Looking for a bit of advice please!
I like triples and hydro brakes so am looking at the 10sp Deore XT T8000 "Trekking" groupset, which centres around Shimano's last (and I think now discontinued) high-end triple crankset (48/36/26).
This appears to be an offshoot of the 11sp M8000 mtb groupset and many components are similar, so I think things should be broadly compatable.
There are a couple things I'd like to try but I'm not 100% sure would work...
Use with an 11sp cassette and chain with M8000 shifters
The T8000 shifters are 10sp while the very similar M8000 shifters are 11sp. I assume that all being MTB-derived the derailleur actuation ratios (cable pull : derailleur movement) should be the same, so can I use M8000 shifters to control the T8000 FD and (an as yet indeterminate - please see below) RD to run an 11sp chain and cassette?
I'm aware that this would involve running the 10sp crankset with an 11sp chain, although from what I've read it seems that many are doing this... but would welcome any thoughts on this too
Use of a clutched rear derailleur with the triple setup
The T8000 RD has a long SGS cage giving 47T capacity, 22T max front difference and 32-36T low sprocket on the cassette - but unfortunately does't have a clutch (which I'd value very much given where I ride).
The M8000 RD with SGS cage also gives 47T capacity but only 18T max front difference (the M8000 triple is 40/30/22 IIRC) and 40T low sprocket on the cassette - this model does have a clutch.
Can anyone suggest whether I might get away with using the RD-M8000 with the triple, or whether I'm likely to be able to lash up some hybrid abomination by swapping bits like cages around please?
Also, can anyone shed any light on what factors determine the amont of chainring difference / range an RD can handle, since the two above have the same capacity? Also, what determines the ideal low sprocket on the cassette - perhaps the distance the top jocket wheel sits below the cassettes, so something that could possibly be manipulated by swapping the RD mount that bolts to the hanger..?
I'm aware that some are fitting MTB cages to GRX 810 RDs to get more capacity, but obviously I can't run this RD as it's road-based so has a different actuation ratio to the MTB stuff.
Cheers!
I like triples and hydro brakes so am looking at the 10sp Deore XT T8000 "Trekking" groupset, which centres around Shimano's last (and I think now discontinued) high-end triple crankset (48/36/26).
This appears to be an offshoot of the 11sp M8000 mtb groupset and many components are similar, so I think things should be broadly compatable.
There are a couple things I'd like to try but I'm not 100% sure would work...
Use with an 11sp cassette and chain with M8000 shifters
The T8000 shifters are 10sp while the very similar M8000 shifters are 11sp. I assume that all being MTB-derived the derailleur actuation ratios (cable pull : derailleur movement) should be the same, so can I use M8000 shifters to control the T8000 FD and (an as yet indeterminate - please see below) RD to run an 11sp chain and cassette?
I'm aware that this would involve running the 10sp crankset with an 11sp chain, although from what I've read it seems that many are doing this... but would welcome any thoughts on this too

Use of a clutched rear derailleur with the triple setup
The T8000 RD has a long SGS cage giving 47T capacity, 22T max front difference and 32-36T low sprocket on the cassette - but unfortunately does't have a clutch (which I'd value very much given where I ride).
The M8000 RD with SGS cage also gives 47T capacity but only 18T max front difference (the M8000 triple is 40/30/22 IIRC) and 40T low sprocket on the cassette - this model does have a clutch.
Can anyone suggest whether I might get away with using the RD-M8000 with the triple, or whether I'm likely to be able to lash up some hybrid abomination by swapping bits like cages around please?
Also, can anyone shed any light on what factors determine the amont of chainring difference / range an RD can handle, since the two above have the same capacity? Also, what determines the ideal low sprocket on the cassette - perhaps the distance the top jocket wheel sits below the cassettes, so something that could possibly be manipulated by swapping the RD mount that bolts to the hanger..?
I'm aware that some are fitting MTB cages to GRX 810 RDs to get more capacity, but obviously I can't run this RD as it's road-based so has a different actuation ratio to the MTB stuff.
Cheers!