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Submitted by
Ricksom
a Racer
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Shifts as you would expect from Shimano. Easy to get replacements. | | Weaknesses: | Shifting ability falls off dramatically in heavy, wet mud riding. This is due to the weak internal derailleur spring and large looping cable housing connection. | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM 9 and SRAM XO | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain Element 50 (stock) | | Bottom Line: | Rode in a 3 day stage race that was full of standing water bogs, deep mud, and water crossings. Starting miss shifting and ghost shifting after the first day. Those racers with SRAM did not have as many problems. Highly recommend using the Avid Rollamajig and Avid Flak Jackets with this derailleur in nasty conditions. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
decipher
a Weekend Warrior
from Athens, Greece
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$66.00 | | Strengths: | Shimano Deore XT "Shadow" RD-M772-GS:
My first and previous mech was a low normal LX. Although on occasion I still find myself struggling with the opposite shifting direction over the LX - I find the low normal shifting direction more natural and intuitive - the XT delivers as promised in every other way: crisp, fast and precise shifting action, very good chain tension (I am using the mid cage SG version) easy to adjust even when on the bike riding via the shifter cable tensioner, rigid and bang-proof (it survived a hard contact with a branch that got pulled by the spokes at high speed). Low profile aside, the B-tension stop is really the highlight of this product, as with it, Shimano finally merges what's good about SRAM mechs, with what's already good about its own mechs to create an excellent product.
Also, quality pulleys and stiff springs. | | Weaknesses: | None, asides that it's not XTR and the long cage version, is well... long (i.e. not too much ground clearance)! | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore LX RD-M580-SGS. I also have experience with the XTR top normal mech. | | Bike Setup: | Relevant parts:
- Shimano Deore SL-M510 shifters (soon to be upgraded)
- 44/32/22 Shimano Deore crankset (soon to be upgraded)
- Shimano XT level chain
- Shimano Deore cassette (soon to be upgraded) | | Bottom Line: | In my opinion the Shadow XT is the best VFM mech you can buy, to the point Shimano had to add carbon to the to respective XTR version to justify the ridiculous price difference. I expect the XTR to be a higher quality product, both in terms of performance and materials/finish, but the XT is what you should go for if you're not a racer and/or weight weenie. I wouldn't bother with anything else, namely SRAM, really.
| Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from North Shore, MA
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Dirt, rocks, roots, you know the drill | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | NS Cycles | | Strengths: | Strong, lasts and lasts, reliable. Relatively low maintenance, but keep it lubed. | | Weaknesses: | None yet, it's 8 years old and about to be retired. | | Similar Products Used: | other Shimano derailleurs | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Specialized Enduro comp, Manitou SIX Elite fork, otherwise stock all around. | | Bottom Line: | I've had the same XT derailleur on my bike since 2000. It gets used hard a lot. I torque my cassette (lx) and work the drivetrain hard and it's survived so far. I've gotten tangled with shrubs and trees, hit the derailleur in rock gardens, on logs, and roots, and it hasn't bent or broken. After 8 years the springs are getting tired and it's not as stiff as it used to be. Has some lateral side to side movement from wear, but I can't blame it. Time to get a new drivetrain setup, am sticking with the same model XT! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from North Shore, MA
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Dirt, rocks, roots, you know the drill | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | NS Cycles | | Strengths: | Strong, lasts and lasts, reliable. Relatively low maintenance, but keep it lubed. | | Weaknesses: | None yet, it's 8 years old and about to be retired. | | Similar Products Used: | other Shimano derailleurs | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Specialized Enduro comp, Manitou SIX Elite fork, otherwise stock all around. | | Bottom Line: | I've had the same XT derailleur on my bike since 2000. It gets used hard a lot. I torque my cassette (lx) and work the drivetrain hard and it's survived so far. I've gotten tangled with shrubs and trees, hit the derailleur in rock gardens, on logs, and roots, and it hasn't bent or broken. After 8 years the springs are getting tired and it's not as stiff as it used to be. Has some lateral side to side movement from wear, but I can't blame it. Time to get a new drivetrain setup, am sticking with the same model XT! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alan Rodriguez
a Racer
