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Submitted by
XC Runner
a Cross Country Rider
from Asheville, NC
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Reliability, smooth shifting, light weight, great looks, quality feel, precision | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Sram MXR shifters, Shimano Deore shifters, Sram X.9 shifters | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Gary Fisher Marlin, eggbeaters, xt shifters and rear derailleur, different saddle, 2003 Maniou Black Elite Air, a few other changes | | Bottom Line: | this is a review on the M750 old school xt shifters. my pair is seven years old and still works flawlessly. the shifting is unbelievably smooth and effortless. i recently tried out the sram x.9 shifters, and i was surprised by the feel of the x.9's. i really expected to love them, and the 1 to 1 actuation is from a mechanical standpoint more reliable, and easier to adjust, but the x.9's just felt clunky and unrefined compared to the xt shifters. the M750's shift levers start pulling the cable almost immediately, there's little friction inside the mechanism, and they don't give the loud ratcheting clicks that the x.9's do.
as to hugh's review on the m750's, unless there's something restricting cable movement, and causing excess tension in the cables, or the cables aren't set up properly (especially the loop that goes in the rear derailleur), these things shift just fine, they're a breeze to adjust (i've recently had to replace housing twice, and it's taken just a few minutes to readjust both times), and they preform flawlessly. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Reading, PA
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Neversink Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | This is for the 2008 M770s. These thing shift so smoothly coupled with the XT shadow rear! This a night and day upgrade from my old shifters. I LOVE the two way release feature, and will be using it from now on. | | Weaknesses: | a little plasticky in places, but if that doesn't affect performance then I don't care. | | Similar Products Used: | Deore, Acera, and LX shifters | | Bike Setup: | 2007 Cannondale Caffeine 3 frame, XT shifters, w/shadow XT rear, and XT front. Rock shox fork, Avid bb7 brakes, Raceface evolve xc crank. | | Bottom Line: | These were a great deal. Originally bought a 2007 set, and the eBay retailer ran out so they sent me the 2008s. These are what I wanted anyway. These shifters are one of the best things about my bike. They tuned up great, and shift very smoothly. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hugh
a Racer
from Sweden
Date Reviewed: November 15, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Works like butter when new. | | Weaknesses: | Very sensitive to cable adjustment. Poor quality. | | Similar Products Used: | Deore, Deore LX, 8 speed, 9 speed, SRAM | | Bike Setup: | 27 speed XC. All Shimano drivetrain. | | Bottom Line: | Review for M750 2006 XT 9spd Trigger Shifter Pods. (the light grey ones)
Shifters are very sensitive to cable adjustment because of the small amount of cable they pull. I find I need to lube cables almost every ride to keep the shifting working well.
After 1 year the rear shifter broke. Taking it apart I was expecting something in the ratchet to have failed. In fact the main steel shaft for the downshift lever had broken in half. Fatigue failure.
I'm off to try to get it warrantied tomorrow.
Who should buy it? Riders who don't mind single-speeding back home one of these days on a 22/11 gear. :) | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Neuhaus Germany
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$95.00 | | Purchased At: | Radau Fahrradladen GmbH, Auerbach DE | | Strengths: | 2008 XT - solid construction, variable mounting options, smooth function, defined feel, removable indicator. | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Similar Products Used: | Deore | | Bike Setup: | Custom home build, Swiss dual suspension Frame from HM Bikes, Disc Brakes, 2008 XT drive train (11-34 & 44-32-22) with M772 Shadow RD | | Bottom Line: | Was using a pair of Shimano Deore 9sp (M511) with a XT (M761) RD and had nothing but problems dialing in the rear end. After weeks of trouble shooting after botched rides I dialed it down to a bad Deore shifter. Installed the new M770 and M772RD today and words cannot describe what a difference. Dialed right in, heavy test ride over steep ascents and descents and it shifted crisp and reliable everytime. Love the dual action and overall feel of the 2008 XT shifter over the Deore. Also liked the way the new RD sits - will see how it works this weekend on some tough muddy single track with lots of rolling trail! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin Larsen
a Downhiller
from Silverado
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | All Of EM' | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$53.00 | | Purchased At: | Adrenaline Bikes | | Strengths: | Easy To Install
shift smoothly
| | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | shimano alivilo | | Bike Setup: | GT LTS | | Bottom Line: | These shifters are great for the price and would recomend these to anyone | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin Larsen
a Downhiller
from Silverado
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | All Of EM' | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$53.00 | | Purchased At: | Adrenaline Bikes | | Strengths: | Easy To Install
shift smoothly
| | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | shimano alivilo | | Bike Setup: | GT LTS | | Bottom Line: | These shifters are great for the price and would recomend these to anyone | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from Brisbane
