Submitted by
emptyandoverflowing
a Cross Country Rider
from greencastle, in usa
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2009
Strengths: quick shifting, easy to tune
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
All you people that are having problems need to read some tutorials. if its adjusted properly, it's friggin gold! its no harder to adjust than any other setup. its called patience people. if you can't get this to work right as easy as it is, then buy a 20 inch. shifting ain't for you...
Bike Setup: Frame Terra Mountain, double butted
Fork HeadShok P-Bone M
Rear Shock n/a
Rims Cannondale Performance, 32 hole
Hubs Shimano RM-40
Spokes DT Champion
Tires Hutchinson Mosquito, 26 x 2.0"
Pedals Wellgo alloy cage
Crank Sugino X150, 22/32/42
Chain 8-speed
Rear Cogs SRAM 5.0 8-speed, 11-30
Bottom Bracket Shimano STX
Front Derailleur Shimano LX
Rear Derailleur Shimano Deore
Shifters Shimano Alivio
Handlebars Cannondale 6061 alloy
Stem Cannondale HeadShok Si
Headset Cannondale HeadShok Si
Brakeset Shimano BR-420
Brakelevers Tektro 379A
Saddle Selle Royal Video Gel
Seat Post Kalloy SP-263
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bleh
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney NSW Australia
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2009
Strengths: Was perfect when it came with the bike, shifted to the right gear every time without fail, no rubbing
Weaknesses: I had an accident and adjusting it to get it to a state even approximating the factory adjustment was almost impossible. Two bike shops failed, after a couple of hours I almost had it
Bottom Line:
Hope it's adjusted correctly the first time & look after it 'cause if it goes out it's a bugger to get back
Submitted by
Jared
a Cross Country Rider
from Bowling Green, KY
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2008
Strengths: Pretty durable, looks good (not that that matters)
Weaknesses: shifts slowly
Bottom Line:
This derailleur came with the bike. It's the first derailleur I replaced, if that tells you anything. It's actually pretty decent for entry level stuff, but seeing as how inexpensive front derailleurs are, I didn't see any reason not upgrade to XT quality. If you're a beginner, and it came with the bike, keep it for a while. However, I would advise upgrading before your first race.
The thing just shifts really slowly, especially into the lower gears, and makes a lot of racket no matter what gear your shifting to. Seeing how much people pay for this thing, I'm not surprised. This isn't even really a good value for the $. Just pay an extra couple bucks and go to LX. You can buy them from Nashbar for $20. Or spend a tank of gas on an XT. I drive a MINI and it still costs $40 for gas, so unless you're driving a hybrid... $40 isn't that much $$$ anymore.
Bike Setup: Cannondale F5, SID fork, Sram X9 RD, XT FD, Sram PG upgrades, Shimano pedals, etc.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Henk Noordermeer
a Cross Country Rider
from Mexico City, Mexico
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2007
Strengths: It looks kind of good on my bike
Weaknesses: It doesnt allow for big adjustments
Bottom Line:
It came with the bike. It worked sort of ok in the beginning, but shifting to the small blade was allways difficult (took long and made a lot of noise). After a while it became impossible to shift to the smallest blade, so i tried to adjust it. Only to find out that it didnt allow for any addittional inward adjustment. The adjustment screws dont do much as mentioned by other reviewers.. It shifts horribly now and i have only had it for 3 months. BTW: I do know how to shift and havent had this problem with other derailleurs (Deore). I read some reviewers blame other reviewers for not knowing how to shift or to adjust properly. I think you just have to be lucky that its adjustment range matches your bike, if it doesn´t, it´s hopeless!.. I´ve had to bend(!) the cage to be able to shift to the granny again.. I hate it already! Hence, for my bike it doesnt work.. lowest rating in flames.
Submitted by
Josh Wolfe
a Downhiller
from Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2007
Strengths: havn't had any strength problems, easy enough to tune,it came on my bike but i know it very affordable
Weaknesses: horrible shifting, i have to jam my shifter and hold for like 5 senconds before it shifts, it gets out of alignment after almost every ride, its the noisiest deraillleur i have ever had and most importantly it doesn't match my bike!
Bottom Line:
This is a god derailler for anyone on a low budget. That is a VERY LOW budget. i would recomend this derailler to someone who needs on temporarily until they can afford a better one. If you can you are beeter of to save your money and get something better, particularly SRAM, whose derailleurs actually shift and work properly for more than 3 hours!
Bike Setup: 05 Norco rampage downhill hardtail, 04 jr.t's, integrated stem, hussefelt drivetrain with shiftguide, -derailleurs and rims to be upgraded this season!-
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2007
Strengths: Durabilty, weight, colour and crisp shifting.
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
This front derailleur came stock on my 1996 GT Ricochet that I got on October 15,1996. It was a trouble-free derailleur that I used along with the stock Shimano Alivio 42/32/22 crankset. I opted to replace it for a Shimano Deore LX bottom pull derailleur and a Sugino 44/32/22 crankset. Bottom Line: I still have this derailleur in my extra parts box to this day. While I used it, it was trouble-free with crisp & clean shifts for 1,000's of kilometers.
