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Submitted by
emptyandoverflowing
a Cross Country Rider
from greencastle, in usa
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | anything... road or trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | came on cannondale | | Strengths: | quick shifting, easy to tune | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | countless | | Bike Setup: | Frame Terra Mountain, double butted
Fork HeadShok P-Bone M
Rear Shock n/a
Rims Cannondale Performance, 32 hole
Hubs Shimano RM-40
Spokes DT Champion
Tires Hutchinson Mosquito, 26 x 2.0"
Pedals Wellgo alloy cage
Crank Sugino X150, 22/32/42
Chain 8-speed
Rear Cogs SRAM 5.0 8-speed, 11-30
Bottom Bracket Shimano STX
Front Derailleur Shimano LX
Rear Derailleur Shimano Deore
Shifters Shimano Alivio
Handlebars Cannondale 6061 alloy
Stem Cannondale HeadShok Si
Headset Cannondale HeadShok Si
Brakeset Shimano BR-420
Brakelevers Tektro 379A
Saddle Selle Royal Video Gel
Seat Post Kalloy SP-263 | | Bottom Line: | All you people that are having problems need to read some tutorials. if its adjusted properly, it's friggin gold! its no harder to adjust than any other setup. its called patience people. if you can't get this to work right as easy as it is, then buy a 20 inch. shifting ain't for you... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bleh
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney NSW Australia
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | road | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Was perfect when it came with the bike, shifted to the right gear every time without fail, no rubbing | | Weaknesses: | I had an accident and adjusting it to get it to a state even approximating the factory adjustment was almost impossible. Two bike shops failed, after a couple of hours I almost had it | | Similar Products Used: | Cheapest shimano | | Bike Setup: | MTB | | Bottom Line: | Hope it's adjusted correctly the first time & look after it 'cause if it goes out it's a bugger to get back | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jared
a Cross Country Rider
from Bowling Green, KY
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Lock 4 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Montgomery Cyclery | | Strengths: | Pretty durable, looks good (not that that matters) | | Weaknesses: | shifts slowly | | Similar Products Used: | Deore LX, and XT | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F5, SID fork, Sram X9 RD, XT FD, Sram PG upgrades, Shimano pedals, etc. | | Bottom Line: | This derailleur came with the bike. It's the first derailleur I replaced, if that tells you anything. It's actually pretty decent for entry level stuff, but seeing as how inexpensive front derailleurs are, I didn't see any reason not upgrade to XT quality. If you're a beginner, and it came with the bike, keep it for a while. However, I would advise upgrading before your first race.
The thing just shifts really slowly, especially into the lower gears, and makes a lot of racket no matter what gear your shifting to. Seeing how much people pay for this thing, I'm not surprised. This isn't even really a good value for the $. Just pay an extra couple bucks and go to LX. You can buy them from Nashbar for $20. Or spend a tank of gas on an XT. I drive a MINI and it still costs $40 for gas, so unless you're driving a hybrid... $40 isn't that much $$$ anymore. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Henk Noordermeer
a Cross Country Rider
from Mexico City, Mexico
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Ajusco | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Came with bike, Alubike Dropper | | Strengths: | It looks kind of good on my bike | | Weaknesses: | It doesnt allow for big adjustments | | Similar Products Used: | Deore | | Bike Setup: | Alubike Dropper, All Alivio | | Bottom Line: | It came with the bike. It worked sort of ok in the beginning, but shifting to the small blade was allways difficult (took long and made a lot of noise).
After a while it became impossible to shift to the smallest blade, so i tried to adjust it. Only to find out that it didnt allow for any addittional inward adjustment. The adjustment screws dont do much as mentioned by other reviewers.. It shifts horribly now and i have only had it for 3 months. BTW: I do know how to shift and havent had this problem with other derailleurs (Deore). I read some reviewers blame other reviewers for not knowing how to shift or to adjust properly. I think you just have to be lucky that its adjustment range matches your bike, if it doesn´t, it´s hopeless!.. I´ve had to bend(!) the cage to be able to shift to the granny again.. I hate it already!
Hence, for my bike it doesnt work.. lowest rating in flames. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josh Wolfe
a Downhiller
from Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | came on my bike | | Strengths: | havn't had any strength problems, easy enough to tune,it came on my bike but i know it very affordable | | Weaknesses: | horrible shifting, i have to jam my shifter and hold for like 5 senconds before it shifts, it gets out of alignment after almost every ride, its the noisiest deraillleur i have ever had and most importantly it doesn't match my bike! | | Similar Products Used: | deore, lx, x-gen | | Bike Setup: | 05 Norco rampage downhill hardtail, 04 jr.t's, integrated stem, hussefelt drivetrain with shiftguide, -derailleurs and rims to be upgraded this season!- | | Bottom Line: | This is a god derailler for anyone on a low budget. That is a VERY LOW budget. i would recomend this derailler to someone who needs on temporarily until they can afford a better one. If you can you are beeter of to save your money and get something better, particularly SRAM, whose derailleurs actually shift and work properly for more than 3 hours! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Stock on my 1996 GT Ricochet - D'Ornellas Bike Shop (1996) | | Strengths: | Durabilty, weight, colour and crisp shifting. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore LX (bottom pull), Shimano Deore LX (top pull). | | Bike Setup: | 1996 GT Ricochet | | Bottom Line: | This front derailleur came stock on my 1996 GT Ricochet that I got on October 15,1996. It was a trouble-free derailleur that I used along with the stock Shimano Alivio 42/32/22 crankset. I opted to replace it for a Shimano Deore LX bottom pull derailleur and a Sugino 44/32/22 crankset.