from Monterrey, N.L. Mexico
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Bajada de piedra, Chipinque | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Come with the bike | | Strengths: | Everything is good on this piece, Very reliable, confident and very trustable derailleur. | | Weaknesses: | You get tired of seeing the same piece through the years on your bike. | | Similar Products Used: | just XT | | Bike Setup: | Xt front derailleur | | Bottom Line: | Sorry for not putting the price paid but i have never ever paid for a rear derailleur because is one of the only few pieces i have never changed on my last and recent bike. The old M600 Raleigh worked perfectly for 5 years of abuse and finally the bike was sold before i ever replaced the derailleur. With my actual bike a Trek 9.8 carbon (i switched from the initial trek 8000 frame) which is a custom made bike and one of the very little pieces i did not change was my RD-750. It is awesome how it works, better impossible. Due to a crash i had i have to replace it but i go to my bike shop and bent over the leg and still works fine, finally i am going to give it a break and buy a new derailleur. I think i am going for the Rd751 which i have not tried before but i t seems to be as nicest as these old ones. Do not hesitate on buy this piece of art. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Leonardo Horovitz
a Cross Country Rider
from Montevideo, Uruguay
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Works flawlessly. Works quite well even if dirty. | | Weaknesses: | Weight compared to XTR | | Similar Products Used: | Alivio | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6500 2006 | | Bottom Line: | I would buy it again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nicholas Belarde
a Downhiller
from Eureka
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay!! | | Strengths: | -Stronger than LX's
-Lighter than LX's
-Fast and smooth shifting | | Weaknesses: | The pulleys are a little stiff, but not reaally a problem | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX | | Bike Setup: | Kona Roast 2004 | | Bottom Line: | If you can pick this baby up used, I would recommend it over the LX, Too expensive if you buy it new. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
William
a Weekend Warrior
from Burlington, VT
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Passing the Horizon | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Earls Cyclery | | Strengths: | Crisp shifting, reduced cable exposure, no chain slap! | | Weaknesses: | Apparently not low profile enough! | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | '08 Kona Dawg, stock for now. | | Bottom Line: | This is a review for the Deore XT Shadow (M772) long cage.
The derailleur came as standard equipment on my new Dawg, and I was impressed with the shift quality/speed and the lack of chain slap on the rough stuff!
On my first real singletrack ride of the season I roached the inner and outer pulley plates on a fallen branch. Luckily, I slammed my brakes as it hit my spokes and minimized the damage. I chalk it up to bad luck and the huge amount of down trees on this downhill section. I bent it out and made it home...just sad to see my brand new derailleur in a sorry state after a first ride.
I may switch to a bashguard instead of a big ring and go for the med cage next time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a
from Monterey
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Very crsp shifting. Very smooth, but still has that "feel" so you know when you shifted. Low profile is great. | | Weaknesses: | meh. | | Similar Products Used: | x9. | | Bottom Line: | Very good derailleur. Just came back from Folsom, and man was I glad to have this derailleur. Now, 15 mm more clearence doesn't sound like much, but even if it is just a "mind over matter" type of thing, it works. There were numerous boulders gaps that could have easily taken a mech off. No ghostshifting, reliable, but it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
joe
a Weekend Warrior
from ireland
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | chainreactioncycles | | Strengths: | they look savage!..shift very cleanly!... | | Weaknesses: | well nothing so far!:D | | Similar Products Used: | deore,,lx,,older xt, | | Bottom Line: | my one is the short cage and is very good,,,clean quick shifting..its an excellent derailleur...if you are thinking of upgrading go for this!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Nichols
a Cross Country Rider
from Lancaster, Lancashire, England
