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Shimano STX Front Derailleur

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# of Reviews 93
Average Rating 2.62/5
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Description: Shimano STX Front Derailleur



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    Submitted by andy a Weekend Warrior from el cerrito, ca
    Date Reviewed: September 11, 2006
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Strengths:does the job just fine now. fast smooth shifts & no problems
    Weaknesses:not a weakness of the product per se, but 3 ring front derailleurs really need to be set up by someone who is an expert in order to shift as they should. Mine worked OK on the bike as delivered, but with a bit of trouble here and there. I recently found a bike mechanic who did some tweaking including bending the cage a tiny bit. Now the thing shifts perfect every time. I am willing to wager that with many people who have had trouble with front derailleurs, the fault of the install/adjustments and not the component.(there are very few with good ratings here)
    Similar Products Used:Deore, Tiagra
    Bike Setup:Santa Cruz
    Bottom Line:I was ready to try and get another type because mine was marginal in its performance. With a bit of tweaking from a really good mechanic, it now shifts perfect every time.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by ron a Cross Country Rider from estonia
    Date Reviewed: June 20, 2004
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Strengths:still works
    Weaknesses:not very fast
    adjustment
    Similar Products Used:acera-x, alivio, deore
    Bottom Line:it works okay with old 7-speed sytems, but it cant be adjusted to work perfectly (on my bike).
    it doesnt work fine with 9-speed system, it thorws the chain off sometimes and it cant be adjusted to work right
    Value Rating:2Overall Rating:2

    Submitted by Hank Jien a Weekend Warrior from South Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
    Date Reviewed: May 30, 2003
    Favorite Trail:South Surrey Atheletic Park
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Purchased At:(came with bike)
    Strengths:-durability
    -quality
    -little maintainance
    -fast shifting(if adjusted right)
    Weaknesses:(none)
    -the bolts may wear if you over tune it
    (for this just take it to a shop, YOU'LL ONLY HAVE TO TUNE IT ONCE FOR LIKE A YEAR OR MAYBE LONGER, SO IT'S WORTH IT, EVEN I SAID THAT)
    Similar Products Used:Shimano Deore and those Shimano OEM stuff
    Bike Setup:Merida Matts Slick Rock, LX drivetrain, 2001 Marzocchi Z5 100mm coil, LX hub built onto Mavic M400
    Bottom Line:Just get it!(if you can find one, I am not sure)I have had this derailleur for 6 years now and the last time I tuned this was in Nov. 2002. Today is May 30 and it's still working like a beauty. Mine is the STX RC. I only like lubed this once in six years. This may be old but after it's well tuned it works like a BEAUTY! WHEW AH AH! SAAAAAWEEEEEET PRODUCT.

