Shimano Groups
Older Group Names
Correspondences between older groups and current groups are only approximate. These data are incomplete. Shimano has gone through many revisions of their groups while maintaining the same name, so comparisions between older versions and newer versions are quite inexact.
105 6-speed version, became 105SC when 7-speed and dual-pivot brakes were added.
200GS Replaced by Altus
300GS Replaced by Acera-X
400GS Replaced by Alivio
500GS Replaced by STX
600 Became 600EX when indexing was introduced, 600 Ultegra (Gray finish) when 7-speed added. When it became an 8-speed group, the 600 designation still existed, but it was usually referred to as just "Ultegra". With the '98 model year, 9-speeds came in and the "600" designation was completely dropped from Ultegra.
Deore Originally an early '80's touring group, designed so that almost all adjustments could be made with a single 6 mm Allen wrench. Evolved into Deore XT MTB group, DX and LX spun off later.
Deore DX Discontinued designation, replaced by LX
Exage ("EXcellence" + "New AGE") This was divided into Exage Country and Exage Trail at one time. The first group to feature front indexing, roughly comparable to Acera-X/Alivio.
Ultegra ("ULTimate" + "IntEGRity") is the second highest level "road" group. The Ultegra name was added as a suffix to 600 when 7-speeds (and the gray paint finish) came in in the early '90s. For the 1998 model year, Ultegra became a 9-speed group, and the 600 designation was retired.