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | AE Line, AE Forest, Scotland | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | The Edge Cycleworks | | Strengths: | Quick, Clean, Crisp Shifting, Looks awesome, easy to set up, much better than my old LX and not to expensive | | Weaknesses: | None to date!! | | Similar Products Used: | LX, Deore | | Bike Setup: | XT 772 Shadow, Deore Cassette, Sram PG951 Chain, LX Front Mech, LX Chainrings, LX Cranks and BB, Deore Shifters and Brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Excellent, If your going to upgrade then definatly go for this | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Reading, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: December 24, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Blue Marsh Lake | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | This is for the XT 772 Shadow model. My bike is in a state of flux as I get money for parts and such. The first thing I did was upgrade my drivetrain to full XT parts. The shadow had just come out and I really liked the idea of a low profile 'SRAM-like' shimano offering. My current Deore had been giving me problems because of my heavy riding style and I'm glad to say that in the time I've had the shadow those issue are gone. It was easy to install and needed very little setup out of the box. I'm running an 8 speed rear at the moment and it has no issues at all there. It meshed well with my overall riding style and setup too. I LOVE this thing! It even looks good. My only gripe is that there isn't a barrel adjuster on the derailleur itself, but that wasn't an issue as there is on my shifter pods. I also love the fact that I don't have a mile of trailing cable loop to snag on branches. | | Weaknesses: | Minor gripe: No barrel adjuster, but that would add to the cable looping I think. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore. Generic crap. | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose Rockadile CroMo frame. (Sucks, but was free!) Deore XT front, Shadow Rear derailleur. Rock Shox J1 fork. Acera combo shifter pods (8 spd) Avid SD-7 Rim brakes. Generic wheelset. Race Face Evolve XC crankset | | Bottom Line: | Excellent derailleur. Well worth the price, and a major improvement over the previous iterations. No problems yet. Minor gripe over the barrel adjuster, but I think I will live just fine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Roger Ramjet
a Cross Country Rider
from Canberra
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | it changes day to day | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Chain reaction | | Strengths: | Doesnt bash my chainstays like my old XT derailleur used to. Typical shimano durability. | | Weaknesses: | shamless copy of SRAM - lazy Shimano! | | Similar Products Used: | XT, LX, Deore | | Bike Setup: | shimano XT drivetrain | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the new, scarily named 'shadow' derailleur. Its low normal and looks scarily similar to SRAM, it shifts to lower gears faster and smoother than my old XT der, and sits closer to the frame so less potential for damage. Definitely an improvment on the standard design, and its all aluminium so it wont snap (like XO or XTR) but does it perform as good as XO? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Weekend Warrior
from College Station, TX
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Bluff Creek Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | crisp, smooth shifting, no ghost shifting, great in all 27 gears. greater chain tension than previous models | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX | | Bike Setup: | Leader hardtail, XT FD & RD, LX crank/BB, LX rapidfire shifters/brake levers, sram cassette, BB7's, mavic wheels, egg beaters. | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the 761, top-normal model. This derailleur is a huge step up from my old 570 LX model. The chain tension is a lot better, shifting is far quicker and smoother, and I don't get any missed shifts or ghost shifts. This derailleur works great with my LX 580 crankset. Shifting under power is incredibly crisp. I highly recommend this derailleur. It is a great lower-price alternative to XTR, X.0, and even X.9 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Neuhaus, Germany
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | All | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$48.00 | | Purchased At: | Radau Fahrradladen GmbH, Auerbach DE | | Strengths: | 2008 XT M772RD SGS - Sturdy design, light, solid build, low profile. | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 7 speed, Deore, XT M761RD SGS | | Bike Setup: | Custom home build - Swiss dual suspension Frame by HM Bikes, 2008 XT drive train (11-34 & 44-32-22), disc brakes | | Bottom Line: | Had nothing but trouble with my 2007 XT M761RD coupled with Deore 9 spd shifter. M761 did not hold up well to rough use and was bent easily. This new 2008 XT M772 seems built better and the design makes more sense. I like the lower profile and lighter weight and the abscence of an adjusting barrel on the unit lends back to old school simplicity (KISS). Will see how it endures in the folowing weeks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Trey
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, Co USA
