SRAM X.7 9spd Rear Derailleur: Updated MY11 design with a slimmer and lighter profile over previous X.7. Di.R.T (Direct Route Technology) for light-effort shifting performance. Compatible with ESP (1:1 ratio) trigger and twist shifters.
Submitted by
David C
a Weekend Warrior
from Montreal, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2011
Strengths: Cheap, good look, strong, easy to service, durable, quality finish, not too heavy, good shifting.
Weaknesses: None, nada, nevar, zero
Bottom Line:
I have 2 X-7. A 2009 9 spd long cage in silver body, black cage and a 2011 9 spd med cage in Storm Grey finish, alu cage.
The long cage has performed flawless on both bikes, precise shifting, easy and quick to adjust, nice cable routing after the clamp on this model year, easy to service the full assembly and shift nice even on uphills and multi upshifts at the same time. I use X-4 shifters with it and work great. Now imagine how good it would feel with X0 shifters xD
The med cage has a very nice grey finish and same flawless performance has the other one. I use it on my FR bike and I can't complain at all. Used with SX-4 shifters right now.
The X-7 rd line is just great. very affordable and amazing performance. Rd's are expendables parts, so why invest into a more expensive rd simply to save a few grams ? Get better shifters and you're set. I never had a single problem with them and only needed cable stretch adjust once simply by using the shifter's barrel adjuster.
Similar Products Used: Shimano Deore LX, SRAM SX-5
Bike Setup: Trail bike and a FR bike
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Submitted by
idunno
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland, OR, youknowwhatcountry
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2011
Strengths: Cheap, reliable, shifts how it's supposed to.
Weaknesses: Nope
Bottom Line:
Spend your money on a nice cassette and chain and get the X7 10 speed derailleur/shifter combo. I've been running it for 8 months and it has been flawless. It's starting to shift a tiny bit slower in a couple of gears, but considering it hasn't had a tune-up (ever) I'm very impressed. If you asked me to pay nearly $200 more for X0, you'd better be able to sell stink to pile of... Doodoo. That's enough for a Thomson stem and seatpost.
Bike Setup: all these reviews seem to be about the 9 speed model of this derailleur, I'm running the 1x10 with a 38 tooth chainring with chainguide, X-7 shifter, X0 cassette and KMC 10X-SL chain.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Pollution Warrior
a Weekend Warrior
from Taiyuan, China
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2011
Strengths: Seems to work.
Weaknesses: Pot-metal mounting screw
Bottom Line:
Not impressed. We were putting together a brand new bike with all new stuff. The hex head on the RD mount screw stripped out. I'm not even sure if I had it tight enough. Hardware is a bad place to use aluminum (or probably some kind of cheap pot-metal). Now he'll have to replace the hangar if he wants to change the derailleur. I have a Shimano Deore on my 9 speed and it's way better. No issues.
Similar Products Used: Shimano Tourney, Deore, Alivio, and lower end Shimano
Bike Setup: Merida Duke with 9-speed
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Submitted by
Don
a Cross Country Rider
from England
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2011
Bottom Line:
I bought a sram X7 rear mech a couple of weeks ago and found that it locks out in first gear. I found that it will shift into 2nd by slamming the back wheel down while pressing the shifter. The rest of the gear range works fine. Has anybody else had this problem?
Submitted by
Cdale4754
a Cross Country Rider
from Oakridge,Oregon.USA
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2010
Strengths: If SRAM fixes the defect it would be a great product.
Weaknesses: Will only shift through six or seven of the nine cogs because the derailleur doesn't move freely. Rivets or bushings are too tight.
Bottom Line:
I purchased two X.7 rear derailleurs last week, both are bad.
I called SRAM and they said they knew about the problem but didn't say what they were doing about it.(evidently nothing because I got two 8/29/10 and the You Tube clip is a few months old.) SRAM Customer service was of no help getting my problem resolved so it's back to Price Point and hope that I don't get two more bad X.7's. Evidently, hundreds, maybe thousands of bad X.7 & X.9 derailleurs have been sold or are waiting to be sold. You Tube has a clip showing a sticky X.9.
Submitted by
scblur
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2010
Strengths: nice pulleys
Weaknesses: not smooth, unpredictable
Bottom Line:
I found this derailleur to be unusable. Once you have bought into their shifter derailleur combo, you will be stuck, take the loss and go back to the better brand. I have no interest in either brand, but 32 years of experience with Shimano has shown me they know something sram does not. I have never had such problems with Shimano, not one in 32 years. Perhaps other componentry is ok, but their rear X.7 deraileur is crap.
