Submitted by
PJ James
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol Date Reviewed: April 28, 2007
Favorite Trail:
White Level Wales
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
chainreactioncycles.com
Strengths:
Cheaper than XTR, Light Should work perfectly with Sram kit
Weaknesses:
Doesn't work with Sram chain, mech, shifter setup
Similar Products Used:
XT and XTR
Bike Setup:
Yeti ASR SL Full XO normally with XTR cassette
Bottom Line:
Great shift on 6 out of 9 smallest cogs. Just doesn't want to know about the big 3. Everything is new and triple checked by mechanics as i thought i was going mad, but no, it simply doesn't work across the block. I can have the top 3 working perfectly or the bottom 6 which is obviously unacceptable.
The more people i've asked the more the reply has been a spacing issue with the cassette. This seems the likely answer but doesn't seem possible from Sram. This is my first ever cassette but i've only used their stuff since Xray and had no problems.
I will return it and get an XT or XTR as they have always shifted perfectly.
I may have been unlucky but it's a weeeknd without the bike and the sun is shining.
Only buy if you get a decent return option. Otherwise stick with Shimano
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Fritz Vladich
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson, AZ, USA Date Reviewed: February 8, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Arizona trail(santa Rita section)
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$32.00
Purchased At:
Price point
Strengths:
Price
Weaknesses:
Heavy, not a perfect match with Shimano
Similar Products Used:
stx, LX, XT
Bike Setup:
Voodoo Canto, Marzocchi, Race Face, Avid, Xt Drivetrain, Sram pc 59 chain, Tioga dh 2.1 Easton stem and Bar
Bottom Line:
0 miles ridden. I purchased this with a new XT r. derailer. i spent a total of two hours trying to get the derailer to shift correctly, then my riding buddy spent another two hours trying. Finally he says he's thinks it might be the fault of the cassette and pulls out a new XT he had sitting around. Five minutes later the thing is shifting better than ever. After inspecting the too side by side we concluded that the problem had to do with the spacing of the three smallest cogs on the Sram(the chain would skip cog #2, an indexing problem). Maybe a brand new chain would have made it easier but the one I have is less than two hundred miles, but might have enough wear from being on a shimano cassette previosly to not math up with the Sram. Save your money and frustration go with a proven winner the Simano XT. If it ain't broke don't fix it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Michigan Date Reviewed: February 12, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
Perfomance Bikes
Strengths:
Cheaper than XTR and shifts cleanly.
Weaknesses:
Bent 34 tooth cog. Almost 40g heavier than XTR (300g vs. 262g). Hard to find in stock. Big jump between the last 2 cogs.
Similar Products Used:
SRAM 7.0, XT, XTR
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Jekyll, Mavic/Chris King, Raceface ISIS Next LP, SRAM PC-99 chain, Hayes Hydr., XTR 02'
Bottom Line:
I'm hoping the bent cog is a fluke but I went with this cassette to avoid that exact reported problem with the XTR. But it might be a manufacturing defect after reading the other reviews on this site. Outside of the bent cog, the cassette is great.
The cassette performed and shifted cleanly in all but muddy conditions. I'm using the SRAM PC-99 chain which, in my opinion, is the best chain on the market and I think that makes a big difference in shifting (I've broke my fair share of hyperglides).
I have sent the old cassette back to SRAM but haven't found out yet if they will replace it. In the meantime, I spent the extra $23 on an XTR cassette and will have to deal with the extra maintenance.
I've had good experience with the XTR cassette, but if you're looking to save some bucks, go with an XT for about $10 cheaper than the 9.0 until SRAM addresses the problem with the outer 34 tooth cog.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
matt simkins
a Racer
from chico, ca Date Reviewed: January 7, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$70.00
Strengths:
Shifts well
Weaknesses:
Fragile
Similar Products Used:
LX, XT, XTR, 105, ultegra
Bottom Line:
This products sucks. After several months, two cogs bent, and a tooth broke off. It doesnt fit shimano hubs with out a special 8 speed spacer. From personal experience, I would avoid all Sram products other than their shifters. Only shimano has managed to make durable cogsets.
