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Shimano
XT Rear Derailleur
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Submitted by
Piperoklis
a Weekend Warrior
from Greece
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Ag. Apostoli, Chania Creta | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Very solid construction, bomb proof, reliable sifting performance | | Weaknesses: | A relative one- it needs to be adjusted regularly | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano low-end crap rear der's, newer Shimano Xt's, Deore LX | | Bike Setup: | GT Aggressor ('00 model) Pre-historic LX, old XT, mavic x618 with XT hubs wheels | | Bottom Line: | This is a review for the 1998 Shimano Deore XT rear derailleur. I've been using it under often extreme conditions (mud, dust, crossing river beds, crossing sea water). Twice it was hit so hard by rocks that it was grabbed between the rear wheels spokes-the wheel was jammed, the der survived, many other times hit by logs, rocks.
I have this for 9 years, and still working smoothly, needs perhaps little more frequent tweeking. I don't think you can expect anything more by a rear derailleur, and I don't think I will, when its time comes, find anything in the 2009 market as strong as this. Good old shimano friend. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Stevenage
a Weekend Warrior
from U.K
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Coed Llandegla | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Came wth Bike | | Strengths: | Precise shifting once set up carefully | | Weaknesses: | Simply would not stay in gear under load. | | Similar Products Used: | The entire Shimano range and Sram Quartz. | | Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel EX 9 | | Bottom Line: | The "Shadow" XT mech came with the bike. When climbing on steep sections of track the chain would wonder onto the surrounding 2 cogs that the shifter had set it on. So on the third from top sprocket, for example, the chain would wonder onto the sprocket above it or below it. This was so frustrating. After endless trips to the bike shop where I purchased this bike from we checked the frame, the hanger, obviously the mech, we changed the XT cassette, the chain, shifters and even 2 front chainrings. In the end my bike shop put a current but non-shadow XT mech on.....problem solved. Naturally I think very little of this "Shadow" design from Shimano. Nothing so fickle belongs on a Mountain Bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
renaultvwsaab
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Bukit Merah MTB trail | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Reliable and precise | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | santa cruz heckler | | Bottom Line: | it will be always XT for me | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
lukel
a Weekend Warrior
from Utah
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Bear Claw Poppy | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Desert Cyclery | | Strengths: | Strong, Light, Durable, Quiet operation | | Weaknesses: | A little finicky to set up at times... | | Similar Products Used: | Newer XT, Deore, Sram x.7 | | Bike Setup: | Older Jamis Komodo | | Bottom Line: | Absolutely no problems after 4.5 years on an all XT drivetrain. Shifts like it was brand new, and it has seen a good amount of riding. It can be tricky to get it dialed in perfect, but once you get it, it stays for months.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ricksom
a Racer
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Shifts as you would expect from Shimano. Easy to get replacements. | | Weaknesses: | Shifting ability falls off dramatically in heavy, wet mud riding. This is due to the weak internal derailleur spring and large looping cable housing connection. | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM 9 and SRAM XO | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain Element 50 (stock) | | Bottom Line: | Rode in a 3 day stage race that was full of standing water bogs, deep mud, and water crossings. Starting miss shifting and ghost shifting after the first day. Those racers with SRAM did not have as many problems. Highly recommend using the Avid Rollamajig and Avid Flak Jackets with this derailleur in nasty conditions. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
decipher
a Weekend Warrior
from Athens, Greece
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$66.00 | | Strengths: | Shimano Deore XT "Shadow" RD-M772-GS:
My first and previous mech was a low normal LX. Although on occasion I still find myself struggling with the opposite shifting direction over the LX - I find the low normal shifting direction more natural and intuitive - the XT delivers as promised in every other way: crisp, fast and precise shifting action, very good chain tension (I am using the mid cage SG version) easy to adjust even when on the bike riding via the shifter cable tensioner, rigid and bang-proof (it survived a hard contact with a branch that got pulled by the spokes at high speed). Low profile aside, the B-tension stop is really the highlight of this product, as with it, Shimano finally merges what's good about SRAM mechs, with what's already good about its own mechs to create an excellent product.
Also, quality pulleys and stiff springs. | | Weaknesses: | None, asides that it's not XTR and the long cage version, is well... long (i.e. not too much ground clearance)! | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore LX RD-M580-SGS. I also have experience with the XTR top normal mech. | | Bike Setup: | Relevant parts:
- Shimano Deore SL-M510 shifters (soon to be upgraded)
- 44/32/22 Shimano Deore crankset (soon to be upgraded)
- Shimano XT level chain
- Shimano Deore cassette (soon to be upgraded) | | Bottom Line: | In my opinion the Shadow XT is the best VFM mech you can buy, to the point Shimano had to add carbon to the to respective XTR version to justify the ridiculous price difference. I expect the XTR to be a higher quality product, both in terms of performance and materials/finish, but the XT is what you should go for if you're not a racer and/or weight weenie. I wouldn't bother with anything else, namely SRAM, really.
| Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from North Shore, MA
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Dirt, rocks, roots, you know the drill | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | NS Cycles | | Strengths: | Strong, lasts and lasts, reliable. Relatively low maintenance, but keep it lubed. | | Weaknesses: | None yet, it's 8 years old and about to be retired. | | Similar Products Used: | other Shimano derailleurs | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Specialized Enduro comp, Manitou SIX Elite fork, otherwise stock all around. | | Bottom Line: | I've had the same XT derailleur on my bike since 2000. It gets used hard a lot. I torque my cassette (lx) and work the drivetrain hard and it's survived so far. I've gotten tangled with shrubs and trees, hit the derailleur in rock gardens, on logs, and roots, and it hasn't bent or broken. After 8 years the springs are getting tired and it's not as stiff as it used to be. Has some lateral side to side movement from wear, but I can't blame it. Time to get a new drivetrain setup, am sticking with the same model XT! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from North Shore, MA
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Dirt, rocks, roots, you know the drill | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | NS Cycles | | Strengths: | Strong, lasts and lasts, reliable. Relatively low maintenance, but keep it lubed. | | Weaknesses: | None yet, it's 8 years old and about to be retired. | | Similar Products Used: | other Shimano derailleurs | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Specialized Enduro comp, Manitou SIX Elite fork, otherwise stock all around. | | Bottom Line: | I've had the same XT derailleur on my bike since 2000. It gets used hard a lot. I torque my cassette (lx) and work the drivetrain hard and it's survived so far. I've gotten tangled with shrubs and trees, hit the derailleur in rock gardens, on logs, and roots, and it hasn't bent or broken. After 8 years the springs are getting tired and it's not as stiff as it used to be. Has some lateral side to side movement from wear, but I can't blame it. Time to get a new drivetrain setup, am sticking with the same model XT! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alan Rodriguez
a Racer
from Monterrey, N.L. Mexico
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Bajada de piedra, Chipinque | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Come with the bike | | Strengths: | Everything is good on this piece, Very reliable, confident and very trustable derailleur. | | Weaknesses: | You get tired of seeing the same piece through the years on your bike. | | Similar Products Used: | just XT | | Bike Setup: | Xt front derailleur | | Bottom Line: | Sorry for not putting the price paid but i have never ever paid for a rear derailleur because is one of the only few pieces i have never changed on my last and recent bike. The old M600 Raleigh worked perfectly for 5 years of abuse and finally the bike was sold before i ever replaced the derailleur. With my actual bike a Trek 9.8 carbon (i switched from the initial trek 8000 frame) which is a custom made bike and one of the very little pieces i did not change was my RD-750. It is awesome how it works, better impossible. Due to a crash i had i have to replace it but i go to my bike shop and bent over the leg and still works fine, finally i am going to give it a break and buy a new derailleur. I think i am going for the Rd751 which i have not tried before but i t seems to be as nicest as these old ones. Do not hesitate on buy this piece of art. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Leonardo Horovitz
a Cross Country Rider
from Montevideo, Uruguay
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Works flawlessly. Works quite well even if dirty. | | Weaknesses: | Weight compared to XTR | | Similar Products Used: | Alivio | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6500 2006 | | Bottom Line: | I would buy it again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nicholas Belarde
a Downhiller
from Eureka
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay!! | | Strengths: | -Stronger than LX's
-Lighter than LX's
-Fast and smooth shifting | | Weaknesses: | The pulleys are a little stiff, but not reaally a problem | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX | | Bike Setup: | Kona Roast 2004 | | Bottom Line: | If you can pick this baby up used, I would recommend it over the LX, Too expensive if you buy it new. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
William
a Weekend Warrior
from Burlington, VT
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Passing the Horizon | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Earls Cyclery | | Strengths: | Crisp shifting, reduced cable exposure, no chain slap! | | Weaknesses: | Apparently not low profile enough! | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | '08 Kona Dawg, stock for now. | | Bottom Line: | This is a review for the Deore XT Shadow (M772) long cage.
The derailleur came as standard equipment on my new Dawg, and I was impressed with the shift quality/speed and the lack of chain slap on the rough stuff!
On my first real singletrack ride of the season I roached the inner and outer pulley plates on a fallen branch. Luckily, I slammed my brakes as it hit my spokes and minimized the damage. I chalk it up to bad luck and the huge amount of down trees on this downhill section. I bent it out and made it home...just sad to see my brand new derailleur in a sorry state after a first ride.
