2014 Shimano: 29″er Friendly- 27.5″er Intros- by Guitar Ted
It’s March and that means it is time to hear some news about what is in the pipeline for Shimano that you will see next year on mountain bikes at your local bike shop and out on the trails. Let’s take a look at some news regarding cranks, wheels, and the all new Deore 610 series mountain bike group.
For several years we’ve been told by Shimano that, “there is no such thing as 29′er gearing. There is only mountain bike gearing.” Well, now Shimano must feel differently about that. 
Aimed directly at 29″er riders and the new 27.5″er bikes due to hit stores next year, these cranks in the XT, SLX, and new Deore M-610 group are geared at a big wheel friendly 40T-30T-22T combination. Shimano also developed front derailleurs in the XT and SLX range to optimize shifting with these smaller sized rings. (FD-M781-A-B and the FD-M671-A-B, down swing models.) These new derailleurs are shaped to offer better clearance due to their low profile design. There will also be a double crank offered in the new Deore M-610 group, which is shown above.
27.5: Shimano acknowledges the 27.5″er bikes further with the introduction of complete wheels for the middling size. Shimano will offer a 27.5″ wheel at the Deore XT level as well as with the new WH-MT35 wheel shown above. Also new for 2014 is the WH-MT15 that is available in 26” and 29” sizes.
New Deore M-610 DynaSys
New Deore M-610: Shimano trickles down their newest mountain bike technology further with the revamped Deore group which now benefits from the DynaSys drive train features and from the Ice Tech braking technology. 
The Shadow Plus derailleur also makes the jump to the new Deore which will bring quieter rides and less dropped chains down market to more riders than ever. Shimano will offer Deore M-610 in black and silver options with crank sets in double and triple configurations. Hubs will be made available in standard quick release with a front 15mm QR option also available. We suspect that this group will see a tremendous amount of spec in 2014 as the Shadow Plus and Ice Tech are high performance features not found at this level from SRAM currently.
NOTE: The images and information in this post were provided by Shimano.
Will those rings fit on existing XT cranks?
Do you expect Shimano will develop a 1×11 drivetrain?
@Motivated: Shimano did not release specifics on these components. I suspect most will be OE spec, and aftermarket will come later, (since that is their typical pattern), so until either Shimano releases that specific information, or until we get a physical example on a bike for testing to check, we won’t know for certain.
My feeling is that the BCD is the same.
Kinda late, Shimano.
A new wheel size, marketing genius.
It’s amazing what a one inch difference can make.
MBA must own stock in the 650B, hard sell monthly.
My 9 speed 29er is quiet enough, nimble enough, and dog gone it, good enough.
I LOVE seeing Shadow+ and Ice-Tech coming farther down the product range.
So will a 1×11 or 1×12 drivetrain be in the future?
Is Shimano leaving the 29′r market to SRAM so they can concentrate on the 650 market?
@Yogi: A Shimano 1X system may indeed bow someday, but rest assured that it will be nothing like SRAM’s if it does come out.
I don’t think Shimano is “leaving the 29″er market to SRAM”. On the contrary, I think this introduction shows they finally listened. I think the 27.5″er stuff is simply filling requests by manufacturers for that product. I do not think in any way it reflects a “market”, as there is none to speak of at the moment.
Maybe there will be one day, but this is just another example of how different the 29″er market is, (which there is ample evidence of), from the non-existent, manufacturer driven “market” for 27.5″ers.
Looks like a nice option for a more budget conscious build.
And here I was, all set to take a dig at Shimano for all but completely turning their back on 22t chainrings, but now I’ll just close my cakehole.
I think we all agree that the 40-30-22 front makes much more sense for 29′r than “normal” 26′r fronts, even with a 36 rear….
Since I have never ridden a 650, I do not know, would 42-32-22 be better gearing?
When did 650 become 27 1/2? The name not the measurement.
Keep us updated, this looks interesting.