    I will recommend this product to anyone from racers to freeriders, although I haven't tried XTR's. I am sure it will work well with any setup. Keep it on your bike if you still have it. Just remember to get a skilled mechanic to tune it or you'll strip a bit of the bolt off if you over tune it.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Brian Kelly a Cross Country Rider from New Orleans
    Date Reviewed: February 26, 2003
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Strengths:Cheap, works good enough for me
    Weaknesses:a little heavier (but not much) than LX
    Similar Products Used:lx
    Bike Setup:Been on my old hardtail, now on my 26" cross/commute/touring bike. Wife has one on her mtb as well.
    Bottom Line:Well, I've had this derailleur for nigh on 8 years now and have had very few, if any, problems that I could blame on the derailleur. When mounted and adjusted properly, I have never had any problems with it. Handled N. Georgia clay, New England mud, and now sloppy cross course (w/ 46T ring) with no problem. Maybe I've just been lucky...who knows? For a straight forward, utilitarian derailleur this has worked fine in my book. The only time its misbehaved has been when the drivetrain as a whole has been a mess. Under these conditions, I doubt even XTR would function properly.
    Now, I'm not saying I don't notice difference between the shifting of higher end groups and this simple STX unit. But, its not so bad as to make me want to give it the old heave-ho.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Travis a Weekend Warrior from Dallas,TX
    Date Reviewed: February 17, 2003
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Price Paid: $15.00
    Purchased At:With Gary Fisher Bike
    Strengths:Shifts well until...
    Weaknesses:...after many uses the cage will get loose. Makes shifting under stress almost impossible.
    Similar Products Used:Shimano LX/XT
    Bike Setup:GF with Marz Atom 80, shimano eq.
    Bottom Line:Upgrade at any time to LX or XT. Even if you have no need now, you will eventually.
    Value Rating:3Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by guy a from boston
    Date Reviewed: May 7, 2002
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Strengths:it doesnt spontaneously burst into flames and explode
    Weaknesses:it does jsut about everything else, except shift correctly
    Bottom Line:this is a p.o.s. If your bike came with it, take it off and throw it into a vat of molten metal. It shakes it rattles and it fails to shift. It broke two chains of mine and still wouldnt down shift...so i got another one...brand new, out of the box, bike shop installed, it failed to shift correctly once again and three rides later that familiar shaking and shiftless front derrailer was back. The lx i replaced it with has been working well so im happy for now...
    Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Kevin Richardson a Weekend Warrior from Saskatoon, SK, Canada
    Date Reviewed: August 15, 2001
    Favorite Trail:Any
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Strengths:Inexpensive, reliable
    Similar Products Used:LX, XT
    Bike Setup:Kona Lavadome w/ XT drivetrain
    Bottom Line:I have the bottom-pull model.
    After reading all the negative reviews I'm wondering what the problem is. I've had this on my bike for 5 years and it has NEVER put the chain on the frame, or onto the crank. It shifts quickly and accurately everytime. I will be replacing it with a new XT when it wears out, but that's mostly to match the rest of my drivetrain. Anyone who is complaining about this derailleur needs to learn how to adjust it properly. I don't know how much improvement I'll see when I put the XT on because this derailleur does the job perfectly well - whether it's going up a big-ass hill or cruising on a paved path.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Jeff a Weekend Warrior from Fremont, CA, USA
    Date Reviewed: June 1, 2001
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Strengths:Accurate shifting. Strong and stiff. Easy to maintain. I just use it and forget about it.
    Weaknesses:I really can't complain about this product even though it seems like everyone hates it.
    Similar Products Used:XT, XTR, Alivio
    Bike Setup:Cannondale SuperV
    Bottom Line:This came standard on my bike which I had for two years now. Of all the components on my bike, the STX front dr is definitely one of the easiest to maintain parts. Aside from setting the adjustment screws I had not trouble with it. In fact, I am just as happy with it as my XT front dr on my freeride San Andreas. I ride hard and abuse my bike. The XT rear der. craps out more than the STX front der. For those who are having trouble, spend some time to adjust it. Just because it's a STX doesn't mean it is crap as some people prejudged anything lower than LX grade. STX rocks the price performance ratio.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Greg a from Dundas, Ontario, Canada
    Date Reviewed: April 21, 2001
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Strengths:shifts up okay, I guess
    Weaknesses:Lets see....doesn't shift down properly to the middle chainring if you're putting any pressure whatsoever on the pedals, can't be properly adjusted (even by the bike shop), scratched my frame
    Bike Setup:99 rockhopper
    Bottom Line:This thing is completely inadequate if you do any trails that have hills (unless you enjoy shifting down long before you need to). It cannot shift down into the second chainring unless you are putting VERY minimal pressure on it. This der. came with my bike, and has been a pain in the neck ever since. I'm relegating this p.o.s to my pile of broken components...where it belongs.
    Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by dave a Racer from canada
    Date Reviewed: March 12, 2001
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Strengths:NONE!!!!
    Weaknesses:This FD clamp broke when I attempted to tighten the clamp! Not much FUN!!!! I have never even heard of a clamp being broken while tightening!!!! Is there anyone else out there with a similar story!!!!?????
    Bottom Line:TTHIS THING SUCKS!!! BORKEN CLAMP!!!! HOW CHEAP CAN ONE GET!!!! NEVER AGAIN!!!!
    Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Jeff a Cross Country Rider from Albuquerque
    Date Reviewed: October 27, 2000
    Favorite Trail:Otero Canyon
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Strengths:Inexpensive...
    Weaknesses:poor shifting performance
    Similar Products Used:old deore stuff, LX
    Bike Setup:Rockhopper, mostly LX, Marzocchi fork...
    Bottom Line:This derailluer just hasn't cut it - it shifts well from the middle to the big ring and back but it has lots of trouble from the middle to the small. It likes to hesitate and if you over compensate on the adjustment you lose the shift speed from the small ring to the middle - so pick your poison. I've tried every adjustment possible including setting the der. cage all the way down to the rings, changing the toe adjustments in and out - nothing works, so I've lived with this thing until I can upgrade it to something better - soon I hope!
    Value Rating:3Overall Rating:2

