Strengths: Excellent design, incredibly smooth, great performance.
Weaknesses: Chainrings are soft as cheese, finish comes off within the 1st/2nd ride.
Overall: I've owned XTR for a while. I had the original one which put up with all sorts of stuff. This new Hollowtech II model (I have the 4 Arm model with 175mm crank arms) one is a beautiful and strong design, yet is very light too. Out of the box you can feel the quality and the finish is class. That is, it is class until you use the Crankset. Within the first ride expect the finish to wear off. By the time your 3rd and 4th rides are done it won't even say XTR on it any more. OK - So that's just to do with cosmetics, but when you're spending this amount of bread that simply isn't acceptable.
The other thing that is a problem for me is how ridiculously soft the chainrings appear to be. I got this new in November, and after 2/3 rides a week through an Epping Forest winter I had to replace the worn middle ring in mid January. That too is pretty awful. Epping Forest is a particularly harsh environment since the clay, sandy mud and general crud level makes for a destructive grinding paste but I'd expect better. The bike gets a full clean & lube immediately after every ride so it's pretty well looked after.
Apparently Middleburn make replacement rings which last a lot longer so I'll try them next time. The chainring bolts are really soft too; Even if you're careful you can easily damage them.
These niggles aside, it was a joy to fit (the BB design is fabulous) and it shifts beautifully. I have SRAM everywhere else on the bike, and the SRAM X0 rear mech, chain and my XTR Chainset appear to be very happy together.
If I had to replace this I'd probably try another brand, maybe just because the whole finish thing irritates me, but then I'm sure Race face etc. have their problems too. I bought it to ride, not to look at, but you can't help but find stuff like that annoying when you've coughed up over £200.00
If it weren't for the chainring replacement I'd have put the value at 5, but as it is I'm feeling grumbly and I've given it 3 instead.
Strengths: easy to fit as long as you read the instruction but before you fit left side bearing place crank with the plastic sleeve and rubber seals in first.
Strengths: Easy to fit (easier than you think, all the necessary tools will be should be supplied with it (2 special tools))
Weaknesses: none so far
Overall: so light, and transmits power so well. By far the best chainset I have ever owned, even better than the old xtr one, which I have used for the last 3 years.
Strengths: Low weight, very rigid (no grinding against chain on high pressure pedalling), generally easy to fit (see notes later). Tools and bottom bracket all included. Excellent front shifting. Welcome change to Micro drive format for XTR with associated benefits.
Weaknesses: Expensive. The fixing bolts for the left hand crank need to be accurately tightened. I have heard about someone undertightening them and it fell off/stripped the spline (£££ouch!). First shipments came without instructions (my shop got me some info from Madison). Also, Shimano specify a tighting torque for a HAND gripped (non wrench) tool (supplied) - excuse me while I adjust the torque meter on my right bicep....
Overall: An excellent, well developed product with good looks and innovative design - if borrowed from the old Bullseye design! But Shimano always do that (V brakes were first introduced by Marinovative, etc etc). XTR is expensive, but I find that it outlasts other groupsets by several magnitudes and really does perform better.
Overall: Look fantastic. Fitted from a standing start in 15 minutes, tools supplied. Very simple design, belies the tolerances required to make it work. Shimano always get XTR cranks bang on. Pity about dual control.....!
Weaknesses: FINISH MARKS AS SOON AS YOU LOOK AT IT. THE ALLOY IS A LOT SOFTER THAN XT SO DENTS EASY. BEARINGS WEAR LIKE MAD.
Overall: A FIRST CLASS CHAINSET THAT IMPROVES POWER DELIVERY AND SHIFTING BUT THE FINISH IS NOT WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT FOR £300. BEARINGS NEED IMPROVING.
Average Rating: 4 out of 5
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