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Turning Japanese, Daisy Hill | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$85.00 | | Purchased At: | CRC | | Strengths: | - Cheap
- Quick shifting
- Smooth
- Reliable | | Weaknesses: | - None so far | | Similar Products Used: | - Deore Rapidfire
- SRAM X-9 | | Bike Setup: | 2006 Trek 6500 with following mods: Manitou R7 Comp 100mm, Bontrager Race X-Lite seatpost, Fizik Nisene Saddle, Deore XT FD, Custom Wheelset, Amoeba Scud HB, 80mm Oval M600 stem, Shimano M520 clipless | | Bottom Line: | For 2006 XT M751 shifters
Great set of shifters. Cheap, responsive and smooth. Has not missed a beat. What more can you ask for? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Hoff
a Cross Country Rider
from Sacramento
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Dyke 8 - Folsom Lake | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$63.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson Usa | | Strengths: | Short shifts, Positive feedback, Reliable(haven't missed a shift), cheap, Best I've owned! | | Weaknesses: | None, So far | | Similar Products Used: | Deore brake shifter combo | | Bike Setup: | 2002 dual suspention Specialized Rockhopper. LX Drive train exept shifters. LX crank, Judy C fork, fox float rear 4", sette xlr bars( .75inch riser), LX brake levers, rim brakes(still work great but not as sexy as disks), Blackburn light, XC fire pro tires(love them)--Rest is stock. | | Bottom Line: | I love the Shimano LX line up. It offers a great price and pretty much the same as XT and XTR but maybe a little heavier. I don't compete so weight isn't a huge concern of mine. I read the reviews on the,Shimano XT SL-M751 Rapidfire Shifters, and what caught my attention was the "short shifts". My regular Deore shifters had to be pushed in longer than I liked. I put these XT shifters on and Wham! I'm in heaven. They fit great with my LX 571 brake levers. I heard from the tech at JensonUSA that these shifters do well with long cage rear derailers.
--------------------------------------------------------
I was going to go with the new dual action shifters but was discouraged due to my more aggressive riding style. I love my new shifters. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steven Salmons
a Cross Country Rider
from Rolla, MO, USA
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | E*** | | Strengths: | Smoooooth Shifting, good looks | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | Deore | | Bike Setup: | Pimpin' Pirahna | | Bottom Line: | I spent a little extra for the new '07 model because I thought they looked better, turns out they are dual-release now. How cool is that?
They shift smooth and look great, I don't know what more you can ask of shifters. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Superior, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | One with dirt | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Easy to setup, inexpensive (eBay, baby!), smooooth. | | Weaknesses: | Can be difficult changing cables, lots of little fiddly screws. | | Similar Products Used: | Deore & LX shifters. | | Bike Setup: | Kona hardtail with XT (rear)/Deore (front) derailleurs. | | Bottom Line: | Although you can get Deore and LX shifters cheaper, the XTs are definitely worth the extra cash. The bearings make for much smoother shifting, and they seem to require less maintenance, and they hold their adjustment longer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a
from Victoria
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | AdrenalineBikes.com | | Strengths: | Smooth, accurate shifting!! Reliable and long-lasting. | | Weaknesses: | hard to find the 8-speeds | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM X-7, SL-R440, LX | | Bike Setup: | Hanging from the garage ceiling. ;-) | | Bottom Line: | These shifters are excellent and Adrenalinebikes had an awesome deal on 'em! Easy to install, reliable, couldn't ask for better! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a
from Victoria
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | AdrenalineBikes.com | | Strengths: | Smooth, accurate shifting!! Reliable and long-lasting. | | Weaknesses: | hard to find the 8-speeds | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM X-7, SL-R440, LX | | Bike Setup: | Hanging from the garage ceiling. ;-) | | Bottom Line: | These shifters are excellent and Adrenalinebikes had an awesome deal on 'em! Easy to install, reliable, couldn't ask for better! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a
from Victoria
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | AdrenalineBikes.com | | Strengths: | Smooth, accurate shifting!! Reliable and long-lasting. | | Weaknesses: | hard to find the 8-speeds | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM X-7, SL-R440, LX | | Bike Setup: | Hanging from the garage ceiling. ;-) | | Bottom Line: | These shifters are excellent and Adrenalinebikes had an awesome deal on 'em! Easy to install, reliable, couldn't ask for better! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Eaton Rapids,MI USA
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Smooth shifting when it works | | Weaknesses: | Breaks when temperature falls below 35 deg F1 | | Bike Setup: | Trek Y-22- updated from XL big mistake | | Bottom Line: | The dealer gave me a complete new setup after complaining countless times. The gear catch dog is too hard and breaks when temperature gets cold. I have rebuilt serveral rear shifter pods with salvaged parts, but have just about run out and getting sick of riding out of a hilly trail stuck with gears 5-8.