Bottom Line: I still have this derailleur in my extra parts box to this day. While I used it, it was trouble-free with crisp & clean shifts for 1,000's of kilometers. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jay bulanadi
a Cross Country Rider
from philippines
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | scan, kauswagan, paraclete | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$11.00 | | Purchased At: | avk, philippines | | Strengths: | shifts fast..... really fast..... | | Weaknesses: | its hard to adjust, but once you had it mixed in correctly, there'l be no problem | | Similar Products Used: | deore front | | Bike Setup: | custom xc hardtail | | Bottom Line: | this derailleur works perfectly... all you ppl who complain about this component have yours installed incorrectly... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Blaine k
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary Alberta Canada
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | good ones | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike shop | | Strengths: | I havn't had any strength problems yet | | Weaknesses: | I havn't had any weeknesses problems yet | | Similar Products Used: | lots | | Bike Setup: | Rocky mountain flow 2.0 with marzocchi dj pro | | Bottom Line: | its a peice, i keep on playing with it and the chain rubs on it no matter what, there isn't enogh clearence on the gide without having the chain rub, i've had this bike for two days and it's already screwed (good thing for warrenty)
The bottom line is take your money to a different deralleur
this isn't even good for begginers. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josiah Elliott
a Weekend Warrior
from Wheaton, IL, USA
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | dunno | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | shifts right on time occasionally | | Weaknesses: | usually a bit of lag shifting, need to get it adjusted... or learn how... | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Giant Iguana 2002 | | Bottom Line: | don't but just buy deore or better | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Choctaw, OK, USA
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | nudraper | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$14.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bike Shoppe | | Strengths: | Price and shifts when I want it to. I really like the bottom pull/top swing design. | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Deore, Tourney | | Bike Setup: | 2004 KHS Sport, Mavic x221 rims, Acera Rear Freehub, SR 7 spd cassette, Acera EZ Fire shifter pods, stock v-brakes, Alivio FD, Prowheel 42/34/24 crankset. Wheels handbuilt by yours truly. | | Bottom Line: | This is so far the best front derailleur I've put on this bikd. The stock Tourney was a piece of junk and the Deore I got on ebay for cheap had too long a cage for the crank size. It shifts fine and is quite responsive. The top swing/bottom pull design is great. Of course, this is a front derailleur, one of the few instruments on a bike where high end/low end doesn't make much of a performance difference. I think most of the problems people have are related to poor adjustment/installation/placement or bad shifters. This is a great front derailleur for XC or anyone looking for a good value or replacement derailleur. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Colin Clayden
a Downhiller
from Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | o'dell xpert trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Stock on Haro Esacpe | | Strengths: | Shifts up when you want Shifts dow when you want. | | Weaknesses: | None that I have noticed dont understand why its getting such bad ratings..... | | Similar Products Used: | deore front derailleur I found it worked ALOT worst! | | Bike Setup: | haro escape 8.1 with maxxis high roller 2.5's | | Bottom Line: | It shifts down 2-3 seconds after you click the shifter (with rapid fire shifters) smooth both up and down I have had no problems with the alivio but have had problems with deore front derailleurs.
5 FLAMMIN' CHILLI'S | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg Dawson
a Weekend Warrior
from Thunder Bay, Ont.
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Scribbler | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Came on bike | | Strengths: | the only strenght is the cheap price. | | Weaknesses: | this thing gets jammed up and bends very easily, when i pedal backwards it shifts. | | Similar Products Used: | acera (even worse) | | Bike Setup: | 2005 norco bigfoot | | Bottom Line: | don't buy this derailleur, if it came with your bike upgrade it immeadiately. I'd suggest an LX or XT. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steve giles
a Weekend Warrior
from macomb twp,mich, usa
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | local trails | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | well u need a front der if u go trail riding don't you? | | Weaknesses: | well going downhill makes think if the bike will go to the gear i want to go?or getting stuck between gears or ghost shift,doesn't always shift at high speed.i weigh 162 pounds it seems that my weight causes it to not shift at times.heavy,cheap, going in garabe can when i get xt on my bike | | Similar Products Used: | none really | | Bike Setup: | 2004 gt i-drive 2.0 besides xt front soon everything else stock will change everything to xt-xtr-reba team w/poplock-fox rp3 shock only thing left not change is the frame | | Bottom Line: | well if u like to go ride on anything else besides downhill or racing for fun will not work at all shifting drives me nuts funnt noises at times from this der. but i guess it could be used for replacement der for a dept store bike who plans riding around their neighbourhood or around a skate/bike part area.dirt it sucks big time i hate it so much i got a new xt over a rock hard seat that causes me to walk like a cowboy over the fact the shifting sucks with any kind of weight as i said i weigh 162 pounds.might work with small children on their bikes but a 160 pound man and the weight makes it shift weird go fuigure? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Petaluma, CA , USA
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Annadel | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | um, it usually works. | | Weaknesses: | seems like anytime I am really crankin it uphill and need to drop to the small cog, that suddenly something happens. So that is naturally a bid downer, nuthing like losing your momentum when you are really chugging up some small rocky single track. | | Similar Products Used: | shimano LX or XT don't remember which. | | Bike Setup: | Mostly stock '04 Marin Rocky Ridge | | Bottom Line: | only using because they came with the bike, a fund has already been started form some XTR gear though. So basically don't buy it, if you actually use the bike like it was meant. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
waD
a Weekend Warrior
from asdsad
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Good derailleur for price. Not much to expect...for a piece of cheap derailleur. | | Weaknesses: | well....i do ONLY urban commuting...and it can't even shift onto the next biggest chaingring...have to push the shifter for like 2 seconds. Hate alivio. Want XTR. cannot AFFORD XTR. | | Similar Products Used: | Fake sh!t | | Bike Setup: | nrs 3 | | Bottom Line: | well...if you don't give no sh!t 'bout your front derailleur, buy this baby. It ROCKS FOR NO SHIFTIn'.
