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Shimano
STX RC Rear Derailleur
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Submitted by
EarthJourney
a Weekend Warrior
from MI, TN, GA
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything in the mtns. | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Came on the bike | | Strengths: | Great shifting (in dirty conditions) - seems to be bombproof by my way of thinking. | | Weaknesses: | NONE! I'd buy it again in a NY minute. | | Similar Products Used: | XTR | | Bike Setup: | '96 or 97 GT Tequista | | Bottom Line: | It's over 10 years old - granted used primarily on the weekends only - but this STX RC has been through hell and back (as has the bike). I'm big (wt varies from 225 - 235) and I ride HARD. This derailleur has taken all I've thrown at it and asked for more. To top it off - the care I've given it hasn't been very good. Several folks have given it low marks - ??? Friends w/higher end bikes consistently had more issues w/their derailleur - I've never had one (and I rode more consistenly and harder than they). I've also got a road bike w/XTR and it's far more tempormental than the STX. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Connecticut
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Black Mt. Canberra Australia | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Smooth shifting, low maintenance, good looks. | | Weaknesses: | Lack of respect from label - it ain't LX, XT, XTR, etc. | | Similar Products Used: | Deore, LX, XT, XTR, SRAM X.7/X.9 | | Bike Setup: | GT i-Drive 5 1.0 (XT/XTR) | | Bottom Line: | Great product for the money. I really can't tell the difference between this and my new XT/XTR setup on my new bike. Shame the current Deore series isn't as good! I wish they still made these... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ricardo Prado
a Cross Country Rider
from Campinas, SP, Brazil
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Atacama Desert - Chile | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Unbreakable! It has been shifting the gears of my '98 Cannondale F700 for almost 10 years. Occasional cleanning and ajusting (every 200 km or so). Precise and everlasting. This product line is outstanding: I also own STX RC hubs and I have never seen anything that rolls as much as these. | | Weaknesses: | Hardly anybody is familiar with this derailleur here: no market value (but, hey, who's selling??) | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM X9 on my brand-new-still-shinning Speciallized Stumpjumper 2008... | | Bike Setup: | 1998 Cannondale F700 - Fork Manitou SX LT 100mm, Handle bar Titec, Seat post Thomson Elite, Seat SPZ BG Sport, Shifters Deore XT, Front and Rear Derailleur STX RC, Rims Sun CR18, Hubs STX RC, Back Tyre Maxxis Larsen TT, Front Tyre Maxxis Minotaur. | | Bottom Line: | Great, great deal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cameron
a Weekend Warrior
from Kettering, Ohio, USA
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | MoMBA | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Lasts forever. | | Weaknesses: | I have both the STX and the STX-RC. The STX is in better shape right now, but it has the nut style cable pinch, instead of the 5mm allen bolt that's on the RC and is common now. | | Bike Setup: | Kona Fire Mountain ('98), Haro Escape ('98) | | Bottom Line: | This thing last forever. It's not officially 10 years old, and it shifts great. I took it out two days this weekend, with hard climbs, puddles, rocks, and never missed a shift. As long as it's set up properly, I can't find fault with it. It also has a smoked metal color, which looks sweet, even better than the current shifters. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Stock on my 1996 GT Ricochet - D'Ornellas Bike Shop (1996) | | Strengths: | Durability, weight, colour, clean & crisp shifting. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore XT. | | Bike Setup: | 1996 GT Ricochet | | Bottom Line: | This review is for a *Shimano STX* rear derailleur, it does not say "RC" (racing) on the sticker on the derailleur. It came stock on my 1996 GT Ricochet, it has over 10,000kms on it and has been 100% trouble-free. The silver colour blends in well with the rest of the bike, it has given me years of clean & crisp shifting.
Bottom Line: This rear derailleur is just as good as my Shimano Deore XT on my 2001 Trek Fuel 90 Disk. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matt
a Weekend Warrior
from mississauga
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Bottom Line: | This came on my LTS in about 1997-98. It shifts about as well as an XT. How do i know? I have an XT deraillieur now, and i compared them, this is what i found..
the colour is different
the spring on the XT is just slightly stronger, or it could be my imagination
the bottom plastic wheel on a XT has a sealed bearing, and the STX isnt. I dont have a weight scale, but im pretty sure they are nearly the same weight.
in other words, people who have had problems with this stx part and tell you that you need to go to LX or XT have
#1 no clue how to properly adjust a deraillieur (lousy shifts)
#2 do not have things tight (falling off twisting etc)
#3 genuinly have really bad luck, because essentially your buying XT parts before they were called XT.
If you have an older bike that needs a decent shifter, buy a STX it`l cost you nothing and it should work well as long as it isnt damaged | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a
from Workington, UK
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Lasted 12 years with only occasional adjustment and cleaning before worn beyond use. It was used in very dirty environments with chain stretched beyond shimano measurement guage limit and still could possibly be repaired by replacing bushes and spring to fight another day. | | Weaknesses: | No weaknesses, bad workmen blame their tools on this site. | | Bottom Line: | Do they make them any more? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
barry burnham
a Cross Country Rider
from la pine or usa
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | fullerton schwinn | | Strengths: | has always been reliable | | Weaknesses: | minor adjustments about once a year | | Similar Products Used: | '91 xt | | Bike Setup: | '94 gt tequest rigid fork | | Bottom Line: | i have been using this bike with the stx derailer that came with it for 11 years. i have riden it everywhere and almost everyday. it still performs well to this day. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Julie Panthei
a Cross Country Rider
from Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Local | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Gooch's bike shop | | Strengths: | Sleek design-not too bulky. Has little chainslap when adjusted properly. Had the part for 7 years and still works well after daily riding and standard tuneups. | | Weaknesses: | Hard to tuneup on the fly and needs expert tweaking for crisp shifting. Better for lighter riders on moderate trails. | | Similar Products Used: | Sram,Deore,LX,XT | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose Rockadile, Rock Shox,Deore and LX mix | | Bottom Line: | Came with the bike and has worked well with daily use. Keep it if you're a light rider mostly into moderate technical trails or touring. Forget it if you're a heavier rider into thrashing technical terrain or an advanced xc trail rider- get upgrades (or have a whole other bike for that). | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jessica
a Downhiller
from Labrador City
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Smokey Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | C &S Sports | | Strengths: | Shifts easily when new... | | Weaknesses: | Pain in the butt to adjust, takes a long time to move chain between gears. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Decore, Alivio | | Bottom Line: | I liked the STX RC when I first bought it but after 3 years of wear and tear it hasn't worked properly since. When I go up steep hills it refuses to change gears. Sometimes I got give the thing a good kick for it well work, probably making it worst but it sure do ease my frustrations!
