The Deore XT M8000 rear derailleur was already known for its clean gear changes and smooth chain running. With the M8100, these properties could be further improved and even faster switching operations realized. In order to be equipped for the extreme bandwidths of the cassettes with 10-51 teeth, the rear derailleur was designed from scratch. The indexing rollers are positioned so that they keep the chain at an optimal distance from the cassette in all gears. The size of this has also grown to 13 teeth. This not only offers the chain better guidance, but also ensures a quieter and more energy-saving run. In addition, the Shadow + system avoids annoying chain hitting on rough ground.
To get the best performance, Shimano recommends using this rear derailleur only with 1x 12-speed drives.