Shimano recently made a big splash in the world of electronic MTB shifting with the launch of the XTR Di2 groupset. This exciting release marked the return of electronic shifting after a long hiatus and brought wireless technology to the forefront. While many riders eagerly anticipate this tech trickling down to other groupsets, Shimano wasted no time in introducing electronic shifting to its Deore XT M8200 Di2 and Deore M6200 Di2 groupsets.

When Shimano first introduced electronic shifting with 11-speed technology, it was available in both XTR and XT levels. It was only a matter of time before the new wireless 12-speed Di2 made its way to these groupsets. The recent release of the XTR Di2 marked almost ten years since Shimano last offered an electronic groupset, leaving riders wondering how long it would take for Di2 to become available in other tiers.

Now, Shimano has officially unveiled the Deore XT M8200 Di2 and Deore M6200 Di2 groupsets. While it's no surprise to see the XT level receive the Di2 treatment, what's exciting is that this is the first time Shimano has introduced Di2 technology to a fifth-tier groupset, bypassing SLX and going straight to Deore. Despite the higher price tag compared to the mechanical Deore derailleur, the introduction of a Deore-level Di2 means that electronic shifting from Shimano is now more accessible to riders.

Unlike the XTR model, which offers a long cage 10-51t cassette or a new mid-cage 9-45t cassette setup, the Deore M6200 comes with a long Steel cage and uses the existing Deore M6100 12-Speed Micro Spline MTB cassette. The Deore Di2 Shift Switch features two paddles for gear changes, along with a third programmable button for added customization.

For those who prefer mechanical shifting, Shimano will still offer non-Di2 versions of its XTR, XT, and Deore groupsets. However, there is no information yet on whether these cable-actuated groupsets will receive any updates. While XTR, XT, and Deore have all received the Di2 treatment, the SLX groupset seems to have been left out for now. It remains to be seen if Shimano will introduce a Di2 version for SLX in the future.