    Submitted by Evan a Weekend Warrior from US
    Date Reviewed: August 15, 2000
    Favorite Trail:Any and everything
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Strengths:Price, Lasting, little maintenence...when you are off the trail...atleast
    Weaknesses:try going downhill, over rocks, roots, the usual, then shifting once you are near, or at the bottom, watch how your chain wraps itself around the drive crank...what fun it is trying to unravel that one on the middle of the trail.
    Similar Products Used:alivio, lx deore
    Bike Setup:1999 rockhopper a1 fs, soon to be equipped with Rock shox Sid 99 SL, xtr rear and front derailleurs, and a new seat...good times will be rollin'
    Bottom Line:buy a bike with these, then buy an xtr for $80, or XT, well worth it, i'd say
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by Eric B a Weekend Warrior from New York
    Date Reviewed: April 6, 2000
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Bottom Line:It does what it's supposed to do. It derails the chain. Same exact design as LX and XT except for some minor weight difference. I'm satisfied with it.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Felipe a Cross Country Rider from Flagstaff, AZ, USA
    Date Reviewed: April 4, 2000
    Favorite Trail:most local trails
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Strengths:Never had any serious problems. Minor adjustments are easy to do. I've had the same derailleur since '96. (Stock component on my bike.)
    Weaknesses:None really. STX is middle of the road. As stated in other posts, "You get what you pay for".
    Similar Products Used:I can't even remember, I've had the same bike for so long.
    Bike Setup:'96 Specialized Ground Control. Still mostly stock, except Shimano SPD 626's, Bar Ends and other minor miscellaneous additions.
    Bottom Line:I have no real complaints. 5 chilis for durability and 5 chilis since I haven't had to buy another yet. I have hundreds of miles logged on the same one since '96. I just thought I might be the 77th person to post a review on this product.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Joe a Weekend Warrior from NC
    Date Reviewed: December 29, 1999
    Duration Product Used:
    more than 3 years
    Strengths:
    cheap; works fine
    Weaknesses:
    can't think of any
    Similar Products Used:
    Can't remember, I've had this one for so long I can't remember what was on my last bike. (no joke)
    Bike Setup:
    Marin hard tail. LX/XT components. Judy SL shock.
    Bottom Line:U guys that gave this thing a bad review must be on crack!! or have no idea how to set-up your bike. I've had mine for over 6 years and it still works fine and I've put it thru some hard riding; 3 years in New England and 3 in NC. Granted its not an XTR but u get what u pay for.
    Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Kyle a Cross-Country Rider from San Antonio
    Date Reviewed: December 25, 1999
    Duration Product Used:
    less than 1 month
    Strengths:
    Cheap
    Weaknesses:
    Cheap.
    Poor design.
    Bike Setup:
    Pretty much stock Proflex 2000
    Bottom Line:It works. I had to take a pair of pliers to it to eliminate chain rub. This is an EXTREMELY cheap component. So I am not too terribly worried about replacement cost.3 jalepenos for working, -1 because I had to modify it in order for it to do its job right.
    Overall Rating:2

