It took a long time, but the wait is finally over – Japanese component giant SHIMANO is unveiling its new XTR M9200 Di2 WIRELESS drivetrain. It’s their first fully-wireless MTB shifting system, and was introduced to keep up with current industry trends. Until now, there was only an electronic Di2 drivetrain for eMTBs, which was connected to the Shimano motor system via a cable. The new XTR M9200 Di2 drivetrain is designed to deliver fast, precise shifting, with a particular focus on durability. Shimano have long been known for their solid and long-lasting drivetrains through their SLX, XT, and XTR lines, but since the release of SRAM’s electronic Transmission drivetrains, they’ve lost traction in the MTB segment and were only rarely found on complete bikes. Now they’re trying to change that. Shimano still rely on conventional mech hangers, but optimized the new XTR rear derailleur to be compatible with the UDH standard introduced by SRAM a few years back.
Of course, the SHIMANO XTR M9200 Di2 designation encompasses the entire drivetrain – crankset, cassette, and shifter have all been updated. The Star Wars-style model names remain, which continues to make the product range somewhat confusing. The electronic RD-M9250 rear derailleur is available with either a short or mid-length cage to cover different cassette ranges. For eMTBs, there is a new wired RD-M9260 derailleur, which still supports FREE- and AUTO-Shift functions. A new electronic shifter is included, too, along with all other components of a drivetrain – we’ll spare you the detailed part numbers here ;). Shimano are also introducing a new XTR four-piston and two-piston brake set, which we’ll cover in a separate article.
In terms of pricing, the new SHIMANO XTR M9200 Di2 drivetrain sits at the high end of the spectrum, comparable to other electronic systems. In addition to individual components, there’s an upgrade kit available for €999, which includes the rear derailleur, shifter, battery, and charger. Shikano don’t offer a complete drivetrain as a bundle, so you’ll need to add up the individual prices, which brings the total cost of a full XTR setup to around €2,000.
| XRT Component | Model Designation | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Di2 Rear Derailleur (without battery) |
RD-M9250-SGS | 386 g | € 664,95 |
| Di2 Shifter | SW-M9250-IR | 95 g | € 234,95 |
| 165 mm crankset | FC-M9220 | 483 g | € 334,95 |
| Chainring (32T) | FC-M9220 | 62 g | € 174,95 |
| Cassete (10–51) | CS-M9200-12 | 371 g | € 504,95 |
| Di2 Battery | BT-DN320 | 22 g | € 63,95 |
| Di2 Charger | EC-DN100 | 50 g | € 56,95 |
| XTR Upgrade-Kit | – | – | € 999 |
All New SHIMANO XTR M9200 Di2 Components in Detail
The SHIMANO XTR M9250 Di2 Rear Derailleur
At first glance, the new SHIMANO XTR M9250 Di2 derailleur appears bulky, but also robust. That said, it doesn’t look as futuristic and modern as its electronic antagonists. Thanks to the wedge-shaped construction and low-profile design, it’s build to avoid clipping on obstacles, helping to prevent damage. If you do hit a rock – as we did repeatedly during this test – the derailleur can shift backward slightly. This is possible thanks to Shimano’s proprietary Automatic Impact Recovery function, which allows the derailleur to absorb some of the impact before returning to its position electronically – cool! However, its range of motion is naturally very limited, as with all derailleurs, and you have to hope it doesn’t bend or break the mech hanger.
The new Di2 battery features sharp-edged styling and slides neatly into the base of the derailleur, where it’s secured by a plastic cover that clicks into place. This makes it easy to remove and reinsert the battery for charging, but the cover is also exposed to impacts in this position. There’s a risk that the cover could break, causing the battery to fall out. According to Shimano, the battery lasts around 340 km, assuming 30 shifts per minute – which is quite a lot. After 20 minutes of inactivity, the derailleur automatically enters sleep mode and can only be reactivated by shifting, not by movement. That’s practical, as you don’t need to remove the battery when transporting your bike on long car journeys, where vibrations could otherwise cause it to discharge accidentally. Shimano obviously supply a dedicated charger for it.
Regarding chain tension, Shimano decided against using a clutch in the new XTR M9250 Di2 derailleur, opting instead for a dual-spring design that puts the cage under extreme tension – but also leads to some issues, which we’ll get into later. As mentioned, there’s a long-cage version for cassettes with a range of 10–51 teeth and a mid-length variant for use with 9–45 T cassettes. According to Shimano, the new rear derailleur is optimized for use with UDH derailleur hangers, which are now standard on most modern MTBs. This should further enhance shifting performance, but also means the new derailleurs may not perform optimally on non-UDH frames.