After I decided to use the decore and its been worken awesome for me since.
| Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Downhiller
from Bethlehem PA USA
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Local Single Track | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Internet | | Strengths: | absoutly none what so ever. | | Weaknesses: | Everything imaginable. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Decore | | Bottom Line: | This STX came with my bike and it is the worst deralier on gods green earth. riding not jumping down about a 40 foot staircase with about 4 feet inbetween each stair my rear wheel locked up about halfway down. luckily i made it to the bottem with me life. when i looked at me rear wheel the derailer was upside down bending my spokes to about a 90 degree angle. When i attempted to move it back to the normal position the two lower (what should be lower) guide wheels and bracket snapped off and when i picked it up off the ground the guides looked like a butterfly. if you want to live to ride another day dont but this piece of crap!!!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rips
a
from Pickering, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Durham Forest/Dagmar | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Bay Cycle | | Strengths: | Price. | | Weaknesses: | Broke second ride out. | | Similar Products Used: | XT, LX, Deore | | Bottom Line: | What a POS! It was a bit hard to setup but after that shifting great (for about 1/2 a ride). Then the problems started. For some reason it grabs the chain and temporarily jams the rear wheel. The worst case was going downhill at 40 MPH; talk about scary. Then when I was cranking up a short steep hill the thing jammed my chain totally locking the rear wheel. Couldn't get out and rolled backwards down the hill on my butt (luckily no one was around). Had a look at it and the limit screw stop (where the screw actually pushes against the der.) had snapped right off allowing it to go fully into my rim. Taking it back today. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Racer
from San Jose
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Grant Ranch East San Jose | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Schwinn Moab3 | | Strengths: | Strong and clean shifting.Works with both Shimano and Suntour topmount shifters and thumbshifters in index and friction mode.Low cost replacement for upgrading vintage mountain bikes. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT Deore 8 speed derailleur | | Bike Setup: | 1993 Scott Unitrack w/ Unitrack LF fork/XTR
1990 Specialized Rockhopper/XT | | Bottom Line: | The STX R/C 'IS' the former Shimano XT 8 speed derailluer.
Parts are interchangable with the XT.
Placed side by side,there is very little cosmetic difference between the two derailluers.
The only differences between the STX R/C & XT is that the STX derailleur body is polished with the STX sticker.The XT version has the black wrinkle finish with printed XT logo.
Also the 'SIS' is stamped on the STX cage while the 'SIS' is silkscreened on the XT cage.
Performance wise it's the same derailluer.Clean shifting and strong.I updated this derailluer with the Bontranger/Titec titanium hanger bolt and cable bolts and replaced the original Shimano ceramic pulleys with Shift Biscuit alloy pulleys.The result is a lightweight bargain shifter.
The STX is a bargain replacement derailluer for those who want to replace the hard to find XT derailluer on their old-school rigid
mountain bike.
If you want a good derailluer cheap,the STX is a former race proven design.If you want to cough up lots of cash for a beat up original XT derailluer on EBAY so you can be cool with the XT crowd,feel free.Only the ones who know better will laugh at you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Perth, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Shop | | Strengths: | Looks good, shifts well | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano (up to LX)
| | Bike Setup: | Trek 6000 ('99 spec). Came on bike. Bottom end 'good' bike. | | Bottom Line: | I've ridden weekly since 1999, and had no probs. I get the bike serviced regularly, and keep it clean and lubed. I've had no probs shifting at any time, and the only time it protests is when i over tourque the system while uphill shifting. I understand that it is not a LX or an XT/XTR, but im not a x-country racer, and i don't push myself too far and fall off and crash. This is my style of riding. SO if your no a hard core mud-nut (like me), this part should last forever. If you want to go hard on trails every day, buy xtr | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mikeb
a Cross Country Rider
from Sodom in the North
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | does not apply here | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | with bike | | Strengths: | superior airspeed, armour, firepower and manuerverability | | Weaknesses: | lack of diving speed, armour, inferior airspeed, shoddy construction | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | does not apply here | | Bottom Line: | to the fellow who states that the mitsubishi A6M zero was pretty much the superior fighter aircraft in the second world war, you should do YOUR homework.
here's a few stats on the A6M3 model 22--the top speed was 336MPH at 19685 feet. it carried two 20 mm cannon and two 30 caliber machine guns. the range was not equivalent to many allied aircraft and i am relatively sure that the service ceiling was lower.
in comparison, the P 47 thunderbolt carried EIGHT fifty caliber machine guns and would run 467 MPH. its service ceiling was 43,000 feet and it had more armour and a much longer range than the zero.
the focke wulf FW 190 carried two machine guns and two cannons as well, but could be fitted with two heavier anti tank cannon. its speed topped out at 408 MPH and the sevice ceiling of the 190 was about 34,000 feet.
other fighter aircraft from the second world war which were superior to the zero were the F4U corsair, the P 51 mustang, the grumman F6F hellcat and the supermarine spitfire. although the zero might have had better performance than american fighters such as the curtis P 40 and the grumman F4F wildcat (or the brewster buffalo--remember the early stages of the battle of midway?) in the early stages of the conflict, its advantages were negated by the advent of american and british fighters i've mentioned above.
sir, before you tell me to do my homework, you might want to do some reading yourself. i will stand by my statement that the shimano STX RC rear deraillieur is a cheap piece of crap and should not be the choice of a competent rider who rides regularly and hard. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Travis G
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas, TX
Date Reviewed: February 12, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Grapevine North Shore | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | With Gary Fisher Bike | | Strengths: | Shifted flawlessly... | | Weaknesses: | ...until it, for lack of a better term, got old. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher, Marzocchi Bombers, all new gear except drivetrain. | | Bottom Line: | Will only replace it until time to upgrade to new drivetrain, after this season. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert Thompson
a
from Leicester uk
Date Reviewed: September 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Faroe Islands | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | came wiv da bike | | Strengths: | Its durability, shifts smoothly looks nice and is easy to maintain. | | Weaknesses: | Barrel adjuster thread is a bit flexi. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | easton aluminium, avid sd 2.0 levers, stx ,lx mix, panracer. | | Bottom Line: | Ive had this on my bike for nearly 4 years of weekly use, all Ive had to change is a new set of jockey wheels.
Its ideal for entry level weekend riders on a budget, its not as light as higher end stuff but why splash out an extra £20 just to save a few grams?
I'm happy wid it and im not upgrading it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Konacopia
a Weekend Warrior
from L.A.
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Da Bumps | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Cost efficient
Durable
Shifts smoothly | | Weaknesses: | Pulleys wear a bit faster, but can be fixed with some new pulleys. | | Similar Products Used: | Everything else Shimano besides XTR | | Bike Setup: | Kona Stuff | | Bottom Line: | For the 6 years that I've had this thing, it has worked flawlessly with the occasional maintenance intervals. The only major difference with this and other Shimano derailleurs is the weight. This things performs just like the others higher up in the chain. When this thing is set up right, it is surprisingly smooth and has never given me a problem shifting uphill. I figure all the people who have problems shifting uphill are torquing their drivetrain way too hard during shifting which you shouldn't be doing anyway. Most of the people having problems after hitting a rock with the thing... well what do you expect? Any derailleur will break if you hit it hard enough I guarantee you that and besides you're not picking a good line if you're banging things around. This thing works, enough said. And to the fellow and his comment about these things being made out of "zeros"... Well Zeros were pretty much the superior aircraft during WWII. Do your homework next time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josef
a Racer
from Milpitas
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Nice polished finish.Looks and shifts like the old Deore/Deore XT.Can swap parts with the old XT.Smooth at friction and index mode.Can be used with 6-7-8 speed cassettes.Quiet shifting and shifts well under heavy load and sprints/climbing. | | Weaknesses: | None after more than three years. | | Similar Products Used: | 1989 Deore XT and Deore derailluers. | | Bike Setup: | Came OEM equipped Schwinn Moab.Was a parts donor until one day I was bored and decided to modify it with spare XT parts and Ti bolts. | | Bottom Line: | Pretty much customized.Adjusted the spring,replaced the philips head adjust screws with allen head bolts,installed a Titanium hanger bolt,pulley bolts and cable clamp from the parts box,replaced Shimano pulley wheels with Carmichael Alloy pulleys.Now lightweight and durable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
biker
a
from usa
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | you name it... | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | the first year... | | Weaknesses: | after that... | | Bottom Line: | this derrailer worked like a charm for about a year of intermittent riding...then it started to do funky things. it now, after many many miles and some hard rides only shifts to six of the gears and makes funy sounds sometimes. it also refuses to shift up hill, and when it does it sounds like its going to up and die on me. I have my eye on a new xtr...perhaps that will give me a few more years of riding. I would give this derrailer five chilic for the first year but 2 after that...so...3 it is | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Russ
a Weekend Warrior
from Aberdeen, UK
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Peebles official downhill course | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Alpine Bikes | | Strengths: | Easy to set-up, reliable, looks more funky than LX. | | Weaknesses: | Doesn't shift as well as more expensive mechs under load (i.e uphill), starting to get eccentric (missed gears etc) in it's old age. | | Similar Products Used: | acera, alivio, lx, xt, xtr | | Bike Setup: | used with 7 speed '97 rapidfire shifters | | Bottom Line: | If you really can't afford the few extra bucks for an LX then buy this. However, don't expect this mech to perform well under heavy conditions. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charlie Devine
a Cross Country Rider
from Oak Ridge, TN, U.S.A
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Haw Ridge | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | It has all the adjustments needed on a rear derailer.
