Deore has long been Shimano’s entry-point groupset. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles like XT or XTR, but it retains enough trickle-down tech to get the job done. Deore was last updated in 2020, and after spending last year focused on Shimano’s latest Di2 drivetrains, it’s refreshing to receive a new mechanical groupset that caters to budget-conscious riders (i.e., us at Vital).
Deore has shared the bottom of Shimano's product hierarchy with SLX for many years. SLX was a bit nicer and higher priced to bridge the gap to XT. Moving forward, Deore takes over as the sole occupant at the bottom. However, there are now two tiers of Deore—M7200 (fancier) and M6200 (cheaper)—that essentially maintain the same cadence between each groupset as before. Only some components receive two new SKUs, and the numbering isn’t based on the number of gears.
The key changes include updated shifter ergonomics, new brakes that share the same low-viscosity oil and new caliper seals as the latest XT and XTR brakes, and derailleurs with the same wedge-shaped profile and dual-spring design as the new Di2 derailleurs.
Pricing
Derailleur | Shifter | Cassette | Cranks | Groupset Total | Brakes (2-piston) | Brakes (4-piston) | |
Deore M6100 | $70 | $35 | $115 | $125 | $345 | $130 | $170 |
SLX M7100 | $95 | $48 | $130 | $130 w/o chain ring | $403 | $165 | $180 |
Deore M6200 | $65 | $30 | $140 | $100 | $335 | $120-left $125 right | $155-left $160 right |
Deore M7200/M7230 | $100 | n/a | $180 | n/a | $410* | n/a | n/a |
SRAM 70 Transmission | $140 | $35 | $275** | $100 | $550 | n/a | n/a |
* price with M6200 shifter & cranks | ** GX Transmission cassette
Deore Derailleurs
There are three new Deore derailleurs: two 12-speed models (M7200/M6200), and one 11-speed model (M7230). The 7200/7230 models have the most updates derived from their Di2 siblings. This includes Shimano’s Shadow ES technology, which refers to the slim, wedge-shaped profile of the P-knuckle and the dual-spring stabilizer housed inside. They also have solid pulley wheels. The M6200 model maintains the previous Shadow+ clutch design and silhouette as the outgoing Deore/SLX models.
The 7200/7230 derailleurs appear more durable than the ones they replace and are priced competitively, coming in just $30 more than the outgoing Deore, and $5 more than the outgoing SLX. The 6200 model is $5 cheaper than the outgoing Deore derailleur. However, it's rocking some dated clutch technology that makes the $35 price jump to the 7200 models seem like a no-brainer.
The pull ratio has not changed with the new derailleurs, enabling upgrade integration with previous Shimano 12-speed drivetrains.
RD-M7200 - $100 USD
- 12-speed Hyperglide+
- Shadow ES Technology
- Dual-spring stabilizer
- Solid pulley construction
- Steel cage
- Long Cage SGS for use with 12-speed 10-51T cassette
RD-M7230 - $100 USD
- 11-speed Linkglide
- Shadow ES Technology
- Dual-spring stabilizer
- Solid pulley construction
- Steel cage
- Long Cage SGS for use with 11-speed 11-50T cassette
RD-M6200 - $65 USD
- 12-speed Hyperglide+
- Shadow+ Technology
- Clutch stabilizer
- Steel cage
- Long Cage SGS for use with 12-speed 10-51T cassette
Deore Shifters
There are three new Deore shifters: two 12-speed Hyperglide+ models and an 11-speed Linkglide model. All shifters receive levers with new paddle shapes and a shorter actuation stroke. The movement of the levers is also new, and now remains nearly straight during the first two shifts to better match the way your thumb articulates.
All shifters maintain the iconic 2-way release feature, allowing you to shift into a hard gear by pushing or pulling the lever, and each is available with an I-SPEC EV or clamp-band mounting interface. All shifters retail for $30 USD, which is cheaper than the outgoing Deore and SLX shifters.
Deore Cassettes
Two new Deore 12-speed cassettes feature Hyperglide+ shifting tech and 10-51T gear range. The main difference between the two is the M7200 cassette saves some weight by pairing its 11 steel cogs with an alloy 51T cog, just like the previous SLX M7100 cassette. The M6200 cassette rocks all-steel cogs, just like the outgoing M6100 cassette.
