Shimano’s new range of wireless mountain bike drivetrains is now complete, with the release of the new Deore M6200 groupset bringing wireless shifting to the affordable workhorse drivetrain for the first time ever.
The new Deore range features much of the same tech seen on XTR Di2 M9200 and XT Di2 M8200 groupsets – the latter also launching today – with a few cost-saving differences.
The drivetrain comprises the rear derailleur, shifter and new rear brakes. As far as we can ascertain, the crankset has been carried over from the outgoing Deore M6100 groupset.
This is the first time an electronic drivetrain has been brought down to the brand's third-tier mountain bike components. Shimano made a similar move in 2022 with 105 Di2. Less clear is what the launch means for mechanical Deore.
The launch comes only two weeks after the long-awaited launch of the fully wireless XTR Di2.
Here’s everything we know so far about Shimano’s most affordable wireless Di2 drivetrain to date.
Read more about Shimano's new Di2 mountain bike groupsets
Shimano Deore Di2 derailleur – key details
The new Deore derailleur features much of the same tech seen on Shimano's more expensive XT and XTR options.
It mounts to your frame via a derailleur hanger (unlike SRAM’s Eagle AXS Transmission) and, just like its XT and XTR stablemates, it features low and high adjustments and a b-tension screw.
The derailleur adopts the streamlined Shadow ES profile, as seen on XTR. It's designed to dodge roots, rocks and trail debris, while its integrated skid plate and lack of harsh edges should shrug off impacts when they do happen.
Bigger knocks are dealt with by the automatic impact-recovery function, which enables the derailleur to move rather than snap, before resetting into its original position without any input from the rider.
Shimano’s Shadow ES clutch forgoes an on/off switch – a controversial move that divided opinion with the arrival of XTR – but is claimed to deliver more chain tension on the trail.
The derailleur is set to cost £374.99, plus £39.99 for the battery and £29.99 for the charger.
Shimano Deore Di2 derailleur options
Shimano is offering two versions of its Deore derailleur – one for mountain bikes and one for electric mountain bikes, with the former utilising an onboard battery and the latter drawing power from the eMTB’s main battery.
Both eMTB and ‘standard’ versions come with a long cage, making them suitable for Shimano’s 10-51t cassettes. As well as the standard 12-speed, there’s also an 11-speed version of the eMTB derailleur.
In an update to Shimano’s current Di2 eMTB-specific derailleurs, both Free Shift and Auto Shift will be available on the 12-speed setup. These features were previously reserved for 11-speed drivetrains.
Free Shift enables gears to be changed while you're not pedalling, by independently rotating the chainring via the Shimano EP8 motor, while Auto Shift uses speed and torque sensors to shift gears automatically, without rider inputs at the shifter, to keep the pedal cadence within an optimal range.
All Deore derailleurs use a steel cage construction, which is more affordable than the alloy and carbon cages used on XT and XTR.
There's no word on compatibility with Shimano's Q'Auto hub system.
Shimano Deore shifter
Shimano’s new wireless shifter closely mimics the ergonomics and feel of its ‘traditional’ cable shifters, using a familiar layout for its shift buttons, which offer a similar ‘click’ when changing gears.
The sleek new shifter sits closely under the bar and is available in two mounting options. The I-SPEC EV option mounts directly to compatible brake levers, and there’s also a standard clamp band option.
The shift buttons and paddles themselves are fully adjustable and also offer multiple shift modes, including hold-down multi-shift and click-through double shift.
A programmable third button adds customisation potential, with Shimano hinting at compatibility with Garmin bike computers and other third-party brands.
Whether or not there is much difference between the Deore shifter and the more premium XT and XTR shifters remains to be seen, but we’d hazard a guess that, like the rest of the drivetrain, the action and tech will be very similar, with the only differences to be found in some of the construction materials.
The shifter is set to cost £124.99.
Shimano Deore brakes – no details at present
Also included in the announcement is news of new Deore brakes, promising a "refined power application with consistent performance and modulation in a wider temperature range".
Details remain scarce, and no images were supplied with the press release, so whether or not the new Deore stoppers have been treated to a complete overhaul or just an internal spruce-up (like the XT and XTR two-pot brakes) remains to be seen.
What does this mean for mechanical Deore?
What does this mean for the future of Shimano's budget-friendly mechanical Deore groupset – a stalwart of the entry-level mountain bike market?
When Shimano released 105 Di2, a mechanical option was notably absent from the range. However, a mechanical groupset followed some months later.
It would be reasonable to expect similar from Deore, although the arrival of Cues – an all-encompassing budget-focused groupset that's increasingly seen on entry-level mountain bikes – complicates matters.
Could mechanical Cues be the death of Deore, or will a mechanical groupset follow later?
We put this question to the brand, which supplied a generic response: "Mechanical groupsets still occupy an important position within the Shimano mountain bike line-up, as we are constantly in development of new products. However we do not comment on products and whether they are in development or not.”
