Shimano XT Wheels Offer Solid Performance at Bargain Price from wisepowder's blog
Wheels are probably not the first thing that comes to mind when mountain
bikers hear the name Shimano. The brand may not offer the flashiest,
bleeding-edge wheelsets, but what they do have is solidly dependable and
surprisingly affordable. While testing a couple of the latest
drivetrains from the brand, I found myself in need of a compatible set
of wheels, so I bolted on this pair of 29er, Shimano XT M8120 wheels to
get rolling.To get more news about mtb bike Wheels, you can visit zpebicycle.com official website.
Starting at the outside, Shimano XT rims are constructed from aluminum with a 30mm internal width. While these XT wheels sit second-to-the-top of Shimano’s mountain bike wheel line, only their highest-level, XTR-branded wheels get carbon hoops. The XT rims come taped and ready to roll tubeless, and Shimano recommends pairing with 2.25- to 2.6-inch-wide tires.
Both the front and rear wheel feature 28 asymmetrically-drilled spoke holes, and Shimano uses the same 2-cross lacing pattern on the left and right sides of each wheel. My test set uses the same J-bend, round (non-bladed) 2.0-1.8-2.0 double butted spokes front and rear, which should make finding and replacing them pretty straightforward down the line.
The front hub is fairly standard, with a 15mm diameter thru axle, 110mm spacing, and Center Lock rotor mounts.
A Micro Spline driver in the rear is compatible with all of Shimano’s latest 12-speed drivetrains, and it’s designed to fit the tiny 10T cog that lets riders go fast. The 148mm Boost-spaced hub only offers 7° of engagement, though prospective buyers might be willing to overlook that slower engagement considering the pair of wheels is priced under $500.Although Micro Spline may be new for many riders, the good news is the cassette tool you already have will probably work with your Shimano 12-speed cassette lock ring. It’s easy to line cogs up and slide them in place with the wide key gap on the driver body.
I tested a couple different tubeless tires with these rims and all went on smoothly and easily. The included tubeless valve stems fit tightly and aren’t the flimsy type that threaten to bend or break every time you fiddle with the pressure.
The Micro Spline freehub does essentially tie buyers into the Shimano universe when it comes to drivetrain options. Of course, it’s not a supermax prison, as adapters and workarounds are available, but switching brands will involve a bit of extra work and potential expense when it’s time to upgrade.In fitting with the XT designation, Shimano positions the M8120 as a wheelset for trail bikes, so I mounted mine to an Orange P7 29er hardtail trail bike. Hardtails work great for testing wheels since the feedback is much more direct compared to a full suspension bike. The tires I tested with these wheels ranged from 2.4 to 2.6″ wide.
Pedaling out of the gate, the Shimano XT wheels feel stiff and responsive. There’s little noticeable flex in any direction, whether mashing pedals hard or braking into a turn. While the aluminum rims add a bit of rotational weight over the carbon hoops I had mounted on this bike previously, their ability to accelerate isn’t noticeably lacking thanks to the overall stiffness from the rim through the spokes. Put another way, while on paper it probably takes a bit more energy to get the wheels rolling, drivetrain power seems to be transferred more quickly and efficiently thanks to the overall stiffness of the system.
Starting at the outside, Shimano XT rims are constructed from aluminum with a 30mm internal width. While these XT wheels sit second-to-the-top of Shimano’s mountain bike wheel line, only their highest-level, XTR-branded wheels get carbon hoops. The XT rims come taped and ready to roll tubeless, and Shimano recommends pairing with 2.25- to 2.6-inch-wide tires.
Both the front and rear wheel feature 28 asymmetrically-drilled spoke holes, and Shimano uses the same 2-cross lacing pattern on the left and right sides of each wheel. My test set uses the same J-bend, round (non-bladed) 2.0-1.8-2.0 double butted spokes front and rear, which should make finding and replacing them pretty straightforward down the line.
The front hub is fairly standard, with a 15mm diameter thru axle, 110mm spacing, and Center Lock rotor mounts.
A Micro Spline driver in the rear is compatible with all of Shimano’s latest 12-speed drivetrains, and it’s designed to fit the tiny 10T cog that lets riders go fast. The 148mm Boost-spaced hub only offers 7° of engagement, though prospective buyers might be willing to overlook that slower engagement considering the pair of wheels is priced under $500.Although Micro Spline may be new for many riders, the good news is the cassette tool you already have will probably work with your Shimano 12-speed cassette lock ring. It’s easy to line cogs up and slide them in place with the wide key gap on the driver body.
I tested a couple different tubeless tires with these rims and all went on smoothly and easily. The included tubeless valve stems fit tightly and aren’t the flimsy type that threaten to bend or break every time you fiddle with the pressure.
The Micro Spline freehub does essentially tie buyers into the Shimano universe when it comes to drivetrain options. Of course, it’s not a supermax prison, as adapters and workarounds are available, but switching brands will involve a bit of extra work and potential expense when it’s time to upgrade.In fitting with the XT designation, Shimano positions the M8120 as a wheelset for trail bikes, so I mounted mine to an Orange P7 29er hardtail trail bike. Hardtails work great for testing wheels since the feedback is much more direct compared to a full suspension bike. The tires I tested with these wheels ranged from 2.4 to 2.6″ wide.
Pedaling out of the gate, the Shimano XT wheels feel stiff and responsive. There’s little noticeable flex in any direction, whether mashing pedals hard or braking into a turn. While the aluminum rims add a bit of rotational weight over the carbon hoops I had mounted on this bike previously, their ability to accelerate isn’t noticeably lacking thanks to the overall stiffness from the rim through the spokes. Put another way, while on paper it probably takes a bit more energy to get the wheels rolling, drivetrain power seems to be transferred more quickly and efficiently thanks to the overall stiffness of the system.
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