XTR M9200 Di2 Finally breaks cover

[DieselnDust]

9 minutes ago, Headshot said:

You can adjust the Shimano shift speed to mimic slow AXS shifting, just to remind yourself why the big S is better 🙂 

That feature is quite good because he ay I see it is the slower shift speed will be for the 10-51 cassette and the faster for the 9-45 and DH cassettes

[AR SLABBERT]

7-year-old cassette and chain tech, and the XC brake set is essentially unchanged aside from minor tweaks to fluid and seals. I’ve got no doubt this groupset will be reliable and solid—Shimano rarely misses in that regard but I can’t help feeling a bit underwhelmed. After seven years, this is all they’ve managed to bring to the table?

If this had launched alongside SRAM's first-gen AXS Eagle, it would've been a serious contender. But we’re heading into 2026 now, and SRAM has had years to iterate, refine, and absolutely pack features into their AXS platform. And while slightly faster downshifts are nice, that alone doesn’t define a top-tier groupset in my opinion.

I think Shimano's real opportunity lies in hitting the DEORE, SLX, and XT levels hard, especially by leveraging their strong backwards compatibility. Even Campagnolo has moved forward with a 13-speed road drivetrain, so the bar has definitely moved.

That said, I don’t dislike Shimano at all. I still see them as the kings of the entry to mid-tier MTB space, and I’m currently running a 12-speed XT setup myself. I’d genuinely be excited to see an SLX or XT Di2 upgrade kit. But, being realistic, and knowing Shimano’s track record with availability… we probably won’t see widespread stock for another 2–3 years.

[openmind]

It's not slightly faster shifting, it's 3x faster - 4s vs 12s to get up and down the cassette. 

Here's a really good review, it's worth going into the details...

https://theradavist.com/shimano-xtr-di2-review/

[AR SLABBERT]

It seems there’s a bit of a misconception that the XTR Di2 groupset is categorically faster at shifting across the board. While it may feel quicker in a work stand or under light pedalling, that’s not typically how we ride. SRAM’s Transmission system is specifically designed to excel under load and under real-world conditions like climbing, sprinting, or navigating singletrack, the shift speed is comparable to Di2.

In most riding scenarios, shifts happen under pressure, and that’s where Transmission really shines. Speed in the stand doesn't always translate to performance on the trail.

This was quoted from the above-mentioned review, which adds to my opinion. (https://theradavist.com/shimano-xtr-di2-review/)

XTR Di2 vs. SRAM AXS Transmission
At some point down the road, I’ll do a deeper dive into this comparison, too. It deserves it. But I’ll keep it brief here since there’s already so much to cover. SRAM Transmission is better than XTR Di2 at downshifting one or two gears under load. It’s quicker and quieter, and that doesn’t change significantly as you increase load. Even to unreasonable levels. There’s still a loud singular “snap” as the last link makes its move, but SRAM almost feels like a continuously variable transmission. Especially when shifting just one gear, I usually feel the ratio change before I even hear a sound. While on XTR Di2, loaded downshifting creates a very brief but audible grind that you can feel through your feet. Loaded upshifting isn’t that different between SRAM and Shimano, though I’m rarely in such a hurry to upshift that I can’t back off the pedals.

[Vishal72]

I ride SLX 12 speed and the upshifts under load are smooth and quiet, it's the best attribute of the drivetrain. Seems like Shimano have taken a massive backward step in that department