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Submitted by
Stephan
a Racer
from Munich, Germany Date Reviewed: November 7, 2002
Chain slips dangerously when using power on the two biggest cock wheels. Impossible for me to go steep uphills. I had to replace the brand new item after a few weeks. I'm 180 pounds - light riders possibly won't have these problems.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim
a Racer
from New Zealand Date Reviewed: June 18, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$75.00
Strengths:
Good value. Lighter than XTR Shifts better than xt
Yet again Sram produces a good that is better than Shimano at a lower price. After great success with sram chains (break Shimano - never broken sram) I thought id give this a try. Its cheap, light, looks wicked and with a sram chain shifts better than shimano whether it be wet or dry. Top Stuff - worth buying.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ricksom
a Racer
from Toronto, Canada Date Reviewed: May 27, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Good priced value. Nice shifting, even under load. Handles sloppy, muddy conditions well. More resistant to chain skipping with a worn, stretched chain than XT. Stays cleaner that XT.
Weaknesses:
Not readily available. Pricey in some shops who prefer Shimano supplier (or who charge full retail).
Similar Products Used:
XT, LX
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Instinct
Bottom Line:
Great cassette. Can't complain. After one year, I have to say it works better than my XT cassette and XT deraileur on my other bike. With me, I found it works best with an SRAM deraileur and chain. I usually wear out the cassette after one year of hard riding, and 2 chains later. After one year, my SRAM 9.0 cassette is still working fine with no chain skip! Lately, it is starting to sound a little rough, but has outlived my previous XT cassette. Worth a purchase.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim Reid
a Cross Country Rider
from Gananoque, Ont, Canada Date Reviewed: October 6, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
T.I. Cycle
Strengths:
Strong, Light, Cool Design, Cool Looks.
Weaknesses:
Skips if you get any leaves or grass in it, even the slightest bit, and I find the 28 tooth skips under extreme force.
Similar Products Used:
Alivio 8 speed and xt 8 speed
Bike Setup:
2001 supercaliber. built up custom.
Bottom Line:
Sram 9.0 cassette is definately one of nicest cassettes I'v used, its lighter then xtr and probly just as strong, I find if you get any leaves in the teeth it performs poorly even its just on 1 or 2 teeth. its shifts well even better then shimano in my opinion. I don't know why the 28t skips on mine, it only does it when I need it most which is a pain. I thought having the sram chain and deraileur would work awesome. maybe its just 9 speed, 8 speed never failed once, I set it up and rode, never touched it, now with 9 speed i have to set up my shifting after ever single ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Birdman
a Weekend Warrior
from MA Date Reviewed: September 25, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Lynn Woods
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Came on bike
Strengths:
Shifts really well (this is the 7.0 11-34 not 9.0 - I think the only difference is the composite lock ring)
Weaknesses:
It broke like the guy's below. I hate when equipment brakes for "no" reason. Same thing as the other guy - I was pulling a wheelie up onto a rock when about 20%-25% of the second largest ring broke loose. Unreal. Never happened with Shimano. They said they would warranty it but it ruins a ride...makes for a long walk out and takes time to get the warrantied product...end result is I lose riding time. They shouldn't break when there are no impacts.
Similar Products Used:
LX, XT
Bike Setup:
RM Slayer - stock
Bottom Line:
Tough call. Possibly a fluke. It works well but I only had about 5 rides on it when it broke. I'll be nice and give it 3 chillis and may update if the new one holds up any better.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nori
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston, MA Date Reviewed: September 25, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Mr Toads, Tahoe
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Paramount Bikes
Strengths:
Shifts well.