I will not recommend this produt, unless you ride the road and at mild temperatures | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria, BC
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Came with Bike | | Strengths: | Smooth, accurate, crisp shifting. Easy to adjust. | | Weaknesses: | Price and availability (8 speeds are harder to find these days) | | Similar Products Used: | Acera, Alivio, SRAM X-7 | | Bike Setup: | XT Rear Derailleur, LX Front, Avid 2.0 brakes, etc.. | | Bottom Line: | Couldn't really want more. These are solid. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Giancarlo Pelosi
a Weekend Warrior
from Miramar, FL, USA
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Markham Park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Bell's Bikes | | Strengths: | Smooth shifting during intense situations. Rugged and very comfortable. Typical XT component. Reliable and a work horse. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | XTR rapid fire shifters | | Bike Setup: | 06 Giant Trance 1, 06 XTR rear der, 06 XT front der, XT rotors, chain, and shifters. FOX F100 RL, FOX Float RP3, Mavic Crossmax SL disc, Kenda Nevagal UST's, Chris King headset, Race Face Dues XC bars, stem, and seatpost, ODI Rogue lock on grips, WTB Rocket V Stealth saddle, and SRAM 990 rear cog. | | Bottom Line: | Its reputation speaks for itself. If you don't want to spend the extra dollars on an SRAM XO or an XTR shifter, than this is the way to go with the same performance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a
from Sydney AUSTRALIA
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | Ergonomics - they are very comfortable to use | | Weaknesses: | Its a disposable product you cannot repair. They have a cheap plastic feel. You cannot quickly shift up the whole range of gears like you can with gripshift or thumbies | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XTR rapidfire 8 speed, XT thumbshifters | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the 8 speed rapidfire...
These worked well for the first year I used them but they began to develop a problem with the downshifting on the rear. They would just randomnly change up 3 gears instead of one, forcing you to pedal in the same gear out of fear the shifters would place you in the wrong gear when pedalling up a hill. I only used these for a year for my commute and would expect them to last a lot longer. Back to thumbies now, love them!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Germany
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Black Forest Singeltrails | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | Work well together with XT-gruppo when new. Relatively lightweight. | | Weaknesses: | Lower shifitng-lever (operated with your thumb) fails to engage after several months of use. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX, Sram Gripshift. | | Bike Setup: | Intense Tracer, with comlete XT-gruppo and GT-Avalanche, also with XT-gruppo. | | Bottom Line: | I have been riding Shimano XT-components for the last 10 years now and have generally been pleased with their performance considering their price.
The most striking negative aspect I have consistently noticed on the 2003/-04 model XT rapidfire shifters is that the lower lever, which is pushed forward with your thumb, sometimes fails to engage after several months of use.
The ratchet-mechanism inside the shifting-pod fails to grip the shifting cable and hence the lever moves forward without resistance as if gripping thin air. I have to push the lever upwards AND forwards, to get the lever to engage and to shift. That's extremely annoying.
This has happened with levers for the front and rear derailleur and on both of my bikes. Upon opening the shifting pods, I noticed that the teeth of this ratchet, get worn with time and fail to work reliably. Lubrication and adjustment of the teeth with a small screwdriver helps sometimes, but the problem will eventually return. It appears to get worse during winter temperatures by the way (around freezing). I did not have this problem with much oder model shimano shifters in the years before.
Also, the red gear indicators are completely unnecessary. I never look at them and I suspect not many people do either. The correct gear-setting, especially on a trail which invites speed and rapidly switched gears, is a matter of "feeling" not seeing, in my opinion. These things are just objects which break.
Considering, that your shifters are among the most often used components on your rig, (just try to estimate for a second how many times you shift per ride) shouldn't it make sense to install a really reliable and well performing component to do this job? It is this question which leaves me wanting to switch to Sram X9s.
