The Deore XT (M761) is one of my least favourite Deore XT variants. It has all of the unfortunate cheap detailing and paint finishes of the M750, combined with gratuitous styling elements that would not look out of place on a 1950’s Cadillac. What is that swooping outer pulley cage plate all about except extra weight and a loss of stiffness? Could Shimano have devised a heavier way of implementing the ‘XT’ branding? Can somebody please shoot the stylists and get the engineers back in control?

However, as with the M750 (and all Deore XT derailleurs), it worked well and kept doing so. The M761 is the top normal version - the choice of every sober, thinking adult.

This example is an SGS (long pulley cage) version with a capacity of a mere 45 teeth, and a weight of a mere 264g.

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• Derailleur brands: Shimano
• Categories: Shimano - the Deore XT story
• Country: Japan
• Date of introduction: 2006
• Date of this example: 2006 (two letter date code EG)
• Model no.: M761 SGS
• Weight: 264g
• Maximum cog: 34 teeth (Shimano)
• Total capacity: 45 teeth (Shimano)
• Pulley centre to centre: 99mm
• Index compatibility: 9 speed
• Chain width: 3/32”
• Logic: top normal
• B pivot: sprung
• P pivot: sprung
• Materials: Largely aluminium with a steel inner pulley cage plate

Ref. 8