Strengths: Srong
Rear Derailleur shifts reliably
Works Well as a group
Weaknesses: Front Derailleur doesn't shift perfectly with index
Bottom Line:
As a group it it excellent and reliable. Never need to adjust the rear (use Rapidfire). The front requires a little mnipulation to shift, but it always will shift. Excellent.
Bike Setup: 1996 KHS Fxt Pro, 1998 Judy XC, 1996 STX Group
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Kameron Smith
a Weekend Warrior
from Spokane,WA,United States
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2004
Strengths: Just about everything, durable, looks good, lasts a really long time with care.
Weaknesses: dosent hold adjustment very well
Bottom Line:
The STX group was great for me, it has lasted EIGHT years on my Sedona with lots of beating over the years. the shifting comes out of adjustment quite a bit but when it is dialed in it is awesome, there is some slipage under HEAVY torque but nothing too bad. The only thing separating it from it's high line brothers is the weight. switching my wheels gave me an eight speed hub and soon i will be switching my old sedona to an 8 speed XTR group. Anyone looking for a durable smooth seven speed group buy this stuff.
Similar Products Used: XT, XTR, Deore, Alcera, LX, just about anything Shimano.
Bike Setup: 1997 Giant Sedona MTB/with suspension fork, Panaracer Fire XC Pro tires, Sun Rhyno Lite Wheelset, ect. ect.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, Vic, Australia
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2002
Strengths: Cheap, sturdy
Weaknesses: Poor shifting
Bottom Line:
21 gears lasted me 5 years, that's pretty sweet. Not a lot of exciting action, but cared for they last & last & last. Will not miss them when they are replaced in a matter of months
Bike Setup: ATx-840RG, straight off the shelve, Easton riser monkeybars
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason Yoder
a weekend warrior
from Bloominton IL
Date Reviewed: December 1, 1998
Bottom Line:
My first bike a trek 7000 zx came with stx-rc and i admit it has had its problems. However, i only noticed these problems after 8 months of riding mostly in town. But compared to the crap i have ridden previously (huffy) this set is a dream. Of course now that I am cultured in the fine sport of mountain biking I would like better stuff. Still as a set to break in new bikers it is very worthwhile.
Submitted by
Chris
a weekend warrior
from Canberra, Oz
Date Reviewed: September 30, 1998
Bottom Line:
Well, I got an STX-RC 24 speed setup on my new '98 Giant ATX970. The hubs seem to run fine, the V-Brakes are good (matched with Diacompe levers), the rear derailleur runs well, but I am disappointed with the Crnakset/chain/front derailleur setup. It keeps throwing tyhe chain on upshifts and downshifts from the middle chainring. Plus, it won't change under any sort of load, especially down. I am hoping that this will go away with some use to let everything bed together, but after 50-60km, it is no better. It is adjusted fine so it seems. Anyway, 3 chillies.
Submitted by
Jamie Murphy
a cross-country rider
from ottawa canada
Date Reviewed: September 23, 1998
Bottom Line:
I recently purchased a Shimano STX rear derailer. It works great,it takes mud and dirt well, and it was not over priced. I was cosidering an lx but my stx works just fine.I tried an xt but my stx works just as well. It was a big improvment over my 7SIS.
Submitted by
Doug
a weekend warrior
from Scttsdale, AZ
Date Reviewed: September 23, 1998
Bottom Line:
I have had my new rear STX derailer for about 2 months now. I think that it functions well, however it does not match the quality and performance as on some of the LX derailers that I have tried. The Price is a whole lot less than those of the top of the line XT and XTR components, but you get a lot for your money. I love my derailer so much that i think that Im gonna change all of my components.
STX is a great value for the m oney, I have been through mud, sleet, rain, snow, dirt, and anything else that has been thrown at me and I haven't had a problem. The rear d. is great, I have thought of upgrading to xt but why, Stx is all you need for mountain riding.
Submitted by
Guillermo
a cross-country rider
from Honduras, Central America
Date Reviewed: November 20, 1997
Bottom Line:
I've ridden a combination of Shimano '97 STX/STX-RC with LX V-brakes group for about 6 months now, I ride 2-3 times a week and raced it in rain, mud & sand with normal maintenance and it has never missed a shift.Brakes are ok, but the pads wear quickly and are able to trap small stones in their wear indicators. I would recommend it to a beginner/racer type of rider who does not want to spend a lot of money and expect a good & decent performance for the price.
have had the stx grouppo on my 95 hookooekoo for over 2years...shifting has been smooth overall and braking average ( i recently switched to kool stop pads and now know the meaning of stop). lx cranks have replaced my stx cranks due to numerous missing teeth. i really can't think of any reasons why i should upgrade my deraillers, other than spending money i could use elsewhere...
My STX gruppo has seen mud, rain, snow, sand etc and has never not shifted smoothly and quickly. I have never had chainsuck and it has survived a few nasty crashes including a bent gear hanger and a broken collar bone (mine!). I have kept it clean and lubed but not had to adjust it for a year. What more do you want? It may be too heavy to race with but i'd think long and hard before spending more.
Submitted by
Clint Matthews
a weekend warrior
from Atlanta, Ga., USA
Date Reviewed: August 15, 1997
Bottom Line:
STX is as low as you'll want to go in the dirt and still expect the parts to live a few months. STX works ok but you must clean it often or grime will kill the chain rings and rear cluster. STX is heavy. Sunigo is lighter and cheaper and looks better. Still, if all you have is a few bucks to spend on a bike STX will get you down the trail. It just won't do it for more than a season or so. Up grading the rear cluster to a more expensive 13 X 32 will make the pedaling smoother and shifting more accurate.
Submitted by
Fred
a cross-country rider
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: August 15, 1997
Bottom Line:
The STX-RC derailleurs gave up on me really quickly, 2 months. I got to upgrade to XT under warranty, and they are sooo much better. I guess they aren't too bad though.
Submitted by
jerry
a cross-country rider
from Corvallis, Or
Date Reviewed: August 7, 1997
Bottom Line:
My experience with STX-RC is on my kids' and wife's bikes. I like the STX-RC rear and front derailuers, functional and budget priced, the STX-RC hubs are also very good and priced right. However, the STX-RC brakes are only OK, they work but I think that the LX V-brake is much better and not too expensive. The STX crankset is weak and very heavy with the steel rings, plus you have to add adaptors if you want anything other than stock rings. So, in summary, good stuff (not great), Brakes OK but replace them when you can, junk the STX crankset and buy a Sugino Impel or LX. Four stars for most stuff, 3 for the brakes, 2 for the crank, overall 3+
Submitted by
Andrew V
a weekend warrior
from Princeton, NJ
Date Reviewed: July 9, 1997
Bottom Line:
Highly underestimated they are. LX doesn't fit my budget but I haven't had any problems, it shifts almost instantainiously, what's wrong with that? How much does an XT, XTR derailleur cost? Is it worth it. For the difference in time with the shifting, braking, etc...maybe about a second or less. Who really needs that? It is great and if you race it may seem reasonable. Why scrounge for money to get XT, XTR? If you don't feel you need a change in components don't waste your money. Maybe you feel your trail buddies are harassing you about only having STX, STX-RC, don't even think about buying it. STX, STX-RC is good enough, however much it is underestimated. I am not trying to bash anyone with LX, XT or XTR but I am telling all you component buyers, think, IS IT REALLY WORTH IT, to get better components? Maybe you are buying a bike because it has certain components that are said to be MUCH BETTER. These components are great, especially a good deal for the price
