have a future, but I reckon only if it replaces QR, not as well as.

[tron]

My point exactly.
I'm currently looking for forks for my Meta 55 Vip frame. I'd really like Fox 32, but no way I'd buy another pair of QR forks. Also, the 36 series is over the top for a Meta 55, at least for my use (I have 36s on my Supreme). A lot of people are running Pikes with 20mm on their Meta 55, but I find them way to heavy. The only forks I have found with 140mm travel that have both a 20mm axle and acceptable weight, is the new Manitou Minute Absolute.
A move away from 9mm QR to a 15mm bolt through, might just lead to much more to choose from for AM bikes like the Meta 55. That is if the 15mm "standard" really becomes a standard.

[steveb]

Ya, all very good points. I have to say I agree with all of it.

The big problem really though is that in the last 6 or 7 years Shimano have had a terrible time introducing new standards, regardless of how good they are.

Centre Lock is not taking off (and it's damn brilliant), DC levers have flopped, and so on. The fact that Fox is in on it might help, but they really need to get Rockshox onboard for it to succeed.

[Bendik]

Well these hubs are only available with CL system and I dont see Shimano changing their politics about standards anytime soon. Also I am not convinced about the weight savings going for a thinner axle compared to the 20mm one.  I would not be surprised to see some other lightweight interesting forks from Shimanos competitors for 09

[steveb]

Poss got a bit more info on this, been asking around and just spoke to Fox, who are keeping things very close to their chest.

However, I did just hear from someone close to Fox who said that the pictures and info doing the rounds at the mo are fake, put out by Fox/Shimano to throw journos off the scent. There is a new standard being developed but they are saying absolutely nothing about it. I suspect it'll be launched nearer Sept for the 2010 ranging.

I could be totally get the wrong end of things here (and the fake thing might just be to cover a leak of real info) but..... I'm getting the feeling the real new system might be closer to 12mm than 15mm. Think about it: Most hub manus are already tooled up for 12mm bolt thrus as that's the size for rear hubs, also 15mm is really too close to 20mm, 12mm will be loads lighter, only a bit more and the present QR.

It could be right, it could be wrong, but one things for sure, Fox are keeping very quiet, my contacts who are normally open to leaking stuff to me are saying they really can't tell me anything, so there is defo something big in the pipeline.

The last comment made to me was "watch this space!".

[Bendik]

One thing is pictures but Shimano showed the 15mm standard on their 09 launch and the Fox forks were mounted on their bikes with the 15mm hub. Didnt look fake 
However it could change again for 2010 of course and then we have a one year only new std. from Shimano. MAybe thats why they say its an open standard and would let other use it, fully knowing that they will change it again in 2010? Or maybe I'm just seeing a conspiracy that doesnt exist 

[Nugget]

i like the 12mm idea alot more than the 15 i must say.. but QR will never be replaced i dont think or if so it will take along time to phase out... for me i wont change from 20mm till something alot better comes out...

[steveb]

One thing is pictures but Shimano showed the 15mm standard on their 09 launch and the Fox forks were mounted on their bikes with the 15mm hub. Didnt look fake 
However it could change again for 2010 of course and then we have a one year only new std. from Shimano. MAybe thats why they say its an open standard and would let other use it, fully knowing that they will change it again in 2010? Or maybe I'm just seeing a conspiracy that doesnt exist 

Hmmm, didn't know that!

Perhaps the story that it's a leaked fake to throw the journos off is the fake!

Perhaps I too am looking too hard for a conspiracy theory? Who did shoot JFK? ;-)