Shimano Deore XT CS-M8200 12-Speed Cassette - 9-45T

The Shimano Deore XT CS-M8200 in 9-45T is the lean, aggressive sibling of the wide-range 10-51T. Built for compact drivetrains, weight-conscious builds and riders who want their cassette to disappear underneath them, it pairs the latest evolution of Hyperglide+ shifting with a 9-tooth top cog, a 45-tooth bailout and a 500% spread that gives up almost nothing to the bigger block in real-world terrain.

This is the cassette of choice when ground clearance, rotational weight and a tight, racy gear progression matter more than absolute climbing crawl. Pair it with a smaller chainring and the mid-cage Deore XT rear derailleur and the result is a drivetrain that feels lighter on the pedals, cleaner over rocks and noticeably sharper between shifts.

Evolved Hyperglide+ shifting under load

Every cog in the cluster has been re-profiled with revised pickup ramps and tooth geometry, engineered to grab the chain cleanly even when the rider is dumping watts into the cranks. Shifts are crisper, quieter and more predictable under torque, with the kind of immediacy that used to be reserved for flagship XTR.

9-45T spread, 500% range, race-bred progression

The 9-11-13-15-17-19-21-24-28-33-39-45T pattern gives a 9-tooth top cog for genuine flat-out speed and a 45-tooth bailout that, paired with a smaller chainring, still covers the climbs. The 2T jumps through the fast end keep cadence dialled when the trail is flowing, with progressively wider steps through the back of the cluster where they matter less.

Strategic steel and alloy construction

Shimano has used hardened steel through the working sprockets to absorb high-torque wear, with alloy at the largest cog to control rotating mass. The redesigned alloy spider, refined for the M8200 generation, ties the cluster together with fewer rivets, tighter tolerances and a cleaner load path that all but silences the spider creak that occasionally crept into the M8100.

Why the 9-45T over the 10-51T

• Significantly lighter. Roughly 426g against 463g for the 10-51T variant, with the saving sitting in unsprung rotating mass where it counts most.
• More ground clearance. A 45T top cog sits closer to the wheel than a 51T, giving useful extra rock-strike margin on technical terrain.
• Tighter gear steps in the fast half. Three consecutive 2T jumps from 9 to 15T keep cadence locked in on flowing singletrack and sprint efforts.
• Pairs with a shorter, lighter mid-cage derailleur. The matching GS cage Deore XT rear mech is lighter, quieter and less prone to chain slap than the long SGS option.
• 9T smallest cog. Allows for smaller, lighter front chainrings without sacrificing top-end speed, ideal for race builds and shorter-travel trail bikes.

Why the CS-M8200 outguns the CS-M8100

• Sharper shifting under power. New tooth profiles and revised ramps improve pickup when the chain is loaded, narrowing the gap to flagship XTR.
• Lighter overall. Refined spider architecture and updated cog construction trim grams against the equivalent M8100 block.
• Creak-free spider. The redesigned spider arms and reduced rivet count address the pinging and creaking some riders reported on the M8100 under hard pedalling.
• Cleaner aesthetic. Lighter silver finish and tidier cog transitions for a more refined visual footprint on the rear wheel.
• Optimised for the M8200 ecosystem. Designed alongside the latest XT Di2 wireless derailleur, it extracts the most from electronic shift mapping and Autoshift on e-MTB builds.
• Backwards compatible. Pairs cleanly with M8100 mechanical derailleurs, shifters and HG+ chains, so it can drop into a current drivetrain as a standalone upgrade.

Micro Spline freehub fitment

The CS-M8200 9-45T mounts to Shimano's Micro Spline freehub body, the splined interface developed to accommodate sub-11T smallest cogs on a Shimano-pattern hub. The 9-45T variant requires the dedicated TL-LR021 lockring tool for installation due to the smaller diameter lockring. Riders on older HG freehubs will need a Micro Spline-compatible hub or freehub conversion.