@Yogi: 27.5″? Think about this, if you will- We do not call 26″ mtb’s “559″, We do not call 29″ers “700c”. Why on earth do we call the 27.5″ers “650B”? The reason is that the rando-camper riders used that designation, (even though it also was called 26″ as well), and Kirk Pacenti grabbed onto that in 2007 when his push for 27.5″ers came about.
In fact, Mr. Pacenti originally pushed for 27.5, but changed his mind early on because he felt it was too similar to “29″er” and he felt “650B” was more unique.
Furthermore, 27.5″ is a better descriptor since it is what the tires nominally measure out to for diameter and it is consistent with the current nomenclature for mtb tire sizes.
In short- It makes far more sense than “650B” does, but in the end it is only a name. The important thing is that we ride our bicycles and have fun.
Hope you get out for a ride today.
I just refer to 650b as 27 inch, because well, that’s what it is:
26″ rim size: 559mm
650b rim size: 584mm
Difference? 25mm (less than an inch!)
We don’t refer to 26″ as 26.5″ so why inflate the middling size?
27.5″ is misleading as it implies splitting the difference between 26″ and 29″ when actually it’s much closer to 26″.
That’s why it’s not a big deal for companies to “redesign” bikes around 650b, you’re only adjusting the axle position a 1/2in.- done. I make bigger geometry changes when I change gearing on my SS.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this wheel size, but let’s be honest and simply call it what it is.
Ronsta: Point taken, but the 27″ designation has a well-established usage as referring to the now defunct road bike wheel size (630mm bead seat diameter). As long as these bikes are on the road (my wife still rides one) and tire makers provide decent options (thank you Schwalbe), 27″ will continue to signify not the ‘latest and greatest’ in mtb developments, but rather the staunch old guard of road riders. You know, the men and women out there keepin’ it real with their non-aero brake levers and dusty teal handlebar bags with the broken zipper. The 20-year-old Bell helmet and the sun-faded purple nylon windbreaker? That’s what I’m talkin’ about. That’s 27″.
Oh yeah, about that 22-30-40 crank
(sorry for the deviation above, having nothing to do with the original thread – sometimes you just gotta chime in . . .)
Having never seen a 4-bolt 30 tooth chainring, I’d be really surprised if they didn’t shrink the bcd a few millimeters. It’d be awesome, and I suppose it may be possible. It just seems like someone would have done this before if it could be done.
On the other hand, I’ve got a Middleburn 30t middle chainring on the way from mtbtandems for my Surly crank with the 5 bolt spider. ’29er gearing’ without having to buy a new crank! 20-30-42 is the way I like it . . .
@David Conrad: Extralite has a 30t 104 BCD chainring. I am using one without any modification.
http://www.extralite.com/Products/octaramps_anglo.htm
Nothing wrong with Middleburn, I just think that it would be good to have this option from the big players as well concerning price and availability. However, I am still planning to get that Middleburn RS8 X-type
I just go 22T for my 2012 XT crank on my 29er. What a difference! Beautifully manufactured and very light. Look for Trailbright on Ebay (UK).
Simenf, looks like that extralite oddity is designed for use as the smaller ring in a double set-up (or a 1xsomething I suppose). I’m committed to keeping my granny. It appears the key to making that extralite 30t work with the 104bcd is those integrated spacers, keeping the chain from interfering with the spider arms. I’d bet the farm that the new shimano 30t has a slightly smaller bcd. We’ll see . . .
I like what I see here, BUT I’d be happy if SRAM or Shimano could simply create a 1x setup that doesn’t cost $1K!!! What was SRAM thinking?
For now, my 30T front and 11-34 will have to do.
Aimed directly at the new 27.5?er bikes rather than 29?er riders. A 22-36 granny only goes half way to giving us back what we had with a 22-34 26″ .
I’ll be sticking with 9 x 20-32-44 for sometime yet thanks Shimano.
Also hoping for 1x setup that doesnt cost and arm and a leg..