Submitted by
Bradfreeride
a Downhiller
from Colorado
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2010
Strengths: Strong
Look pretty nice
Weaknesses: I haven't found any
Bottom Line:
I got this derailleur as the stock one from the factory and it lasted about 2 years for me. I want babying it at all. I was doing like 10 foot drops to flat concrete I was pinch flatting my rear tire at 60psi. I was abusing the whole bike and the derailleur. It did finally wear out because the springs just wore out and it couldn't be adjusted very well anymore. I tried the x5 but after running it through my spokes and pretty clean cutting 8 of them today while bunny hopping a small median I went to the bike store and ordered up a new x7. I loved the x7 from the factory and hope the new one does the exact same thing.
Bike Setup: 06 Bighit with 04 Manitou Dorado fork and mavic ex 823 and 729 rims
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Submitted by
McGillMX111
a Downhiller
from Bristol
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2010
Strengths: Smooth if correctly aligned, other than that none.
Weaknesses: SNAPPPP!!! bought my Norco Six, took it out for a ride, did a 10 foot double, landed, snnnnnap. That was my 2nd jump only been there 10 mins, took it to the shop, had it replaced (another $60 down the drain) this time it lasted a whole hour!!!!!
Submitted by
BIGHaroHucker
a Downhiller
from Salt Lake City, UT
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2010
Strengths: Shifts every time. Inexpensive. Easily available.
Weaknesses: Some say its heavy...but I dont care about ounces on my DH/FR bike.
Bottom Line:
This is inexpensive and shifts every time for me. I really enjoy that if I hit a tree (like I did) and rip the dereiller off (like I did), its only $40 to get a new one and is easily available at many bike shops. I am a big fan of this product and recommend it to anyone that wants something that works every time, and doesn't cost a lot of money.
Bike Setup: Haro X7, 888RC Fork, Fox DHX5.0 Shock, SDG I-Beam seat
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Submitted by
lew242
a Weekend Warrior
from UK and China
Date Reviewed: February 1, 2010
Strengths: Fast and precise
Weaknesses: Not as Durable as Shimano. Dislike lazy cleaning.
Bottom Line:
The best you can get if you want middle range price. Fast shift even when needing technical shifting. Buy these and keep away from middle range Shimano which are too slow and have too much chain slap. If you buy Shimano don't buy cheaper than XT.
These aren't as strong as middle range Shimano and can be broken fairly easily, but it's worth it for the performance.
I think why some people complain about these derailleurs is that the cable on their bike have stretched or they have a dirty drivetrain. I'm on my second X7 and they have always been fine for me. They do dislike being to dirty, and they also much prefer running with the best SRAM chain you can afford, rather than Shimano chains.
Bike Setup: RB Monster AM, Marzocchi AM1 SL with Fox Vanilla R shock, Syncros cockpit, Elixir CR, Sram X7, Syncros Rims with DT Swiss hubs
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Submitted by
mtnbiker72
a Weekend Warrior
from Republic of Cascadia
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2010
Strengths: Reliable performance, durability, set and forget
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
I've been using X.7 derailleurs on a few bikes since 2004 and they are bullet proof. I ride in all conditions and the X.7 is set and forget. Once adjusted correctly it stays in adjustment in sun, rain, snow, and sleet. No dérailleur bouncing off the chainstay either like the other "S" brand. Having owned a X.O, unless your looking to save weight the X.7 works so good I've never bothered to pay more for X.9 or X.O. I cannot figure out what the negative reviews are from, I can only assume operator error (being a former bike mechanic I've seen plenty of riders who blame their tools not themselves).
Similar Products Used: LX, XT, X.O, ESP 9.0, ESP 700
Bike Setup: 29er
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Submitted by
fuelinjection23
a Weekend Warrior
from Stratford, Ct, USA
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2009
Strengths: Good shifting, when its actually working
Weaknesses: Cheap plastic cage
Bottom Line:
I have been using x7 derailleurs now for the past 2 years and all I have experienced with them is trouble. They do shift well,but they break constantly from little use. I dont ride every weekend on the trail and i have only been to a freeride park 3 times this summer. Just recently, after landing smoothly on the trainee of a table top, the cage of the x7 split apart. I came to realize one side of the cage is plastic and could not withstand a smooth landing. I have only used this derailluer 3 times and am very dissapointed with the garbage sram is putting out there. Im going to give sram one more chance, but i would suggest going with shimano.
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