Submitted by
Blaine k
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary Alberta Canada
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2006
Strengths: I havn't had any strength problems yet
Weaknesses: I havn't had any weeknesses problems yet
Bottom Line:
its a peice, i keep on playing with it and the chain rubs on it no matter what, there isn't enogh clearence on the gide without having the chain rub, i've had this bike for two days and it's already screwed (good thing for warrenty) The bottom line is take your money to a different deralleur this isn't even good for begginers.
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Choctaw, OK, USA
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2006
Strengths: Price and shifts when I want it to. I really like the bottom pull/top swing design.
Weaknesses: None so far
Bottom Line:
This is so far the best front derailleur I've put on this bikd. The stock Tourney was a piece of junk and the Deore I got on ebay for cheap had too long a cage for the crank size. It shifts fine and is quite responsive. The top swing/bottom pull design is great. Of course, this is a front derailleur, one of the few instruments on a bike where high end/low end doesn't make much of a performance difference. I think most of the problems people have are related to poor adjustment/installation/placement or bad shifters. This is a great front derailleur for XC or anyone looking for a good value or replacement derailleur.
Bike Setup: 2004 KHS Sport, Mavic x221 rims, Acera Rear Freehub, SR 7 spd cassette, Acera EZ Fire shifter pods, stock v-brakes, Alivio FD, Prowheel 42/34/24 crankset. Wheels handbuilt by yours truly.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Colin Clayden
a Downhiller
from Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2005
Strengths: Shifts up when you want Shifts dow when you want.
Weaknesses: None that I have noticed dont understand why its getting such bad ratings.....
Bottom Line:
It shifts down 2-3 seconds after you click the shifter (with rapid fire shifters) smooth both up and down I have had no problems with the alivio but have had problems with deore front derailleurs.
Submitted by
steve giles
a Weekend Warrior
from macomb twp,mich, usa
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2005
Strengths: well u need a front der if u go trail riding don't you?
Weaknesses: well going downhill makes think if the bike will go to the gear i want to go?or getting stuck between gears or ghost shift,doesn't always shift at high speed.i weigh 162 pounds it seems that my weight causes it to not shift at times.heavy,cheap, going in garabe can when i get xt on my bike
Bottom Line:
well if u like to go ride on anything else besides downhill or racing for fun will not work at all shifting drives me nuts funnt noises at times from this der. but i guess it could be used for replacement der for a dept store bike who plans riding around their neighbourhood or around a skate/bike part area.dirt it sucks big time i hate it so much i got a new xt over a rock hard seat that causes me to walk like a cowboy over the fact the shifting sucks with any kind of weight as i said i weigh 162 pounds.might work with small children on their bikes but a 160 pound man and the weight makes it shift weird go fuigure?
Bike Setup: 2004 gt i-drive 2.0 besides xt front soon everything else stock will change everything to xt-xtr-reba team w/poplock-fox rp3 shock only thing left not change is the frame
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Petaluma, CA , USA
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2005
Strengths: um, it usually works.
Weaknesses: seems like anytime I am really crankin it uphill and need to drop to the small cog, that suddenly something happens. So that is naturally a bid downer, nuthing like losing your momentum when you are really chugging up some small rocky single track.
Bottom Line:
only using because they came with the bike, a fund has already been started form some XTR gear though. So basically don't buy it, if you actually use the bike like it was meant.
Strengths: Good derailleur for price. Not much to expect...for a piece of cheap derailleur.
Weaknesses: well....i do ONLY urban commuting...and it can't even shift onto the next biggest chaingring...have to push the shifter for like 2 seconds. Hate alivio. Want XTR. cannot AFFORD XTR.
Bottom Line:
well...if you don't give no sh!t 'bout your front derailleur, buy this baby. It ROCKS FOR NO SHIFTIn'. Shimano, please make a shifter that at least shifts. I still love your high-end stuff though...
I took my bike for a front derailer. I wanted Alivio. The shop owner put a derailer but I suspect it is not alivio. He insisted it is but there is no Alivio writen on it. He insist Read More »
Just got my 2006 Iron Horse Full Suspension
Sram X.5 Rear
Shimano Alivio Front
Sram X4 Shifters
Sram Cog
I was thinking about upgrading the derauillers.
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I have a SHIMANO ALIVIO FD-M410 that came on the bike from the factory. I didnt have a problem with it one day, and the next time i rode it it wouldnt shift properly (obviously it Read More »
Hey, thanks for opening the thread. I'm a noob and just purchased a new bike that came with a Shimano Alivio front deralleur (update 3-5) and SRAM SX4 back derailleur and shifters Read More »
hey
need to know as soon as possible for a ride tomorrow, becuase my alivio shifters have just broken :(
are the x.9 shifters compatible with the alivio front deraileur?
tha Read More »