Shimano, please make a shifter that at least shifts.
I still love your high-end stuff though... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Al
a Cross Country Rider
from Garden City, MI
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | yes | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | Decorative function of making it look like you have a front derailler | | Weaknesses: | Adjustment screws don't actually adjust the thing, doesn't shift, chain will downshift to smaller rings on any sort of impact | | Bike Setup: | K2 Zed 3.0 hardtail, XT rear (and soon to be front) der., other upgrades, etc. | | Bottom Line: | This thing's worse than a flaming bag of poo on your front porch. It doesn't shift into the next largest ring unless you hold the shifter in, and then you even have to hope like hell that it works. Ordinarily, that'd be a simple matter of adjustment. Problem: the adjustment screws don't do anything at all. Try as you might, you cannot get this thing adjusted. This der. also is crappy enough to allow the chain to jump to a smaller ring every time you hit anything more than a 6" drop. I don't know why, but if you hit a drop, the impact will be enough to make the thing shift to a smaller ring.
The bottom line is this: Don't buy this thing, and if it came stock on your bike, get rid of it and spend the $40 or $50 and get something better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Will
a Cross Country Rider
from Arkansas
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | The Ride | | Strengths: | I really can't say I know of any real strengths with it. I know it shifts when I want it too without any problems. | | Weaknesses: | It did fine right out of the bike shop for about a day. I then would not shift from med. to high very well, would grind and after clicking shifter twice it would finally go in. I looked it over good and found that is wasn't parallel with the chain and gears. I loosened and twisted the whole thing on the frame around to where it was. I didn't move it just a little bit and then barely tightened the cable up on it and presto, it works great now. | | Bike Setup: | OEM from bike shop. | | Bottom Line: | I believe it to be a reliable component. At least for me and my riding around town and some offroad. I have put quit a few miles on it now though and works fine. I think that maybe the bike shop didn't look it over that good before it went out the door. Like some has said the adjustment screws on it don't do a whole lot, they just keep it from shifting up or down too far. I think placement on the bike frame is a factor to really look at when trying to adjust it if needed. It gets the job done for me though. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Anagnostou
a Weekend Warrior
from Indianapolis, IN USA
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Orig Equipment | | Strengths: | Shifts seemlessly (what more can be said). | | Weaknesses: | None so far (not the lightest for those counting grams) | | Similar Products Used: | Deore | | Bike Setup: | Haro V3 (2003) | | Bottom Line: | No probs whatsoever. Shifts are crisp and easy- even under pedaling load starting climbs. Cannot comment on long-term reliability yet. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rubén García
a Cross Country Rider
from Madrid (Spain)
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Every XC | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | I forgot it! | | Strengths: | Price- value, reliable, durability. | | Weaknesses: | I don’t find anything, Ok, but I don’t find many differences between these things | | Similar Products Used: | STX-RC, Deore, LX | | Bike Setup: | My old self-made Chromoly Tange bike, with a mix of Shimano Alivio, STX-RC and Deore | | Bottom Line: | My comment is for the 2000 version (with the big A). It works; I had no problems with it, makes his job.
As I said, I can’t find many differences with these things, for me all work very similar. After 3 years, it is looseness and flex, but works.
I’m very happy with it… Maybe I can’t be really critic, because I don’t pay attention to this component.
Sorry for the writing mistakes!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from Suwanee, GA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Galyan's | | Strengths: | Shifts alright when on flat ground | | Weaknesses: | A pain to shift when under load of any kind. It has got to go before i kill somebody. | | Bike Setup: | Stock Hawk Hill | | Bottom Line: | It came stock and I pretty much figured I would have to change it, o well don't mind putting a little money into my bike. Doesn't work that great and it tends to be a pain. I haven't had my bike very long and am just trying to break it in, but the Alivio has got to go. Don't buy this individually, spend a couple more bucks and get a Deore or better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Cross Country Rider
from Chapel Hil, NCl
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | It seems to move back and forth (a little). | | Weaknesses: | The whole thing. | | Similar Products Used: | Didn't pay much attention, they just worked. | | Bike Setup: | 04 IBEX Ignition-2 | | Bottom Line: | This derailleur is a joke. It has 2 adjustment screws. One of the screws moves it in and out a tiny bit through half of the screw's adjustment range, then does nothing. The other screw just does nothing. The derailleur does not have enough range of travel. That would be a good function for the 2nd adjustment screw, if it did anything. And who knows? Maybe through the workings of the derailleur fairy it was intended to do just that. Anyway, if you have it adjusted so it works properly with the inner chainring, it doesn't shift onto the outer one, and vice versa. The only way to adjust it to work on either ring is by pulling it into the desired position by hand before tightening the cable. You can kind of get it to work halfway if you spend hours playing with it and only if it's in a specific gear on the rear. Change gears in the back and voila!.. it doesn't change gears properly in the front anymore. So basically, you shift the front derailleur where it should be to go into the gear you want in the front, then you change gears in the rear until the chain goes where you want it in the front. A brilliant system. It would be a terrible value if it was $1 because it doesn't work. I give it 2 chilis overall because at least it hasn't broken (yet). Maybe it was just designed to work on the ever-popular bike with 2 front chainrings. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Genital Apparatus
