Shimano Deore XT 10 Speed R/H Shifter M780

Bringing with it new technologies drawn from XTR, the 2012 Shimano XT shifter shows just how much the Japanese know about producing the best quality driverain components on the market. Though many folk fall into either the SRAM or Shimano fan clubs when it comes to shifting, the latest Deore XT components are designed to bridge the gap in ergonomics between the 2 brands, with a more positive and direct feel to gear changes that sits somewhere in that magical middleground between smooth 'n' silky and chunky 'n' positive. For those of you after a complete 2x10 or 3x10 drivetrain package, checkout the XT Shifter Set that comes as a Left & Right hand pair, though for riders building up a 1x10 drivetrain - this is the shifter for you. 1x10? What's all that about? Well in a nutshell, the latest 10 speed groupsets have been built upon a new wider-range cassette that uses a larger 11-36t ratio instead of the previous 11-34t on 9 speed. Aside from being smoother all the way through the cassette, the bigger 36t cog means you can get away with slightly taller gearing on your crankset, and in some cases one chainring. The advantage to setting up your bike with a 32t, 34t or 36t single chainring with a 10 speed cassette out back is that you get a simpler and lighter setup that gives you better clearance, without losing too many high or low-end gears. 

 

While the M780 shifters are a mostly new design, Shimano kept some of the features from the previous shifters such as the 2-way release, removable optical gear display and Rapidfire Plus shifting. Allowing you to hit the cable release trigger with either a pull from your forefinger or push with your thumb, the 2-way Release system appeals to any riders shifting style. Removing the optical gear display gives you more adjustability in the shifter location, with a dual-position clamp providing an additional side-to-side adjustment. Although Shimano shifters have always been smooth and reliable, they have somewhat lacked the positive feel that you get with SRAM trigger shifters that many riders describe as "snappy" and even "chunky". For the 2012 XT group, Shimano's engineers created Vivid Index technology to increases lever feedback so that each shift is more audible and positive compared to previous versions. Combined with the 10 speed Deore XT derailleurs, you will have faster, more accurate and more positive gear changes than ever before, while maintaining the silky smooth shifting that Shimano built its reputation on. 
An additional feature that has come about with the redesigned XT brakes is the option of an integrated clamp that mounts both the brake lever and shifter body onto the handlebar with the one bracket. Dubbed "I-Spec", the single clamp un-clutters handlebars and provides a lighter setup too if you are using the 2012 Shimano XT brakes. If you don't have Shimano disc brakes, no problem - just select the standard clamp that uses its own mount.

 

 

The Shimano Deore XT M780 Right Hand Shifter Features: