Shimano Deore vs XTR Shifter - must watch before an upgrade!

Your complaints are valid for recreational riders.

The reason the click is harder on XT and XTR is it has instant release - all the necessary cable is released when you press it.

On Deore and SLX, half the required cable gets released on lever compression and half on lever release which is slower but requires less force.

You obviously also have weaker/issues with your thumb so yes Deore/SLX is better for your circumstance.

The R in XTR doesn’t stand for recreation my friend 👍

Ct has all the features for cheaper

Deore is all about sufficient performance with everyday comfort at an affordable price. XTR is for Performance/lap times and durability with little regard for comfort or price. By the same comparison, a road car costing £20k will be far quieter and more comfortable than a rally car costing £200k. They have completely different aims.

If performance, xt/xtr quick shift is way better than deore/slx. But riding normal trail/terrain, deore/slx will do the work.

I used to have slx and shift to xt. The crisp of shifting is kinda stiff but the way if shift is really superb. Imho. 🤙

Simple answer. Move back to a shifter with a clamp.

Move the brake/shift lever in so they don't overlap the grip. It looks like I would move it in maybe 12mm. Take Allen keys with you on the trail and make adjustments on the trail to improve the feel and better angles. I do most of my fine tune adjustments on the trail. While I spending time in the saddle. I love my xtr. I have never had a failure on the trail to be left stranded from any xtr component..

I have both, The deore does have a very light smooth action but I found the xtr has a more reliable shift, also you don't have to shift 4 or 2 in one, if you want to just shift 3 or single then depress length is the same as deore it's not an issue

I have Deore XT and while at the beginning it was hard to press for me as well, but I got used to it, repositioned my shifter and I don't complain at all.

Have been contemplating whether to get slx or xt. Might as well get the slx 👌🏼 thanks for this vid

I just downgraded my parts order from XT to Deore because of this! Literally, I was at the checkout page when saw your vid. Thanks!

I switched from Deore 10 speed to XT groupset. Done my research and thought 'if my Deore is so buttery smooth then XT must feel amazing!' How wrong I was! And how I wish I saw your video earlier! I thought that maybe my settings are incorrect - but it IS true that XT is much harder to operate and works like the cable is too tight - not smooth at all (both up and down shifting actually)! I saw your video as I was looking for (hoping for?) different shifter settings to make it as intended (still thinking that the settings were the problem and not the shifter's construction). Good video man, just wish I would saw it earlier.

Aww suck it up buttercup. You're really complaining about thumb strain from shifting? Really? I would hate to hear you after a fall... Got any complaints about the peddles. Like you can't believe you have to spin the peddles all the way around. Why do they put peddles on bikes anyways.

🤦 a lot of issues with the information coming out of this video. The most significant is you should have gotten an XT shifter which would solved a lot of the issues you had. Nobody needs XTR on their bike unless they are a legitimate professional racer. That is what the XTR line is designed for. They're going to be extremely durable hence the stiffness in the shifter.

Thanks for the video, sounds like personal preference to be honest

Your Complain is Non-sense to be honest

You should not be riding a bike being so delicate. Try a granny scooter, no thumb extension needed.

I was having thumb pain after short rides with a simple shimano Alivio. What I did was change the angle to a little less aggressive position (a more horizontal one) and it kind of went away. Also, change the position of the shifter man, you're complaining about it being in the way of the brakes and it hasn't occurred to you to simply loosen it and rearrange it?

Can you put an xt shifter with an slx derailleur

I have also noticed some non ergonomic design in SRAM and Shimano, and I think it is a very important part to avoid wrist injury or uncomfort and have fun driving the bike. I don't know why the levers do not offer more options to fit different hand size, especially now with 3D printing the tip of the lever could be a exchangable parts upon your hand size or preferred position. Also very surprised how the design can change from Deroe to XTR without any warning or mention of it. In my opinion to setup a comfortable drive post is very difficult currently as all manufacturers think in silo each in their corner. But as a rider you need to accommodate all the needs you have face to all the restrictions of each part plus the restriction coming from the interactions in between the parts. I am currently searching solution to avoid my thumb doing to long path or huge work around to skip from down shift to upshift.

@Shimano, @SRAM what are you thinking about ?

you should go with sram shifter

Thats the Problem With the i Spec Version. Even fully extended to the left ITS to Close to my Hand. So ingot the non i Spec Version and U got more room. But yes IT Looks better With i Spec. LG👍

Moving to a smaller cog is actually upshifting not downshifting.

I am new to the game, thanks for the introduction and comparison.