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 13, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Etobicoke Creek, Urban Trials | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Duke's On Queen | | Strengths: | Well, it sits there, and it derails the chain when I click the shifter. | | Weaknesses: | As stated above, it moves the chain when I tell it to. I know of no weaknesses with this product. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Acera. | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Specialized Hardrock Pro, RaceFace handlebar and stem, Shimano drivetrain. | | Bottom Line: | I can't possibly give this component a bad review because it does it's job without hesitation or complication. It came stock with my bike, and I have only had to fuss over it to get it cleaned. Other people may complain that it's hard to install or adjust, but I didn't find it all that difficult. Great product, but I don't care much for the manufacturer it represents. It loses one toasted pepper overall because I don't like Shimano. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Drew
a Cross Country Rider
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Er...none. This came as stock and I'm amazed I'm only changing it now! | | Weaknesses: | Grunts, groans, grinds and doesn't shift | | Bike Setup: | GF Marlin Disc with SPDs (mostly stock but currently upgrading) | | Bottom Line: | This mech has cost me hours of futile fiddling when I could have been riding! Despite numerous adjustments (the screws appear to be completely ineffectual) this will not shift from med to large chainring. It is also shown to be wanting by the flawless performance of the Deore rear mech. Quite why I have not binned this for an XT at £20 is beyond me - maybe I regarded it as a challenge or am I just a masochist. Anyway, don't make the same mistake as a naff front mech can seriously screw up the performance of your bike (for such a small component) and you all-round fun. Don't but and get rid if stock. Maybe OK for 7spd set ups hence the 2 chilis | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Hayton
a Racer
from Tokyo
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Y's Academy, Tokyo | | Strengths: | When I left the shop it was working ok. The rest of the groupo seems to be ok. | | Weaknesses: | I rode the bike(a Giant Great Journey 2) 15km home after buying it yesterday. Now it won't shift from the middle to the upper ring, even after hours of adjustment. Adjustment screws do nothing. Grinds horribly on outer ring. | | Similar Products Used: | Deore LX groupo, with XT II thumbshifters. Way better. | | Bike Setup: | Giant Great Journey 2. Fat aluminium frame, Alivio gears all round. RST suspension forks. Will be using on the road mainly. Gonna cycle round Japan on it, but already have very little confidence in front derailleur. | | Bottom Line: | If you are a casual weekender Alivio should be fine, otherwise go for DEORE or CAMPAGNOLO. This is my first touring bike after spending a good amount of time off-road and I need it to last for hundreds, if not thousands of miles. I don't expect wonders, but this is not good enough. If you need to rely on your parts for long rides upgrade immediately. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chas
a Cross Country Rider
from Nashville ,TN
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | stock | | Strengths: | Works fine now.Cheep | | Weaknesses: | Very time consuming to set up at first.Three diffrent guys at my LBS managed to do it over about 30min. | | Similar Products Used: | Most types Demoed. | | Bike Setup: | Mostly Stock Fuel 80 | | Bottom Line: | Works great for now.Will upgrade to XTR when it fails.Suggest test rideing at LBS after they adjust then continue to return after each ride to have them adjust it properly.I stopped counting after 5 rides... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
KP
a
from Fairfax,VA
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Durable, cheap, reliable | | Weaknesses: | Slow shifting | | Similar Products Used: | Deore, LX, XT, SRAM X.O | | Bike Setup: | 01 Hardrock A1 FS | | Bottom Line: | Its no SRAM X.O but for the price its an excellent value. In the year and half that we've (my husband and I share the bike) been riding the bike, its only needed one adjustment. Its not the fastest shifter but it hasn't failed us yet. Keep it clean and lubed and you've got yourself a winner. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pierre L'Archevéque
a Cross Country Rider
from Laval, Québec, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | stainless steel | | Weaknesses: | The pivot goints get used up easily making the whole derailer cage wiggle and rattle as you catch little bumps here and there ont the road or trails. I have the 1998 model. I changed it in 2002 because it got so loose that it could only shift up and down two chainrings instead of all three of them. You should seriously consider upgrading to a front Deore XT. | | Similar Products Used: | DeoreXT, Deore, Alivio, acera, sis, | | Bottom Line: | You should definately upgrade to a better front because the durability of the alivio front derailer is pretty much NOTHING. IT's Similar to the cheapest. GET A DEORE XT< IT's WORTH THE EXTRA BUCKS. A front derailler is a very important part of a bike so it should be taken seriously.
