Despite the widespread use of single ring drivetrains in the mountain bike world Shimano refuses to abandon the dual ring drivetrain. Dual transmission provides shorter steps between gears making it easier to find your ideal cadence on long climbs with small grade changes. It's also great for racers who prefer to have more top gears without sacrificing low gears. For these reasons, Shimano is offering the XT FC-M8100 2x crankset as part of its new XT 12-speed group. It uses the same Hollowtech II design with whom you are familiar from previous years but now uses direct mount chainrings special gear tooth profile for improved chain retention and a narrower 172mm quality factor for more power and comfort in the saddle. This version has a 48.8mm diameter chain line which is best suited for bikes with 12 x 142mm rear hub spacing without Boost.

Cranks manufactured using Shimano's patented Hollowtech II technology , providing a balance of rigidity strength and weight for superior power transfer. Hollowtech uses cold forging to create a lightweight and hollow connecting rod that does not compromise strength or rigidity allowing you to rush through noisy sections of the highway without worrying about that your connecting rod system will bend under pressure or be damaged by stone impacts. Meanwhile, the light weight prevents you from getting bogged down in extra grams when you're aiming for the big mile.

Regardless of your preferred riding style and terrain You will appreciate the new application of the chainring. The drive side lever is removed to install the ring. making it easier to replace the front sprocket while the crank is still on the bike. This system is equipped with a 36/26 tooth sprocket. , but since the cranks are the same for both 1x cranks and 2x cranks you can easily switch back to 1x setup by swapping the front sprockets and removing the front derailleur.