New Saint Groupset

Introducing the new and vastly improved Shimano Saint groupset... while it shares some features and characteristics with the old M800 group, the M810 is completely new on many levels. Increased strength and rigidity, more lightweight design and, in line with Shimano's current penchant for detail and aesthetics, very technical and distinctive-looking, in gloss black with gold details. The main features are as follows:

Brakes: the return of the 4-Pot Caliper Re-designed from the ground up, 4 piston calipers are the flavour of the day, not seen in the Shimano range since the much acclaimed M755 XT. The new dual-diameter 4-piston calipers provide an incredible 50% more stopping power than the current BR-M800. This two-part caliper is 9% stiffer than than current mono-bodied M775 XT and has an increased oil flow which should make bleeding a whole lot easier. The brake levers feature Servo Wave technology, improving brake power, control and pad clearance. The levers feature tool-free reach adjustment, a beefy lever blade for optimal strength & control and the whole brake package is finished off with a stiffer Vinylon hose.

Rear Derailleur: Shadow Short Cage (SS) The new Saint Shadow rear derailleur does away with the axle mount/interface of the previous M800 series and adopts a universal traditional dropout. Super low profile Shadow derailleurs have always minimized the risk of damage due to hitting rocks etc, but compare the current Shadow offerings in the XT and XTR groupsets with the new Saint SS derailleur and you'll see the lower part of the cage also incorporates a skid plate to deflect debris and obstacles, while a super-wide inner link gives it improved stiffness for gravity racing/riding, with mega-crisp shifts and more positive engagement. Shimano managed to combine this additional rigidity with a remarkable weight saving of 100 grams compared to the M800 version. The new Saint kit has increased spring tension compared to the XT/XTR Shimano Shadow derailleurs and a new, exclusive mode convertor adjusts the rear derailleur's profile to work optimally with either close or wide ratio cassettes.
Close ratio cassettes – 23-28T lowest gear – are recommended for Downhill useage; wide ratio – 32-34T lowest gear – for Freeride and All Mountain usage.
The new derailleur is available in a short (SS) and a medium (GS) cage version (top-normal shifting only) to suit either single or double chainring setups.


Shifters: Rapidfire Plus These gravity-oriented Rapidfire Plus shifters have been designed to combine a crisp shift feeling with one-finger braking. They feature a short release lever stroke and Instant Release technology for a fast, direct response, plus 2-Way Release technology that allows the release lever to be operated in two directions. The new Saint shifters have been developed with an adjustable bracket to allow inboard and outboard mounting for optimum cockpit setup. Their low profile leaves plenty of space between shifter and brake lever for crud-free, mud-shedding performance.

Cranksets: the new Saint cranksets are much lighter (double ring: 100g / single ring: 90g) and even stiffer than the M800 ones. There are both single and double chainring options, both developed with HOLLOWTECH II technology and redesigned to include extremely heavy duty spider arm and spindle. The new crank arm design allows more ankle clearance and the "honeycomb" bash guard has great impact resistance, with a steel pedal thread insert for added stiffness and security. Single chainring options are 34/36/38/40/42T; the double 36 x 22T compact drive crankset for All Mountain riding offers a wide gear ratio and a narrower Q-factor.

Front Derailleur: Following on from the recently announced double-specific SLX front derailleur, the new Saint groupset offers a double-specific front derailleur too, designed to perform optimally with a 36x22T compact drive crankset. The cage radius is matched to a 36T chainring radius, resulting in improved shifting. It has a very compact size with increased plate stiffness and improved clearance of the chain, chain stay and rear tire to work with most types of current full suspension frames. A wider and lower positioned inner plate reduces the chance of chain drop considerably.Top-swing and down-swing (conventional) versions for both 68/73mm and 83mm BBs are available.

Hub and Freehub: If the new Saint hubs were supermodels they'd be a size zero! The new Saint hub and freehub are a staggering 100g lighter and feature a standard size center lock mount which saves weight while maintaining strength. This also means that the Saint hubs are now compatible with the full range of Shimano center lock rotors too. The hub comes with Shimano's tried and tested fully adjustable and easy serviceable cup and cone bearings, which are proven to be more durable under side loads. Over Locknut Dimension (OLD) is 110mm and a 20mm through axle gives an ultra stiff fork/hub combination. The bearings of the freehub have been positioned wider apart for increased stiffness and durability. The freehub body has been developed with Shimano's quick engagement technology, resulting in increased performance, especially in technical terrain. The Saint freehub will be available in two versions: 135mm OLD in combination with a 10mm or 12mm through axle, and 150mm OLD with a 12mm through axle. Seals have been further developed for 400% improved durability, reuslting in longer service intervals.