List of Shimano Mountain Bike groupsets available with their 'M' numbers.Also includes significant changes introduced for that model year in brackets.
- Shimano Mountain Bike Groupset Hierarchy
- Shimano Hierarchy Mtb
- Shimano Mountain Hierarchy
- Shimano Road Hierarchy
Shimano has nine distinct groupset brands, each forming a complete hierarchy of engineering and material quality, ranging from entry level to elite professional. This hierarchy ranges from its flagship professional-level XTR groupset to the entry-level Deore brand, with basic 9-speed brands Alivio, Acera, and Altus below that. In 1984, Shimano revolutionised bicycle gearing by introducing the Shimano Index System - the world's first indexed gearing system - and in 1988 Andy Hampsten (riding for the 7-Eleven team) took. Shimano GRX is a component series designed for gravel and adventure riders, bikepackers and cyclocross racers, providing a wide spread of possible builds including 10-speed and 11-speed setups, 1x and 2x drivetrains, mechanical and electronic shifting, wide-range or close-range gears, and dropper post integration.
Shimano Mountain Bike Groupsets 1984
Deore XT - M700 - 'Deerhead' (6 speed non indexed transmission)
Shimano Mountain Bike Groupsets 1985
Deore XT - M700 - 'Deerhead'
Shimano Mountain Bike Groupsets 1986
Deore XT - M730(6 speed indexed transmission)
Deore - MT-60
Shimano Mountain Bike Groupsets 1987
Deore XT - M730
Deore - MT-60
Shimano Mountain Bike Groupsets 1988
Deore XT - M730
Deore - MT-60
Mountain LX
Exage Mountain - M450
Exage Trail
Exage Country
Shimano Mountain Bike Groupsets 1989
Deore XT II - M730/732(7 speed)
Deore II - MT-62(7 speed)
Mountain LX
Exage Mountain - M450
Exage Trail
Exage Country
Shimano Mountain Bike Groupsets 1990
Deore XT II - M732/735(Rapidfire underbar shifters introduced on all groupsets)
Deore DX - M650
Deore LX - M550
Exage 500LX - M500
Exage 400LX - M400
Exage 300LX - M300
200GS - M200
100GS - M100
Shimano Mountain Bike Groupsets 1991
Deore XT II - M732/735
Deore DX - M650
Deore LX - M550
Exage 500LX - M500
Exage 400LX - M400
Exage 300LX - M300
200GS - M200
100GS - M100
Shimano Mountain Bike groupsets 1992
XTR - M900(8 speed and Rapidfire plus shifters)
Deore XT II - M732/735(Rapidfire plus shifters)
Deore DX - M650/651(Rapidfire plus shifters)
Deore LX - M550
Exage 500LX - M500
Exage 400LX - M400
Exage 300LX - M300
200GS - M200
100GS - M100
Shimano Mountain Bike groupsets 1993
XTR - M900
Deore XT II - M732/735
Deore DX - M650/651
Deore LX - M560(New black finish for LX components, Rapidfire plus shifters introduced on all remaining/new groupsets)
Exage ES - M520(Pale grey finish)
Exage LT - M320(Pale grey and black finish)
Altus A10 - AT10
Altus A20 - AT20
Altus C10 - CT10
Altus C20 - CT20
Shimano Mountain Bike groupsets 1994
XTR - M900
Deore XT - M737/738(8 speed, wide diameter 'Parallax' hub bodies, Compact Drive chainrings and cassette)
Deore LX - M560/563/564(Wide diameter 'Parallax' hub bodies and Compact Drive chainrings introduced on all remaining/new groupsets)
STX-SE - MC31
Shimano Mountain Bike Groupset Hierarchy
STX - MC30
Alivio - MC10/11
Altus C50 - CT50
Shimano Mountain Bike groupsets 1995
XTR - M900/910(Wide diameter 'Parallax' hub bodies)
Deore XT - M737/738
Deore LX - M564/565(8 speed)
STX-RC - MC33
STX - MC32
Alivio - MC12
Acera-X - M290
Altus - CT90
Shimano Mountain Bike groupsets 1996
XTR - M950(New matt grey finish, V brakes and 4 arm chainrings)
Deore XT - M737/738/739(V brakes)
Deore LX - M565/567
STX-RC - MC33/36
STX - MC32/34
Alivio - MC12/14
Acera-X - M290/291
Altus - CT90
Shimano Mountain Bike groupsets 1997
XTR - M950
Deore XT - M739(4 arm chainrings)
Deore LX - M567/569/M600(V brakes and 4 arm chainrings)
STX-RC - MC36/38
STX - MC32/34/37
Alivio - MC16
Acera-X - M290
Altus - CT90
Shimano Mountain Bike groupsets 1998
XTR - M950/951
Deore XT - M739/740
Deore LX - M567/569/M600
STX-RC - MC38/40(8 speed, V brakes and 4 arm chainrings)
STX - MC34
Alivio - MC12/16
Acera-X - M290/291
Altus - CT92
Shimano Mountain Bike groupsets 1999
XTR - M950/951/952(9 speed)
Deore XT - M750(9 speed)
Deore LX - M570(9 speed and new blue/grey finish)
STX-RC - MC41
STX - MC34
Alivio - MC18
Acera - M330
Altus - CT92
Shimano Mountain Bike groupsets 2000
XTR - M950/951/952
Deore XT - M750/751 (Disc brakes)
Deore LX - M570
Deore - M510(New 9 speed groupset replaces STX and STX-RC)
Alivio
Acera
Altus
Shimano Hierarchy Mtb
External links
Shimano Mountain Hierarchy
Shimano Tourney is the most basic gearing groupset in the MTB range. These gears are most 21 speed with 3 gears at the front and 7 gears at the back. These gears can be found on the most budget and entry level MTB’s and also on hybrid bicycles. Aggressive trail riding isn’t recommended with these gears.
Shimano Altus is the next on this list. This gearing has a combination 3x7 or 3x8 and can be found on entry level MTB’s and also urban hybrids. Altus has started using the Shadow design, which refers to a lower-profile to reduce the likelihood of damage from obstacles on the trail.
Shimano Road Hierarchy
Considered as the top of the entry level gearing, Shimano Acera is a complete groupset in terms for performance for amateurs. Acera is essentially a nine-speed system, which although basic compared to higher options, is actually aesthetically and practically rather impressive. Acera can also be found on performance focused hybrid bicycles.