I personaly recommend that you take a tiny allen wrench, remove the cage, and put the chain tension spring in the firm position. Yes, it is removeable. Yes there are two settings. | | Weaknesses: | It came stock with the Light Action spring.
Get a Powerspring to replace the original return spring.
Don't follow the directions on the package for instalation. Doing so will slightly bend your spring, thus reducing it's efectiveness. Instead, make a hook out of coat-hanger wire and use this to pull on the end of the spring to facilitate installation. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Excage | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher aluminum hard tail frame, Marzochi Z4 Flylight Air, 1995 Shimano 8speed integrated controls | | Bottom Line: | This is the one part of my bike that I haven't replaced.
The bike came with gripeshift. Due to the lack of a return spring in the shifter the "system," briliantly engineered by Gary Fisher, did not reach the three smallest gears. The shop put a aftermarket Powerspring in the rear derailer. Shortly after that I got Shimano XT controls and haven't missed a shift since. The year that I got the bike,1995, Shimano was hypeing it's new "light action shifting." I recomend everyone change the spring in his rear drerailer for a Powerspring.
I like a firm shifter lever across the whole range of gears. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris
a Cross Country Rider
from ottawa
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | camp fortune | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Cyclepath | | Strengths: | WHEN it works it works well, quick shifting, inexpensive to replace | | Weaknesses: | BENDS EASILY and then it will never work the same way again, very noisy, will not shift uphill | | Similar Products Used: | alivio, stx, xt | | Bike Setup: | 99 GT Backwoods, SID, LX/XTR...etc. | | Bottom Line: | This came stock on my bike, and for a stock part it worked surprisingly well. If you're not a real hardcore rider, the STX-RC will probably last forever. however, if you do any real trails it will only last a season at most before you start having problems. It took one nice crash for me and i never got it to work well since, just because it bends so easily. Good value, but you'll be looking to upgrade soon. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john
a Downhiller
from portland oregon
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | north face of powell butte | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | it would change gears once n awhile | | Weaknesses: | wouldnt change gears when u really needed it too | | Similar Products Used: | xt | | Bike Setup: | marin b 17, marzocchi jr t, sun rhyno lite rims, kujo tires, truvative hussefelt cranks n bb | | Bottom Line: | this garbage came with my bike. it was a total piece of crap, it was ok for awhile but quickly went to pot after i put a few trails on it. it would not shift going uphill at all.. just click endlessly and would always screw up my timing or my line uphill. the XT will easily shift anytime. by the way, my front derailer was a stx also and did the same thing till i switched to a single ring in front. the final ride for this derailer came when one of the pulleys broke in half (they are plastic and do not have any bearings) i switched out the wheels with some nice pullies, and later to my great surprise as i landed a small jump, the cage bolts came loose causing the cage to seperate and shear off about 10 of my spokes. well it was prob my fault, but it seemed like it was fate that this piece of crap would, as a final act of defiance, destroy not only itself but a bunch of spokes and one rim. if u have stx garbage on your bike and you do any riding that makes you break a sweat... get rid of it now. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike b
a Cross Country Rider
from Sodom in the North
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | boggs | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | came with my Original Kona | | Strengths: | it works--up until a certain point, which is at a strange and mysterious place | | Weaknesses: | durability
pretentiousness
general chintziness | | Similar Products Used: | the entire spectrum of shimano's supposed off road componet groups from alivio on up | | Bike Setup: | came with a steel, rigid 1994 kona that i put a marzocchi xc400 on and sold a long time ago. | | Bottom Line: | when shimano makes it bad, they make it BAD.
if there are any of you around who still have these things on your bikes, you must not be riding so much. my stx derailleur got very, very sick within a thousand miles of commuting and thrice-weekly rides in golden gate park and the marin headlands. they must have made these things out of recycled zeros. (do you chimps know what a zero is? it is a world war two era japanese fighter aircraft)
shimano does'nt make stx or stx rc anymore, so this is a good thing. how they got away with masquerading this crap as a viable entry level component group is beyond the realm of my muddy dreams. the sad part of it all is that this junk came standard on a lot of relatively expensive bikes, especially earlier model suspension bikes.
get rid of your stx stuff, replace it with at least lx and go riding.
good lord.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike k
a Cross Country Rider
from vancouver
Date Reviewed: December 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came with my bike | | Strengths: | fast drailling. ez install not scared to break it. | | Weaknesses: | weak as hell. wrecks the hanger, f-u-c-k-ed my spokes. with the crappy condition, expensive for what it does | | Similar Products Used: | xt, lx, xtr, alvio | | Bike Setup: | charger with manitou spyder shock | | Bottom Line: | it sux, i broke it in the 1 st week i got it. then i fixed it,then i broke it again good today!(snapped out) i was jus doin jumps in a dirt track. and i wiped out, on ice/dirt and landed on that crap! the hanger was fine, but it jus got f-u-c-k-ed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darren
a Cross Country Rider
from Pembroke Pines, Florida
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Markham Park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | easy to adjust, works well when muddy, nice polished finish... | | Weaknesses: | noisy, hard to find... | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM 7.0, 9.0, Shimano LX, XT
| | Bike Setup: | Jamis Exile hardtail, Manitou SXR front shock, STX-RC 8 Speed Shifters, Avid SD7 brakes / levers, STX-RC front/rear derails... XT crankset, bottom bracket, STX-RC cassette, Time alum pedals, Titec Seatpoast, Selle Italia Max Flite Gel Ti saddle, STX-RC front/rear hubs on Sun CR18 rims, Panaracer Fire XC Pro tires. | | Bottom Line: | The shifters and Derailleurs came on my bike. I had an STX-RC crankset as well, but hit a large rock and bent the spider. Had to upgrade to an 8 speed crankset. The shifters and derailleurs work flawlessly, although a bit noisy. Easy to adjust, and they stay adjusted. They work well even if muddy. These derailleurs work fine for 8 speed. In fact, they work so well, I can not justify spending the extra money to upgrade to 9 speed. The downfall to this, is that no one is making 8 speed any longer, therefore one must upgrade of these break. I will ride them till they are toast. I have no clue what the value of these STX-RC parts are, because they came on my bike. I do know that they work tremendously well... except for the STX-RC crankset. I weigh 230 pounds, and I did notice some flex in the cranks at the bottom bracket area, but I am also riding a Reynolds Steel frame... flex is to be expected. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Armon
a
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything in PIsgah | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Backcountry outdoors | | Strengths: | Built to last. hardcore. strong. durable. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | LX,STX | | Bike Setup: | schwin moab/old school steel frame/rigid fork
| | Bottom Line: | I bought the schwin used as my first non-department store bike. It was about 6 years old then and I beat it down for about a year. later I let friends borrow it to try out mountain biking. After another year or so the STX rear derailer was toast and i replaced it with a STX RC a few weeks ago. I love STX and STX RC components. They're hardcore durable parts that are made to last. Buy it if you 1)can find one 2)like investing in parts that last a life time. Don't buy it if you like to impress people with stupid complicated gadgetry that will last about 3 months of riding. Also don't buy it if your bike sits at home and is never used. This is a quality part that deserves to be no where but on the trails. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pritch
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol, UK
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Leigh Woods | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | strong, uncomplicated. | | Weaknesses: | a little heavy (so what). | | Similar Products Used: | Alivio and XTR. | | Bike Setup: | Marin Nail Trail '99 | | Bottom Line: | This rear mech. has worked flawlessly for two years and shifts like a dream. I think it's almost better that XTR because it doesn't break like the light weight stuff. It's almost as fast as the Deore range and it's noiseless and smooth. I wish they still made it, I'd stick some STX-RC stuff on my new bike. Love it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin
a Cross Country Rider
from Gorham, Maine, USA
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Prides Corner | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | It shifts without any problems. | | Weaknesses: | Ghost shifts, but very rarely. | | Similar Products Used: | XT | | Bike Setup: | KHS Team Cro-moly hardtail, Judy Race Fork, Kore Components, Shimano 546 pedals, Deore front dr, cranks, shifters, XT chain and Rear dr, LX cassette, Deore/Sun Rhino rims, IRC Mythos tires, Powertools levers/avid brakes | | Bottom Line: | The STX-RC does what it's supposed to do, and it does it leaving plenty of money in your pockets. If your goin 8 speed, stick with the STX-RC. I've since upgraded my drivetrain to a 9 speed and am running the as reliable XT rear dr. The STX-RC is the best bang for your buck. I've raced 4 races with it without having any problems. Save your money and sink it into your front derailer and cranks, where you'll see the most difference. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
hardcore rider
a Weekend Warrior
from the earth
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | hardcore | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | jensonusa.com | | Strengths: | the STX-RC is one of the best out there. You others don't even ride hard, your probable just riding on the sidewalk. This has a very good shifting too it, iit is smooth accerate and good uphills. I have been taking this through everything that you can think of and it does not want too die. This is a good choice for hardcore rides. | | Weaknesses: | it is a little loud. | | Similar Products Used: | LX XT | | Bottom Line: | This is a good product for the hardcore riders and the others that give it a bad rating don't have a clue of what they are talking about. This does not want too die and is great. STX-RC ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jake levene
a Cross Country Rider
from london, england
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Cheap but pretty darn reliable. | | Weaknesses: | Can sometimes skip gears. Ghost shifting. Weak materials! | | Similar Products Used: | Altus | | Bike Setup: | Diamondback ascent ('94), stx all round. | | Bottom Line: | I have had this bike for ages now and all the components on it are the same as when i got it, (except for the rear wheel and seat which were stolen!) The stx rear der seemed to always suffer a bit more than the front and skipped gears, especially when going over bumpy ground. However the bike is 7 years old and the rear der has only just packed up. This is due to the weak material used in the fixing of the mech to the hanger (stretchy aluminium). If you can still get these mechs then they are perfectly fine for people who don't ride too hard, but you get what you pay for. The altus i had broke in weeks not years. My new bike i am building will have LX or XT instead. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
adam mumford
a Racer
from UNH, durham, NH, USA
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | kingman farm course | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | bike express | | Strengths: | durable, minimal maintnance, just will not die, though it's dying after 5 years of hard use | | Weaknesses: | just won't die, i need an excuse to get something people won't laugh at, not all that smooth, b---h to get adjusted | | Similar Products Used: | none, this has been with me as long as i've been riding | | Bike Setup: | schwinn '98 homegrown softtail, 95 alivio shifters/levers(21 spd)'95 STX REAR,'00 new rear cassete, 98/00 front rings, caramba cranks, 96 zoke z2, STX front, tektro brakes. yeah, it's a mutt bike. | | Bottom Line: | this thing was on my '95 rockhopper, and i couldn't kill it. i changed it to a homegrown frame i got cheap after 4 years of hard duty, and it still wouldn't die. i just beat the h--l out of this thing, and it was only after this season of racing the new england college circuit that it's finally about dead. . .i think the spring finally bit it, kinda developed a mind of it's own. and aside from that, it's time to go 9spd. it's not the greatest i admit, but heck, it's cheap, and just DOES NOT DIE. KICK IT IN. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack
a Weekend Warrior
from Spring Branch Texas
Date Reviewed: December 17, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | anything that rocks | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | James Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Good and smooth shifting, even under stress going up hill, Value | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX, acera, SIS, XT | | Bike Setup: | Customized Mongoose | | Bottom Line: | I put this on my 'Goose to replace the original and have put it through its paces and it shifts great whether going up hill or down, quick precise shifts..Great deal..if your thinking about going to a LX try this one instead.it's 20-30 bucks cheaper and just as good from my experience.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Oriel Rodriguez
a Cross Country Rider
from La Habana, Cuba
Date Reviewed: December 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Off Road | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | London | | Strengths: | Very reliable, easy to mantain, changes gear quickly enough, cheap. | | Weaknesses: | No weakness so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore | | Bike Setup: | Diamond Back | | Bottom Line: | It's a good derailleur for the people who likes to takes trip in the country side without pushing it to the limits. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Richman
a Weekend Warrior
from Norman, OK, USA
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | ClearBay | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | supergo.com | | Strengths: | * strong
* reliable
* always works | | Weaknesses: | * not as smooth as some other derailleurs
* doesn't support 9 speed | | Similar Products Used: | Acera-X
Sram 5.0
SIS | | Bike Setup: | 99' Voodoo Hoodoo | | Bottom Line: | Although this derailleur is not as smooth as some of the others I have tried ( 00' XT ), it still is a very reliable derailleur! It never ghosts on me, and has kept up with my abuse for 3 months. I really like it, but I might consider going up to LX to get 9-speed.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gal Ben Yaakov
a Cross Country Rider
from Kiryat Ata, Haifa, ISRAEL
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | every single-track i've seen | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | came withe my older bike | | Strengths: | amazingly reliable. very strong. very cheap | | Weaknesses: | not as smoove and fine as other derailleurs i've tried. | | Similar Products Used: | sram 5.0, acera, lx, xt. | | Bike Setup: | my old bikes:97 Diamond Back Topanga. rigid.str rear, alivio front, stock. | | Bottom Line: | this derailleurs have servived two years of hardcore riding at my uncle. and then another two years at my possession. and it's stil working at a daily route of about 10 kilometers. even after one of the pins holding the parallelogram went out, i just put a screw inside and some glue and tape over the derailleur and it had been working eversince! i tell you, this is some piece of work! i am considering to put it on my canonndale, instead of the 99's XT. since i've heard it wont last forever, unlike the STX. very recomended! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a