    Submitted by greg a Weekend Warrior from chicago IL
    Date Reviewed: December 18, 1999
    Favorite Trail:
    any
    Duration Product Used:
    6 months
    Strengths:
    came with the bike
    Weaknesses:
    came with the bike
    poor shifting
    dies after 6 months
    Similar Products Used:
    several
    Bike Setup:
    Specialized FSR mostly stock setup
    Bottom Line:When I first bought the bike, I loved the thing. The front derailleur gave me troubles the minute I tried changing to a bigger gear. Slid the chain right off the large chain ring, which I fixed with setting the screw properly. Before 6 months were up though, the der just died on me. I took awesome care of this bike, completely cleaned, lubricated, kept indoors!!! Der froze on me. Bike shop was like what did you do to it? I'm sorry if riding and shifting causes a front der to die like that. Maybe I should stop all together. If this der is on your bike, pay the extra 30-40 and get a better der.
    Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Craig a Cross-Country Rider from Vancouver, Canada
    Date Reviewed: October 26, 1999
    Favorite Trail:
    KVR
    Duration Product Used:
    1 Year
    Strengths:
    Came with bike
    Weaknesses:
    Didn't even last a year
    Bike Setup:
    98 Specialized RockHopper FS, Indy C
    Bottom Line:This front derailler didn't even last a year on my girl friend's bike! Wouldn't shift up or down.... Gave up on it. Had the LBS give it a shot, no luck. Replaced it with a LX and problem solved. Front deraillers dying in less than a year?!?! My 10 year old Suntour 9000 is still working!
    Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Thomas a Weekend Warrior from Seattle, WA
    Date Reviewed: September 6, 1999
    Favorite Trail:
    Capitol Forest
    Duration Product Used:
    6 months
    Strengths:
    reliable
    Weaknesses:
    Lots of throw
    Similar Products Used:
    STX-RC, XT
    Bike Setup:
    98 Moab 2
    Bottom Line:I've heard lots of lousy reviews about this one. But other than a huge amount of throw, this thing is actually pretty good. I think it's only thrown the chain once, it's always smooth and consistant and I hear they're dirt cheap to buy separately. I don't know, maybe I just got a good one?!
    Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by Rommel a Weekend Warrior from Cleveland Heights OH
    Date Reviewed: August 29, 1999
    Favorite Trail:
    Does it really matter ?
    Duration Product Used:
    1 Year
    Strengths:
    Shifts when I press the shifters even when going uphill
    Weaknesses:
    chain rubbed the cage 'til I adjusted it
    Similar Products Used:
    I could tell you but then I would have to kill you
    Bike Setup:
    Raleigh M-80 nothing glamorous
    Bottom Line:Hey, I know this thing isn't an XT or an XTR but it has performed for me on an off road, up hill and down in all seasons (I like to ride in the winter, something we have a lot of here in Cleveland). The STX works well enough if you keep it clean and adjusted. I've had it for 8 months, adjusted it twice about six months ago and it hasn't needed it since. Degrease about once a month lube about twice a month. Wipe it off after the messy rides and it's good to go. I don't worry about weight. I've got no need to impress anyone. I just like riding my bike. Oh yea, I put a small washer between the lower cage bolt sides to stop the chain rubbing against the cage. A minor difficulty taken care of in about 10 minutes Basically, its a solid piece of equipment. And from what I've read on the LX and XT front de's I may just get an STX-RC when I upgrade to a new rear derailler
    Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Joe a Cross-Country Rider from -
    Date Reviewed: July 5, 1999
    Favorite Trail:
    -
    Duration Product Used:
    2 Years
    Strengths:
    It shifts
    Weaknesses:
    ? I've never found any serious ones.
    Similar Products Used:
    Every Shimano group.
    Bike Setup:
    Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, from 97 with Grip Shift. It does make a difference.
    Bottom Line:Never replaced it, rarely ever adjust it. Works fine.
    Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Jason Baim a Cross-Country Rider from Durham, NC
    Date Reviewed: June 28, 1999
    Duration Product Used:
    less than 1 month
    Strengths:
    Relatively solid equipment. Nothing fancy.
    Weaknesses:
    A bit heavy. Very difficult to find new anywhere. The LX is probably a better bet for about the same $$.
    Bike Setup:
    '97 Specialized Rockhopper A1 FS.
    Bottom Line:Seems to work just fine after a month or so of use. Not terribly precise, but it's working fine.
    Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by Groovy Baby!! a Downhiller from Mars
    Date Reviewed: June 21, 1999
    Duration Product Used:
    3 months
    Strengths:
    not at all!!!
    Weaknesses:
    too MANY to say!!!!!
    Similar Products Used:
    my hands
    Bike Setup:
    bicycle
    Bottom Line:i would rather use my hand than using this piece
    of rusty metal!!!!!
    go home to ya home in the scrap metal factory!!!
    Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Palmer a Weekend Warrior from Singapore
    Date Reviewed: June 21, 1999
    Duration Product Used:
    3 months
    Strengths:
    SOMETIMES it shifted ...
    Weaknesses:
    hard to adjust
    does not shift smoothly
    always rubbing against my chain
    it scratch my frame!!!Argh!!I HATE SHIMANO!!!!
    juz a piece of junk!!!!!
    Similar Products Used:
    Taiwan made stuff which is
    alot more times cheaper and
    better than shimano!!!
    Bike Setup:
    RH A1 FS with shimano crap stuff!!!
    Bottom Line:Shimano Mega Drivetrain should be renamed
    Sh*tmano Mega Sh*t DriveMeCrazyTrain!!!!!
    the shifting is not smooth at all!!!makes alot of sound
    and most importantly...it cause me to scratch my beautiful frame!!!
    this crappy junk deserve a place at Hall of shame!!
    and why must i give it one rotten chili!!!
    IT DON'T EVEN DESERVE A USED CONDOM!!!!WA HA HA HA HA
    SHAME ON YOU SHIMANO!!!!!
    DO A BETTER JOB OR CLOSE DOWN UR ROTTEN COMPANY!!!!
    Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Jason a Weekend Warrior from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
    Date Reviewed: June 20, 1999
    Favorite Trail:
    don't have one
    Duration Product Used:
    less than 1 month
    Strengths:
    Well, it's better than the Shimano Tourney f. derailleur on my old bike.
    Weaknesses:
    It's hard to adjust, does not shift smoothly, it has an awful hard time trying to get the chain onto the middle chainring no matter how you adjust it, and I bent it up when I shifted and backpedalled(my fault, but it's not too strong).
    Bike Setup:
    '99 Specialized Rockhopper A1 FS
    Manitou Spyder
    (all out of the box)
    Bottom Line:Not too bad, not too good either. Once you have the adjustments done, it's not too bad. 3 stars for working properly most of the time.
    Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by JP a Cross-Country Rider from Hull, Quebec
    Date Reviewed: June 17, 1999
    Favorite Trail:
    Gatineau
    Duration Product Used:
    3 months
    Strengths:
    Sometimes it works!
    Weaknesses:
    Usually does'nt work!!
    Similar Products Used:
    Other derailers that are actually crappier than this one!!!
    Bike Setup:
    Giant ATX 970 with rapid fire LX shifters.
    Bottom Line:Ever get stuck in the mountains without a granny gear. Good workout - produces salty language. Peice of crap. Needs constant adjustments. I'll be changing it soon (or commit hari kari). Hope I have better luck next time. Any suggestions? Gave it 1 chily - sometimes it works! To the guy with the gripshift - its not the shifters.
    Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by J. Spencer a Weekend Warrior from Rocky Mount, NC
    Date Reviewed: June 11, 1999
    Duration Product Used:
    1 Year
    Strengths:
    Cheap
    Works great as a friction shifter
    Weaknesses:
    Not so good as an index shifter--requires careful set up
    Occasionally gotta finesse the shifter like an old style front deraiileur
    Similar Products Used:
    Shimano Alivio
    A variety of nonindexed old Suntour, Shimano, Simplex, Campy and Huret changers
    Bike Setup:
    Trek 920
    KHS Montana (1983)
    Bottom Line:Bought my first one to update my KHS. This bottomloader works well as a friction shifter with the original and replacement triple rings. The toploader took about an hour of fiddling to get accurate shifting with the Trek's gripshift. Haven't had to finesse it since, but once or twice
    it dumped the chain off the big chainwheel. Good for an upgrade on old bikes, otherwise not up to serious play.
    Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by Andy Kestner a Cross-Country Rider from Ballston Lake, NY
    Date Reviewed: June 8, 1999
    Favorite Trail:
    skidmore
    Duration Product Used:
    1 Year
    Strengths:
    It at least worked when i first got the bike
    Weaknesses:
    It just sucks. you can screw around with it as long as you want and even if you set it up just right it will work badly again before you know it.
    Similar Products Used:
    Xt Lx
    Bike Setup:
    Fisher Hoo koo, manitou Sx-r, kore,
    Bottom Line:if you ride at all seriously get rid of it. at school my bike is mostly transpo. so it doesn't matter so much, but....when it matters i realize that it is junk. it can never find the small chainring and most of the time to shift you have to go past the gear (grip shift) and then crank it back to where it belongs. i thought it was the crapy grip shift but they work fine with Xt rear. just fine though if you aren't that serious and don't have the cash to upgrade.
    Overall Rating:2