Shimano didn’t provide weights for the new cassettes or any additional details on why they are more expensive than the cassettes they replace. We’d guess that the construction of the spider the gears are anchored to, or perhaps the finish on the cogs, is the cause of the price increase. Lastly, there is no longer a 10-45T gear range option.
M6200 - $140 USD
- 12-speed Hyperglide+
- Microspline freehub
- Steel cogs with an alloy largest cog
- 10-51T gear range
M7200 - $180 USD
- 12-speed Hyperglide+
- Microspline freehub
- Steel cogs 10-51T gear range
Deore Crankset
The new M6200 crankset maintains a two-piece design with forged aluminum crank arms, a 24mm steel spindle, and a direct mount chainring interface. Key updates include a wider Q-factor (from 172-176mm), a wider chainline (from 52-55mm), and a new steel chainring with a silhouette similar to the latest XT and XTR rings.
FC-M6200 - $100 USD
- Two-piece design
- 24mm steel axle
- 176mm Q-factor
- Direct mount steel chainring
- 55mm chainline
- Crank arm lengths: 165, 170, 175mm
- Chainring sizes: 30T, 32T
Deore Brakes
We’ve thoroughly covered the updates to Shimano’s latest gen XT and XTR brakes. The new Deore brakes receive a similar treatment, most notably the switch to low-viscosity oil and new caliper seals to improve piston rebound speed consistency. These changes have greatly improved or resolved the wandering point issue that plagued the previous design. So odds are they will have the same effect on the Deore’s. The lever also sits more parallel to the handlebar, and the caliper now uses a 3mm hex wrench to open the bleeding port instead of an open-end wrench.
What you lose with the Deore brakes compared to XT or XT is the tool-free reach and Freestroke adjustment, and the Ergo Flow lever ergonomics.
BL-M6200 Lever
- Servo Wave power curve
- Low-viscosity oil
- Clean look with hydraulic hose following parallel to bar
- Alloy lever
- I-SPEC EV compatible
BR-M6220 Caliper - $155/$160 USD
- 4-piston design
- Low-viscosity oil
- Caliper seals with consistent rebound speed
- Two-piece design
- Price per-line
BR-M6200 Caliper - $120/$125 USD
- 2-piston design
- Low-viscosity oil
- Caliper seals with consistent rebound speed
- Two-piece design
- Price per-line
Let us know if you have any questions about the new Deore groupset and brakes!
Lets Remove SLX to streamline our products! WAIT we are the new shimano, Mix it all into deore and dont forget to "forget the clutch"
Also, make sure we Wait 6 years to release 2019 tech in 2025... winning
Deore caliper looks Nice though
Consider me whelmed
Looks like a...uh, well...like an existing shimano drivetrain...again.
Is there any more info about that new microspline, linkglide, 11s, 10-50 cassette that they are implying in the marketing material? Or is it a typo?
I haven’t ridden the clutch-less Shimano offerings. I have heard in a few reviews that it allows more chain-slap than clutched derailleurs. What have been your guys experiences? When would you run these of Cues?
This is the most important aspect to validate as all of the new Shimano Di2 stuff is a no go because of that.
How Shimano failed on that basic requirement is intriguing to say the least.
I'd say every person I know Runs shimano because of the clutch and less slap.
Why not 160mm cranks like on XT.... oh cmon Shimano!
Just got email from Shimano, that was a typo. Derailleur is designed to pair with the 11-50T Linkglide cassette.
Only thing I'm curious about is if they're still using an aluminum MC piston in them. I know they went to phenolic on the caliper end, but it's what's inside the MC that appeals to me.
These offerings and Eagle 90 both leave a large hole in the drivetrain world. There are no high end cable driven drivetrains available.
"However, it's rocking some dated clutch technology that makes the $35 price jump to the 7200 models seem like a no-brainer."
lol wut? I would pay $35 extra to have the old shimano clutch instead of the dual spring.
When you say "left/right" in the pricing do you mean "front/rear"?
100% i'd pay a little extra for the di2 etc to have the clutch... but guess shimano isnt interested.
Yes and no I would say. Considering the right is a bit more expensive I would guess it comes with a longer hose, so is a rear brake.
The reason why it's left and right is that that is the lever side. Shimano levers are not flip flop like Sram's are so are side specific. I.e. left and right. For people running their brakes moto style you'd need to flip them around.
You can currently buy both sides with long and short hoses, I hope this doesn't signal a change...
Madrone and vivo cover the high end, which is better than the big S brands anyway
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