from Melbourne AUS
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Stood up to my use | | Weaknesses: | Is ghost shifting now | | Similar Products Used: | XT | | Bike Setup: | Pretty much factoy Shogun PB | | Bottom Line: | I hardly ever service it, its get a spray of WD-40 every now and then, and is hammered back into shape whenever bent. But in light of my poor service it has worked unbelivably well. I have STX setup and the front derailer is now spent, but rear just keeps going and going. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J.R. Johnson
a Cross Country Rider
from State College, Pa, USA
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything technical | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Eddies World of Sports | | Strengths: | Hey, it is a derailleur and it works when well tuned. | | Weaknesses: | It easily gets out of tune and when it does this, it shifts very slowly and makes lots of noise. | | Similar Products Used: | Cheaper shimano components on department store bikes. | | Bike Setup: | 98' Gt Richochet with full STX-RC components. | | Bottom Line: | I have owned this product for 2 years and this is what I have found: This is a derailleur that is really not durable and gets out of tune very easily. If you are a beginer rider and it comes stock on the bike you want, I wouldn't not get the bike because of it. However, if you are a rider of any skill level that need a new derailleur, go with Shimano Deore, or anything above. This is not worth the money to go out and seperatly buy it cause it does not perform well unless you constantly tine it perfectly. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
i_Parrot323
a Racer
from rural place
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Pipeline system (somewhere you have never heard of) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | better than most road derailleurs, but that's not saying much | | Weaknesses: | slow, cheap, and ALWAYS has some crap stuck in it(leaves usually) | | Bike Setup: | custom-fit (bought used) | | Bottom Line: | It dosent shift right. My freind said it was the best and most expensive derailleur and I thought "what a piece of rubbish for $80". I found out it was only $20 and the other raters are right: slow and uneliable. I got the thing used though, so i dont know what I paid for it. It is especally slow uphill when I need it.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve B
a Weekend Warrior
from Blaine MN
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Held up to everything I put it through. | | Weaknesses: | Gets out of whack every once in a while. | | Bike Setup: | STX all around | | Bottom Line: | I was worried for a while when other riders would laugh when they heard that my full suspension ride had STX components. I was ready to upgrade when I came across these reviews and now feel satisfied with what I have. Nothing is wrong with the STX and I agree with others that you can't beat the price. I will stick with this product until it or my bike dies. I ride 3-4 times a week in varied terain and the bike keeps asking for more. In my opinion those who should by it are those on a budget and want their moneys worth. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
vince
a
from malaysia
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Bottom Line: | Good rear derailleur. Pretty much the same as 2000 Deore just that it's 8 speed compared to Deore 9 speed. Shifts smoothly if lubricated regularly and clean from debris. Overall value for money! Good choice if you are considering one! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Cheap
It works
Strong | | Weaknesses: | Loud
Slow shifting compared to XT | | Similar Products Used: | Acera X, LX, XT | | Bike Setup: | GT LTS-2000, manitou, rs, xt/lx | | Bottom Line: | The derailer works perfectly. It's very very cheap($20) and does the job just fine. Strong as hell too. I've had the derailer get caught in the spokes of the wheel and the derailer has been fine(as for the derailer hanger...) It's a little loud, but oh well. Shifts a little slower than a XT derailer but it's quick enough. Well worth the money.
I have the 2000 Deore derailer, the equiv of the previous STX-RC ones I believe. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Heath Eustace
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | New tracks of Snipe track in Lysterfield lake park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Simplicity, Quality brand, Looks | | Weaknesses: | Mud defenetly | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Alivio | | Bike Setup: | Norco bigfoot 200mdl with IRC Mythos XC rear tyre | | Bottom Line: | Not bad altough it stuffed up real bad in the mud on a fairly long ride. It turned into a 4 spd rear instead of an 8 spd. Although If anybody has a mud fix for it please do E-Mail me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jonny
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Shifts REALLY quickly and reliably. Does occasionally mess up, but well worth the money. | | Weaknesses: | Slightly noisy, but it does the job, and that's all that counts. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Acera | | Bike Setup: | Marin bike, cromoly, front and rear Shimano STX. | | Bottom Line: | Slightly noisy, very reliable, well worth the money. It's nothing proffesional, but gets the job done VERY well on the dusty, bumpy mountains. Handles bumps and bruises better than many more expensive ones. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mervin Jumawan
a Cross Country Rider
from Malabon, Philippines
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | shifting gear is easy and it function so quick | | Weaknesses: | little bit heavy | | Similar Products Used: | shimano AceraX 98 and Alivio | | Bike Setup: | Diamondback frame Shimano LX 8 speed hub STX RC front & rear Derailleur RST front shock | | Bottom Line: | Its good for cross country bikers | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Luke
a Cross Country Rider
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Tsali | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | very durable, great value | | Weaknesses: | needs adjustment occasionally | | Bottom Line: | It works great | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
brian
a
from pa
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | jordan creek | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | great for the price
| | Weaknesses: | little loud | | Bike Setup: | a cheap one that had a plastic derailleur before | | Bottom Line: | i didn't pick this out put still the guys at nestor's knew what they were doing cause i think its a works great i have hit rock against it and basically destroyed the thing yet it still works great don't look good anymore but who sees it when you doing 20 mph
the only problem i had was that it is a little loud and for those of you that can't get it to adjust right try bending it in or out a little the noise is good were i bike because i have this disc golf course out here in whitehall pa that if you don't make noise they through the disc and you hit them
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
aaben abbot
a Cross Country Rider
from el
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | yanky springs | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | durable | | Weaknesses: | no weakness gets the job done for the $$ | | Similar Products Used: | lx derailleurs | | Bike Setup: | kline with mix mach of other parts | | Bottom Line: | if it fits your budget its a good part | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dirthead
a Weekend Warrior
from TN
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | tough | | Weaknesses: | heavy | | Similar Products Used: | xt | | Bike Setup: | Gripshift,Manitou,Steel is real | | Bottom Line: | Yes these are a little loud, so what, let those hikers know your coming. Shifts good, durability good, price good, part good. Heres a tip: use the cage and jockies from any lx, xt, or xtr and lose alot of that excess weight, and gain ceramic and/or sealed bearings. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Igis
a Cross-Country Rider
from Slovakia
Date Reviewed: December 23, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Little Carpathians | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Precise from the begining. | | Weaknesses: |
The axle wears out after bigger chcarge | | Similar Products Used: |
STX,XT | | Bike Setup: |
rigid crosscountry | | Bottom Line: | This product is precise from the begining and a girl could use it well. After bigger charges up the hill the axle wears out, releases and you cannot shift precisely. Likely impossible to repair, need for a new part. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Weekend Warrior
from New York
Date Reviewed: December 18, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Good durability, smooth, good lubrication from the factory | | Weaknesses: |
I tends to need adjusting from time to time, and is a little loud, but not bad. I ran through a pile of leaves with it, and it really goofed up, but it was clogged with leaves at the time..... | | Bike Setup: |
Mongoose DX 4.1 | | Bottom Line: | This is a good component, but does need to be adjusted from time to time. Good product for the low price. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Lighthiser
a Weekend Warrior
from Sioux Center, IA
Date Reviewed: December 8, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Fairly cheap | | Weaknesses: |
not very precise
gets out of line easily | | Similar Products Used: |
XT, LX | | Bike Setup: |
99 Moab 3
Rock Shox Judy C | | Bottom Line: | I busted one after two months use, and my new one got out of line after a few hits, and I mainly use it for biking around town. Not a good buy. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thomas
a Cross-Country Rider
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: September 6, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Capitol Forest | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
once you get it adjusted, it will work fairly reliably | | Weaknesses: |
Just not that good | | Similar Products Used: |
LX | | Bike Setup: |
98 Moab 2 - all stock - | | Bottom Line: | The stx-rc came stock on my 98 moad 2. It started off strong, first 4 months of constant riding it never missed a beat. Then, all of a sudden it became crap. At the beginning of every ride, it tends ignore me for a while. It won't come back to life until I manual shift it at the joint. After that, it tends to work pretty well, even uphill. It does tend to miss gears periodically but I guess that's to be expected for the inexpensive price tag. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nate
a Weekend Warrior
from vic
Date Reviewed: August 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
any | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
cheap works | | Weaknesses: |
dosnt shift very percially. like every one else makes noise crappy mount for that plastic gear wheel closest to the frame | | Similar Products Used: |
deor
xt | | Bike Setup: |
kona blast | | Bottom Line: | it works however not as nicly as i would like | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cam
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria, B.C.
