Submitted by
Dale Pressnall
a Cross Country Rider
from Tulsa, OK USA
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2006
Strengths: Precise shifting, durability, it just plain works!
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
I upgraded to an 8S using a SRAM ESP 9.0 Rear Derailleur in 2004 after breaking my 7S SRAM Derailleur. The 7S Grip Shift was getting a little worn; it had been on the bike since 1997. I break a Derailleur occasionally, always a stick flips up through the spokes, but the SRAM is tougher than the Shimano's that I have used. I switched to Grip Shift right after they came out many years ago and would never consider anything else. They work absolutely great; very positive shifts rarely require adjustment. I really like the 1:1, the earlier 1:2's were allot better than the Shimano thumb shifters, but the 1:1 requires less frequent adjustment and handles mud build up better.
Today I picked up a stick in the spokes which caught the derailleur and bent it out about 45 degrees. Nothing was broken! I bent it back into place and rode for another couple of hours, didn't even have to readjust. Amazing, these incidents have always broken Derailleur before, never bent them. Earlier this year a similar incident broke the Derailleur but I was still able to finish my ride. I was absolutely amazed. A broken derailleur has always left me walking before.
It's not perfect but I believe it is substancially better than any thing else currently on the market. Now, if someone would just come up with a shaft drive with an 8 or 9 speed internal shifting hub, we could get rid of the chain and Derailleur that get fouled by mud or torn off by sticks and rocks.
Bike Setup: '97 Cannondale Super V 500, Marzocchi Z1 Drop Off, Fox Vanilla RC, SRAM 8S X-9 Grip Shift, Shimana 747 Clipless, Sun Rynolites w/XT hubs, Fox Shox Discs
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Submitted by
Ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from eagle nest, nm
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2005
Strengths: great if not used for anything other than xc and is kept clean and tuned
Weaknesses: did start jumping gears on me really bad after i had it a while and breaks pretty easily
Bottom Line:
im runing a trek 4900 this derailleur came with it i dont do any real extreme stuff with that bike but the 9.0 snapped in half it was a pretty good part till it broke all in all its a good derailleur unless you hit a tree, rock, stump, etc.
Bike Setup: trek 4900 and did have a spram esp 9.0
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Submitted by
Smokey
a Cross Country Rider
from Gilliam, MO USA
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2004
Strengths: Precise shifting, not affected by mud or other weather conditions, stays in adjustment, doesn't need much maintenance.
Weaknesses: It's not a weakness to me, but you are restricted to SRAM shifters (less of a concern now that they have great trigger shifters, too).
Bottom Line:
I've had very good luck with this component, its' good qualities are summed up in product strengths. One other thing I will mention is that it has not taken a lot of hard crashes (knock on wood!), but has survived a couple of good ones. Have also had it in some places where it was wrapped up in grass with no problems. If my half-pipes ever wear out, I'll try it with SRAM's new trigger shifters.
Bike Setup: Fisher hardtail with SRAM 9.0 SL halfpipes, Shimano LX frt. derailleur, 9.0 rear, SRAM 7.0 brake levers with Avid brakes, Thudbuster and Koobi seat, riser bar, Shimano 536 pedals.
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Submitted by
Jason P
a Cross Country Rider
from Memphis
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2004
Strengths: Great looks, super easy adjustment (which is just about none) and shifts better than anything I have ever ridden.
Weaknesses: None so far, much better than XT
Bottom Line:
Best shifts I have ever had since going to SRAM gear. One click, one shift. Never ghost shifts even on my FS setup. With Shimano's stuff getting so expensive and the quality of the SRAM stuff coming out now, don't even considering buying the Shimano gear. One of my friends is switching from XTR to X.0 because of the preciseness of the shifting.
Submitted by
Jon
a Weekend Warrior
from Grand Rapids,MI, USA
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2004
Strengths: Accurate shifts, reliability, price, weight, looks
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
These things shift accurately everytime under any conditions. Get the ones with the alloy knuckle and strenght will not be an issue. I've crashed mant times and landed on the derailleur which was never even scratched. Great product!
Submitted by
Nuno Pinto
a Weekend Warrior
from Portugal
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2004
Strengths: It's cool
Weaknesses: It's weak, I broke mine beause of a little mud, I had to change chain also and cassete.
Bottom Line:
This stuff is bad, I don't know why , but had heard several people complaining about Sram 9.0 Derailleur, the guy at the store also told me the same. Changed to X.0 because I didn't want to change to shifters. i'm quite happy with X.0, it's much better, 9.0 should be called 5.0
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Anchorage, AK USA
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2003
Strengths: Precise, flawless shifting, even under load. Ability to toss off multi-cog shifts accurately.
Weaknesses: Durability of plastic b-knuckle in '00 model, probably fixed with alloy design in '03 model.
Bottom Line:
Fantastic performance, with the best shifting of any setup I've ridden, mtb or road. It shifts quickly and accurately, and can do multi-cog jumps to the precise cog desired in one throw. I've had no problem with unintential shifts (I run shorty shifters, and don't ride with my hands resting on them), and it has required no maintenance over three years of rough riding in all conditions (even Alaska winter) with no maintenance needed beyond regular cleaning and lubing.
