- Pronounced 'alfeenay' as in Italian - Shimano's name for its high-end series of internal-gear hubs and related parts. There are 8-speed and an 11-speed hubs and a front dynamo hub. The 8-speed hub is very similar to the Nexus 8-speed, except that Alfine hubs have a Center Lock fitting for a drum-brake rotor, rather than Rollerbrake splines.
- Shimano has nine distinct groupset brands, each forming a complete hierarchy of engineering and material quality, ranging from entry level to elite professional. This hierarchy ranges from its flagship professional-level XTR groupset to the entry-level Deore brand, with basic 9-speed brands Alivio, Acera, and Altus below that.
- Both SRAM and Shimano offer a wide range of mountain bike chains so it is really a case of finding one that is compatible with the cassette and also the gear range you have too. Cassette Like chains, cassette’s come in a wide variety of configurations that are designed to meet your biking style and what you need from a mountain bike.
Shimano Tourney is the most basic gearing groupset in the MTB range. These gears are most 21 speed with 3 gears at the front and 7 gears at the back. These gears can be found on the most budget and entry level MTB’s and also on hybrid bicycles. Aggressive trail riding isn’t recommended with these gears.
Shimano Altus is the next on this list. This gearing has a combination 3x7 or 3x8 and can be found on entry level MTB’s and also urban hybrids. Altus has started using the Shadow design, which refers to a lower-profile to reduce the likelihood of damage from obstacles on the trail.
Shimano Mountain Bike Groupset Hierarchy
The Shimano Claris groupset is one of the lower-priced gearing options in the brand’s hierarchy, and you’ll often find new road bikes around the £500 mark come with drivetrain components from.
Shimano Hierarchy Chart
Considered as the top of the entry level gearing, Shimano Acera is a complete groupset in terms for performance for amateurs. Acera is essentially a nine-speed system, which although basic compared to higher options, is actually aesthetically and practically rather impressive. Acera can also be found on performance focused hybrid bicycles.