I may switch to a bashguard instead of a big ring and go for the med cage next time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a
from Monterey
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Very crsp shifting. Very smooth, but still has that "feel" so you know when you shifted. Low profile is great. | | Weaknesses: | meh. | | Similar Products Used: | x9. | | Bottom Line: | Very good derailleur. Just came back from Folsom, and man was I glad to have this derailleur. Now, 15 mm more clearence doesn't sound like much, but even if it is just a "mind over matter" type of thing, it works. There were numerous boulders gaps that could have easily taken a mech off. No ghostshifting, reliable, but it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
joe
a Weekend Warrior
from ireland
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | chainreactioncycles | | Strengths: | they look savage!..shift very cleanly!... | | Weaknesses: | well nothing so far!:D | | Similar Products Used: | deore,,lx,,older xt, | | Bottom Line: | my one is the short cage and is very good,,,clean quick shifting..its an excellent derailleur...if you are thinking of upgrading go for this!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Nichols
a Cross Country Rider
from Lancaster, Lancashire, England
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | AE Line, AE Forest, Scotland | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | The Edge Cycleworks | | Strengths: | Quick, Clean, Crisp Shifting, Looks awesome, easy to set up, much better than my old LX and not to expensive | | Weaknesses: | None to date!! | | Similar Products Used: | LX, Deore | | Bike Setup: | XT 772 Shadow, Deore Cassette, Sram PG951 Chain, LX Front Mech, LX Chainrings, LX Cranks and BB, Deore Shifters and Brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Excellent, If your going to upgrade then definatly go for this | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Reading, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: December 24, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Blue Marsh Lake | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | This is for the XT 772 Shadow model. My bike is in a state of flux as I get money for parts and such. The first thing I did was upgrade my drivetrain to full XT parts. The shadow had just come out and I really liked the idea of a low profile 'SRAM-like' shimano offering. My current Deore had been giving me problems because of my heavy riding style and I'm glad to say that in the time I've had the shadow those issue are gone. It was easy to install and needed very little setup out of the box. I'm running an 8 speed rear at the moment and it has no issues at all there. It meshed well with my overall riding style and setup too. I LOVE this thing! It even looks good. My only gripe is that there isn't a barrel adjuster on the derailleur itself, but that wasn't an issue as there is on my shifter pods. I also love the fact that I don't have a mile of trailing cable loop to snag on branches. | | Weaknesses: | Minor gripe: No barrel adjuster, but that would add to the cable looping I think. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore. Generic crap. | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose Rockadile CroMo frame. (Sucks, but was free!) Deore XT front, Shadow Rear derailleur. Rock Shox J1 fork. Acera combo shifter pods (8 spd) Avid SD-7 Rim brakes. Generic wheelset. Race Face Evolve XC crankset | | Bottom Line: | Excellent derailleur. Well worth the price, and a major improvement over the previous iterations. No problems yet. Minor gripe over the barrel adjuster, but I think I will live just fine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Roger Ramjet
a Cross Country Rider
from Canberra
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | it changes day to day | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Chain reaction | | Strengths: | Doesnt bash my chainstays like my old XT derailleur used to. Typical shimano durability. | | Weaknesses: | shamless copy of SRAM - lazy Shimano! | | Similar Products Used: | XT, LX, Deore | | Bike Setup: | shimano XT drivetrain | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the new, scarily named 'shadow' derailleur. Its low normal and looks scarily similar to SRAM, it shifts to lower gears faster and smoother than my old XT der, and sits closer to the frame so less potential for damage. Definitely an improvment on the standard design, and its all aluminium so it wont snap (like XO or XTR) but does it perform as good as XO? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Weekend Warrior
from College Station, TX
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Bluff Creek Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | crisp, smooth shifting, no ghost shifting, great in all 27 gears. greater chain tension than previous models | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX | | Bike Setup: | Leader hardtail, XT FD & RD, LX crank/BB, LX rapidfire shifters/brake levers, sram cassette, BB7's, mavic wheels, egg beaters. | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the 761, top-normal model. This derailleur is a huge step up from my old 570 LX model. The chain tension is a lot better, shifting is far quicker and smoother, and I don't get any missed shifts or ghost shifts. This derailleur works great with my LX 580 crankset. Shifting under power is incredibly crisp. I highly recommend this derailleur. It is a great lower-price alternative to XTR, X.0, and even X.9 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Neuhaus, Germany
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | All | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$48.00 | | Purchased At: | Radau Fahrradladen GmbH, Auerbach DE | | Strengths: | 2008 XT M772RD SGS - Sturdy design, light, solid build, low profile. | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 7 speed, Deore, XT M761RD SGS | | Bike Setup: | Custom home build - Swiss dual suspension Frame by HM Bikes, 2008 XT drive train (11-34 & 44-32-22), disc brakes | | Bottom Line: | Had nothing but trouble with my 2007 XT M761RD coupled with Deore 9 spd shifter. M761 did not hold up well to rough use and was bent easily. This new 2008 XT M772 seems built better and the design makes more sense. I like the lower profile and lighter weight and the abscence of an adjusting barrel on the unit lends back to old school simplicity (KISS). Will see how it endures in the folowing weeks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Trey
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, Co USA
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | It shifts when you want it to. It doesn't shift when don't. Lasts forever. Few fundamental design changes over the years. | | Weaknesses: | The cable loop is vulnerable to snagging on rocks, sticks, etc. The `08 XT "Shadow" fixes this, but it took Shimano about 4 years to catch up with SRAM in this respect. Give them credit though- they did catch up and now the cable line is clean with no loop. | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM x9, Shimano LX, countless other iterations of SunTour, Shimano, and SRAM | | Bottom Line: | Look, if you have ghost shifts it's because your cable isn't tight enough or is too tight. Everyone who writes to MTBR complains about ghost shifting has a problem with their cable, not their DR. They've probably already fixed this and haven't bothered to post a follow-up review saying it was their fault not Shimano's. (Or possibly it's a worn chain or a worn cassette- but most likely it's cable tension. The bottom line is it ain't the XT derailluer.) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Kuhl
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Mission Trails as a whole | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$85.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | It can stand a good beating, mine gets pounded by rocks relentlessly | | Weaknesses: | Upshifts are crap when it gets dirty so you need to exercise preventive maintenance on this one | | Similar Products Used: | Deore | | Bike Setup: | TREK 3900 w/ full XT drivetrain/shifters/, Mavic Crosstrail wheels, Avid BB7 185mm discs/SL levers, Marzocchi MX Pro fork, Maxxis Crosstrail tires, Bontrager Race X-LITE stem/bars/seat/post | | Bottom Line: | It needs some pampering and regular cleaning for such a sturdy derailleur, but all in all it's not that bad and definitely a good overall value. Once it gives out I've got an '08 XT Shadow that's ready to take its place. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joel
a Racer
from phoenixville
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike line, warminster pq | | Strengths: | It shifts and it shifts well, relatively light, can take a real beating. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | sram xo, older xt, sram x7 and xtr | | Bike Setup: | f600 nothing stock | | Bottom Line: | I have used this thing fo rmore than 3 years and other than having to make adjustments after hard crashes this thing just keeps working. I have used it in more than 40 races and hundreds of rides and many hard crashes, and until yesterday had no problems at all. I finally have to replace it due to a crash from a direct hit from a boulder to the der. IMO, 3 years no problems...I will definately buy a new one! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a Downhiller
from ACT
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | majura | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | its good when it works | | Weaknesses: | I think i bent my derailler hanger. The shifting was great but now the hanger is bent. Hopefully the derailler is still good. | | Similar Products Used: | Deore | | Bike Setup: | Bighit etc | | Bottom Line: | I hate the cable curve at the back. If anyone has suggestions to make it not so apparent (ie massive loop that catches on everything) please email me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Fedosov
a Racer
from St. Catharines
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | anything flowy | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Shifts seamlessly in every condition if you take care of it. | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | little of everything | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F800, Lefty fork, Mavic rims, LX drivetrain with XT rear. | | Bottom Line: | The XT rear derailleur came stock on my cross country bike. I've run it in a million races now, and even in the MOST horrible conditions it shifted with out problems. I don't take the best care of my bike, but I clean with care and have it serviced regularly. I don't find a need for anything more expensive! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lowell
a Cross Country Rider
from Brunswick, ME
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Bradbury mountain, GIN | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | performancebike | | Strengths: | Works, and lasts FOREVER | | Weaknesses: | It's 8 years old, I can't complain. | | Similar Products Used: | New Deore, SRAM X9 | | Bike Setup: | 1997 Jamis Dakar Sport, nothing stock: Manitou Skareb fork, Crossmax/Crossride wheels, lx front derrailleur and shifters, avid/XT v brakes | | Bottom Line: | This derrailleur has lasted me 8 years with no problems. Every other part from the 9 speed upgrade as been replaced, but shimano deserves its reputation, and especially for the XT. Has never been taken care of, only adjusted and cables replaced once or twice (again, in 8 years) and it shifts like new. Unless Shimano screwed up the newer version, XT is the way to go. If you can find an old one for cheap, buy that. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ethan Dull
a
from Jay, VT USA
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | SECRET | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Firsttrax, VT | | Strengths: | I havent had a problem with it yet, despite hard riding and multiple bashes against rocks. | | Weaknesses: | Its a Shimmono- and i dont like shimmono- I cant wait to upgrage to SRAM XO | | Similar Products Used: | Shimono Deore | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Blur LT SPX-XC | | Bottom Line: | So far I havent had a problem- just a few minor ajustments But like i said Shimono is over rated. I want a sram | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joel Kahney
a Racer
from Phoenixville, PA
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | some store in Cali | | Strengths: | Works, weight, durability and it works | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | several other shim. and sram. | | Bike Setup: | f-600 completly not stock | | Bottom Line: | this thing works and works well for a long time. I have used it for 2+ yrs of racing and hard riding. I have bashed it off rocks roots, crashed on it hard enough to snap the Der hanger (I know not too hard to do) and it still works almost perfectly. So think about it...you pay $60-$80 every 2-3 yrs for something that can take more abuse than you can, unless maybe ur a downhiller, and it works and works well for a very long time. Should you own one? C,mon...do you really have to ask? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Derick Thymes
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Walnut Creek | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Sports Authority | | Strengths: | I have the new xt761 rear derailluer and it works great. It shifts good and it is very light. | | Weaknesses: | There is no weaknesses | | Similar Products Used: | I used the shimano deore and the shimano deore xt750. | | Bike Setup: | shimano xt750 brake/shifter combo, xt760 front derailluer, xt761 new rear derailluer, xt760 cassette, xt760 hollowtech crankset, lx chain, oem specilized hubs, dt spokes, sun witch rims, and a set of blue dragon tioga set of tires and pyramid double side clipless pedals. | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line the xt is the best that I have used and I am really enjoying the products and have yet to have a problem with any of it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Tewksbury, NJ
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Hobby Park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay (used) | | Strengths: | shifts with authority! Give me greater confidence to shift and know that I will be in the correct gear | | Weaknesses: | None so far. Does all that I ask it to | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Alivio | | Bike Setup: | 2006 Trek 4300, Tora 318, some XT drivetrain | | Bottom Line: | If you want a good derailleur with out shelling out a tremendous ammount of money, but want something that would not be found on a Huffy, go for this | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon Benner
a Cross Country Rider
from Potsdam, Ny, USA
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | Tread Mill | | Strengths: | nice tight spring
lighter than my old LX
snappy as hell
decent looking | | Weaknesses: | wish it were a darker color.. not really a weakness but oh well.
| | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX | | Bike Setup: | KHS XC704r | | Bottom Line: | Really nice derailleur with great strong shifts. I love how accurate it is and how fast it rips off the shifts. I have it hooked up with a set of Avid Flak-Jackets which increases the smoothness IMO. I also have a Rollamajig hooked up to get rid of the cable curve. I love this system. | | 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 2001 Trek Fuel 90 Disk - Earl's Cycle (closed 2003) | | Strengths: | Durability, weight, colour, clean & crisp shifting. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano STX. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Trek Fuel 90 Disk | | Bottom Line: | This rear derailleur came stock on my 2001 Trek Fuel 90 Disk that I got on July 02,2001. It has provided me with 9,000kms+ of trouble-free, fast, quiet, smooth, clean & crisp shifting. The black colour with a hint of silver is just perfect for my black bike with silver trim.
Bottom Line: Just as good as my Shimano STX rear derailleur that came stock on my 1996 GT Ricochet. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DHRC
a
from The Future
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Rather inexpensive, reasonably light, reasonably durable. | | Weaknesses: | Everything about this DR is reasonable. It is not fantastic, but it is not crap. | | Bottom Line: | It is a good value for the suggested price. For people who break DRs it is a good product since you won't break the bank. There may be better products out there, but are they this cheap? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian Good
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, Az.
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Trail 100 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | This review is on the 2007 XT!
Great shifting, great design, great warranty | | Weaknesses: | This review is for the 2007 XT!
Tends to "ghost" shift, bounces around A LOT, made of much weaker material than the '06. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano rear Altus | | Bike Setup: | Stock Motobecane with '07 RockShox Tora 89 fork, '07 RockShox Ario 2.2 w/ rear lockout, and '07 Avid BB5 Disc Brakes. | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the 2007 XT!
Well, it's been working very well for me latly, but allow me to offer a change in heart.
Today, I was riding down a GRADUAL decline (no rocks) and suddenly, my rear derailler thrusting into my spokes causeing the derailler to SNAP in half.
I hit no rocks, never once, and I never "toyed" or "tweaked" with my derealluer.
Supposedly, according to Shimano, the '07 XT is made of a much lighter material yet remains the same strength as the '06.
...Obviously, they were wrong.
Have you ever seen the way pig metal (aka chinese metal, aka pot metal) bends??
Well, pig metal doesn't bend. It SNAPS!
I reviewed the damge very closly and noticed that the snap resembled that of pig metal snapping.
I've come to the conclusion that Shimano's new alloy has been flawed.
Stick to the '06 if you get this product.
STAY AWAY FROM THE '07!!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Devon, UK
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | durability; if you don't fall off your bike, and if you know what you're doing during setup, ghosting only occurs in ExtremelY bouncy terrain! | | Weaknesses: | It doesn't come in shiny xtr grey | | Similar Products Used: | acera, deore, lx, sram x-5 | | Bike Setup: | raleigh special products 250 cromoly hardtail, LX HT2, XT cassette, XT hubs on xc717, XT rear V and front 180 hydro-disc, mx pro '03 | | Bottom Line: | Firstly, if you don't like ghost shifting sram's better, but you risk having a snapped derailleur and damaged wheel when it suddenly for no known reason doesnt line up right and falls off.
Secondly, there's a reason why xt are everywhere- it's age proven technology - if you think risking your shins and face are constituents of a move towards better technology don't get XT or any shimano; get sram.
I also really wish it was a shiny xtr grey colour...and then xtr could be carbon? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DJ Cordes
a Cross Country Rider
from Hermitage, TN, USA
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Fast Single Track | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Shifts up smoothly under load. Just doesn't stay in gear once it is shifted. | | Weaknesses: | Ghost Shifts constantly. I have had it!! After two years, one trashed cassette due to ghost shifting, I am moving to SRAM! I have checked derailer hanger alignment, chain ring alignment, chain length, pulleys, suspension play, removed the shock pressure to compress the suspension, etc & get it shifting perfectly on the stand and it then it shifts horribly once on the trail. I also have taken it to the originally dealer plus the owner of the bike shop I race for and no one can get this to stop ghost shifting. That is about 40 years of wrenching experience between the two shops/shop owners. RIDICULOUS! The last & final effort was to run a single shift cable per Santa Cruz and still no luck. People who write that it can be corrected don't realize what a problem ghost shifting can be on certain bikes with Rapid Rise. Go read the SRAM X.O. reviews of people who made the switch and it stops! | | Similar Products Used: | Ultegra (my Road Bike), Old non-rapid rise XT on my hard tail (Haven't adjusted it in 3 years and still shifting perfectly every time) | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Blur, Full XT w/Integrated Levers & hydralic breaks (moving to SRAM X.0.), Specialized Rival SL saddle (fantastic saddle), Bontrager wheels (trued one time in two years when they were new & still true & I weight 225) | | Bottom Line: | GHOST SHIFTS!!!!!!! Read the SRAM X.O. reviews. My friend with Sram literally looks at me crazy when I tell him about the XT ghost shifting. He "never" has this happen with his X.O. In Shimano defense I can't speak highly enough about Shimano Road gear, but I hate the XT rapid rise. Now I am going to have to buy new shifters, derailer and break levers at a mind blowng $500+. Do it right the first time and buy SRAM. Can't wait to write my SRAM review once I get it put on my bike next week. It will be nice to climb in the right gear as apposed to the very few it won't shift out of. Oh yeah... the front shifts perfect, just don't buy the rear one.
I will say one final thing when reading reviews of the XT derailer. This is a XT rapid rise derailer review. I think the non-rapidrise will likely be a different story as my old Gary Fisher was adjusted maybe once in five years. Oh yeah not one person has said their SRAM has ghost shifted in 112 reviews and had it not been for me having to move to Sram I would have upgraded to Dura Ace on my road bike this year instead as I put 4k+ miles/year on it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
GreG Voyer
a
from Quebec, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | sotck on my specialized p3 2002 | | Strengths: | Nice look, pretty light and work awesome | | Weaknesses: | Any | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano deore, alivio and xtr | | Bike Setup: | p3, pike team, halo combat rims, formula hubs, hayes hydro.. | | Bottom Line: | Those derailleurs rock. I've mine since already 4 years and it works still well. It's pretty light and there is any adjustment for it. I recommand it to everyone, works better than the alivio and deore, is lightest and half the price of the xtr which works as fine as the xt. Best rear derailleur ever! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Viktor
a Weekend Warrior
from Bratislava
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Good shifting, stay tuned long enough for me. I dont mind turning the knobs once in a time.
| | Weaknesses: | I've been very unlucky with these mechs. The first one I had has been bent during the first DH race. The crash left a big dent in the mech body and ruined my hanger. I could however get it working again and its still in use on my girlfriends enduro.
The second one (a 760 with reverse spring) held 2 races. Again a dent in the body but this time the hanger didnt come off and the mech was bent again. Unfortunately it cant be fixed and I am ordering a new 751 model. | | Similar Products Used: | Alivio, Deore, LX | | Bike Setup: | Faith / Shivers, shimano/sram etc | | Bottom Line: | Could be stronger for what you pay. Dont get me wrong, I dont think these are pure junk. They were just unlucky which HAS to be expected if you ride hard. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stuart
a Downhiller
from Abbotsford, B.C., Canada
Date Reviewed: September 19, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Freight Train | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | When set up to your preference, it shifts fast without nasty sounds or chatters (deore). The spring is crazy strong and the rapid rise allows the derailer to shift faster downward (using the uber-stiff spring) AND upward (depending on thumb speed). After breaking my other xt (also 2006 in mid cage) I opted for the short cage which gives me about an inch and a half more clearance. A warm fuzzy for freeriding. | | Weaknesses: | Its extremely difficult if not impossible to get it to not ghost shift in all 9 gears. What I did was offset the derailer to the lower gears so I could thumb a click and a half to reach the next gear. This could tick some other people off, but if makes for a smooth-shifting, non-ghosting machine, even in the rough. No complaints about strength, as it took a wet ladder and my whole body weight to finally kill it. | | Similar Products Used: | sram x9 (thin casting sketches me out), shimano deore lx (skippy due to weak spring), deore xt mid-cage(works), and shimano saint(an expensive, beefed up xt) | | Bike Setup: | Banshee scream w/ shiver, block 8 cranks with all shimano drive (xt cassette, derailer, shifter) and sram chain. Solid freeride spec | | Bottom Line: | Its a solid, basic derailer that likes abuse and is easily customizeable to personal preference. Sure it's difficult to get right at first, and comes out of tune after a couple rough rides, but what can you expect of a derailler, really? I'd say if you have the money, go with sram x9 or x0. They're not as sturdy as the xt, but they do shift a little faster and stay in tune longer. Stay away from xtr. They're light, unstable pieces of crap and they cost more than comparable lightweight components. My advice, buy lighter wheels and titanium wherever you can to save weight, but dont shave weight where it's needed. That includes cranks, derailers, brakes and tires. Some of the highest quality stuff is heavy. Face it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eder Giovani Savio
a Weekend Warrior
from Florianópolis - Brazil
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Serra do Tabuleiro | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Works fine for some time. | | Weaknesses: | Flabby articulations after some months.
| | Similar Products Used: | Deore, LX, Tiagra, Altus, Sora, Alivio. | | Bike Setup: | Remec Dh Pro, Monster T, Hope 203. | | Bottom Line: | I really don't know if there is a good derailleur. XT is more expensive and don't offers the quality I was hoping. It is like a cheap Deore. I'm waiting for the gear box generation or Sram I-motion 9 with disc. Until that, let's live with that dull thing shaking at the rear wheel. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hui Chuen Chuang
a Weekend Warrior
from Penang, Malaysia
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$52.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Stiff, great looks, no chain slap, precise shifting, stiff spring. | | Weaknesses: | None at all... | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore, Altus. | | Bike Setup: | stock 2005 Trek Fuel 70 except for XT RD and Candy SL pedals... | | Bottom Line: | Got the 760 model.... this thing is sick... eats up anything you can throw at it.... even survives some nasty crashes... I'll recommend it for any kind or riding, from XC, DJ, 4X, AM, FR to DH... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
james
a Weekend Warrior
from deland fl
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | High quality. No chain slapping so far. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Low end shimano. Altus. | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose Blackcomb. XT front and rear der. Rockshox deluxe coupe rear shock. Ritchey WCS stem. | | Bottom Line: | It's not overly expensive, so why not get it? I hear some people complaining about it coming out of adjustment... just swallow your pride and get it done at your LBS if you can't get it adjusted. I know there are some lemons, but I doubt this many. If these were all lemons, you'd be able to turn it into shimano for a new one. Also, people have to look at the cable they're using, maybe the cable is bad. The shifter may be old, or too worn for this. There are many things that can go wrong, look into everything before you blame just one thing. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel Abernethy
a Racer
from Santa Cruz, CA
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Porc, North Yuba, Big Boulder, Hole in the ground, Mr. Toads | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | Family Cycling Center | | Strengths: | Long term durability, Long Term Reliability, Bang for the buck. | | Weaknesses: | Long Cage, weak cage spring | | Similar Products Used: | XTR,LX, SRAM demo | | Bike Setup: | BLT, Talas, XTR Cranks, XT Mechs ,Gravywheels custom built UST Mavic 819 w/Hope xc Hubs, Thompson Stem/seatpost,Easton monkeylite,XT 755 4-piston disc brake, Hope 180mm frt floating rotor, 160mm rear, 959 pedals. | | Bottom Line: | This derailluer began it's career on a 2002 SC superlight, moved to a Blur classic, and now on my BLT.
It has been abused on numerous epic rides through all weather on all 3 mounts. I am an inactive adventure racer and very active enduro rider. I cannot afford the mishap of a broken mech 30 miles in the bush. I would rather have the slower shift than to have the derailluer wrap and break.
seems to be a common mishap on SRAMs.
I've had shifting difficulty with my XT, but that was 7hrs into a 90mi Adventure race bike leg in the rain. Mud clogged the mech and affected shifting - a blast from the water bottle and a couple of brushings with the scrub brush I brought anticipating the conditions and I was shifting nominally again, finishing the bike leg and arriving at the TA strong and in good spirits because of no mechanicals.
I have chain slap - but goofy gearing on downhills puts enough tension to keep it on the gears. Looking for solutions wrt tension /chain guiding but still have a triple. montara?
I max the travel on my bikes - 25 yrs of mtn biking builds a smoothness that is fast and flowing - I don't heal like a pup so naturally I moderate, but it's always fun to watch a grom/nug/kook all squirrelly, locked up on the brakes, overshoot and spill... :) because they were suckered into trying to stay on my wheel while I flow.
jump on the hype and buy SRAM - Shimano even being the evil empire is what it is... but they work... and when I'm in the boonies... if it don't work it's my life on the line...
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chad drzewiecki
a Downhiller
from selinsgrove, pa
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | diablo park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | on the bike mang! | | Strengths: | it shifts sometimes | | Weaknesses: | well it gets out of tune very very easily, i end up tuning it after about every 3rd ride or so..it ghost shifts like its job! | | Similar Products Used: | sram stuff.. | | Bike Setup: | gemini, dorados, hayes, 4 way swinger.. | | Bottom Line: | i would rather ride something that holds up a little better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jake
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Works well, never had problems with it. | | Weaknesses: | Chatters on rough trails | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight | | Bottom Line: | The XT derailer and Deore shifters are the only original pieces of equipment on my 4 year old bike. I'm not a hard core downhiller, but I am pretty rough with my bike. I have had good luck with this derailer, it has always shifted well on me if it was properly adjusted. If you have good quality shifter cables you should not need to adjust this derailer often. Shimano's web site is great, has technical drawings and step by step instructions for adjustments. There's only 3 adjustments, once you understand them it's easy. I maintain my bike often and keep it clean, maybe that is why I haven't had problems. The only reason I would consider switching to SRAM is that I need new shifters soon, and I don't want to go with the integrated shifter/brake levers that Shimano has now.
Be wary of listening too much to people who clain their derailer (or any other piece of equipment) just randomly "Broke" on them. Anytime you neglect your chain, or get mud or sticks cloged in a derailer you can't blame the product for breaking. Keep your bike clean and you won't experience many of the problems the negative folks on this site have. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dirtdober
a Cross Country Rider
from thomaston,texas,usa
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | rocky hill | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | discovery cycles | | Strengths: | shifts easy, needs very little attention | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | LX, Alivio, old school sram | | Bike Setup: | gary fisher sugar, LX front and XT back | | Bottom Line: | These things need hardly any attention, when they do its very easy and minor. I've used this derailer for three years and it still works as good as new and it has plenty of dirt covering it. I've cleaned it twice and that was just to make it look good. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Curtis
a Racer
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Bottom Line: | Shimano has created a bulletproof dereailleur. My only complaint is that it is a it heavy and not as crisp as some of the others on the market. The king would be tehe SRAM X0, but that's 4x the price.
Bottom line is that you can race with this thing and not feel held back by it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
imino
a Weekend Warrior
from Ireland
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | Shimano...I thought | | Similar Products Used: | except XTR everything from shimano | | Bike Setup: | 06 Specialized XC PRO | | Bottom Line: | this is worst derailer i`ve ever used,litle bit rocky terain,and it has to be adjusted all the time.Also it`s very slow shifting....checked cables,everything seems to be ok...so why is so slow???
I was just reading about Sram....so it`s probably time for me to change manufacturer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
evil geek
a Cross Country Rider
from calgary
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | never missed a shift in 5 years | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | deore | | Bike Setup: | 2001 klein attitude comp, lx rapid fire shifters | | Bottom Line: | My bike came with LX shifters, LX front and XT rear derailleur. The LX front derailleur has always given me grief, leading me to upgrade to XTR, but the shifters work perfectly, as does the XT rear derailleur, so they will stay on the bike until they break, which doesn't seem likely to happen anytime soon, as they show virtually no wear after 5 years.
To the guy complaining about ghost shifting, man, it's not the derailleur's fault. Blame an overly flexy frame or bad cable routing. My old cro-mo bike used to ghost shift on almost every difficult climb, but my aluminum hardtail with the XT hasn't done it even once.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jules Evans
a Cross Country Rider
from Hobart,Tas,Australia
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Strong,Easy to adjust. | | Weaknesses: | nothing really, maybe that it gets dirty when you ride through mud. | | Similar Products Used: | Campag, X.7, other shimano derailleurs. | | Bike Setup: | Merida Matts Speed D | | Bottom Line: | I am not a shimano fan, but this is one piece of shimano gear that I enjoy having on my bike. I have had a couple of stacks on that side and bent the hanger a bit but the derailleur has taken the knocks without complaining. When the hanger is straight you should have no trouble shifting as it is easy to adjust and seems to be a strong precise unit. Lucky this hasn't broken down because I have had to wait up to 3 months for other shimano things that have fallen off my steed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris
a Downhiller
from provo ut U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | bobsled or buckland ridge | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | desert cyclery | | Strengths: | smooth shifting quick | | Weaknesses: | long cage, when ever i drop or land hard the deraileurs cage gets caught and wont release so the chain is hangs lose and takes so abuse to move it back into place to work | | Similar Products Used: | saint, xtr, lx, alivio, dura ace, x.0, x.7, x.9 | | Bike Setup: | kona coilair with dhx coil, marz 66rc2x, jucy 5's, mavic 729 wheel set minions, race face atlus, evolve dh bar stem seat post, pure v saddle, time atack pedals, | | Bottom Line: | if i would like to pedal kick to show up my friends i cant ride out of it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kirsten
a Cross Country Rider
from South Africa
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | The whole package is fantastic! | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM 9, Deore, XTR | | Bike Setup: | Trek 8000, Bontrager Race Wheel set, Full XT Comp, XT Hydraulic Disc Brakes, XT XT XT XT....! | | Bottom Line: | A fantastic piece of equipment! You really can't fault it. Any comments about crashing and it breaking are null and void - I bet if you stay on your bike the der will last longer! :) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
geoffss
a Cross Country Rider
from west bay, ca
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | nascar track | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Purchased At: | demo bike | | Strengths: | 13t pulleys, big rubber knuckle bumper, overbuilt to last | | Weaknesses: | rapid rise is the worst invention ever. | | Similar Products Used: | xt/xtr older "regular" der's | | Bike Setup: | demo intense 5.5 full xt | | Bottom Line: | this is for the newer xt der 2005+. I mainly just want to say that the newer rear der's have a really smart rubber knuckle bumper so your der doesnt clank against the frame anymore. that makes me happy.
otherwise, the der works fine. bigger pivots so it was stiff. the whole rapid rise/dual control drivetrain made me want to quit cycling all together, but the comfort that it was only a demo bike, and that i could go back to my rapid fire xtr levers when all is said and done gives me a warm fuzzy all over. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Corey C
a Cross Country Rider
from Enumclaw
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Black Diamond | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay (new) | | Strengths: | Flawless shifting, Good looking, Quality Construction | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Alivio | | Bike Setup: | Giant Trance, Marzocchi MX Pro, Mavic 717, Shimano XT M765 throughout | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the newer M765 Rapid Rise unit. This derailleur has functioned flawlessly when used with the right shifters (M765). This is the one thing I keep seeing is that people are trying to use the rapid rise derailleurs with the wrong shifters and they are backward when you do that. Shimano has a system of components that are designed to work together and when you mix things up, you're not going to get the best results. I'm using Avid Flak Jacket shift cables with this derailleur because I like the sheilding a little better than the Shimano cables. I ride in wet muddy conditions more often than I'd like to but the shifting never misses. You can't go wrong with this derailleur for the money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Smith
a Weekend Warrior
from Pena Blanca, NM , USA
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | South Boundry | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike-N-Sport, Santa Fe | | Strengths: | Easy set up, shifts great up the cassette, can take a lickin and keep on shifting. | | Weaknesses: | Weak spring. I had to frequently change out the cable housings in oder for it to shift down neatly. I almost got used to clicking twice down and one up just to have the chain drop down one cog. However in fairness, this may have something to do with the lousey cable routing that Specialized did on the 2003 Enduro,I don't have this trouble with the XT on my Rocky. | | Similar Products Used: | Sram 9.0.......this one rocks!
Shimino LX | | Bike Setup: | 03 Specialized Enduro(built from the bottom up), Fox Talas RLC, XT hubs, Mavic 717 rims, juicy 7 brakes,sram 9.0 rear derailer with trigger shifters, XT front with shimino shifter, Fox rear shock upgraded by PUSH(recommended) | | Bottom Line: | I think the XT rear derailer works well but in the end it was a bad fit for my Enduro. I think the spring is too weak to over come the cable routing issues of the Enduro. I'd rather spend my time riding and not dicking around with changing out cable housing. The derailer works OK on my Rocky but even there, there is a split second pause before it drops down. The sram shifts up or down with authority. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lee
a Weekend Warrior
from Grimsby, UK
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Chain Reaction Cycles | | Strengths: | Super crisp shifting | | Weaknesses: | None that I can think of. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore, Shimano Altus, Shimano Sora. | | Bike Setup: | 2005 ICE S Mostly stock with Suntour 11-32 cassette, KMC chain, Campagnolo Veloce chainset, Dura-Ace Bar-end shifters | | Bottom Line: | This Derailleur shifts so smoothley you can bearly hear or feel the shifts. The Low normal/rapid rise is great and it works great with my bar-end shifters. Shifting, especially to a lower gear is very light and requires minimal effort. It looks great too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nathan
a Downhiller
from wodonga australia
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | big hill at mt beauty | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | did not bend or break | | Similar Products Used: | deore | | Bike Setup: | free ride hardtail | | Bottom Line: | this derailleur was great untill one day it just stop working when you shell out $150 (aus) you expect your bying quality not some thing that breaks after 3 mounths looks like sram is the way to go | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Granger Carlson
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Came on Giant Reign 2 | | Strengths: | None come to mind. | | Weaknesses: | Ghost shift central. | | Similar Products Used: | DX,LX,XT,XTR | | Bike Setup: | Giant Reign 2 | | Bottom Line: | I have always used Shimano derailleurs, but this might be turning point. I got a rapid rise rear derailleur on the Giant that I bought this spring and it is junk. This derailleur shifts perfectly on a bike stand, and it works okay on smooth trail, but if you get into anything rough or technical it is constantly ghost shifting. I cannot keep this thing dialed in? My friends have had the same problems on bigger travel bikes and have switched to SRAM (they love it). I'm afraid this might be the next step for me as well. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bobby Jim
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Cruz
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Mailboxes | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | I havent any problems with it yet. I ride my bike a lot and its fine | | Weaknesses: | Long cage is not adequate with a 24" rear wheel | | Similar Products Used: | Sram X.9 | | Bike Setup: | 03 Bighit Comp, Z-150 FR SL, Atomlab pedals, ect... | | Bottom Line: | For you people that are getting mad that the derailleur broke when you fell make me laugh. But anyway, yeah if you need one get one but try to get a shortcage... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dbohnsai
a Downhiller
from Chilli, Oh
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | this is for the 750 version: works flawlessly with either XT triggers or SRAM triggers | | Weaknesses: | the 760 "low normal" version is sh!t | | Similar Products Used: | deore, stx | | Bike Setup: | 04 Kona Stinky Primo | | Bottom Line: | never had a problem with it. easy to set up and adjust. the 750 version is great! the 760 low normal or rapid rise version sucks. Unless you are using dual control levers (which I also hate) don't get the 760. it works fine but the whole learning to shift backwards is a pain! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
joel wasman
a Weekend Warrior
from portland
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | bike n hike | | Strengths: | Strength is a word I would never use in the same sentence with shimano. | | Weaknesses: | Shimano's mountain bike products are garbage. | | Similar Products Used: | Soon to be Sram, I have switched to SRAM on every component so for and have not looked back. My bike is soon to be shimano/trouble free. SRAM r&d actually is listeing to what riders want and making better products. Shimano is the microsoft of mountain biking, they are lazy and make garbage. In the next few years SRAM will take over mountain bike components. | | Bike Setup: | Kona coiler | | Bottom Line: | I have gone through 4 shimano rear derailleur's in the last 9 months. 1 deore, 1 lx, 2 xt. they are garbage. I do trails and light freeride and I am always messing with these pieces of junk. They get bent so easy I can't believe it, and go out of adjustment after minimal riding. The last one bent after a crash that did not envolve the derailluer at all. 2 of them spontaneously compusted and 1 went into my spokes and shredded my wheel. The only reason I have waited to switch to SRAM's rear D is because you also have to pair it up with SRAM'S shifters. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Tychy, Poland
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$78.00 | | Strengths: | Very accurate, quick and smooth shifting, durable. Dosen't need frequent servicing. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano STX, Alivio, LX | | Bike Setup: | ... | | Bottom Line: | Absolutely the best derailer i have ever come across! Mine is a 2001 model and i never had a single problem with it. It is my most valued bike part. After almost 4 years of use it still works like new and hasen't loosened up a bit. The only servicing it has ever seen is cleaning and greasing and i did that 3 maybe times through the years, tops! If anything happens to this derailer, the next one is sure to be another XT! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Drake
a
