July 7, 2008 (Whistler, BC) – In June 2008 media representatives from around the world gathered to attend Shimano’s Saint 2009 press launch in Whistler, BC. Our task was to test ride the all new 2009 Saint components. With little fanfare and no sales pitch, the Shimano staff kitted out my ride and turned me loose on the Whistler Bike Park.

I tend to be hard on components, so I was anxious to see how the new Saint set-up would fare. Every Saint component is a little bit lighter, the new gold graphics are eye-catching and each piece has been redesigned with adjustability and compatibility in mind. But would it all survive the abuse of the Whistler Bike Park on some of Canada’s toughest terrain?

Saint Disc Brake Caliper – BR-M810
This being my first ride of the season at Whistler, I was blown away by the fact that my hands and forearms were not fatigued by the end of the day. The 50% increase in stopping power provided by the new 4-piston, asymmetric, dual-diameter design allows you to brake later and less, leaving your arms with more energy. With so much power in the front end, I could easily downsize from the 203mm rotor. Fortunately Shimano provides the option of running a 180mm or a 160mm so personalizing your setup is a breeze. The stiffer hydraulic hose adds better feel and modulation without any loss of power. The system holds a greater volume of oil to manage temperature changes better. Shimano choice’s for hydraulic fluid is mineral oil — non-toxic in the work shop and green for the environment.

Saint Hydraulic Brake Lever – BL-M800
The beefed up Servo-Wave Brake Levers feel great with better modulation and pad clearance. The tool-free lever reach adjustment makes it easy to dial the lever reach to suit your riding style.

Saint Cranksets – FC-M810/M815
The Saint Hollowtech II Cranksets are available as a single or dual chainring setup for bikes with 68/73mm bottom bracket shell or the larger 83mm shell. Riders also have the option to run three crank lengths: 165, 170 or 175mm. My freeride bike was set up with the single chainring and 170mm cranks. The crank arm and spider are 200% stiffer than the Deore XT but Shimano still managed to shave 150 grams off of the original Saint M800 cranks. The new, lighter, design allows for more ankle clearance and includes an eye-catching resin honeycomb bashguard. If you are in the market for a dual chainring configuration, the new Saint Front Derailleur can accommodate climbers in need of the 36×22 gearing. Another interesting change from 2008 is that there is no washer to insert between the crank and the pedal. The result is more thread contact, and one less piece to drop on the floor. The 2009 crankset would look even better with a pair of Saint pedals completing the picture. Maybe we’ll be lucky enough to see them in the future.

Saint Front Hub – HB-M810
The front hub is a 20mm through axle. For simplicity, Shimano has switched to the same size Center Lock rotor interface used in other Shimano groups. This was a good decision yielding more compatibility between Shimano lines. It also means easy rotor changes with the same tool used for the cassette lock-ring. The new and improved labyrinth and lip seals protect the angular contact bearings from the elements, dirt and mud. The result – longer lifespan of bearings and improved hub performance.

Saint Freehub – FH-M810/M815
The new Saint rear hub is a full 100 grams lighter than it’s predecessor. This leaner hub is small and lightweight, but it can take the hits. It features a micro-ratchet free hub body, again using the new Center Lock rotor interface. The hub is still available for 135/10, 135/12 and 150/12 axles, covering the bases for many frames. The new Labyrinth design and lip seals will prolong the life of the angular contact bearings.

Saint Shadow Rear Derailleur – RD-M810
The rear derailleur no longer mounts directly to the rear axle allowing the Saint group to drop 100 grams and making tube and tire changes a breeze. Just like the XT and XTR rear derailleurs the Shimano uses the “shadow” low profile design which neatly tucks under the rear chain-stay to avoid cheap shots from roots, rocks and ladders. But the Saint version is tougher than XT and XTR with super-wide links and a skid plate for more rigidity and durability. The derailleur has a mode converter which can be used with a close ratio cassette (23T-28T low gear) or a wider ratio (32T-34T low gear). The new Saint derailleur boasts more spring tension over the XT and XTR shadow versions. The result is a quick, crisp shift even in the dirt, dust and muck.

Saint RapidFire Plus Shifter – SL-M810
In addition to the precise shifting the Saint Rapidfire Plus Shifter allows for better inboard/outboard adjustment. It also features two-way release action allowing the release lever to be actuated with a push of the thumb or a pull of index finger. This new feature caters well to different braking styles.

The 2009 Saint group stood up to all the abuse I could give and looks like it can handle much, much more. Shimano has provided gravity addicts with the high-performance group of their dreams. It is lighter, durable and eye-catching not to mention, easy to customize and interchange between groups. The Shimano design team scored a big win last year with the release of the new XT group. It looks like they have scored again with every component of the new 2009 Saint.

Saint 2009 Snapshot
– Caliper – 162g each – $310 for complete system
– Levers – 266g per pair – $288 levers only
– Rear Derailleur – 240g SS, 250g GS – $199
– Shifters – 116g LH, 121g RH – $229 per pair, $115 RH only
– Crankset(68/73mm) – 1,059g single, 1,090g double – $345 single, $475 double
– Crankset (83mm) – 1,074g single, 1,105g double – $370 single, $515 double
– Front Derailleur – 147g (M815), 170g (M817) – $85
– Front Hub – 225g – $125
– Rear Hub (M810) – 355g (135/12), 375g (135/10) – $229
– Rear Hub (M815) – 367g (150/12) – $239


Here’s a video we shot earlier this year at the TO Bike Show featuring some of Shimano’s other great products.