Unfortunately, I broke the derailer off at the knuckle, apparently after flipping a 1" stick up into the chain which smashed the cage and sheared off the knuckle. I don't know that a metal body would have fared better, as it would probably have bent. I've replaced it with a new X.0 which has made the great shifting even better and has an aluminum knuckle. The new '03 9.0 has a similar alloy knuckle, which should fix this weak spot.
All up, I wouldn't even consider going back to Shimano & trigger shifters. SRAM rules!
Submitted by
Arjen
a Racer
from Leiden "Netherlands"
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2003
Strengths: Smooth shifting. easy to adjust.
Weaknesses: Durability. derailleur get's in the way when taking out rearwheel.
Bottom Line:
Very smooth shifting and easy to adjust. Durability is not as good as Shimano XT. But it is almost half the price of XT......... derailleur get's in the way when taking out rearwheel. Just make sure your chain is on the outer site of the casstte when taking out rear wheel.
Bike Setup: Cannondale, Sram 9.0, Shimano XT, Mavic Cross ride (2003), syncros, Sella Italia
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Submitted by
Arjen
a Racer
from Leiden "Netherlands"
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2003
Strengths: Smooth shifting. easy to adjust.
Weaknesses: Durability. derailleur get's in the way when taking out rearwheel.
Bottom Line:
Very smooth shifting and easy to adjust. Durability is not as good as Shimano XT. But it is almost half the price of XT......... derailleur get's in the way when taking out rearwheel. Just make sure your chain is on the outer site of the casstte when taking out rear wheel.
Bike Setup: Cannondale, Sram 9.0, Shimano XT, Mavic Cross ride (2003), syncros, Sella Italia
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Submitted by
rockhound
a Cross Country Rider
from Pennsylvania
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2003
Strengths: Quick, precise shifts, no huge cable loop at derailleur.
Weaknesses: A little tricky to set up at first because of lack of barrel adjustar.
Bottom Line:
This thing shifts great once you get it set up. I bent two XT's last year so I got on Ebay and got a new 2002 9.0 derailleur and shifter set for 45$, less than the price of a new Xt rear. Quick shifts and more positive engagment instead of the squishy trigger feel of shimano. I was skeptical at first becuases of the amount of room they take up on the handlebar but they just set you up for one finger braking which is great. I will never go back to shimano.
Bike Setup: Sram 9.0 shifters and deraileur, 2001 Jekyll, Next Lp cranks
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Submitted by
Aaron
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2003
Strengths: This is for a '03 9.0 derailuer. New alloy B-knuckle makes durability issues a thing of the past. Crisp shifts under all weather conditions.
Weaknesses: Gained 35 grams over my '99 9.0 derailuer, but that is really irrelevant.
Bottom Line:
Replaced my old '99 ESP 9.0 rear derailuer (which was still working pretty well after 2,000+ off road miles) with the new '03 model. Instantly noticed quicker shifts, not as good as my X.O. on my other bike. However, my shifters on my hardtail are older non-srs shifters so that may be why it is not as quick. The new design is a bit heavier, but costs $100 less than the X.O. so it is quite a good bargin. Looking forward to another 2,000 miles of reliable service.
Strengths: Perfect shifting - grabs the chain and puts it whereever yuo tell it, solid, good cable routing, ugly.
Weaknesses: pully-wheels gather dirt.
Bottom Line:
I am happy. Mostly because live a good life but also because i have a 9.0 derailleur. I shifts in all conditions thanks to a hard spring and no wriggling like shimano-stuff.
Bike Setup: CUBE team litening, sram 9.0, Magura Louise front, HS silver back, TIME pedals, Raceface Turbine LP, TA Specialites chainrings, ritchey seatpost and stem. No shimano.
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Submitted by
E R
a Cross Country Rider
from LosAngeles, California
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2002
Strengths: Fairly easy to install. Nice clean cable routing into the derailleur. No loop to snag branches. Flawless shifting.
Weaknesses: I'm a little worried about the durability of the plastic components.
Bottom Line:
I have had a couple instances where the derailleur jammed when I tried shifting from the 26 or 28 cog on the granny ring to the middle ring. This might be my fault though. The chain is a link or two shorter than it should be and thats not a good combination to try and shift into anyway.
Other than this minor issue the shifting is smooth,crisp and flawless. It does not miss a shift even when shifting under pressure on steep uphills.
I have not cleaned or adjusted this derailleur since I installed it and it works as good now as it did new.
Perfect derailleur for freeride or downhill.Basically for any agressive riding.More durable and beefier than shimano(if you lube it regulary of course).Love this stuff.
Bike Setup: KHS FXT TEAM custom freeride(tru vativ,titec,manitou x-vert r azonic,etc.)
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Submitted by
Jons
a Cross Country Rider
from Germany
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2002
Bottom Line:
For all you whiners who brake this beautifull derailleur....you suck! haha Are you too stupid to understand that you only brake it when its not installed correctly!??! Really phathetic.. I ride aggresive XC and i neither broke the SRAM 7.0 derailleur on my Giant XTC Big Bear (2001) or the SRAM 9.0 on my Giant XTC 980 (2002)! How do you even DARE to THINK that it's SRAMs fault YOU brake it because YOU didn't install it CORRECTLY?? Really im amazed at the stupidity of some people here... SRAM is the only REAL thing out there!