Bottom line: current XT-shifters are a decent value when new or rarely used. But considering how critically important their function and level of use is, they don't hold up to the level of reliability I expect - especially if you ride trails where many rapid gear changes are required. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Warren
a Weekend Warrior
from The OB, MS
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Womble Trail, Mt, Ida AR | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bike | | Strengths: | Seem to be durable, good spacing, and light | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Sram 7spd that came on my bike | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F300 Aluminum Frame, XT derailures, XT rapid fire shifters, XT casset and cranks, Manitou Splice Elite fork, Rhynolite Rims w/ XT hubs | | Bottom Line: | Seem to be great, i love the rapid fire shiftting system, beats the hell out of pulling on crappy srams... I'm satisfied with the perfomance so far on my training trail in Memphis(Tour de Wolf)I havent put them to a stress level test yet so i will wait and see how they do in two weeks... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
joshua halter
a Weekend Warrior
from port richey, fl,us
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | alafia state park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | got as a gift on my diamondback coil ex | | Strengths: | dont have to pull it back | | Weaknesses: | cant go all the way down in one try | | Similar Products Used: | pulling ones | | Bottom Line: | a lot easier and works good on my diamondback coil ex | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Yang
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Don Valley | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Duke's Cycle | | Strengths: | Very light shifting, responds faster than an X9 (marginally) | | Weaknesses: | May break easily.. the shifter pod is already scratched by tree branches.... | | Similar Products Used: | Sram X9, Shimano Deore | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Kona Coiler, with XT drivetrain at-purchase-upgrade (cassette, chain, shifter, f/d derailleurs (rear is rapid rise)) | | Bottom Line: | I've ridden my Kona Cindercone with X9 drivetrain for almost a year now, just got my Coiler with the XT setup. X9 and XT are quite similar in terms of performance; each has its strength and weakness. But I must say that the XT shifter shifts a bit faster, and it seems to take slightly less effort than the X9. However, the up-shift (lighter) is not nearly as fast as X9 because you need to use your second finger to click one by one. And sometimes if you don't click to the bottom, it doesn't happen.
Strength of the X9 is the ability to shift 5 cogs with one push. It makes a lot more sense that way. For instance, you're riding at high speed, and suddenly you are going to slow down and prepare for an uphill, with one push, it's done. While going uphill, it's a different story, with the rapid rise shifter, you can actually keep pedalling while you upshift. If you do the same to X9, you *feel* (not that it'll happen) that the cassette is under so much stress that it'll break.
This is a contribution to the derailleur as well actually. The rapid rise really helps a lot. But at the same time, the XT derailleur going to smaller cogs is not so crisp as the X9 (sometimes you don't hear anything). You always hear something with the XT. Well, it's a sound of crisp shifting, but having no sound at all means smoother.
Cons... XT shifter really doesn't seem so sturdy, it seems like it can break easily... But hasn't happen yet...
Finally... if in the future, XT shifter can work with SRAM derailleur... wow... that'd be a great combo... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dbohnsai
a Downhiller
from Chilli, Oh
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | shifts pretty well | | Weaknesses: | front shifter started to stick after a while | | Similar Products Used: | dual controls (don't get me started) | | Bike Setup: | 04 Haro X1 | | Bottom Line: | for the 750 shifters. These are pretty decent shifters but the front one started to stick really bad when I wanted to shift into the granny gear. This was remedyed by pulling the lever back with the thumb but what a hassle. even took it apart and re lubed, seamed to help for a while. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Drake
a Cross Country Rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$72.00 | | Strengths: | accurate and quick shifting. has a distinct shifting feel from deore shifters. fast, light, crisp | | Weaknesses: | thumb position is very VERY bad. i've got sore thumbs after a day of shifting | | Similar Products Used: | deore shifters | | Bike Setup: | GT avalanche 1.0
manitou mars eltite
XT drivetrain except crank
a humble wheelset | | Bottom Line: | These shifters have excellent shifting capabilities! I felt an immediate difference from the deore shifters and the normal shimanon ones. The action is extremely quick and it performs excellent with my XT derailluers.
HOWEVER
the thumb position is angled so awkwardly my thumbs go sore after a day of shifting. i wrote this review after using it less than a month cause i noticed the differences were distinct. All in all a good shifter which leaves the rider sucking his thumb after a rough ride. 4 chilis | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a
from Fort Collins, CO
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Good shifting when new, completely superfluous tint red gear indicator always good for a laugh. | | Weaknesses: | Cheap thin plastic casing, lack of durability, declining quality of XT grouppo | | Similar Products Used: | I've used all the shimano components over the years; since switched to SRAM gripshizzle. | | Bottom Line: | What happened to XT quality?
