Ryan_M

Sorry a bit of a story here... I have a Giant Roam 1 that came with a mostly Deore drivetrain 2x10 except some unknown crank that I haven't been able to match the part # on. I didn't like the gearing much so (ok maybe it was a make work project) I got myself a full XT 2x11 drivetrain and WOW what a major upgrade!! My GF has a Trek DS3 that I think has a full 3x9 Acera drive train. After my upgrade I passed my parts to her to try the 2x10 setup but also see what better parts feel like and she likes it much more except she's noticing the same hole in the gear ratios. She's going to give me some $$$ for it, at a very reduced rate. Anyway, I was going to take that cash and put it towards getting a her a nicer setup. I was looking at a 2x11 SLX groupset.

Obviosly it's an upgrade over the mostly Deore and it fixes the gearing issue... well it did for me so I'm assuming it will for her. I'm just a little concerned that I'm cheaping out on getting her an SLX group vs. an XT group. From what I've read SLX is closer to XT than it is Deore so I'm not being a cheap ass right? lol

cpach

Honestly most of it works pretty well. I'm a pro mechanic and for my next bike it's getting carbon wheels, top end suspension--and 12 speed SLX. Don't sweat it.

What's her actual issue with the gearing she has now?

Ryan_M

The crank is oddly sized, its a 32/44, and the cassette is a 11-42. I think the jump shes noticing is the 20t to 24t cogs. The 11s cassette reduces that by making it a 21t to 24t. Sounds like a miniscule difference but its a difference. I still feel a jump but less so. I spin faster than she does so use lower gears and I like the difference the 11s 11-40 cassette made. Yeah I know first world problems! I like the 28/38 crank much better too.

I was more concerned about quality differences. She rode my bike for a bit and loved the drivetrain, I just want to make sure the SLX isn't going to be too much of a difference to the XT since she knows what it feels like now.

Amt0571

SLX is mostly the same as XT but a bit heavier and less nice. I have a bike that came with XT derailleur and SLX trigger. I assume they do this for "bling", but given the choice, I'll use an SLX derailleur with XT trigger mainly because XT triggers allow you to downshift 2 gears at a time while SLX don't.

Geekage

You realize that if you get her SLX and she doesn't like it, you're going to have to give her your XT, right?

Maybe that's what you should do anyway. Or get her SLX 12 speed.

Pop N Wood

I've had good luck with deore products. You could probably get another deore with different cogs and rings and be just as happy.

But like said above SLX to XT is more weight than performance. From a sheer riding perspective it is somewhat hard to justify the added expense, but certain bikes just want the higher end group. Impressing girlfriends is sometimes worth the cash as well.

70sSanO

So you are swapping out a drivetrain for a cassette gap?

How often do you use the 40t or 42t?

If it really is the 20 to 24 vs 21 to 24, there are other cassettes out there.

Not trying to talk you out of spending money, just wondering.

John