Shimano XTR CS-M9100 Cassette [Rider Review]

Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for.

SRAM and Shimano are the two top dogs when it comes to MTB drivetrains. If you are a Shimano fan, it doesn't get much nicer than their XTR line. In this review, our customer was looking to upgrade from his current setup. After some debate, he decided on the XTR M9100 cassette. Check out his thoughts!

Overview

I have been running another manufacturer's (might rhythm with FRAM XX1) 12-speed drivetrain on a Yeti SB150 for a little over a year. I recently encountered some issues with that drivetrain and decided to give Shimano’s XTR drivetrain a shot. I went back and forth trying to decide between the 12 or 11-speed options that Shimano offers in the XTR line up, but in the end, decided to stay with the 12-speed. One thing to note if you’re moving over to the new XTR drivetrain, the rear-cassettes require the use of Shimano’s new MicroSpline freehub body as well.

Installation

Installing the drivetrain and getting everything set up was very straight forward. Assembling and installing the cassette was a little more complicated than other brands as several of the higher gears require being installed individually on to the freehub body. Also, be sure to take inventory when unpackaging the cassette so that you do not accidentally dispose of the thin/clear plastic washer that is placed between the hub and cassette. This washer/spacer really looks like it is just a flimsy piece of plastic used during packaging. If I had not read the installation instructions beforehand, I would have likely spent part of the night rummaging through the trash trying to find it. With all the components accounted for, the cassette installed very smoothly, and Shimano even has little alignment marks on the individual gears to ensure the last few gears are installed onto the freehub correctly. Once all the XTR components were installed on my bike, I found adjusting the rear derailleur and setting up the shifting to be easier on the XTR system. There is no need for special measuring tools of adjusters, Shimano has a mark on the backside of the derailleur that lets you easily see where to adjust the B tension screw. And all of the adjustment screws provided positive feedback and are easy to get your Allen wrenches onto.

First Impressions

After getting everything set up and adjusted properly it was time to set off on my first ride. Right off the bat, it was apparent how much crisper and more precise the Shimano XTR drivetrain shifts.

Especially when shifting through multiple gears while under heavy load, the Shimano XTR drivetrain doesn’t miss a beat.

Whether shifting one gear at a time or multiple gears at a time the shifting remains just as precise and provides very positive feedback to the rider. When shifting multiple gears under load my previous drivetrain would be prone to making sounds eerily similar to what I would imagine it sounds like if a badger was attempting to chew through my cassette.

Performance

While the shifting performance is definitely next level and in my opinion top of the class for current MTB drivetrains, the biggest benefit that I have experienced so far is the actual gear ratios of the rear cassette. AS opposed to SRAM 12-speed cassettes, the Shimano XTR 12-speed cassette provides a slightly closer range throughout the final four gears. I have found this especially beneficial when riding aggressively while climbing. At times the SRAM ratios would result in too large of a gap when shifting down during climbing. This would result in the loss of momentum and made it difficult to maintain a consistent cadence while pedaling. With the XTR 12-speed cassette the gear ratios allow you to maintain your cadence and momentum while climbing much better than the SRAM set-up.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I could not be happier with my decision to move over to Shimano's XTR. I only wish I would have done it when I initially built my bike! From a performance standpoint, it has been an improvement in every area when compared to my previous drivetrain.