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Benson's bikes | | Strengths: | accurate shifting, light, kinda good life =D | | Weaknesses: | if you crash it, good luck | | Bike Setup: | avalanche 1.0 deore hydro disc deore shifters xtfrontrear derailluers | | Bottom Line: | this derrailuer's one of a kind. for the money u pay, i think it's worth it. i crashed once on an accident, after replacing the hanger although it's still bent, i can still get good shifts, a little cranky though. before that, i'm telling you this derailluer was great. it's shifts were very accurate and crisps, sometimes i thought my shifter had a problem since i did not hear any shifting but could feel it did. however because it's not very strong, it's not gonna get 5 from me... too bad there isn't 4 and a half | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a Downhiller
from N. Vancouver B.C
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Expresso (Fromme) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$129.00 | | Strengths: | Good reputation and good all round. Lasts if you dont crash. | | Weaknesses: | Not really up to North Shore standards when it comes to strength but then again not many do... | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM X-9 and X-0, Deore, XTR, LX, Saint | | Bike Setup: | Brodie 8 Ball | | Bottom Line: | It broke on me after a root hit the bushing part of the mount. It's sorto expected that it would break. But i would give it another try. But i would suggest the X-9 over the XT due to the strength and the pricing of the X-9
I wouldn't say that the XT sucks, its just not right for people who use it for hard riding on the Shore. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BC
a
from Kaiserslautern, Germany
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$67.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | Toughness, compability with SRAM shifter | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX and Shimano Deore | | Bike Setup: | 93 Specialized Rockhopper GX | | Bottom Line: | This rear derailleur service its intend life. I am sad it self-destructed due to age. 4.5 years of life, cleaning and routine maintenance. I did change the rollers out 2 months ago. I was a sign of its death coming. I replaced the unit with Shimano LX, nothing against XT. I purchased a long cage for my other bike Kona Hoss. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mikey
a
from England
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Silent when changing, feels very smooth and rigid in shifting, looks amazing on ya bike! Sealed Bearing Pulley is good to. | | Weaknesses: | None so far, only had it for about 1 week | | Similar Products Used: | Acera's, and SIS's of course (Who hasn't?), Alivios's | | Bike Setup: | XT Front and Back, Deore LX Dual Control Shifters.... | | Bottom Line: | You NEED the dual control levers to really feel just how easy these shift. When I first got them I went out and tested them, I changed to a larger sprocket and I felt it became easier to cycle, but I thought something was wrong, I thought it hadn't changed at all! I looked back and it had, this is how silent these are when combined with my LX cassette. As soon as I tap my levers, there is absolutely no lag in changing sprocket, it is basicaly instant. I have the short/med cage version and when going over small dips and potholes the derailleur doesn't move at all, stays steady with no skip at all. Other rear Der's I have tried shake and and jump around very much when going over potholes and other objects, and sometimes the can skip to, these really are worth the £35/$65 I bought them for. BUT, I got the chain length to long on these and when on extremely low combos such as 11/12/14-22 I totally twisted up the chain as it drooped over the otherside of the pulley cage and made all kinds of sounds and skipped all over my cassette, but I guess it was my fualt, I took 2 links out and it was then near perfect on the super low combos, this drooping was also due to my short cage which shouldn't really be used with my teeth combos. So all my fualt really. Just be careful with the chain length with short cage if you were as dumb as me by using it with a 22 chainring, but it still works fine with the 22 tooth which shows the high quality that shimano provide with their high end products. I am extremely impressed and I advise anyone who has these to buy the dual control levers, and you might as well save yourself some money buy buying the LX levers and not the XT ones. There is no difference at all, the LX levers actualy weigh less as well. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary phan
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver B.C. , canada
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | pinkbike | | Strengths: | super exact crisp and fast shifting | | Weaknesses: | Bent on my first light fall along with the weekass derailleur hanger on my hardrock | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Lx, sram x-9's | | Bottom Line: | Bought this brand new and it was great... used for about 2 months and i fell off a jump, hit the grass on disc side and flipped and hit the derailleur side... and then it was just bent with the hanger. i'm just using it now but its sometimes skippy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert
a Downhiller
from Illinois
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | came with bike.... | | Strengths: | very reliable overall.... doesnt lose shifting power over a lot of riding. | | Weaknesses: | after a few good thwacks on that side i couldnt shift to my two smallest rings, also the chain bounce is too big. | | Similar Products Used: | N/A | | Bike Setup: | Drivetrain: Raceface Isis drives with an EThirteen SRS and 38 tooth Ethirteen downhill chainring with shimano XT rear derralieur.... cant think of the pods...... | | Bottom Line: | good overall but wears quickly with a lot of hard riding. (or just being a beginner and falling more) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gerry
a Cross Country Rider
from Twain Harte, CA
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Lyons-Strawberry | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | incredibly durable......this is my first mountain bike, so you can imagine how many crashes the poor thing has endured! Something about random chance.....seems like 90% of the time when I go down, it's on the drivetrain side. Crazy! Once adjusted properly (LBS), it stays in tune for the entire season (roughly 3000 miles/year.....I'm retired, so plenty of time to ride!). | | Weaknesses: | chain slap. b spring is not as strong as it should be. as it nears the end of its tuneup life, some ghost shifting. | | Similar Products Used: | none.....first mountain bike. | | Bike Setup: | SC Superlight. LX/XT (std from SC). INCREDIBLE bike, btw........I've done trail after trail, as well as the road bike event known as the Markleville Death Ride - 140 miles, 16,000' of climb, 1 day (we...the superlight and I...made all 5 passes). It has never let me down. | | Bottom Line: | The reviews here have confused me (however, I'm old - 60 - and feeble, so easily confused). Seems like lots of the reviews (regardless of middle/high end stuff) deal with fragility and spontaneous disintegration . My XT has been extremely durable, but the springs are weakening over time (and were never that strong to start with). So, I contemplate buying another XT, but the rapid rise geometry means things shift backwards .
So...what to do...........I guess I will muddle along with the existing XT.......hoping that it hangs together so I don't have to replace it......but, with almost 10,000 miles on it now, it's only a matter of time.
Anyone know WHY Shimano shifted (yea, terrible pun!) from the tried and true to the rapid rise, necessitating a complete re-learning in terms of shifting reflexes??? I use a grip shift, so I will have to rotate it the opposite from what my feeble old brain has learned over the years. Any guesses how well THAT will work in a panic situation??? Glad my medical insurance is paid up!
Real bottom line: this derailer has done everything and anything I asked of it. Has been reliable. There is, of course, only one thing that a derailler actually has to "do": shift the darn gears. Different looks, feel, etc. are all enjoyable aspects, but the "job" of the derailler is simple to reliably shift gears. My xt has done that like crazy!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dimitris P
a Cross Country Rider
from Athens
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Shifts great at almost all conditions | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Similar Products Used: | Deore | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Epic Marathon 2005 | | Bottom Line: | Had this derailleur from my last bike and it has been workink in extremely muddy conditions perfectly well! The only way to cahnge it is only for XTR! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
brian
a Downhiller
from boise,idaho
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | hulls or hard urban | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | georges | | Strengths: | shifts smooth, strong | | Weaknesses: | caused my chain to snap then get rapped around my casette | | Similar Products Used: | deore LX | | Bike Setup: | '04 specialized P.3,'zochhi DJ II, sun double tracks | | Bottom Line: | a great part! I would definetly recommend buying one | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Llloyd
a Weekend Warrior
from Cebu, The Philippines
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$36.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Hub | | Strengths: | Race ready... sealed bearing pulleys... just like XTR technology... | | Weaknesses: | None so far... | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Alivio... but its way below the XT's. Mine is the standard rise... | | Bike Setup: | SR Suntour XC Pro E front fork, Mosso slalon-M1 frame, Shimano Deore LX FD, Shimano Deore XT RD, Shimano Deore LX shifter, Avid Speed Dial 7 lever, Ameoba Borla control set and stem, Mavic DeeMax wheels, Maxxis Kraken tires, Shimano Deore XT hub, Avid Ball Bearing 5 disc brake (203mm rotor), Shimano Deore Hollowtech crankset, Shimano pedal PD515, Amoeba seat post (carbon fiber), Amoeba saddle | | Bottom Line: | I highly recommend this XT rear derailuer. Same sealed bearing pulley technology as the XTR's. You can only feel the weight difference only if the derailuers are compared one on one on your hand or on a analycal balance/weighing scale but as soon as you'll installed it on your bike, you can hardly notice the difference... but performance wise, XT's can perform well at par with the other big ones out there... like the XTR. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
larry
a Cross Country Rider
from oakland county
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | all w/out motor vehicles | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | nashbar | | Strengths: | EZ to set-up/exc. finish | | Weaknesses: | not a one yet. | | Similar Products Used: | shimano Lx/alivio,stX | | Bike Setup: | nrs,xt front,rear,xtR shifters,8spd.xtR cassette,'03 psylo race. | | Bottom Line: | never once in over 2k+ miles has this derailieur needed any adjustment.using slick teflon cables may help but this sh750 has been tops. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
G Bramling
a Cross Country Rider
from La Honda, CA
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | works | | Weaknesses: | bends | | Similar Products Used: | other Shimano | | Bike Setup: | '03 Heckler | | Bottom Line: | I just replaced the old XT rear derailleur after it got eaten for the last time after an altercation with a big stick that got sucked into the rear wheel, pulling the dropout all the way through and tweaking the derailleur past fixability.
Turns out Shimano has switched from the model #750 that I had to a #760 that I just installed. The inside part of the parallelogram was a stamped piece of thin metal on the 750, and is now a cast piece of metal on the 760. Seems likely this would have prevented the bending that caused me to buy a new derailleur.
So the new #760 XT derailleur looks to have some good design fixes.
