Submitted by
PissedOffCil
a Weekend Warrior
from Montreal Date Reviewed: June 10, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$100.00
Strengths:
- Crisp shifting, until it bends
Weaknesses:
- Weak product
Similar Products Used:
Deore, LX, XT
Bike Setup:
2006 Norco Six One
Bottom Line:
I really tried loving this product but after going through 3 RD in one season I've got to be disapointed. I almost jumped and switched to Shimano after breaking the 2nd one last year (both time the cage bent on very small impacts, i.e. walking next to the bike and hit a rock) but the guy at the shop told me they fixed this problem on the '07 version. And they did but something else breaks (this time it's the low setup screw that bent). I'm buying a last one. Going for a short cage this time and it will hopefully be compact enough to avoid hitting it but as soon as this one fails, I'm going for an all XT setup, period. SRAM you've already spent your last chance, if it wasn't that I need to change the shifters (and that I spent too much already), I'd buy an XT right away.
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Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Meade, MD Date Reviewed: August 11, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
Strong design, heavy spring tension makes down shifts very snappy
Weaknesses:
cage design is bulky, and tuning takes a lot of fiddling
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XT
Bike Setup:
X-9 triggers, RD, LX crank, and now back to XT FD
Bottom Line:
I got his derailleur in a package with X-9 cassette, RD, shifters and FD, fully intending to change out the entire drivetrain from my XT/LX setup. I have an older LX crank with a 42T big ring. The X-9 states the max capacity is 44T so I figured I'd be ok. With the Cage set at about 5mm over the big ring when in the big ring the inside of the cage hits the middle ring. To fix this I had to mount the FD even higher. By mounting higher I could get it to work after about an hour of tweaking, but found shifts were very sloppy. This FD probably works great with a 44t big ring, but the exceptionally deep inner cage will cause anyone with a 42t the same problem I encountered. I switched back to my XT and had no problems.
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Submitted by
Michael Spugnardi
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Forks, ND Date Reviewed: July 1, 2007
Favorite Trail:
maah daah hey
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
Online retailer
Strengths:
Easily adjustable. Plastic insert holds derailleur in large cog position for easy installation (Shimano uses an insert that serves the same purpose). Very sturdy design.
Weaknesses:
The cable offset using the top pull derailleur could be a problem for some setups. In order for the outer cage to clear the large cog (without alteration), the derailleur must be installed high and can cause the chain to drag along the bottom of the derailleur cage. For this reason the outter cage must be altered to ensure an optimized fit.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XT
Bottom Line:
I am very pleased with my purchase of SRAM's X.9 front derailleur and prefer it to the Shimano XT derailleur I was using previously. Although the design of the derailleur wouldn't win a style contest when compared to Shimano's F/D's that "hide" behind the chainrings (if you are unfamiliar with Shimano's F/D's find a picture online and you will understand what I am referring to), it is a very sturdy, well made product that shifts accurately and quickly once setup correctly. I did find though, with my own setup, the outer cage of the derailleur needed to be modified to match the curvature of the chainring and minimize chainrub in smaller gear combinations. Another benefit of this alteration is that it increases the smoothness and accuracy of shifting. With that said, if you lack the confidence needed to alter (grind) a brand new derailleur look else where. Overall a great product!
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Submitted by
Donnie Anderson
a Weekend Warrior
from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada Date Reviewed: June 18, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Actually works
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
All Shimano Models Acera through XT.
Bike Setup:
Full X.9 with Gripshift
Bottom Line:
Installation was a snap. I love the plastic insert to hold the derailler in high gear so you can line it up, space the cage to the big chainring leaving a 1mm gap or using a penny. Love the high mount...assuming it fits your frame.
The limit screws actually work so tuning was a joke. I also have a trim on my front gripshift so it works flawless.
With Shimano it was nothing but headaches. The H limit never works. The H limit is on the left instead of the right were it should be. And using a penny as a spacer when installing is no good, you need to do trial and error, and keep raising the derailler till you get the clearance you need. A 1-3mm gap is never enough.
Compared to SHimano the SRAM front derailler is awesome. The rear is jsut as good, and the gripshifts rock. Never tried SRAM triggers, since I'm a big gripshift fan. Overall the X.9's are a steal at their price. Especially the cheaper gripshifts compared to triggers. Highly recommend. If you're scared to jump from Shimano and try another brand like SRAM, go ahead you won't be disappointed.
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Submitted by
sacred
a Cross Country Rider
from toronto Date Reviewed: February 23, 2006
Favorite Trail:
tight&twisty
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
cambria
Strengths:
stiff, strong. Very positive downshifting.
Weaknesses:
Plastic frame adapter fits very poorly. Shifting into big ring is very sluggish and unreliable.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XT............
Bike Setup:
Superlight
Bottom Line:
Disappointing. All the other SRAM stuff works great. I could not get reliable shifting into the big ring and the clamp with plastic adapters fit poorly. Chucked it and installed an old XT. It shifted perfectly without any screwing around. Finally, the instructions are written in annoying international cost reduction format that explains things poorly (Chinese translation?). But if you know XT it's same methodology.
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Submitted by
Elvis
a Cross Country Rider
from NC Date Reviewed: December 29, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
H@LL yes this is the best der ive ever used!!!
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
sh_tmano
Bottom Line:
Buy dump the Shimano crap holy cow im so happy with this front der....!
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Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Canada Date Reviewed: April 20, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
price point
Strengths:
wider, stiffer pivots
Weaknesses:
a tad heavier than shimano
Similar Products Used:
shimano FD up to XT
Bike Setup:
cross country hardtail
Bottom Line:
This a good front derrailleur in design; it has wide pivots, very little play and very accessible limiter screws. The clamp sits higher up on the seattube than other front derrailleurs and will prevent you from using the seatpost waterbottle cage bolts.
One quible: the cable pull angle (for top pull) is off to the drive side of the frame; this is quite the opposite of older shimano FD where the pull was towards the nondriveside. As a result, frames with the FD cablestop brazed on to accomodate for shimano FD's will not fit very well with the SRAM xgen. the cable will rub against the inside the frame's cable stop.
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Submitted by
Marc Coen
a Weekend Warrior
from Sint-Gillis-Waas (Belgium) Date Reviewed: November 17, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
local shop in Belgium (Seaspeed)
Strengths:
Looks great, shifts better then XT, build very strong
Weaknesses:
a bit heavier then XT
Similar Products Used:
shimano LX, XT
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Jekyll 1000, Sram 9.0 shorty shifters, X.9 rear Derailleur and X-Gen front, magura Louise FR brakes, mavic Crossmax SL wheels with IRC mythos XC II tires, RaceFace Cranks
Bottom Line:
I now have an almost no-shimano bike (except for the pedals). The X-gen shift a lot smoother then the XT I had on my bike before. It also is easier to clean it. If you need to change your front derailleur, this would be a good choice. I will post a new review in a couple of months to see how it lasts in the long run. Pictures of the derailleur on my bike can be found here: http://gallery115397.fotopic.net/c341815.html
$ 35.00
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