We’ve known for a while that Shimano was planning to unveil their response to SRAM’s XX1 drive train this spring, most likely at the Sea Otter Classic. This morning a few spy photos were leaked online. At the moment the release looks to be a wide range 1×11 drive train, inline with XX1, likely borrowing tech from their 11 speed road range. Assuming the leaked specs are true, (don’t see why they wouldn’t be) the wide range 11 speed cassette will have a gear progression of 11-13-15-17-19-21-24-27-31-35-40.

You can view the thread on MTBR here.

We’ve been hoping that Shimano would produce a rear cassette that expands on the gear range possible with the current 10 speed drive train. It doesn’t look like that’s going to happen, but with 42t after market options for 10 speed now available, there’s a viable and inexpensive alternative to XX1 and XTR. It looks like we’re going to now going to have options, regardless of which tax bracket you fall in.

Last weekend while the rain was coming down, my XT 2×10 drive train became 1×10 using components courtesy of OneUp Components and E*thirteen. Our first rides are planned this weekend, and we’ll have a post up shortly with our initial impressions.