Durability is assured thanks to high-quality materials and a perfect finish. We've added a new lightweight, compact hydraulic disc brake system, as well as a trigger shifter.
Submitted by
vt29er
a Cross Country Rider
from VT. Date Reviewed: June 25, 2009
Favorite Trail:
STAB
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
various
Strengths:
great alternative to XT. Wel thought out design. Not shimano
Weaknesses:
shifters are the wekest link. I have about 3 years on this stuff and the shifters feel great when new but after 2 seasons the springs on the front feels week ( lever doesn't return to starting spot) and the rear is getting harder to shift into biggest ring on cassette.
Similar Products Used:
xt,xtr
Bike Setup:
salsa big mama
Bottom Line:
Great alternative to shimano. superb fr. & Rr. der. Shifters for me have not stood the test of time as well as shimano has.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
nickdiore
a Cross Country Rider
from Cleveland, OH USA Date Reviewed: April 13, 2009
Favorite Trail:
anything longer than 2 miles
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$180.00
Purchased At:
pricepoint
Strengths:
cost, simplicity of design, easy installation, accurate no-hassle shifting
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
deore lx
Bike Setup:
cheap trek frame with raceface stuff, tora 318, bb7s, x9 component group
Bottom Line:
this stuff is unbelievably easy to install, after a few minor adjustments it's ready to go. I'm very impressed so far, granted it's only been a few days. If it falls apart or something I'll write again to express my disgust. I recommend highly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Hipolito Arizaleta
a Cross Country Rider
from Mexico City Date Reviewed: October 27, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Desierto de los Leones
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Bicipingos
Strengths:
Sharp moves, nice design,good price.
Weaknesses:
No spare parts avaliable in Mexico City
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XT
Bike Setup:
Merida Transmision Race Disc, Hayes disc Brakes, Manitou Minute
Bottom Line:
This things are great, they really works every time without trouble, I´ll never buy shimano again.........
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Christian
a Weekend Warrior
from Graz, Austria Date Reviewed: October 24, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Schöckl
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Sport Gruber
Strengths:
it works without adjustements before every ride
Weaknesses:
i have a bent lever on my front trigger - seems to be a manufacturing error
I shifted with Shimano since I got my first bike in the early nineties. I hated to adjust it after allmost every second ride but I saw no alternative. Then the Rohloff Speedhub got my attention and I wanted it on my new bike. Bought it, had it for about 2 month, and simply hated it! It is heavy (ok, I don't really care about that) it missed shifts sometimes and it sucked the last power out of my legs because of it's friction. Then I bought the X9 with the triggers and I can't be happier with any Drivetrain! I adjusted the whole system only once, and it still works....and it works.... and it works.
And I think this designs make it work so well: direct cable routing, strong spring in the rear derailleur which makes ghost shifting a lot less of a problem, 1:1 ratio, triggers (as good as the old rapid fire - and much better than the new Shimano defective designs)
Be sure to select SRAM if you want to ride!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from New Mexico Date Reviewed: November 12, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Northside Trail
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Smooooooth shifting. Not shimano. Able to use grip shifters that work
Weaknesses:
Cage will snap easily if tangled in brush. I do miss the barrel adjuster
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XT
Bike Setup:
Schwinn Homegrown carbon URT full suspension
Bottom Line:
Great shifting with no missed shifts. Shifters have smooth feel. Easy to set up and maintain adjustment. Nice. I used to have to adjust my XT setup almost every ride. Its light and it works. Finally, shimano isn't telling me what I can and cannot use on MY bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Keith Koenig
a Cross Country Rider
from Grote Brogel, Belgium Date Reviewed: December 25, 2002
Favorite Trail:
HQ Trail, Wyo
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
Don't remember
Strengths:
Shifts better than The shimano Products I've used, period.
Weaknesses:
MUD! and wet conditions. The jockey wheel design sucks! Why? The design allows mud/grit/grime/dirt into the bearing surfaces and they wear out unbelievably fast. Sometimes in a really muddy ride, after one ride! Yikes!
Similar Products Used:
Shimano, Alivio, LX, XT ect...
Bike Setup:
Started on a Diamaondback Zetec and when I moved to a Fuel 90, I also switched to Sram since I've had good luck with Sram.
Bottom Line:
For the 3 years I rode Wyo I used Sram 9.0. The components worked great. No missed shifts, jockey wheels lasted forever. Never had a problem. Riding in Wyo is normally very dry.
I moved Belguim and also bought a Fuel 90 (great bike) and switched to Sram even before it left the shop. Big Mistake! I've since went back to Shimano XT! The Sram jockey wheel design doesn't hold up to the wet/muddy conditions here. In one season (Oct-Mar), I've replaced them three times. My old Sram 9.0, the one I used in Wyo and for one season in Belgium, used the Shimano style wheels. I never changed those but every year or so, even during the season I used it here in Belgium.
Bottomline? If you ride in muddy conditions,DON'T use Sram! The Jockey wheels won't last 100 miles! In a dry climate? Use the Sram, it will out shift the Shimano stuff all day!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andre
a Weekend Warrior
from Manila, Philippines Date Reviewed: October 8, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Power Bikes
Strengths:
solid and precise shifting. lightweight components. great styling. able to shift to an exact gear, anywhere in the range, even under heavy pedaling load. sweet price. pure vanilla.
Weaknesses:
shifter does not work well with my deore front derailleur.
Similar Products Used:
alivio gruppo, deore gruppo, ultegra gruppo, suntour xc comp and suntour xc pro (back in the day)
Bike Setup:
xtc, 2001 z3 qr20 bomber, 9.0 gruppo, deore front derailleur, sun rhynolite rims, nokian nbx 2.1's
Bottom Line:
took my 9.0 for it's first spin today, and straight from the shop it did what it was suppossed to do... shift flawlessly. am not going back to the shop for any adjustments or tuning, something i am not used to doing after a first ride.
can compare the 9.0's to the old suntour xc comp and xc pro's... and to me that's a compliment. shimano should keep their eyes on this company.
proud to be powered by sram. :)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Justin Pokrivka
a Racer
from Natrona, PA USA Date Reviewed: January 25, 2002
Favorite Trail:
all
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Light weight, crisp reliable shifting in all conditions, not Shimano
Weaknesses:
Took a little time getting used to grift shifters again
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XT & XTR rapid fire shifters
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Super-Cal and Gary Fisher Sugar 1
Bottom Line:
Before using I was a little nervous. But after using for a few weeks I couldn't believe the difference. This drive train is better than anything Shimano makes. I never experienced any ghost shifting or missed shifts. I really liked the 28 to 34 jump for the last gear. This stuff rocks Shimano's days days are number agianst SRAM. Plus I think it's made in USA.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
What's New
»
BEST OF MTBR - Check out the highest rated bikes, parts, & gear!
»
LED BIKE LIGHT SHOOTOUT 3 - We test all the newest products and latest light and battery technology in this comprehensive guide»
$
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