Weaknesses:
It broke.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XT
Bike Setup:
Titus LocoMoto, Fox RC, X-Fly100, Avid Mech Disc and levers, SRAM/Shimano drivetrain, SRAM hubs on RhynoLites
Bottom Line:
The 34 on the 11-34 cassette broke as I was trying to wheelie up and over a steep rock. I snapped off around 20-25% of the cog. I'm not the burliest rider (165lbs) and this has not happened before w/ my Shimano cassettes. Warranteed and placed on my hardtail that has been relegated to commuter/road workout duty.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael G
a Racer
from Chicago, IL USA Date Reviewed: August 28, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Yankee Springs, MI
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$55.00
Purchased At:
Jenson
Strengths:
Stiff, light, and shifts great!
Weaknesses:
None.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XTR steel and XT
Bike Setup:
Giant XTC NRS Air w/Rockshox SID XC
Bottom Line:
Since mating this with SRAM PC-99 chain - shifts BETTER than Big S! Very stiff, light, plus it shifts great!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
See Linda
a Cross Country Rider
from Malaysia Date Reviewed: July 25, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Sg.Buloh SEA GAMES
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Strengths:
Value for money. nice finishing. Works well with Sram 9.0 RD. Gear ratio intervals are well spread from 12 to 28.
Weaknesses:
Sligtly heavier than XT. A big jump from 28th teeth to 34th teeth. No gear intervals from 28th to 34th.
Similar Products Used:
XTR 8 speed. Now using XTR 9 speed
Bottom Line:
The only major set back about 9.0 is there is no gear selection between the 28th teeth and the 34th teeth. Whereas the XTR cassette recognises this missing link. Which means, you will either end up with a too heavy gear or too easy gear going up a steep slope. Nothing in between to help you. I couldn't get use to Sram 9.0 especially if you are doing a techical uphill. Had to swap it for a XTR 9 speed after 2 months. Otherwise, it work wonderfully well with the SRAM Rear derailluer.
Less one chilli for gear intervals.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
eric
a Cross Country Rider
from ny Date Reviewed: July 24, 2001
Favorite Trail:
flc
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$32.00
Strengths:
light, cool looking, and most importantly shifts well.
Weaknesses:
i dunno, it made a weird noise one time, but then i actually adjusted my derailur right...
Similar Products Used:
lx, other cheaper stuff
Bike Setup:
kona caldera, 9.0sl rear, sram chain, 9.0 shifters.
Bottom Line:
this cassette helps shifts very quickly and smoothly. i haven't used it with any non sram stuff, so i don't know about compatibility, but it works really well with the sram stuff i use, definataly better than the lx i was running before, and its cheaper than an xt so its a deal.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
singleminded
a Cross Country Rider
from east cost Date Reviewed: July 16, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Shifts AWESOME Stiff Seems light Looks strong and well made
Weaknesses:
None yet
Similar Products Used:
LX, XT etc.
Bike Setup:
Spez M4
Bottom Line:
I'm no Shimano hater. I've always run their derailleurs and shifters, and their LX and XT cranks are hands down the best crank deals out there. But Sram chains are way better than Shimano's in my experience. I think I'm gonna feel the same way about Sram cassettes. So, if you like Sram chains, you'll like Sram cassettes.
Will have to see if the 9.0 cassettes hold up well, but for now they're the best I've ever tried. They shift better (at least with my Sram chain -- I haven't tried them with Shimano chains) than any XT or LX cassette I've had. I should note that the Shimano cassettes don't seem to shift any better with Shimano chains instead of Sram.
They feel light and, though I haven't weighed them yet, I can believe the claimed weight of 270 grams. Shimano claims 245 grams for the XT, but it seems that the actual weights are more like 270-290 grams.
They've got that quality look and feel of Sram's chains.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tan ju han
a Cross Country Rider
from malaysia Date Reviewed: June 24, 2001
Favorite Trail:
klang's forest
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
gets outdoor
Strengths:
good with hg 72 and xtr rear mech.
Weaknesses:
no weakness yet now
Similar Products Used:
deore
Bike Setup:
american eagle triple butted frame rst delta comp 100" travel
Bottom Line:
these cassete are affordable and compatible for 9 speed drivetrain.if u r going to use it for stunts ,do not try to use shimano deore because it will become loose even u tighten it
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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