GET A GOOD ONE. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brandon Haley
a
from Springdale, Arkansas, USA
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Factory on bike | | Strengths: | Cheap | | Weaknesses: | Won't shift to outer chainring without considerable grinding. | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy it to put onto a bike. You will be greatly disappointed. It shifts poorly and you can get chain rub. Shimano is a good company but this part is just too cheap. If you plan on buying a bike with it, plan on upgrading to at least a Deore. It's a shame that bike companies use this cheap piece of metal. For only a couple of dollars more, bike mfg could use Deore and save the customer one upgrade in the future. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig
a
from Forney, TX
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Weaknesses: | Pure junk! Would not shift into top gear straight out of the box and still won't after hours of adjustments.. . | | Bottom Line: | UPGRADE!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bruised
a Cross Country Rider
from Roch cha cha
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | OEM | | Strengths: | Lasts forever | | Weaknesses: | Lousy shifting | | Similar Products Used: | Suntour | | Bike Setup: | GT mutt | | Bottom Line: | This derailluer lasts forever and is bullit proof. I've used the same derailluer for over 5 years. Don't count on being able to keep up with your buddies using this derailluer, however. It just does not want to shift onto the granny regardless if its adjusted right and you pedal as slowly and softly as you can. Upshifts are acceptable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a
from Frankfort, KY, USA
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Has been completely dependable, shifts well (when adjusted correctly) | | Weaknesses: | Rubs chain sometimes | | Similar Products Used: | old nasty bad Acera, another Alivio | | Bike Setup: | stock '01 Specialized HardRock A1 Comp FS | | Bottom Line: | What in the world do all those people do to their Alivios? Take a chainsaw to them? I have not had one ounce of problems once I got it adjusted to my liking. Of course, I'm not a diehard racer, but you gotta be realistic. I keep it clean and lubricated, and it awards me with fluid shifting every time. If it crunches, well, stop pedaling hard while shifting! No derallieur will shift well if you're forcing it so hard.
Also, check the average flamin' chili score for an Alivio front...2.71. Average for an LX front...2.78. So why does everyone complain about these when apparently the LX is not much better? I'll keep mine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam Firth
a Cross Country Rider
from Truro, Cornwall, UK
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere interesting | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Local bike shop [CMC] | | Strengths: | Cheap, works most of the time, and sometimes well. Pretty quick when new, and clean! | | Weaknesses: | Locks chain accross top 2 rings quite often. i've broken 3 this way as the chain wraps 'round and jams in the cage. My FOURTH one is doing OK though, but only because i've learnt to pedal real slow and look when i shift at the front. And, yes i have had the rings changed. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Hardrock ['01] A1 Alu frame, Alivio transmission with LX rear mech, Manitou SixSuper forks, Deore rear Hub [not so hot], HS33s hitting D521s....and so-on | | Bottom Line: | Don't complain if you get one fitted with a new bike..they work OK. Noone i've talked-to has them jam as much as i do, it's even happened when i lent the bike to a friend to ride 'round --so for once its' not my fault! Jamming kills the piviots, and though you can unbend it; it'll get really loose.
Not what you'd want to race on, or depend on for travelling long distances. I guess it's just a fluke, seems to function ok 90 times in 100 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a
from surrey,uk
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Bottom Line: | Came on my Kona. I should stress that this is the "top swing" design which looks neater than the "conventional" style but as i found out is nowhere near as durable due to shorter pivoting distances meaning greater forces on the bolts (leverage is reduced).
Anyway, it never worked too well - very slow shifting especially from bottom to middle (yes, i do know how to adjust these things).
developed a rattle after about a year that got worse and sorse but shifting was not affected.
finally examined the derailleur and the bolts holding it together were *VERY* loose - it had about 5mm play left to right. replaced it with an (XT conventional design) and never looked back
3 flaiming turds cos i think its quite cheap
2 overall cos i expected it to last longer and shift better plus i think this is a floored design whihc should be abandoned.'nuf said. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Cylinder
a Cross Country Rider
from USA
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | The Bone | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Wheels | | Strengths: | Looks good, up shifts well, works great with 8-speed. | | Weaknesses: | Downshifts a little slow if not pedalling at high rpm. Not too bad though. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano C101--terrible, nothing more to say about it. | | Bike Setup: | Haro Escape 8.2 (Red/Black 19.5”): Manitou SIX Comp (100mm); Avid disc brakes (f&r); Shimano LX rear derailleur; Shimano Alivio shifters and front derailleur (8-speed); ProMax brake levers; TruVativ 5D Cranks; SRAM 5.0 cassette (8-speed 11-32T); Shimano IG51 Chain (8-speed); Alex DM18 Doublewall rims (32H); Intense 2.25" CC tires; Haro disc hubs, handlebar, stem, and seatpost; WTB Inner Peace ST headset, and Speed V Comp saddle. | | Bottom Line: | I love this front derailleur. It came stock on my bike and I do like, though I will probably move up to LX soon just because front derailleurs are so cheap and easy to upgrade. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Weekend Warrior
from Prince George
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | It's so cheap. | | Weaknesses: | Shifting is weak, misses gears all the time,and if it gets dirty it gets REAL picky about when it wants to work. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XTR | | Bottom Line: | If your bike comes with Alivios, get 'em upgraded. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Gears | | Strengths: | upshifts fast | | Weaknesses: | downshifts can take a while, downshifts are inconsistent (some are fast, some are slow), occasionaly jams | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Kona Stuff | | Bottom Line: | I'm going to upgrade to a Shimano Deore soon, good if you don't want instantaneous shifts, | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Luke
a Cross Country Rider
from Northport, AL
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Sokal Park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Cycle Path | | Strengths: | It shifts well if tuned correctly | | Weaknesses: | It has very slow unprecise shifting. It dosent stay tuned for long. If you want to down shift you better have a long straight away | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano SIS | | Bike Setup: | Stock Trek 4500 | | Bottom Line: | I would not recomend it. Although it works ok you shouldnt think of buying one to put on your bike. For 17.99 go to Pricepoint.com and buy a Deore Front derailleur that works 50 times better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Will
a Cross Country Rider
from Beaverton, Oregon
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | won't tell | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | -solid shifting
-needs little adjusting (if you know what you're doing) | | Weaknesses: | -cheap materials
-ugly | | Similar Products Used: | -STX, XT, XTR & Acera | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose DX 4.0, stock Jetts, LX cranks, PC-59 chain, Deore rear der., Avid Single Digit 10 brakes w/ 1.9 levers and a ton of Topo stuff to make a very awesome mtn bike for touring, commuting, and riding around town. | | Bottom Line: | I was initially going to upgrade to an LX fr der but realized I wouoldn't see much of a performance difference and held off till it just crapped out on me. Well..., it crapped out on me. The cheap materials have given way and a couple of the bolts have stripped out.