If only I'd known it was rapid rise before I bought it. Or whatever they call it. Now I've got to learn to shift backwards. Or forwards. Or something. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
will
a Cross Country Rider
from christchurch newzealand
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | guy next door | | Strengths: | strong precise shifting
looks cool | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | shimano acera / alivio (crap) | | Bike Setup: | specialized hardrock frame marzocchi exr pro hayes nine full shimano xt groupset | | Bottom Line: | great derailleur that can be bought relatively cheaply
i havent broken it yet ( my alivio lasted 10 minutes i snapped it on my first jump)
i cant think of anything more to write but this review must be at least 50 words long so here goes
aye aye aye aye aye aye aye aye aye aye aye aye aye aye aye aye aye aye | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Russell Ruggiero
a Weekend Warrior
from West Windsor
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | R&D | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$85.00 | | Purchased At: | Jay's | | Strengths: |
Smoothness and Build Quality | | Weaknesses: |
None | | Similar Products Used: |
Deore/LX/XTR | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4900
Shifters: Alivio
FR: XT (2004)
RD: XT (2002)
Crank: Deore (2004) | | Bottom Line: |
I have owned XTR on my Trek STP 200, which was quite nice. However, the latest XT products offer a much better value for most riders. The trick is to match the XT front with the XT rear to form a synergy. For example, I used the LX/XT combination for two years with very good results. However, I just changed from a 2002 LX to a 2004 XT front, and result was improved overall shifting. XT front and XT rear is a "Killer" combination, which can be purchased for about $100.00.
If you have a top-end product, such as Trek Fuel 100, then XTR is the way to go. For most riders a properly set-up XT combination could offer the best performance to price ration in the industry. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
cory
a Cross Country Rider
from Peoria, IL
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | fast shifting, easy set up | | Weaknesses: | Occasionally throws temper tantrum requiring attitude adjustment | | Similar Products Used: | Deore, LX | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F200 XT(rear der, cassette, shifters, hubs) Deore(front der, crankset), Mavic Rims, Avid sd7 brakes and levers | | Bottom Line: | I have the M750 model. This derallier works like a charm for me. It shifts smooth and fast and it mostly behaves. It will occasionally need adjusting (as do all other der) and when it does you will know. Having said that I should also say that i have never had any major problem with it. If you are lookinbg for a rear der that has crisp clean, fast, quiet shifts, go with the XT. If you are a performance hound the XT will do the trick, but there are probably other out there too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thomas Becksted
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson,AZ,USA
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Fantasy Island | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$44.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Smooth/Quick Shifting
Good adjustment retention
| | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Similar Products Used: | Deore,Alivio,Acera | | Bike Setup: | '04 Gary Fisher Marlin, XT (front&back),Thomson Elite (stem&post), Monkey Lite XC, Rock Shox SID Team, Xpedo pedals | | Bottom Line: | I upgraded to XT ($44) from Deore, the difference was tremendous. The shifting was smoother and quicker, less grinding when climbing and reduced chain slap. I would highly recommend the XT to anyone who rides road & XC! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a Weekend Warrior
from Salt lake City
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Pipeline | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Shifts great every time, dependant of course on shifter, chain etc. strong build. | | Weaknesses: | None
| | Similar Products Used: | Nothing of note | | Bike Setup: | I have a Novara Pro ultima from REI. I bought it used in '98. With Gripshift shifters and XT cassett | | Bottom Line: | This product rocks. I've seriously trashed this bike on everything from 45 mph city downhill wrecks to throwing the bike down rocky trails. Stuffing the bike into cars of all shapes and sizes (putting the deraieur in unnessesary stress). I have put this thing to serious punishment for over 6 years and all it has to show for it is a few scratches! Only time I have ever had difficulty shifting was when my shifter exploded. It shifts under stress going up a hill, shifts like a charm going down. I've ridden in every type of whether (between 15 deg F and 124 deg F), and can't remember every having a problem actually associated with the derailer. If there is anything that survives a nuclear war it will be dandelions, cockroaches and the Shimano XT rear derailer | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dirt Monger Fred
a Cross Country Rider
from Burlington
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | vermont trails rock! | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | came with trek 8000 | | Strengths: | reasonable price, good performance under recreational demands, this is a good derailleur if your someone who wants a performance orientated component but who is not a racer in need of an edge. | | Weaknesses: | a little loose after 4 years of riding, and hmmm it exploded after the bent hanger caught my spokes wich would have happen with any derallure under those conditions. | | Similar Products Used: | shimono gs100, GS200, XTR, other XT's deore. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Trek 8000 | | Bottom Line: | I have ridden on this derailleur for exactly 4 years, It has done its job and performed reasonably well given the demands I have put on it. Now It is dead and I am laying it to rest under a dirt mount near it's favorite trail. It was giving me all it had when it just could not give anymore and then all of a sudden it exploded into pieces. I would like to replace it with a upgraded model like the XTR rapid rise | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Duncan
a Cross Country Rider
from Korea
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Namhansanseong | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Price is not too bad | | Weaknesses: | Seems to require a lot of adjustment. Noisy and too loose - I often lose the chain on descents | | Similar Products Used: | XTR | | Bike Setup: | Turner 5 Spot | | Bottom Line: | From my experience this deraileur is very average. Compared to the XTR it seems to be much more prone to getting knocked out of line and there is not enough tension on the chain. Tends to slap around a lot
I must admit I am not a great mechanic, so I tend to rely on the guys in the shop to sort it out. However, it was the same case with the XTR I had on my last bike. But the XTR would take a little bit of adjustment then behave itself, whereas this deraileur demands a lot more attention. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Duncan
a Cross Country Rider
from Korea
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Namhansanseong | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Price is not too bad | | Weaknesses: | Seems to require a lot of adjustment. Noisy and too loose - I often lose the chain on descents | | Similar Products Used: | XTR | | Bike Setup: | Turner 5 Spot | | Bottom Line: | From my experience this deraileur is very average. Compared to the XTR it seems to be much more prone to getting knocked out of line and there is not enough tension on the chain. Tends to slap around a lot
I must admit I am not a great mechanic, so I tend to rely on the guys in the shop to sort it out. However, it was the same case with the XTR I had on my last bike. But the XTR would take a little bit of adjustment then behave itself, whereas this deraileur demands a lot more attention. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kristian
a Downhiller
from Colorado
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Rapid Rise Rocks | | Weaknesses: | Not durable | | Similar Products Used: | Four XT rear derallieurs (1997-2002) and one XTR (2000) | | Bike Setup: | Custom steel hardtail | | Bottom Line: | I've been using XT rear derailleurs on almost all of my bikes since 97 and have been very happy with them--until I put the new 760 series on my hardtail.
My first impression was excellent. I love the feel of Rapid Rise. It shifted very well and was easy to set up. Unfortunately, by my third ride I was having shifting problems. I couldn't get the mech into the largest sprocket or the 4 smallest sprockets. After checking cable tension, high and low adjustment screws and derailleur hanger alignment, I finally figured out that the piece of derailleur that holds the cable was BENT! Despite no obvious dings to either the bolt or the derailleur, the piece of aluminum that the cable bolts onto was bent in such a way that it was slightly inside the parallelogram and blocking full movement (this sounds kind of confusing until you look at the derailleur). I was able to bend it back using a screw driver and have successfully ridden it since. Unfortunately, I will always be worried about this derailluer bending again (however it happened).
I am pretty tough on my equipment but the last derailleur on this bike was a 99 XT which lasted 5 years. I hope this was an isolated incident but I am definitely questioning my decision to go with Shimano over Sram.
5 flamin' chilis for a reasonably priced Rapid Rise derailleur with great shifting minus three chilis for a major mechanical in less than three rides.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tyler leddy
a Downhiller
from goderich,ontario,Canada
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | autobahn | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | wheel goods | | Strengths: | Shifts good and looks great | | Weaknesses: | did not last long I broke it in less than a week. The hole thing twisted around and broke the retaining plate and twisted the b sring. way to much money the regular deore is a better bang for your buck. | | Similar Products Used: | deore | | Bike Setup: | 04 norco atomik with super t pro, And manitou swinger 6 way | | Bottom Line: | THe derailer shifts good but is really expensive if you are a downhiller it may be better to get a cheaper derailer unless you have enough money to fork out $70 every time you brake it | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Martini
a Weekend Warrior
from Bradford, Ontario, CANADA
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere, Anytime | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | This derailleur was stock on our 'dale MT 2000 ( Mountain Tandem from day one ( summer of 00 ) and has never let us down. Even under the additional load of a tandem, it has performed pretty well. We lighten up a bit when we shift and it gets the job done. Doesn't seem to mind a bit of dirt and dust along the way. | | Weaknesses: | None that we have come across yet. Like many others, guide wheels are showing wear, but performance does not seem to be suffering. | | Bike Setup: | Stock 'dale MT 2000 Mountain Tandem | | Bottom Line: | I would recommend the XT for almost any application. If it can get the job done given the loads of a tandem, it will satisfy even the most demanding single application. Knock yourself out, you will pack it in before the XT does!! Lots of flames for this one! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Wolfeboro, NH
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Pick a direction. Any direction. | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$34.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar.com | | Strengths: | Quite dependable. | | Weaknesses: | Requires frequent adjusting to get the shifting 'just right'. | | Similar Products Used: | Lower end stuff. | | Bike Setup: | 2000 GT Avalanche, mostly stock with upgrades as they break.
| | Bottom Line: | After 3 years of fairly heavy use my XT rear derailleur worked pretty well, until last month when a stick jammed into my pulleys while I was hammering through some mud. After noticing that something was wrong, I stopped and looked back at my derailleur, and found it pointed toward the sky, about to go into my spokes. I managed to get it to stay in one gear, headed out of the woods, went online and had my pick of anything I wanted.
What did I do?
