I rode it!
So I rode the 2008 XTR Shadow at a Specialized Demo this past weekend. As well, I rode the 2008 SRAM XO as well for comparison on the same bikes. Pretty perfect huh?
Anyway, being a SRAM fan, I test rode the XO first. The 08 long cage RD feels much snappier than the current XO long cage. Shifting under load was easy in both directions, with no skip under technical sections.
Now it was time to ride the XTR. My last experience on my friends bike with 07 XTR was not the best, so I wasn't expecting the best. HOWEVER, I was wrong.
The thing looks like a work of art; looks clear than XO with the much lower profile. For the record, this was the 2008 S-Works Epic... full XTR. Assuming that nothing has changed, the XTR kit will remain the same for 2008. The bike I had did not have the servo-wave levers for the brakes, just the normal M970 levers. The Specialized guys did not give any further information about the 2008 kit when I asked, but the bike I rode will be the product model. So servo-wave levers for XTR doesn't look like its happening... yet.
Anywho, back to the ride report. The shifting was spot on. I couldn't believe it. You wouldn't know it was Shimano unless you looked down. The shifters, cassette, chain and cranks were all the same as well. Underload, the shifting was as fast as SRAM's. I would say Shimano did an outstanding job with making the spring stronger. Very quiet, very smooth... I wasn't afraid to push down the lever when I was crankin' up hills.
In technical sections, the RD did not miss a shift. I purposely shifted in poor sections, you know, stuff you wouldn't normally shift in, and it held up perfect. The spring for the cage is much strong, and up to par with SRAM's. As well, I know this sounds stupid, but have the RD tucked away under the cassette in techy stuff made me feel a lot better. There's this rock that is at a perfect height to small RD's. I've knocked off just about everything, SRAM and Shimano. Only difference is Shimano would break off, and SRAM would bend the hanger. Either way, you're screwed.
Shifting to higher gears was the major test. I knew SRAM was quick and snappy, and wasn't expecting the same. After a few clicks and nasty gear changes, the RD did not feel as quick as I would have hoped. It was spot on, don't get me wrong, but after riding XO... it wasn't as fast. It was accurate and didn't skip once, and was quiet in the process. However, it wasn't as fast-feeling as SRAM.
Bottom line: Shimano did a great job. Naturally, not having 1:1 is a disadvantage, and I'm sure Shimano knows that. The lower profile is nice, also making the RD lighter than XO. Shimano did a great job.
Sorry if the report is lame, or doesn't make any sense. It's midnight, and I figured I'd chime in on a thread I started.
Will I go Shimano on my race bike? We'll see.
Later