I ride this bike hard (lots of big-ring mashing on the uphills) and would recommend that you pay the money for LX and above. If you're a sole commuter or an occassional recreational rider, these are great. Even a step up to Deore would be good.
Oh what the hell, get out and ride and don't listen to me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nate The
a Weekend Warrior
from Nacle,NJ,US of A
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Peddler's Shop in Deptford NJ | | Strengths: | gets the job done, just might take a while | | Weaknesses: | -grinding
-occasional jams | | Similar Products Used: | Craptacular pieces of work | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4500 (2001)-factory setup | | Bottom Line: | All around good deraileur, the people that talk about it grinding I know exactly what you mean and if you get it tuned up once and a while it should do just fine, you get what you pay for and in this case i paid for an alright piece of machinery and that is exactly what i got. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CarltheBold
a Weekend Warrior
from Montgomery, AL
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Only grinds on 2 of the 3 rings | | Weaknesses: | SHIFTING! | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4300--slowly upgrading components (especially this one) | | Bottom Line: | I bought a low-end Trek (great bike) and I ride the hell out of it. This front derailleur is garbage. A couple hard rides and it now takes serious coaxing shifting up to the big ring. Forget shifting from the middle to granny ring under load. ANY shifting on the front ring takes a lot of patience--I shift and then eventually the bike does too. No one in their right mind is going to buy one, but if the bike you buy already has it, then my advice is to fork out another $50 and not EVER let this component leave the store on your bike. NOT THE RIGHT COMPONENT FOR AN ATB BIKE!! I give it ONE flaming poopie. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Pa
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Cheap
Works | | Weaknesses: | Grinds
Cheaply made
Needs constent adjusting | | Bike Setup: | Gt Agressor 1.0 | | Bottom Line: | Good for road use, i dont suggest it for any thing else. Dirt and mud can really mess it up. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Christian Walch
a Racer
from Weiden, Germany
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Looks nice before you start using it. | | Weaknesses: | On the 3rd day (easy riding, shifting while going slightly uphill), the (perfetly adjusted) derailler jammed the chain between the left and middle sprocket, rendering the middle sprocket useless. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX 500 (old but still doing its job) | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Sugar 4 (2001) out-of-the-box. | | Bottom Line: | Unreliable shifting, and jams the chain between sprockets (believe it or not!). Bottom line: Not recommended. Upgrade it asaib (as soon as it breaks), or better, if you have the choice, choose a bike that comes better equiped.
Sorry Mr. Shimano, but this piece of cr+p does not deserve a good rating. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a
from Surrey
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | erm....works for a while if you keep it swimming in oil | | Weaknesses: | mine broke after 11/2 years of lightish use, will not work with any kind of mud/grit/water in it. doesnt change to middle ring despite HOURS of adjusting. grinds like f**k.
rattles, floats around on its pivots after no time at all | | Similar Products Used: | LX, Deore - both much better | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Kona NuNu, Z4s, orbit xtreme headset, arch rivals, v8s, soon to have XT front mech | | Bottom Line: | mine came stock on my bike. if youre getting a bike with one of these on, id keep it for a while then bin it as soon as it starts wobbling cos its all downhill from there. DO NOT upgrade to this P.O.S., you WILL regret it!! pay a bit extra fopr the deore one at least cos thats q good. im now getting an XT one thats not a top swing design cos theyre meatn to be much more durable.
ill give it a 3 for value cos it came onmy bike but a two overall cos its so sh*t | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CXpeter CXpeter
a Weekend Warrior
from Australia
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Oaks Fire Trail Blue Mountains Australia | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | EASY TO REMOVE SO U CAN GET TO THE GARBAGE BIN QUICKLY | | Weaknesses: | THIS DERAILER CONSISTENTLY CRUNCHES GEARS AND JAMS THE CHAIN | | Similar Products Used: | SHIMANO EXAGE LX500 on 1992 Specialised Rockhopper WHICH WAS A MUCH BETTER DERAILER | | Bike Setup: | NEW GIANT ATX 840 (AUSTRALIA) | | Bottom Line: | HAS MADE THE BIKE INTO A REAL HEADTURNER AS EVERYONES LOOKS TO SEE WHAT ALL THAT HORIBLE CRUNCHING NOISE IS WHEN U CHANGE GEARS. WITH THE SLIGHEST OF PRESSURE IT REFUSES TO CHANGE AND ON MANY OCASSIONS WILL JAM THE CHAIN THIS CERTAINLY TAKES THE FUN OUT OF RIDING. WILL LOOK TO UPGRADE TO DEORE OR HIGHER. NO ONE SHOULD BUY THIS PRODUCT IF ITS ON THE BIKE U BUY.. UPGRADE IT B4 U LEAVE THE SHOP | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve S.
a
from Terrace, British Columbia, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | It works, just sorta slow... | | Weaknesses: | - Grinding sound
- slow shifting to 3rd ring | | Similar Products Used: | - Shimano Deore
- Shimano Acera | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Norco Charger (stock)
http://www.norco.com/bikes/charger.htm | | Bottom Line: | It's quick going to my 2nd ring but not my 3rd. That doesn't really matter though because I won't have a 3rd ring any longer.
