Shimano's MICRO SPLINE License Extended To More Manufacturers

SHIMANO’s MICRO SPLINE technology is not new, but the increased number of licensed manufacturers is. This means you can not only purchase ground-breaking MICRO SPLINE technology in our own cassettes and hubs, but also experience the best technology from a choice of over 100 different brands. With the recent launch of DEORE 12-Speed, we wanted to inform you about all the companies who are now licensed to use it.

WHAT IS MICRO SPLINE? 

Are you in need of a quick refresher course in MICRO SPLINE technology? Thankfully, while SHIMANO engineered, it is surprisingly simple.   

The advent of 12-speed meant the SHIMANO engineers needed to redesign the freehub to accommodate the new 10 tooth sprocket (which is too small in diameter to fit on the existing HG freehub body). This also gave them the chance to evaluate and improve the way in which the cassette is mounted onto the hub.   

MICRO SPLINE has 23 spaced splines. With more splines, the interface with the cassette is stiffer and the engagement is quicker.  This means that when you go from free-wheeling to pedalling, the pick-up feels immediate and there’s minimum loss of driving force within the drivetrain. The greater contact area also means that the freehub body can be forged out of lightweight aluminium - rather than titanium or steel - without the risk of deformation or gauging. 

In a nutshell, MICRO SPLINE is quicker, lighter, stiffer and can accommodate the huge range of the 12-speed cassette.  

INCREASED AVAILABILITY  

MICRO SPLINE is of course available on all SHIMANO’s hubs in the 12-speed groupsets - XTR M9100, DEORE XT M8100, SLX M7100 and now DEORE M6100.  In addition, SHIMANO offers a wide range of MICRO SPLINE wheels.

However, SHIMANO also offers the MICRO SPLINE license to other manufacturers so that you can use SHIMANO 12-speed groupsets in combination with many different hubs/wheels.  

With more manufacturers licensed to use MICRO SPLINE technology, more fully-built bikes are now available to buy with SHIMANO’s 12-speed groupsets. Furthermore, if you’re looking to upgrade just your hub/wheel, there is a far greater number of SHIMANO 12-speed compatible options. 

LIST OF BRANDS WHO OFFER MICRO SPLINE: