It has been nearly a year since Shimano announced the long-awaited XT Di2 M8200 drive train, marking the climax of the industry's inevitable transition toward wireless shifting. For years, those looking for wireless shifting on their hardtail or trail bike had no option except SRAM or a multitude of Ali Express components, which had a better chance of exploding than shifting under load. This being said, how much has Shimano been able to truly compete on the trail compared to the wireless dominance of SRAM over the past year?

When XT Di2 first hit the streets last year, I was right there working in a local South Carolina bike shop, often installing and testing the first drivetrains heading up to Dupont State Forest and Pisgah National Forest. The first thing that hit me about Shimano’s new setup was its clear effort to be different, rather than just copy SRAM. The XT Di2 derailleur is massive, by design, with internal springs that give the system some give when it takes impact, whether skidding out on a berm or eating chatter and rock hits. Additionally, the shifting in the XT system feels analog by design, unlike the peboop button pushing feel of SRAM’s slam shifting. Another major sell for the XT is its fast shifting. At the shop, we set up a little shifting race, lining up an XT Di2 drive train next to an SRAM XX Eagle setup, the Di2 won with a 2-gear lead, narrow but decisive.

Alexey Vermulen’s race winning bike at the Chequamegon Mountain Bike Festival — Vermulen’s Winning Rig

Additionally, Shimano has fleshed out their Di2 lineup, offering it known in Deore and XTR, much like SRAM's good better best drivetrain spec. At the pro level, the drivetrains have seen big wins as well, with Shimano staking its claim to wins in the off-road scene, including Alexey Vermulen’s win at the Chequamagon Mountain Bike Festival.

Even with these wins, Shimano’s new MTB Di2 has the disadvantages of a first-generation product, meaning problems with the system may be the first of their kind for your local mechanic. This is the reality for any new product or bike, and Shimano, in my experience, works well with service departments, so take that with a grain of salt. Additionally, the big issue riders have with the system is the fact that it relies on a derailleur hanger rather than SRAM’s Universal derailleur hanger transmission setup. This said, given my experience working on rigs that have been ridden hard, a derailleur hanger can have its advantages, meaning a crack or crash results in replacing an inexpensive part rather than the whole rear triangle.

One year comparison SRAM Eagle Transmission V.S Shimano Di2