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | It shifts when you want it to. It doesn't shift when don't. Lasts forever. Few fundamental design changes over the years. | | Weaknesses: | The cable loop is vulnerable to snagging on rocks, sticks, etc. The `08 XT "Shadow" fixes this, but it took Shimano about 4 years to catch up with SRAM in this respect. Give them credit though- they did catch up and now the cable line is clean with no loop. | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM x9, Shimano LX, countless other iterations of SunTour, Shimano, and SRAM | | Bottom Line: | Look, if you have ghost shifts it's because your cable isn't tight enough or is too tight. Everyone who writes to MTBR complains about ghost shifting has a problem with their cable, not their DR. They've probably already fixed this and haven't bothered to post a follow-up review saying it was their fault not Shimano's. (Or possibly it's a worn chain or a worn cassette- but most likely it's cable tension. The bottom line is it ain't the XT derailluer.) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Kuhl
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Mission Trails as a whole | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$85.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | It can stand a good beating, mine gets pounded by rocks relentlessly | | Weaknesses: | Upshifts are crap when it gets dirty so you need to exercise preventive maintenance on this one | | Similar Products Used: | Deore | | Bike Setup: | TREK 3900 w/ full XT drivetrain/shifters/, Mavic Crosstrail wheels, Avid BB7 185mm discs/SL levers, Marzocchi MX Pro fork, Maxxis Crosstrail tires, Bontrager Race X-LITE stem/bars/seat/post | | Bottom Line: | It needs some pampering and regular cleaning for such a sturdy derailleur, but all in all it's not that bad and definitely a good overall value. Once it gives out I've got an '08 XT Shadow that's ready to take its place. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joel
a Racer
from phoenixville
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike line, warminster pq | | Strengths: | It shifts and it shifts well, relatively light, can take a real beating. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | sram xo, older xt, sram x7 and xtr | | Bike Setup: | f600 nothing stock | | Bottom Line: | I have used this thing fo rmore than 3 years and other than having to make adjustments after hard crashes this thing just keeps working. I have used it in more than 40 races and hundreds of rides and many hard crashes, and until yesterday had no problems at all. I finally have to replace it due to a crash from a direct hit from a boulder to the der. IMO, 3 years no problems...I will definately buy a new one! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a Downhiller
from ACT
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | majura | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | its good when it works | | Weaknesses: | I think i bent my derailler hanger. The shifting was great but now the hanger is bent. Hopefully the derailler is still good. | | Similar Products Used: | Deore | | Bike Setup: | Bighit etc | | Bottom Line: | I hate the cable curve at the back. If anyone has suggestions to make it not so apparent (ie massive loop that catches on everything) please email me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Fedosov
a Racer
from St. Catharines
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | anything flowy | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Shifts seamlessly in every condition if you take care of it. | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | little of everything | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F800, Lefty fork, Mavic rims, LX drivetrain with XT rear. | | Bottom Line: | The XT rear derailleur came stock on my cross country bike. I've run it in a million races now, and even in the MOST horrible conditions it shifted with out problems. I don't take the best care of my bike, but I clean with care and have it serviced regularly. I don't find a need for anything more expensive! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lowell
a Cross Country Rider
from Brunswick, ME
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Bradbury mountain, GIN | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | performancebike | | Strengths: | Works, and lasts FOREVER | | Weaknesses: | It's 8 years old, I can't complain. | | Similar Products Used: | New Deore, SRAM X9 | | Bike Setup: | 1997 Jamis Dakar Sport, nothing stock: Manitou Skareb fork, Crossmax/Crossride wheels, lx front derrailleur and shifters, avid/XT v brakes | | Bottom Line: | This derrailleur has lasted me 8 years with no problems. Every other part from the 9 speed upgrade as been replaced, but shimano deserves its reputation, and especially for the XT. Has never been taken care of, only adjusted and cables replaced once or twice (again, in 8 years) and it shifts like new. Unless Shimano screwed up the newer version, XT is the way to go. If you can find an old one for cheap, buy that. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ethan Dull
a
from Jay, VT USA
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | SECRET | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Firsttrax, VT |
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