And here it is... Shimano’s very first mountain bike derailleur. This first version of the Shimano Deore XT (M700) is a subtle blend of the Shimano Deore (DE20) - see that Centeron lever - and the Shimano New 600 EX (6207 GS) - with its clean, uncluttered lines and straight-forward pulley cage.

The Deore XT (M700) appeared a year later than the SunTour MounTech - but still ran off with the mountain bike crown because of what it lacked - complexity. Shimano claim all sorts of stuff about improved seals on the sprung pivots and other off-road refinements - but I am never quite sure about the reality of this. Mainly the Deore XT (M700 1st style) was a well-made, simple, strong gear, that had the good luck to appear just when the market was looking for a well-made, simple, strong gear. But then, luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

Personally I liked the New 600 EX better - that Deer Head logo still seems too hunting-lodge-kitsch - you can almost hear the skirl of the pipes and feel the itch of Harris Tweed against your skin - or perhaps Woody Allen might shoot you and strap you to his car fender... But I did appreciate that the adjustable cable outer stop and the Centeron lever were handy features when using the long cables that thumbshifters required.

A milestone in derailleur history.

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1. •Brand: Shimano
   

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

3. •Country: Japan
   

4. •Date of introduction: 1983
   

5. •Date of this example: 1983 (two letter date code is HH on the pulley cage plate)
   

6. •Model no: M700
   

7. •Weight: 236g
   

8. •Maximum cog: 34 teeth (Sutherland’s 6th edition)
   

9. •Total capacity: 40 teeth (Sutherland’s 6th edition)
   

10. •Pulley centre to centre: 85mm
    

11. •Index compatibility: friction
    

12. •Chain width: 3/32”
    

13. •Logic: top normal
    

14. •Pivots: two sprung pivots
    

15. •Material: aluminium with a steel Centeron lever and inner pulley cage plate
    

0086/C