I bought another XT. It worked good enough for me. Nuff said. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ferdie Nah
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Crisp shifts | | Weaknesses: | Low Normal - Means you can't brake and downshift at the same time. | | Similar Products Used: | 01 XTR | | Bike Setup: | 04 Giant NRS1 | | Bottom Line: | When you're going down a hill and need to scrub some speed, its very difficult to downshift and keep going. Braking and downshifting need the same finger. Why hasn't anybody else noticed this? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gregory
a Weekend Warrior
from Barcelona (E)
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Gosol-Berga | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | German Bikeshop | | Strengths: | Finishing - Shimano Quality | | Weaknesses: | Never stayed indexed correctly.
Bushing instead of bearring. | | Similar Products Used: | DEORE, SRAM 9.0 | | Bike Setup: | Scott G-Zero, Hope Discs | | Bottom Line: | It might work for 99% of all MTB-ers, but it just didn't for me: I have suffered shifting problems all the way during the 3,5 years it has been on my bike, my LBS changed the cables, the routing and covers every month or so (after I had finally giving up trying to solve it myself), and after half a ride I could hear the racketing noise of my misguided chain, and I hadn't even started light free-riding ...
I give up and I am switching to 1:1 SRAM 9.0 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Trainwrekka
a Cross Country Rider
from San Antonio, TX
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Monkey Trails | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Planet Bike | | Strengths: | Smoother shifting, found that it shifted easier under stress than my old stock setup (Shimano Acera) | | Weaknesses: | None noticed so far | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Acera, Shimano Tiagra, Huffy hunk o' junk | | Bike Setup: | 04 Specialized Hard Rock, TIME ATAC pedals, KORE stem, Specialized Body Geometry seat, stock everything else so far, waiting on more parts from Pricepoint... | | Bottom Line: | As compared to what I had stock on this bike before and my Huffy POS before that, this rocks. I mostly do XC single-track whenever the opportunity presents itself and weekly city rides with our LBS so I don't do any hard-core racing, downhills, 20-ft drops or anything like that but from what I have noticed, this holds up pretty well. I space out from time to time and don't always shift at the right moment but this derailleur was forgiving of my mistakes. I likes it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Minnesota
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | All of Them | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Hoigaards | | Strengths: | Excellent! They shift very smoothly and never jump. the shifters only need a tap and the chain snaps right into place without any jerk or noise | | Weaknesses: | None! | | Bottom Line: | The whole Shimano XT system is an excellent setup. Definately an asset to your bicycles! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
C S
a Downhiller
from santa ana
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | many!!!!! this derailer after going off one drop it starts jumping around throughout the gears. | | Bike Setup: | khs fr 2000 | | Bottom Line: | the bottom line is that this shimano deore xt is horrible it always starts jumping around a lot. unless u know how to fix derailers perfect then i wouldnt bother buying it | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Enosz
a Cross Country Rider
from Budapest/Hungary
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Nella | | Strengths: | Rigid construction, keeps up with the beating. Precise qucick shifting. | | Weaknesses: | Cranky shift to higher cogs when climbing, with wear cogs get noisy. Maticulous finetuning to silence it. | | Similar Products Used: | Deore LX | | Bike Setup: | Trek 8500 hardtail. | | Bottom Line: | Great shifter with rugged body. Once you get used to tuning it it will work just fine for you. For the price it is the best I have had so far. Its speed both upward and downward is convincing. The only drawback is the noise, but with lubes you can minimise it to almost silence. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric L
a
from Laguna Hills
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Schoolyard | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Incredibly durable; I beat the crap out of this thing and it lasted a looonnng time. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Bike Setup: | 04 Enduro Pro frame, Marzocchi MXC fork, Fox float R rear, mavic 221 discs, shimano 525 hydraulics, Kenda Kinetics Stick-E tires, XT rear derailer, Lx front, | | Bottom Line: | One of my favorite derailers. Finally gave out on me after about 2800 miles(1 year). Damn I ride too much. It was my own fault though...probably could've lasted longer. When it came time to replace it, I bought the same exact one. I didnt even think twice about it. Bow down before its greatness. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Frank
a Racer
from Tennessee
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Strengths: | Inexpensive for a rear derailleur. | | Weaknesses: | Requires a lot of fine-tuning; B-adjust screw blows; pulleys blow; low tension=lots of chain and cage slap. | | Similar Products Used: | Several XTs, LX, Deore, just switched to SRAM x.9 | | Bike Setup: | One frame, two wheels. | | Bottom Line: | This derailleur is a pretty good value, as you can almost always find a new one for under $35 (eBay, web retailers). After going through two of thse on my main ride I just got sick of it. It performs pretty well on a day-to-day basis, but isn't up to what I want these days. LOTS od chain slap, and the B-adjust screw bends and breaks really easily. Shifting quality is so-so. I'm switching to SRAM for the more precise shifting and higher spring tension. A good value based on the price, but not the best derailleur out there. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bird Cristobal
a Weekend Warrior
from Las Pinas
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Ridge 2 , Tagaytay | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | - very consistent performance
- looks good
- I like the stiffer springs versus the deore. now I don't here chain slap when I do some drops
| | Weaknesses: | this if of '04 rapid rise version
- my only concern is that , when installed on a bike, a spring will always be on tension(i.e. if in the small cog, the spring on the changer will be tensioned, but on the big cog, the spring on the roller will be tensioned. On the the long term, I suspect that this will be an issue. Unlike in the conventional ones wherein you just put the chain on the smallest cog and smallest crank ring. But I guess only time can tell if this will really be an issue in the long term | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano deore, alivio | | Bike Setup: | BUllit, super T, truvativ cranks, shimano XT group, avid mech. disk , mavic 219s | | Bottom Line: | For the money spent,versus the improvement on performance, I think that I got a very good deal. Aside from the smoother shifting, I also got rid of the unnerving noise the chain makes when going doing rough stuff. It gives you a feeling that something's going to give. But I do need to put in more kms. with this stuff so I'll update review after about 6-months, but so far so good. I sure would love to hear some feedback on my comment about storage position to save those springs on the derailer.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Felner
a Cross Country Rider
from Trumbull, CT
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Trumbull Valley | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Strong, Light, Durable, Built to Last | | Weaknesses: | None | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Trek 4900
Selle Italia Pro Link Gel saddle
Mavic 517 Wheels
Velociraptor tyres
OURY grips
XT Rear Derraileur
PC-58 cassette PC-58 Chain
CODA Crankset
FSA Headset
Kool-Stop Pads | | Bottom Line: | A great dearraileur..I have ridden over 500 miles in trails with this derraileur and no problems. Shifts clean every time. A large stick was wedged between the pulleys under hard pedaling, and the derraileur took the hanger right out of the frame, nothing even bent on the derraileur. A+ for Shimano | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ugorico
a Racer
from Spokane, WA
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | Percise predictable shifting under all condiditons...low maintenance | | Weaknesses: | Its a derailleur, therefore it is prone to destruction! | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore, other shimano derailleurs | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Big Hit Expert | | Bottom Line: | Very predictable shifting and requires very little adjustment. I have used this derailluer for 6 months and have never had it skip gears or jump around. Highly reccomend a rollamajig to get rid of cable slack and improve performance. I immagine that someday I will destroy it on some rocks, but when I do, I will just go out and replace it with another XT! 5 flamin chillis for a great performing product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jamie davis
a Cross Country Rider
from lake ozark
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Horseshoe Bend | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Oz cycles | | Strengths: | durability, price | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | LX | | Bike Setup: | raliegh comp | | Bottom Line: | i've been riding it for 6 years. replaced everything on my old raliegh comp M600 frame (cant crack it) but the XT derailler. multiple crashes, constant drops, mud rides, ice rides, etc. trails i ride are extremely rocky/rough. have broken the rear hanger on hard cranks due to debris and it lived through it. it's finally starting to wear out. time for a new XT. thanks shimano. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
airik
a Downhiller
from burlington, ontario, canada
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | shifts great, fairly easy to maintain, smooth running, weight | | Weaknesses: | not really any, unless you count that it's a derailleur, and not an internally geared hub... but that doesnt matter.
occaisionally misses shifts, but im riding in the cold right now (snow everywhere)
| | Similar Products Used: | 02 XTR, all the other derailleurs... | | Bike Setup: | 02 Norco 4Hun frame, DJ2, hayes mechs, rhynolite XL's | | Bottom Line: | Good shifting derailleur, dependable, easy to maintain, smooth running, etc.
runs well in all conditions, sheds dirt well. A good higher level derailleur for all types of biking. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mark miller
a Cross Country Rider
from colorado springs, colorado, usa
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | cpt jacks | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | good durability, long life | | Weaknesses: | long hanger | | Similar Products Used: | lx, xtr | | Bike Setup: | mavic wheels, lx shifters, hardtail | | Bottom Line: | I just bought my second xt after 12 years of riding hard. 7500 miles later it still worked, however it was worn and the spring was going out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
wtr
a Weekend Warrior
from melbourne, AUS
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | great price, the guys at shimano drilled smaller holes on the main body (swing arm) than the lx, for longer duration at $20 more than the lx. Stiffer and lighter than the lx too. | | Weaknesses: | $150, the same price for a XT disc rear hub!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Altus->deore->lx->xt | | Bike Setup: | Tank DS1 + DJ3 | | Bottom Line: | Get it yo. My LX was tough, until i logged it 3 times and cracked... My short cage XT should be able to perform better than the LX in terms of strength, weight, and shape shifting, and it did... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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