I suggest anyone who only uses 1 or 2 rings to use this but anyone who likes using their 3rd ring, buy something a little better or keep this on in MINT condition. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pritch
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol, UK
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | yep. | | Weaknesses: | nope. | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM 5.0 (rubbish, so far), XTR (not mine!) | | Bike Setup: | Marin Nail Trail '99, plenty of changes | | Bottom Line: | This has never let me down, and I've hardly touched it in two years. The people who say it won't work even if they've fiddled with it are problem making it worse themselves. I'm running it on STX-RC four-bolts and chainrings and apart from the odd twang it's as smooth as a baby's behind. Solid product | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ric Singh
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Kananaskis Country | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | The Cyclepath | | Strengths: | Good solid design, shifts quite well as its supposed to | | Weaknesses: | A little heavy but if weight is not a concern for you then don't worry. | | Similar Products Used: | Tourney, Altus, Acera, Deore LX | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Giant ATX 840 w/ LX front, Hayes mech disc brake and soon to be updated forks and crankset | | Bottom Line: | Geeze people. If you buy a product for what you intend to use it for then it works fine. Just like anything, if you abuse it, it will break. Wipe it down every once and a while and keep it lubed and its works fine. I found that the shifting was a little too slow for the type of riding that I do so I switched to an LX which shifts amazingly quick. If you don't mind.....it doesn't matter......if it works for you...then keep it. Its an all around good quality piece of machinery. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brad
a Cross Country Rider
from Stanton,UK
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Came on Bike | | Strengths: | Clamp works right at least, hasn't fallen off the frame yet. Would be good on a downhill single chainring bike. | | Weaknesses: | Biggest pile O' Crap to ever wear the Shimano name. Ghost shifts like mad, Why does this thing have adjustment screws when they do nothing? Heavy, Doesn't work, need I go on. | | Similar Products Used: | Deore,LX, XT, XTR | | Bike Setup: | 01 Barracuda Matrix. | | Bottom Line: | Came with the bike, why do I have an alivo front D on a bike with XT shifters and Rear D anyway? Upgraded to an XTR Front after the Alivo self destructed while trying to eat the chain. I rate this 1 flamin' turd or lower. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Kerr
a
from Kobe, JAPAN
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Burbank Bike Shop, CA | | Strengths: | is nice and sparkly when clean. | | Bike Setup: | Standard 2000 Hard Rock FS with Arch Rival 50 Fr & Rr Avid Speed Dial 7 levers. soon to be adding Shimano XTR Front Derailleur. | | Bottom Line: | After multiple re-adjustments, the derailer does not want to shift to the lowest gear. Im rather sick of this. Prior to buying the bike I read multiple people suggesting that it should be replaced. Im doing so now.
3 chili for value - it came with the bike.
1 chili overall due to it simply not working as it should.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gaoo
a Weekend Warrior
from Quebec
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Bromont | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | tough as hell (can broke it)
shift pretty well | | Weaknesses: | heavy (very)
slow to downshift -check your housing- | | Similar Products Used: | Deore, LX, Acera | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6500 ZX, Psylo SL 2001, XT rear, LX brakes, Bontrager cockpit | | Bottom Line: | I cahnged all on my bike cause I ride a little hard (hehe), but the alivio front is still working great.I used it for one year, and my brother broke one Deore (half inche play) and one LX (twisted on shifting!). Can get away this derailleur! Anyway, I will change to XT or LX | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Livonia, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: October 14, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Contrary to what others say, I find this derailleur very effective, it responds when I shift, and that's what it's supposed to do. | | Weaknesses: | I've only had one problem, and all it was was that the shifting was a little bit slow - nothing big. | | Similar Products Used: | No clue. | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Giant Iguana SE. | | Bottom Line: | Basically, this derailleur does it's job, nothing more, nothing less, I haven't found any problems with it thus far, so I have to give it a 5. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jens meijer
a Racer
from Kollum, friesland
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | schoorl, The race course in norg | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | came with the bike | | Strengths: | Cheap, works and lasts the distance (well mine does) | | Weaknesses: | No rebuilds possible, use it, wear it out and thrash-can it | | Similar Products Used: | XT, LX, sachs centera, acera x, suntour | | Bike Setup: | Alloy batavus frame, fsa headset, ubisco crancs, acor stem and barends, shimano pdm 515 pedals, gripshift (sram now) shifters, stx rc rear alivio front derailleur, alesa rims, stx hubs and best of all NO SUSPENTION | | Bottom Line: | The alivio derailleur is fitted to the bike i use for training, beer/pizza runs and going to the shops. This bike dousn't get the love and atention my racer gets (a modified BeOne weblite) but the derailleur dousn't seem to mind. I have used this set up for over five years now through all of the crap weather my country is blessed with (The Netherlands incidently) and the alivio is still working like new. Well kinda, its nowhere near as smooth and fast as shimano's high end offerings, but it is way cheaper. It has developed some play now, so its probably near replacement. Five years of use is not bat for something that cheap, mine gets four (count em) flamers (after reading the other reviews i guess i got realy lucky with mine) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Ny
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | they work, sort of. Really cheap. | | Weaknesses: | weight, bad (especially when forced) shifting. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Atlus( also is real bad) | | Bike Setup: | Shiny new Rockymoutain Fusion. | | Bottom Line: | This a real cheap front derailler. It really does'nt work too well at all.
Final word: Save up 35$ and get a Shimano XT or XTR | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dirt Sled
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane, Australia
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Planet Earth | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Mine works fine..