Date Reviewed: July 30, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
damn cheap ($35 Canadian) | | Weaknesses: |
Loud? | | Similar Products Used: |
Alivio (don't bother)
LX ($90 cdn) | | Bike Setup: |
Parkpre frame, Z2 Bombers with full XT except rear D | | Bottom Line: | Hey, for $35, I'd take it over LX or XT any day, simply because I don't have to worry about wrecking it. I have a 98, and I gotta say I'm impressed with it, it has pretty smooth shifting, looks nice, and with a few miles of stairs, trails, and streets each week, has developed very little play and shifts great when it's set up right. I said it was a bit loud, but who really cares, even if XTR shifts smoother I'd be babying it because of it's price. I've used it with both cheap grip shift and better pistol shifters, with no problems. For 35 clams, I'll beat the hell out of it and buy a new one in a year or two. I think this is the derailleur of choice from Shimano. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shuan
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: July 3, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
ok.....it does its job sometimes... | | Weaknesses: |
not smooth
always grumbling | | Similar Products Used: |
XT
LX | | Bike Setup: |
GT Zaskar LE
RS Judy XC
XT/XTR | | Bottom Line: | its in the bin now!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Me
a Weekend Warrior
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: June 24, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
looks good | | Weaknesses: |
loud | | Similar Products Used: |
xr | | Bike Setup: |
cannondale | | Bottom Line: | good, very good | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tito C. Garcia
a Cross-Country Rider
from Manila Philippines
Date Reviewed: June 3, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
roads in manila | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
very strong | | Weaknesses: |
much noise compared to xtr,xt | | Similar Products Used: |
xtr,lx,xt | | Bike Setup: |
cannondale v2000, rock shocks | | Bottom Line: | It out performs other shimano stuff in terms of durability, easy shifting (soft) accurate and very hard to mess up. this stuff is sooooo good that I will stick with it until it gives up on me( which I dont see in the near future). | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
brad hartsock
a Cross-Country Rider
from phoenix, az
Date Reviewed: May 25, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
mt. ord | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
well made, affordable | | Weaknesses: |
heavy | | Similar Products Used: |
xtr, xt deraileurs | | Bike Setup: |
moots ybb, grip shift 6.0, xt crank, xtr 12-32 cassette | | Bottom Line: | i'm with the guy below. the product works well, even under the strain of shifting back and forth from 28 to 32 teeth during 14-16,000 feet of continuous climbing. i'm not heavy by any means (137 lbs), but this thing has performed under high-torque situations. stx-rc products aren't crap, just more affordable because they use more steel (read: heavy) parts. i recommend cleaning w/bike wash, rinsing, drying, lubing and covering with grunge guard (nashbar stocks these) regardless of where you live (especially the mud rider below). i recently purchased a limited-edition sram besty ross 9.0sl set that i've delayed putting on because the current shifter/deraileur combo i have is working so well...enough said. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben Thomas
a Cross-Country Rider
from Rochester NY
Date Reviewed: May 18, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
anything Muddy | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Cheap
Consistent
Cheap | | Weaknesses: |
None observed | | Similar Products Used: |
LX | | Bike Setup: |
'97 Trek 7000 (bonded!)
Rigid | | Bottom Line: | Ok, It's not an LX. It's not and XT. It shouldn't be expected to perform like them. However, it has done remarkably well. I ride 8+ hours a week, in mud when I can, and even engulfed in mud this thing still changeswonderfully. It's not as crisp as an LX, but when properly adjusted, it shifts just as well. tearing it down and giving at a good clean now and then helps more than some might think.
A freind has an LX, and mine shifted better. His wasn't quite adjusted right. Now that it is, they shift the same. STX-RC is a tad hevier than LX. When mine retires, it will be replaced by LX or XT. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Devlin
a Cross-Country Rider
from Taunton, MA
Date Reviewed: May 14, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Crystal Park-Worcester,MA | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Durable
Cheap
somehwat reliable | | Weaknesses: |
Doesn't shift well under strain | | Similar Products Used: |
XTR | | Bike Setup: |
Specialized Rockhopper FS
Rock Shox Indy C | | Bottom Line: | Shifts well 95% of the time. I have done some seriously stepp rocky hills with this derailuer and it has performed well the majority of the time. It is clunky and loud but it shifts when you want it too. I don't feel that I have to pay loads of money for an XTR just to have a quiet shift. I would defeintly take it though if someone gave it to me. I ride my bike everyday for at least 7 miles during the riding season. This is my 2nd year with the STX-RC and I haven't found a reason to upgrade. XTR is better though that's why I will give it 4 chilis. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gary
a Cross-Country Rider
from lansdale, pa
Date Reviewed: May 10, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
the one nobody knows about | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
precise, quick shifting, easily maintained | | Weaknesses: |
L - O - N - G throw required to upshift. | | Similar Products Used: |
Sun, Gripshift | | Bike Setup: |
Performance M207 full suspension | | Bottom Line: | The full STX-RC group came on my bike. I weigh 200# so getting any derailleur to shift under load is a challenge, but i have had few problems with this gruppo. shifting is precise and quick, requiring no adjustment in over one year of hard riding. I keep it clean and well lubed with white lightning. the only complaint i have is the long throw required to shift up. not much of a complaint but all i could think of.the only thing that would make me trade it (prior to it dying) would be to get one of those rapid rise derailleurs. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Bilibin
a Cross-Country Rider
from Lynnwood, WA
Date Reviewed: April 27, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Former Canadian 4x4 Trails | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Durable for beginners.