The SHIMANO XTR M9250 Di2 Shifter
Of course, a wireless derailleur also requires an electronic shifter. The SW-M9250 Di2 shifter impresses with excellent ergonomics and a wide range of adjustment options. Using a small Allen key, the shift paddles can be rotated into different positions or even swapped – one paddle is bigger, the other one smaller – handy! There are also several shifting modes and a multi-shift function if you hold the shifter down. Pressing a paddle all the way allows you to shift two gears at once, or you can perform a regular single-click for a one-gear shift. Via the Shimano E-TUBE app, you can configure the buttons according to your needs and preferences. There is also a third button at the front, which can be used, for example, to operate compatible bike computers or – on the eMTB version – switch between FREE and AUTO-SHIFT modes. The Di2 shifter can be mounted either via Shimano’s iSpec integration standard to a Shimano brake, or independently using a separate clamp. However, these are two separate mounting systems, so you need to decide on one before purchasing.
The SHIMANO XTR M9200 Di2 Cassette and Chain
The new CS-M9200 12-speed cassette is available in both 10–51 and 9–45 tooth versions, and both feature Shimano’s Hyperglide+ technology. With specially engineered shift gates, this system aims to deliver even smoother gear shifts under load – a technology Shimano have been using in their drivetrains for some time. The chain, however, remains unchanged, as it has already been used in other Hyperglide-compatible models. As is typical for Shimano’s mid-range and top-tier drivetrains, all cassettes are mounted on a MicroSpline freehub body.
The SHIMANO XTR M9200 Di2 Crankset
The SHIMANO XTR M9200 Di2 crankset is available in two versions: a weight-optimized, XC-specific model, and a more robust version for trail and enduro builds. Both variants are made of aluminium, with the latter featuring a stiffer axle for more demanding conditions. They are available in various lengths, from 160 mm to 175 mm.
The SHIMANO XTR M9200 Di2 drivetrain in Our First Test
Back in February, we had the opportunity to test the new SHIMANO XTR M9200 Di2 drivetrain over two full days on the trails. One day we rode an analogue SCOTT Genius, while the other day we tested the eMTB version on a Cannondale Moterra, which allowed us to try out both configurations. We also spent a few days riding it on our familiar home trails to gain additional insights.
The first thing that stands out is the excellent shifter ergonomics, which shine with extensive adjustability. We mounted the shorter paddle in the front and the longer one in the rear to make more room for our fingers. The rubber coating is well designed too, and prevents slipping. The click of the levers is very distinct and has a crisp, well-defined feel – you always know exactly when you’ve shifted. The double-click function, where the paddle travels through two distinct notches, works smoothly too, and feels clearly defined. The actual electronic shifting noise of the XTR derailleur is quite noticeable and louder than its electronic competitors, but not to an annoying degree.
The shifting speed can be adjusted in five steps via the E-TUBE app. If you choose the fastest setting, the new XTR derailleur is the undisputed king of shifting speed. However, with increased speed comes a decline in shift quality. During our test rides, using the higher-speed settings, we experienced an unusually high number of imprecise shifts. Additionally, at high shifting speeds, the gear changes were accompanied by a distinctly metallic clunking sound, which felt rather unhealthy for the drivetrain. The slower you set the shifting speed, the smoother and quieter the shifts become. Even in the slower modes, the XTR drivetrain remains among the fastest on the market, delivering more precise and quieter shifting overall. We recommend avoiding the fastest settings, as they significantly increase noise – and likely also wear. Unfortunately, during testing in the fast setting, we broke a chain, and the XTR cassette already showed noticeable wear after only about 50 km. None of these issues occurred in the slower settings, and the cassette still looked good after several more days of riding. Even under load, you should – as with most drivetrains – avoid shifting gears, as the new XTR can only handle this to a limited extent, resulting in imprecise shifting and an unpleasant noise. In other words, as usual, you need to ease off the pedals when shifting gears to ensure a smooth gear change.
On descents, however, the XTR derailleur generates a considerable amount of noise on bigger steps and compressions. With every impact, you can clearly hear a loud, metallic clunk from the rear derailleur. This occurs when the derailleur’s B-screw contacts the mech hanger as the derailleur rotates back into position in response to chain growth – for example, during rebound. This was notably disruptive.
Conclusions about the New SHIMANO XTR M9200 Di2 Drivetrain
With the new SHIMANO XTR M9200 Di2 drivetrain, Shimano introduce their latest top-tier drivetrain – and that’s clearly reflected in the price. The bulky, robust look is a matter of taste, but when it comes to shifting speed, the new XTR is unrivaled. However, this comes at the expense of shift quality, and especially on descents, the derailleur is extremely loud. On the other hand, the shifter ergonomics and the various shifting modes are thorougly convincing.
Tops
- Extremely fast shifting
- Excellent ergonomics
- Well-executed shifting modes
Flops
- Very loud
- Inconsistent gear shifts at high-speed settings
- High wear observed in early testing
For more information, visit Shimano’s website.
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Words: Peter Walker Photos: Peter Walker, Benedikt Schmidt