E-MTB and Autoshift ready

The updated Hyperglide+ profile is fully compatible with Shimano's Autoshift function on EP-series motors, allowing the system to time gear changes intelligently for cleaner power delivery and reduced drivetrain wear on lightweight e-MTB platforms where the 9-45T's compact profile makes particular sense.

Specification

• Model: Shimano Deore XT CS-M8200
• Speeds: 12
• Sprocket range: 9-45T
• Gear range: 500%
• Cog sizes: 9-11-13-15-17-19-21-24-28-33-39-45T
• Weight: Approx. 426g
• Shift technology: Hyperglide+
• Freehub standard: Shimano Micro Spline
• Lockring tool required: Shimano TL-LR021
• Construction: Steel and alloy cogs on refined alloy spider
• Chain compatibility: Shimano HG+ 12-speed
• Recommended derailleur: Deore XT RD-M8250 GS (mid-cage)
• Recommended chainrings: Shimano SM-CRM86 (smaller chainring sizing)

DELIVERY

Delivery to mainland UK addresses are free for orders over £40. Except when you choose delivery to a third party (Click and Collect) there is a charge of £5.95 to cover some of the additional cost the couriers charge for this service. If you choose to collect from Fawkes warehouse there is no shipping charge.

There will an additional charge for deliveries to Highlands and Islands. 

RETURNS TO FAWKES

Whether it’s a jersey that doesn’t fit, or the colour is not quite right, sometimes you’ll need to return items to us.

If an item is 'as new' and has not been used or fitted in any way, you can return it to us by post within 90 days of delivery for a refund. Please ensure that the goods are returned in their original packaging and are in an unused condition.

Please click HERE to print and then complete the returns form and include it inside your parcel.

If you wish you can use our Royal Mail Returns service please follow the instructions on the link below to return your parcel to us.

Royal Mail Returns Service

Please pack the item carefully to avoid damaged during shipping.

Customers need to pay the cost of return delivery unless the item is faulty and this will be deducted from your refund, currently £3.95.

If your have a large item e.g. Child seat, Bike, trailer etc. please contact our customer service team at Guy@fawkes-cycles.co.uk to arrange the best way to return your item, the cost will be deducted from your refund.

You will not receive a refund for the retail value of any free or promotional items you are sent, and you will be charged if they are not returned.

UNWANTED ITEMS

If you change your mind on your purchase, you have a full 90 days to return it for a refund. All Goods must be unused, in a saleable condition and in their original packaging with all labels still attached.

Please pack the item carefully to avoid damaged during shipping.

There are some exclusions to our 90 day returns policy, which are detailed below:

Nutritional products or those with a best before date must be returned within 28 days*

Any customised items such as wheel builds cannot be returned*

GPS systems such as sports watches or cycle computers can only be returned if unregistered*

For hygiene reasons, any intimate garments such as facemasks, underwear and swimsuits can only be returned if the items are faulty.

*Unless faulty

If you wish to return your item for a refund, please follow the returns procedure above.

We try our best to process all refunds within 14 working days. We'll refund your item via your original payment method.

You will not receive a refund for the retail value of any free items you are sent, and Fawkes may charge you for this item if you fail to return it

FAULTY ITEMS

If you feel that your purchase has developed a fault, then please contact us with photographs of the issue before returning any goods - we may be able to solve your problem without you incurring any further inconvenience.

If you find a fault with your item, send it back to us and we'll take a look at it as soon as we can. Items sent back to us will undergo an inspection and it may be necessary to send the item away to the manufacturer to confirm the fault. If we confirm a manufacturing fault, we'll happily replace or refund it.

Please pack the item carefully to avoid damaged during shipping. 

Faulty items should be returned within a reasonable time and in a clean and dry condition. PLEASE NOTE, WE WILL NOT PROCESS DIRTY ITEMS.

Please enclose all your details and a covering note explaining the fault and any other useful details.

We'll try to get back to you within 14 working days of receipt of your parcel, although during busy periods this may take slightly longer.

Your statutory rights are not affected.

We reserve the right to recharge return carriage on items where no fault is identified.

Customer Service Email: Guy@Fawkes-Cycles.co.uk

Please contact us for our Payment & Security policy.