Lasted for a long time. | | Weaknesses: |
Pins start to wear out at about 1200 miles. Shifting became sloppy when old. | | Similar Products Used: |
Shimano SIS | | Bike Setup: |
REI Novara Arriba | | Bottom Line: | Works well for a long time, seemed to be more durable than my XT derailler, which might soon get replaced. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Mejia
a Cross-Country Rider
from Berkeley
Date Reviewed: March 22, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
China Camp | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
cheap and strong when new | | Weaknesses: |
doesn't hold up under adverse conditions | | Similar Products Used: |
XT XTR | | Bike Setup: |
96 Fisher Aquila
Indy XC | | Bottom Line: | This is a RECREATIONAL LEVEL piece of gear. It will hold up for awhile under REAL mountain biking. It really doesn't hold a candle to the next several levels up; I guess that is why they call it recreational. Next time you are riding with friends who have, say, XT or so, trade rides for a bit. You will never buy STX-RC again. Go without beer for a couple of days and buy a higher level derailleur and save yourself some grief. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a weekend warrior
from Orstralya
Date Reviewed: February 7, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I've got an STX rear on my '95 Mongoose hardtail - 3,000 km's old - and it's only now starting to let me down, and only because the pivots are worn out. I'm no psycho down-hiller, but I don't take it too easy, either. I've never had a problem that adjustment and maintenance couldn't fix. I've smashed it against all manner of stuff, and it always ends up better off than I do. I'm going for LX next, though, on a Giant 970. We'll see if it's any beter. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil...
a cross-country rider
from Alaska
Date Reviewed: January 24, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
To bad there isn't a review site for the STX rear derailleur, so forgive me as I put it into the STX RC catagory...My STX has needed no adjustment, other than the normal stuff like cable tension to keep the sis shifting sync'd after the cable stretched... not the derailleurs fault. When I put a new rear wheel on I had to readjust the throw limiters to keep it from shifting over the 30 tooth cog and into the spokes... again this was normal. (due to slight differences in wheel dish). Once adjusted it stays that way. I am using this derailleur with Gripshift, and have yet to experience the difficulties of sluggish shifting I remember others complaining about... I don't use a bassworm, or nightcrawler either. However, I might buy one just to keep my cable housing cleaner inside.Th STX has more steel parts in it than the STX RC so its a little heavier.The STX RC is really quite similar to the LX part (I have held them side by side) it was a few bucks cheaper, and was polished silver, while LX was black. The STX, and STX RC rear derailleurs are good values, and my STX works fine. I keep thinking about upgrading it since the 99' XT is sooo beautifully sculpted, and cool. But the STX continues to work so well that I can't justify the $50+ for the XT.... maybe next year if I can wear it out... Not likely. I have a 1988 shimano light action derailleur, on an old commuter bike I ride, that still works...I replaced it once, then broke the replacement...5 stars for being inexpensive, and transparent ( works so well I don't notice it). | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JP Salmela
a weekend warrior
from Finland
Date Reviewed: December 30, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have ridden with my one about 2500 km and now it doesn't work at all. I can't put it work at all.. but when I buy it it was really great!! My friend has just same rear derailleur and it works fine.. JP | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a cross-country rider
from Pittsburgh, PA
Date Reviewed: December 30, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have several bikes, including a Fisher, Specialized and Basso (roadie). I recently bought a used full-suspension mountain bike with mostly STX-RC stuff on it, including the rear deraileur and trigger shifters. The rear deraileur shifts great!!! Better than my other bikes .... I don't know where so many people get off saying how poor its performance is. My deraileur is not particularly clean, gets ridden pretty hard in many different conditions and shifts fine -- even under power. It's quiet and shifts firmly. I'm sure if I spent $90 for a different deraileur, I'd thumb my nose at the less expensive STX-RC components to help justify the expenditure too. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
seano
a cross-country rider
from watertown, massachusetts
Date Reviewed: November 30, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Not by any means great, but not terrible either. I've put over 2000 miles on mine and it still works. I've racked it on roots and rocks and crashed on it several times and it survived fine. It didn't shift very accurately (if at all) under load when mated with twisty shifters, but improved when I upgraded to XTs. I also had to change the original spring to an after-market upgrade because it wouldn't up-shift after a while. I'm finally upgrading to XTR since Supergo is giving them away for 50 bucks, but the STX-RC was definately serviceable and I'll keep it for a backup. 3 chilis | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hagar
a weekend warrior
from Southern CA
Date Reviewed: November 16, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
My '99 Specialized is in the shop at this moment having my STX-RC rear derailleur and shitty Alivio front turd replaced with an XT front and rear set (including shifters). I had been riding an LX rear 'd' for a while on another bike, and when I bought the new Specialized I couldn't believe how sloppy the STX-RC was. Sometimes it would shift fine, other times it was rough, other times it wouldn't shift at all - no matter what kind of load was on it. Maybe I got stuck with a bomb, but I'd rather get the upgrade over with - it was gonna happen anyway. Anybody wanna buy this one? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a cross-country rider
from Canberra, Oz.
Date Reviewed: October 6, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
She does her job well. I have it with a 24 speed setup, shifts well, even under load. Clunks and chunks sometimes, but it still does change.
Anyway, it does the job. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert Van den Heuvel
a weekend warrior
from Los Angeles, CA (Simi Valley)
Date Reviewed: October 5, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I don't like it. I have 7-spd so I cannot go LX or XT very easy. When combined with a grip shift, this combo is terrible at shifting, under any decent load or uphill, because it simply isn't accurate enough. But I've had it 2 years and it is still going, so what can I say. 3 chili's I guess. I think that is where it should be, for price and endurance. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy Cooke
a weekend warrior
from South of England
Date Reviewed: October 2, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I've been riding on an STX for almost two years now and dispite several hard crashes its still intact. I have also upgraded it with an SRP breakaway bolt Which has made it lighter and limited frame damage. the shifting is reliable although it can get sluggish which is usually a good clue that it needs an overhaul. Alot of the reviews I've read here comment on the shifting in a fair way. However those which simply write the rear mech off as crap without any justification and then spout off about the great Gods of XT + XTR are obviously either snobs or spoilt little gits with rich daddys. The fact of the matter is that the STX and STX RC offer good function and value for money which are important factors to consider if you are not on a huge budget. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Black Anguish
a weekend warrior
from Anaheim, CA
Date Reviewed: August 24, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I rode an STX-RC rear derailleur for 3 1/2 years. I do allot of riding over rocky terain, the crashes can be tough on the derailleurs. I've had a number of hard crashes in that time, and the derailleur took them all. It shifted fine in the winter mud season, and seems quite durable. I now have an XT rear derailleur, it's quite a bit lighter, but it doesn't shift any different than the STX did. The STX is a heavy, but a good value. A crash can take out any rear derailleur, if you crash alot, get a cheap one. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Zork
a cross-country rider
from Nebraska, USA
Date Reviewed: August 17, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Why r u guys complaining...? Number one rule of thumb... you pay peanuts
you get monkeys...!!! Why blame the quality and technology when you
don't even have the skill yourself... try smashing your balls on the rough
terrain and see how it does... dropped off our squashed... r u upgrading it
to a XTR balls instead..?
