Shimano Zee. Any good?

widge34
widge34 Posts: 900
edited November 2012 in MTB buying advice
looking to purchase a clutch mech and to go to 10 speed from 9, so also need a rear shifter. single ring up front. Is the Shimano Zee kit any good?
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Widge.

Bird Zero 2
Trek Madone 3.5c H2 2013

Comments

  • lawman
    lawman Posts: 6,868
    Should be pretty good I reckon, the mech looks great and if it performs almost as well as my xtr shadow plus then it'll be great. The shifter looks quite good, but I'd be tempted to go for a saint shifter. Rose bikes have great prices on both so you can't really go wrong with either :)
  • widge34
    widge34 Posts: 900
    Cheers lawman. Having been reading some online reviews. Seems to be rated.
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    Widge.

    Bird Zero 2
    Trek Madone 3.5c H2 2013
  • correct me if im wrong but isnt zee essentially rebadged SLX??? shorter rear cages but not a lot else different???
    Timmo.
    After all, I am Cornish!
    http://cornwallmtb.kk5.org/
    Cotic Soul, The bike of Legends!:wink: Yes, I Am a bike tart!
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... 1#16297481
  • lawman
    lawman Posts: 6,868
    correct me if im wrong but isnt zee essentially rebadged SLX??? shorter rear cages but not a lot else different???

    Very wrong!! The mech is a completely new model, and comes in 2 versions, one for dh and one for wide ratio cassettes. The shifter is quite different too and the brakes feature 4pot calipers. The cranks look like beefed up deore models, but it's definitely not a rebadged slx, shimano seem to have learnt from home that just doesn't work
  • my understanding is that the Zee fropu is an entry level version of saint, ie downhill /gravity orientated. Kind of like SLX is to XT / XTR
  • Okay, thanks for clearing that up, sure I read on here that they were essentially the same,
    Did think at the time that's a little cheap, renaming one to sell as a entry level of another model!
    Timmo.
    After all, I am Cornish!
    http://cornwallmtb.kk5.org/
    Cotic Soul, The bike of Legends!:wink: Yes, I Am a bike tart!
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... 1#16297481
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    The quality of Zee is between Deore and SLX.
  • widge34
    widge34 Posts: 900
    supersonic wrote:
    The quality of Zee is between Deore and SLX.

    So you would say SLX is better?
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    Widge.

    Bird Zero 2
    Trek Madone 3.5c H2 2013
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Depends on your usage. SLX is not better for DH based applications - but for most riding I'd take SLX.
  • mister p
    mister p Posts: 405
    Zee rear mechs are basically SLX rear mechs but with a short cage on them. Zee chainsets are an old Deore level crank arm but with a beefed up axle. Zee brake lever bodies are the same as SLX but with different top caps and lever blades.