    Submitted by Moose a Cross-Country Rider from Norman, Ok
    Date Reviewed: May 27, 1999
    Duration Product Used:
    6 months
    Weaknesses:
    Heavy, un-realiable, evil
    Similar Products Used:
    Altus C 20
    Bottom Line:STX is unrealiable. I nuked it riding on the road! Yes, I did take care of it and oil it and it is still BAD. Don't take it on a trail far from civilization or you will be stranded.
    Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Alex Bilibin a Cross-Country Rider from Lynnwood, WA
    Date Reviewed: April 27, 1999
    Favorite Trail:
    Former Canadian 4x4 Trails
    Duration Product Used:
    more than 3 years
    Strengths:
    Tough component. Good for beginners.
    Weaknesses:
    More adjustments needed when got older. Gets very stubborn when wanting to shift.
    Similar Products Used:
    Shimano SIS
    Bike Setup:
    REI Novara Arriba
    Bottom Line:Great derailleur, and is worth its price. Beginners will like using this derailleur.
    Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Mr. Bigglesworth a Cross-Country Rider from Ontario
    Date Reviewed: April 14, 1999
    Duration Product Used:
    1 Year
    Strengths:
    Price
    Weaknesses:
    Everything else
    Similar Products Used:
    Shimano LX
    Bike Setup:
    '98 Fisher Big Sur, XT rear, STX-RC shifters, Indy XC
    Bottom Line:Love the entire bike but the STX front. Doesn't shift into small cog even when adjusted correctly. Time to jump up to XT which i have tried and liked. I guess it's good for casual XC riding but if you want to race like me, you want precision and no mis-shifts
    Overall Rating:2

