The 1994 Shimano Deore XT (M737) series introduced 8 speed, an industrial matte crackle finish and a helical tension spring inside the parallelogram.

Other details include stainless steel pulley bolts and cable clamp bolt, ceramic bushes in the guide pulley, rubber dirt seals on the guide pulleys and some kind of teflon coating on the parallelogram pins.

All very impressive - but somehow the result is a touch on the dull side. You can already feel the baleful influence of XTR relegating Deore XT to the role of a ‘normal’ groupset.

This is a thoroughly abused example of the short pulley cage ‘GS’ version.

____________________________________________

1. •Brand: Shimano
   

2. •My category: Shimano - the Deore XT story
   

3. •Country: Japan
   

4. •Date of introduction: 1993 (Shimano model year 1994)
   

5. •Date of this example: 1995 (two letter date code is TC on pulley cage plate)
   

6. •Model no: M737 GS
   

7. •Weight: 222g
   

8. •Maximum cog: 32 teeth (Source: Shimano)
   

9. •Total capacity: 33 teeth (Source: Shimano)
   

10. •Pulley centre to centre: 66.5mm
    

11. •Index compatibility: 8 speed
    

12. •Chain width: 3/32”
    

13. •Logic: top normal
    

14. •Pivots: two sprung pivots
    

15. •Material: aluminium
    

0089/C