All the Prototype Shimano Parts from Whistler

any sign of the cranks?

side note, current saint tier launched in 2012. i hope this long development cycle for the imminent launch doesn't mean the next saint grouppo will launch in 2040

I've got a few things that come to mind scrolling these pics, and I'm curious what others think - 

• Is Shimano off the back because they aren't introducing wireless/electronic Saint when SRAM just launched XX DH AXS?  I get that some peeps don't like electronics, but XX DH is the obvious comparison to make, and it seems like Shimano is setting themselves up to be at a disadvantage when you consider ease of setup, clean cockpit look. 
• No clutch. Di2 XT/XTR have racked up a reputation for being loud and dropping chains at the chainring since they seem to cause some extra chain flailing. The solution has been OChain's (ironic) and/or chain guides, which feels like a step back when we've been running no guides with Transmission for a few years now. Personally, I don't really care how smooth/fast/crips a DH drivetrain shifts, I just don't want my bike sounding like a toolbox getting chucked down the hill or my chain dropping. 
• I'll say it, the gold levers look tacky. Do we think the brakes are production colors, or just proto to draw some attention? 
• Do we think the new brakes will be as or more powerful than other brakes out there? I'm also not buying that the stamped 220mm rotors work that well based on some riders running 3rd party rotors this seasons (not necessarily with the new brakes, but with XTRs or a mixed lever/caliper setup).

So it's a 2 piece caliper that's bolted together with two bolts (to the maven's 4)? Interesting that it has the bridge above the pads, what does that do in this case? Obviously it's supposed to beef it up, I'm just wondering how it does that. I guess the pad retention bolt helps with that? 

The most impressive thing to me, just looking at XX DH, is how tucked the derailleur is. Maybe it's just me, but seeing that on the demo at my LBS was impressive. Comparing XX DH to current saint... saint just looks so OLD. 

This whole no clutch thing seems to be about making the suspension move more freely, no? However shimano had that clutch on/off switch from the beginning.... did anyone really turn it off and think it was noticeably better? If they wanted to do the dual spring thing, did they still have to get rid of the clutch and switch? Just seems like kind of an own goal. 

Wireless has a lot of advantages (ergonomic flexibility, easy to work on and install, etc), and it has some disadvantages (weight, cost).  Why not just make Saint wireless and Zee cabled?  But this is why shimano has lost like all the market share... too little, too late, over and over. No one actually cares about cues or whatever, people want shiny fancy shit. Sram delivers that, shimano doesn't. 

For the current saint brakes, the calipers are beefed up but they actually have the same size pistons as XT and XTR - just a slightly different servowave ramp built into the lever. 

If the new saint brakes get released and it turns out that they also have the exact same size pistons as XTR, I'll be very disappointed in Shimano. 

We have waited far too long for these saint brakes to end up having 5% more power than XTR. 

Those cranks aren't "normal" as they are not available to the public, crank arms and spindle might be the same (hard to say if they are the same lenght as available for the current gen on maybe shorter options will be added?), spiderless design is new.

I’m not convinced wireless shifting on bikes is that much better for the added cost or that Shimano will be left behind if they make this cable. For e-bikes yes, where it can be connected directly, but fortunately dh racing isn’t electric (yet) 

For privateers is having a £500 mech on your bike really the difference between the top step or a top 20? 
 Ready for some new brakes next year but gold levers would put these at the very bottom of the list, just behind jamming my foot between frame and tyre

In 2040, the shifter will get a hinged clamp. 

on the topic of wireless shifting: i'd venture a guess that shimano is figuring they'll sell more units by keeping the price down; an XTR Di2 derailleur is $500 and the XX DH AXS is $700.  DH specific drivetrains aren't exactly high volume movers from a sales perspective.  to me it seems more strategic when considered from that perspective. 

>The release has to be soon, right?

I swear there was a solid two year gap between Di2 being seen on bikes and it actually being available 

Are they really "prototype" if they're straight out of the factory, but with stickers covering the branding?

A few months ago I was told October release for the new Saint group. I'm sure we've all heard various time frames, but it's looking closer than ever!

The RD says RD-G8000🧐