Cheap..
| | Weaknesses: | none (seriously)
| | Similar Products Used: | LX, XT... yadda yadda... | | Bike Setup: | Avanti Barracuda, 00 Judy XC's, Chubby bars, shorty Stem,
Velocity Synergy rims, LX everything (bar front der)... | | Bottom Line: | I dunno.. I must've got a REALLY GOOD one or something..
It came stock on my bike and I had always assumed it would not last long... I was soooo wrong!
It has now been going for over two years.. It has NEVER, EVER been tuned! It has NEVER missed a shift (even under heavy load) and I neglect this little sucker like nothing else on the bike. I had planned on replacing it anyways..
BOTTOM LINE... I THRASH IT.. NEGLECT IT.. AND IT LOVES IT..
WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT..
I just don't get it?!? They must've put the wrong graphix on mine or something.. ;P
When it breaks... I'm going to frame it and hang it on a wall.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jason
a Weekend Warrior
from canada
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | wrandees | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | it works? looks decent, durable, cheap | | Weaknesses: | cheap,its got a lot of problemsin the shifting department, It won't even shift on any type of incline, I have to readjust it constantly, doesn't want to shift in rough sections either. | | Similar Products Used: | sun race front deraileur, STX-RC front | | Bike Setup: | 1998 Raleigh serengeti LX, STX-RC, Alivio, White industries/Sugino crank, Z5 Bommer, centera shifters | | Bottom Line: | Look elsewhere for a solid performing front deraileur, I was dissapointed with it from the day I got it, as soon as i get some money its goneas was the fate of the rest of the alivio crap that came on my bike. Though I do have the 1998 version on my bike, i hope the 2000 ones are better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
the patriot
a Cross Country Rider
from cos
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | yes | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | looks like other deraliars, hey but it was a cheap way to stock a front der. | | Weaknesses: | doesnt work | | Bike Setup: | 2000KONA | | Bottom Line: | first id like to thank kona for stocking this quality rock on my cinder. the performance is out standing if you like to push your shifters for fun. down shifting is good going up takes one push and then another then it finally responds.
really dont know why anyone would be reading this cause most people dont upgrade to super sweet alivo. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
buck wild
a Weekend Warrior
from staples, mn
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | oregon trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | none, this is rubbish | | Weaknesses: | Shifts like crap, can never get it adjusted right. | | Similar Products Used: | Deore lx (demo) | | Bike Setup: | 99 voodoo hoodoo | | Bottom Line: | This thing is crap. When I got the bike it wasn't shifting right so I thought it was set up bad. What I didn't realize was this thing is just garbage. I got it to shift a little better but now I have to suffer and hear my garbage KMC chain rubbing on the derailleur. I think its impossible to adjust this thing correctly. It belongs in a garbage can right with my KMC chain. I am switching to sram with a sachs chain and be rid of problems forever!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bladteth
a Cross Country Rider
from Lodz, Poland
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | + price | | Weaknesses: | - low durability
- tendency to catch a play
- low performance under load | | Similar Products Used: | TY (works better!), XT | | Bike Setup: | Giant Terrago '98 (with few upgrades) | | Bottom Line: | Frankly speaking, I am not some crazy racer and I do not ride my bike to the limits, but I have to say that this derrailleur is a plain failure. After some 1000 km a play appeared and it only got worse with time. Moreover, it cannot be fixed in any way. In this matter my old TY performs a lot better. Therefore if you ride a bit more than average better stay away from Alivio in front. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Worboys
a Weekend Warrior
from Truro,Cornwall,England
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Poldice valley | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | hmmmmm......
oh, cheap | | Weaknesses: | crap, doesnt shift well under load
doesnt shift | | Similar Products Used: | XT | | Bike Setup: | two wheels. gears. brakes. | | Bottom Line: | it works well if its not being used.
if theres any pressure on it, it won't shift, then it'll suddenly jump down, crunching up the chainrings, and the chain will probably drop off too.
Its not adjustment either, I've spent hours fiddling 'round with a screwdriver trying to get it working.
The XT may be more expensive, but its worth the money
no-one should buy this | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben Jensen
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Forks, ND, USA
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Andrews Creek (ND Badlands) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | I sure can't find any. | | Weaknesses: | The product itself. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX
Shimano XT | | Bike Setup: | '99 Gary Fisher Kaitai | | Bottom Line: | This product is not cool at all. It came stock on my bike, and I have hated it from the beginning. I am replacing it with a Shimano XT as soon as I can. I'm in college, or I would have all ready. This derailluer nevers wants to shift smoothly. They're nothing worse (other than crashing) than chuckin' along having fun, and then not being able to shift smoothly when you need to. I pretty much hate this part. Don't ever buy it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jesus K. Levy
a weekend warrior
from Mexico City, Mexico
Date Reviewed: December 24, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I think that these is a nice derrailleur to use on the road, but I keep having trouble shifting while off-road or under load.Your thumb gets really stiff while shifting. No matter all the adjustments done, I still don't get it right.Nice design, but performance should be better for the price. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don
a cross-country rider
from New Jersey
Date Reviewed: August 17, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Horrible product...came with my '98 Specialized as a way for the company to increase the bottom line. It'll shift fine on the road in low-torque conditions, but take it onto east coast singletrack (lots of rapid but short elevation changes)and its crappy characteristics come out. The derailler won't shift from the middle into the small ring under any type of load. I've got it set up with a Sachs chain and a Spec'd Strongarm crank (Sugino rings) right now which might make a diff, but the derailler certainly doesn't inspire confidence every time I approach a hill... | | Overall Rating: |
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