All in all... the STX RC is value for money on the entry level... be satisfied! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darrell
a
from cross-country rider
Date Reviewed: August 13, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Both the STX and STX RC are reliable and precise when shifting. My hardtail is equipped with STX and has 1500 miles on it with no problems. My Haro full suspension bike has about 600 miles on the STX-RC with no problems. They seem to shift ok when under power, which is more than I can say for the front derailleurs. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
frank rizzo
a
from somewhere in us
Date Reviewed: August 10, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
it sucks goin up hills and it is super slow it also likes to get stuck goin from 1st to 7th gear on a strait away it.came on my bike. but i gotta recemend the XTR rapid rise it has no problem goin up hills.
but i gotta say it is pretty strong I fell on it a few times and it stood strong. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert DeLuca
a cross-country rider
from San Jose, California
Date Reviewed: August 9, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
THis is the biggest piece of crap!!!!! It broke within the first month i got it with my bike. The stupid thing bent on the first crash on my new bike (Schwinn Mesa GSX), my bike got ripped off anyways, so i got a supercaliber (carbon fiber frame). But all i have to say is dont buy a bike that has this thing cause the SIS is better than this. :( | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BikeBasher
a cross-country rider
from Stockholm, Sweden
Date Reviewed: July 12, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
The Shimano STX is realy tough, I ride VERY hard and i think the
derailleurs are the only parts of my bike that actualy works, and that's after six months! The problem is that they are too slow and you can't shift when your going uphill. The next one's will probably be XT. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary Nichols
a cross-country rider
from Saskatoon, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This thing came with my Rockhopper and initially I thought it was pretty good. I didn't do much off-roading then but now I've started to tackle the trails and found that shifting from this derailleur just doesn't cut it. It is way too slow and won't shift well under and pedal pressure at all. If you're just looking for a derailleur for the road and flat trails then this is ok, but if you're looking to climb hills save yourself some anguish and spend the extra cash for an XT. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carlos J. Montanez
a weekend warrior
from Phoenix, AZ
Date Reviewed: June 29, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I've had the STX RC for almost two years and it works great. Click through all 8 gears up or down. The unit requires little or no maintenance. It is true that shifting is not possible under high pedal force, but then again, no derailleur is intended for that. I usually either guess what gear will be necessary before starting up the hill, or accelerate in the middle of it and then shift while the bike decelerates. Until Shimano comes up with a clutch, I don't think there will be any advantage in having an XT over an STX RC. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jean Paul
a racer
from Dominican Republic
Date Reviewed: June 25, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I've had it for over a year now, it Came with my GT Pantera, once I bought the bike, i was gonna upgrade it, but decided to give it a wirl, and i was surprised at how well it shifted, 8 speeds, with the rapid fire shifter. if oiled and tuned, it can perform like an XT. Very durable, besides what these other guys say, i've crashed several times, HARD, i broke my knee, and the derailluer hanger on the frame, but the derailleur was intact except for the scraches, i heeled, replaced the derailleur hanger, and it shifted perfectly, I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO ADJUST IT!! when i start the new XC racing season i might replace it with an xt unit, MAYBE. But i'm currently happy with it, and i've won two races with that derailleur, and i'm not that good. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dude
a cross-country rider
from toronto
Date Reviewed: June 23, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I got this piece of crap with my bike. I think this derraileur is not very smooth specialy when under power. It is also vvvvveeerrrrryyyyyy slow. I have upgraded to an XT rear, I have noticed a BIG DIFFERENCE!!!! It is quicker and doesnt fail under power.This thing is a wast of money ; ) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Divebomber
a downhiller
from Malaysia
Date Reviewed: June 6, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Face it.........this is one piece of crap. I have owned one for 5 months and i crashed. it completely tore apart and bended into my spokes causing them to bend and break. I spent sooooo much to replace my wheel set.
It shifts terrible and even looks terrible
AVOID IT AT ALL COST!!!!!
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a weekend warrior
from Victoria, BC
Date Reviewed: June 5, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This came stock on my Rockhopper, and I've been using it for over two months now. I'm no hardcore-biker, but have put it through the paces many times on the trails. On top of that I have crashed HARD at least twice and the thing still is good as new.
The only reason I would upgrade this derailleur is for the status of an XT or better. I can't find anything wrong with it, so 5 chillies. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
2
a cross-country rider
from SF,CA
Date Reviewed: May 31, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
After seeing that my friend had one for 4 years and still functions perfectly, i decided to get one for myself. Haven't installed it yet but already know that it'll be a big improvement for the bike. It's the 97' model and the spring is much stronger than the Shimano SIS derailleur that I had. Derailleur body is also full alloy and not part plastic like the Acera X, Alivio, etc. Not to mention the color looks great too. STX components have this really nice light champagnish polished color which looks great. Oh yea, also got it for $16 brand new at the MTB Marketplace. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hau
a cross-country rider
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: May 25, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Very good performance for the moeny, again don't expect it to shift at the click of the lever, mine did so when I first got it, now it shifts 'ok', better than my friend's new Alivio, what can I say? Either his is a piece of shit or I just take so much care of my hard-earned money bought material things? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J
a cross-country rider
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: May 16, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
A pretty good derailleur, if your kind to it. It has much crisper shifting than my old 400LX. However it is a but slow, and when in highest gear it comopacts so much that the chain rubs against the bottom of the little cog thingees. I ride pretty hard and it hasn't let me down so far. a good 4 chillies. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
2
a cross-country rider
from SF,CA
Date Reviewed: May 13, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I don't own one of these but my friend has a Proflex 555 and he's been using the same STX RC rear derailleur for the last 4 years and it still shifts pretty smooth and accurate. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gear head
a cross-country rider
from vancover BC
Date Reviewed: April 30, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This is great for little kids. But if you ride hard, They just die!!
The cost is low so you can brake 3 or 4 for the prise of one XT. I you beat the shit out you derailleurs save your money. Why are you wasting time on your computer, when you could be riding!? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TURK
a weekend warrior
from Springfield, VA
Date Reviewed: April 6, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I own a STX for 7 months now and one day after moderate riding a piece of metal
inside the two thingies (technical term), broke and sharred. Now the damn thing won't shift in the four lower gears. What a piece of crap, just when it was getting sunny it had to pull this Crap.Well, I guess I'll get a XT now, if that doesn't hold up I'm switching to SRAM or Sachs | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Racin
a weekend warrior
from MALAYSIA
Date Reviewed: March 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These rear babes are preety cool OK For the cost BUT a little bit slow on the shift. It lasted me 6 months and no problems so far. A bit shaky on off-road but on road it's not bad. Slow on the rapfires and some noise that's disturbing.
But advisable to get XT if ya rich. It works better!!!!! Overall rating is good and 3 chillies
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DA BOMB!
a weekend warrior
from MONTREAL, CANADA
Date Reviewed: January 23, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
THE STX-RC DERAILLEUR IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE LX, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THE PAINT JOB AND THE SEALS(AT SHIMANO'S WEBSITE. THE DERAILLEUR PERFORMS WELL SHIFTS WELL AND DOES WHAT A DERAILLEUR SHOULD DO. RIGHT ABOVE HIS REVIEW LEE SAID THAT IT HAS A BAD SPRING BACK ACTION HE'S NOT WRONG BUT THAT COMMENT CAN ONLY APPLY TO THE 1995-1996 MODELS THEY GAVE A STRONGER SPRING FROM '96 SO IF YOU HAVE AN OLDER MODEL OF THE STX-RC JUST GET A NEW SRING DON'T GET ANOTHER DERAILLEUR!!!!!!AND OF COURSE IT ALWAYS TAKES SOME TWEAKING HERE AND THERE TO MAKE IT WORK WELL. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lee
a weekend warrior
from California, USA
Date Reviewed: January 17, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Shimano STX-RC RD-MC33 rear derailleur, came with a 1995 bike.
Return spring is too weak to work with Grip Shift shifters; a
stronger spring fixes this problem. After that, it works well
until it wears out (about 1+1/3 years of off road riding, not
very good) and develops enough pivot play to affect shifting.
Weight weenies might note that it weighs about 10.5oz. | | Overall Rating: |
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