This was the question I asked myself as I gazed upon the wreckage of my 2 month old Shimano XT RapidFire® rear shifter that now lay strewn about the trail in front of me. It had exploded during what must’ve been an abnormally forceful move from the fourth sprocket to the granny. I had no idea how strong my thumb really was. It must have been all that Nintendo I played as a child.
It was also the question I asked as I painstakingly wrapped tiny strips of duct tape around the cracked casing of my front shifter, after I made the gregariously irresponsible decision of packing my bike in a truck bed, with another bike’s handlebars touching the shifter – gasp! I should point out that the latter shifter actually continued to operate, après taping, although some part of me does feel that it might look better without it. Or maybe I just need a different color duct tape (or friends that don’t make fun of me).
Once upon a time Shimano XT were the best value components in the world. Those days are gone. The new XT shifters work great when new, but they are the least durable I’ve ever used. On the quality and craftsmanship scale, I would rate Shimano’s XT shifters right up there with the fabulously crap tapered LX cranks they produced in the late 90’s. That would be in the 1-2 chili range, in MTBR terms.
Perhaps I am not the easiest on bike components. I usually enjoy a good crash or two per year, and sometimes I find it hurts less to leave the bike behind me and land on my feet instead, which my bike hates. And while I understand that such extreme, black-diamond-like behavior may exceed the manufacturer’s specifications from time to time, I don’t think it’s anything unusual in the sport. MTB parts should be built to withstand a certain degree of duress, especially if the manufacturer expects people to continue buying them. The incidents that broke these shifters were not even proper crashes, and I hate to think of the thin plastic carnage that would doubtless ensue from a full-speed wreck. Not to get all nostalgic on you, but if components were like people or small, shy dogs (where the corresponding metaphor requires it), an old XT top-mount shifter would laugh and point at a new XT shifter, which would run away crying with its tail between its legs, then explode out of embarrassment.
But my sad "breakup" with Shimano XT has a happy ending! As luck would have it, someone gave me an old SRAM 9.0 SL grip shifter a while ago, and it had been sitting in the bottom of my toolbox. I strapped the suspiciously lightweight, well-worn cylinder on my handlebars, and I have been consistently impressed ever since. I bought an X.9 derailleur to match and trust me - this is a great, inexpensive, super-durable setup that needs little or no adjustments. It's the best shifter setup I have ever had. Yes, even better than those good old XT thumb shifters that laughed at the poor little whiney dog that XT became sometime in the third millennium. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver, WA
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | smooth shifting | | Weaknesses: | The red gear position indicators rattle so loud that I should wear ear plugs. Pretty poor design. | | Similar Products Used: | LX, Deore | | Bike Setup: | 2003 specialized enduro | | Bottom Line: | I wouldn't buy them again. Poor quality for the money. Might as well just buy Deore or better yet Sram. If you only ride on paved trails then the rattle won't bother you too much. If you go off the road and have a quiet bike otherwise, don't even try them. If you want to scare the cougars and bears away as you cruise a trail then these are for you! Is this a design feature? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tom
a
from Tucson, AZ
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Fantasy Island | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$59.00 | | Purchased At: | E-bay | | Strengths: | Smooth shifting | | Weaknesses: | A little plush on depression | | Similar Products Used: | Deore | | Bike Setup: | Iguana, XT/XTR/Thomson Elite, blah, blah, blah | | Bottom Line: | These are great shifters with an XT drivetrain. Shifting is SO SMOOTH. I think thumb depression though is still a little too plush and after a few months one shifter developed an internal vibration that became very audbible @ 20+ mph. I just bought my 2nd pair, hopefully, the vibration thingy was just an anomaly. Overall, these shifter's rock! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Larry
a Cross Country Rider
from California
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Shifts really well when new. | | Weaknesses: | Doesn't last long. Disposable product. | | Similar Products Used: | LX shifters | | Bottom Line: | These are great shifters when new and working well. However, they don't last long and as far as I can tell, are impossible to repair. Also, I'm pretty easy on my gear... i try to keep things clean and adjusted and don't abuse them much.
Have decided to replace my current dead XT shifter pod with a low-end Deore unit... if I'm going to run biodegradable components, I might as well use cheap ones. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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$ 60.00