    Submitted by Phil... a cross-country rider from Alaska
    Date Reviewed: January 18, 1999
    Bottom Line:

    I have compared the alivio, STX, and acera derailleurs of the top swing variety, and there is very little if any difference between them... they are all lame.
    They don't shift down if there is even a single iota of pressure behind your padaling stroke. SUX.... They also rattle like cheap tin cans, a sound I could live without.
    I give them a single pepper. Since I had to replace it to get my front to shift to the smaller chainrings. (Currently I use an STX RC of the old bottom swing design. It works quite well, and is of the same basic design and similar construction as the more expensive LX).
    Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Seano a cross-country rider from watertown, ma
    Date Reviewed: January 8, 1999
    Bottom Line:

    I had an STX front on my 97 Gary Fisher until this week when it broke in half. It shifted OK, but not great and took a fair amount of abuse over 3000 miles. I am upgrading to an XT because the 98 product is on sale for $16 at Colorado, but I have to agree with some of the other reviewers that front deraileurs don't vary all that much as you pay more. I got over 2 years and a lot of miles out of a $15 dollar product and you can't complain too much about that.
    Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by Aram Cipolini a racer from tropicalia
    Date Reviewed: January 5, 1999
    Bottom Line:

    i bet all you people that actually take time to review a component as useless as a front derailuer, wouldn't even be able to tell the difference between an XTR or an acera-x. Same shit, one lasts longer than the other. That if anything is the only advantage $429873 frnt derailures have over the $20 ones.
    Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Gerry a weekend warrior from Winchester, MA
    Date Reviewed: January 4, 1999
    Bottom Line:

    When I first got my Cannondale Super-V with the STX-RC front derailleur, I agreed with most of these reviews that it was really worthless. Then I got the Shimano installation instructions and adjusted it myself, rather than relying on the dealer, and it performed a lot better. It still dropped off the granny gear once every few rides, but lubricating the chain would fix that for 2-3 1-hr. rides. Then I got Pro Link lube for the chain, instead of Pedro's Extra Dry, and it has been smooth as silk ever since, about 6 hrs of riding so far. (I'll review the lube after a few more rides.) Clearly there is more to smooth shifting than just the derailleur. So, I'll give this 4 flamers, not 5, 'cause it still doesn't shift well under power. I don't know if XT or XTR would be better (my dealer says not), but there SHOULD be one out there that is a little less picky.
    Overall Rating:4