LX vs XT rear derailleur: Slippery Slope

[bunky]

In a continued effort to keep my bike running smoovely, I am thinking about replacing my rear derailler. It seems strange to me to invest in 70+ dollars for a component that is so precariously exposed to rocks in places like Gambrill, the Shed, EF. etc.

Seeing as how I am guaranteed to hit a rock with the rear derraileur at least once every five rides, why do I want to put a top of the line component back there? Would it make more sense to just go LX and laugh the next time I see sparks coming from back there? Has anyone used LX after using XT, or vice versa--is there any real difference in shifting?

The more questions of this sort I ask, the more I realize what a slippery slope I am on where this matter is concerned--can you say single speed? OY!

[DKEG]

I have used both. So I will answer your question this way. Being someone who rides the Shed and/or Gambrill weekly, if not biweekly and has destroy 5 rear der. since last august. I would go with the LX. I did not notice that much difference in shifting. I use SRAM X-9 now if I destroy another der. I am throwing my FS geared bike away and going SS only. The XT is a little smoother but if you can't ride worth a damn (like me) I would go LX.

[bunky]

I have used both. So I will answer your question this way. Being someone who rides the Shed and/or Gambrill weekly, if not biweekly and has destroy 5 rear der. since last august. I would go with the LX. I did not notice that much difference in shifting. I use SRAM X-9 now if I destroy another der. I am throwing my FS geared bike away and going SS only. The XT is a little smoother but if you can't ride worth a damn (like me) I would go LX.

Thanks for the feedback. Quick followup questions about the difference in smoothness between LX and XT

1) Are you using rapid rise or conventional?
2) Is the difference that evident/ noticeable?
3) Do you think after (a) hitting a couple of rocks (b) riding in muddy/ icy conditions seasonally or (c) 6 months of just basic, normal offroad wear and tear you'd be better off with: (i) a new LX or (ii) the same XT which had taken the beatings (a) through (c)? I am thinking of adopting the "Bic lighter" approach to these things whereby either a nasty individual event orrurs or just the normal wear and tear of multi-season riding will result is cheap replacement over trying to get the most out of the more expensive version that is only "mythically" better than the cheap version.

[CRAIG2]

Derailleurs are sooo 2 years ago.... :rolleyes: :D

[DKEG]

Thanks for the feedback. Quick followup questions about the difference in smoothness between LX and XT

1) Are you using rapid rise or conventional?
2) Is the difference that evident/ noticeable?
3) Do you think after (a) hitting a couple of rocks (b) riding in muddy/ icy conditions seasonally or (c) 6 months of just basic, normal offroad wear and tear you'd be better off with: (i) a new LX or (ii) the same XT which had taken the beatings (a) through (c)? I am thinking of adopting the "Bic lighter" approach to these things whereby either a nasty individual event orrurs or just the normal wear and tear of multi-season riding will result is cheap replacement over trying to get the most out of the more expensive version that is only "mythically" better than the cheap version.
1. I used conventional Xt and LX, and Xt rapid rise
2. I don't think so (but it has been 2 yrs since I used LX, and 9months since I converted to SRAM)
3. The Lx held up good. But I ride differently now (places), also to clear up something I destoryed 2 XT and 3 X-9 in the last year.

I have not priced out LX compared to Xt in awhile. I am of the thinking if you are going to ride the Shed you are going to break parts. So I am also thinking why break expensive parts if a cheaper parts works fine. This has taken a little time to sink in my head but it finally has. And for this reason I will never buy a X-0 or XTR der. D!

[tomn]

The new Shimano rear derailleurs are much better than before IMHO. The one thing to get used to is the down-is-up/up-is-down thing (using rapid fire levers, the finger lever for the rear derailleur is now for downshifting one gear at a time and the thumb lever is for upshifting one or many gears -- used to be the opposite). But I have noticed much better shifting performance, especially downshifting in the lower gears under heavy pedaling load. I have XT shifters and rear derailleur and they work great. I haven't used LX in a while but I'm sure it would be fine if you're worried about breaking stuff. But if the LX hasn't been redesigned with the new reversed shifting, I would seriously consider XT instead, even considering the extra cost.

[wrench177]

I've used both the conventional and rapid rise (low normal) and I prefer the RR as well. It shifts better under a load and seems to make more sense, after you get use to the new way of shifting. With the where and how you ride I would say just go with the LX stuff, however, there is only about a $5 difference between them (at least at Jenson). So, it's your call.

That said I would also invest in an Avid Rollamajig. When I went from my conventional derailleur to the low normal I notice miss-shifts when trying to go to my higher (smaller) cogs. I would continually clean and lube my cables and the shifting pods trying to free up the friction. I was just about to scrap all my Shimano stuff for Sram when I installed the Rollamajig. What a difference!! It breathed new life into my already new drive train. Not bad for 9 bucks.

[bunky]

. . . there is only about a $5 difference between [XT and LX] (at least at Jenson). So, it's your call.

Hey Todd,

Yeah- I just checked at Jenson and that's what I thought too. Then I checked ebay. I just got the LX M580 for $30.00 shipped.

That said I would also invest in an Avid Rollamajig. . . . I was just about to scrap all my Shimano stuff for Sram when I installed the Rollamajig. What a difference!! It breathed new life into my already new drive train. Not bad for 9 bucks.

I'll be getting one of those now!! :D

Thanks!

Bunky

[Brizn]

... when I installed the Rollamajig. What a difference!! It breathed new life into my already new drive train. Not bad for 9 bucks.Agreed. I tacked one onto an order I made from BlueSkyCycling, it was only $4. Slapped on my commuter bike and it made a really big dif.

[DaveG]

Agreed. I tacked one onto an order I made from BlueSkyCycling, it was only $4. Slapped on my commuter bike and it made a really big dif.

And not have to worry about aftermarket gizmo's to help it not shift like crap :p

Went SRAM, and I'm never going back.

Dave

[IFBikeMD]

Derailleurs are sooo 2 years ago.... :rolleyes: :D

So true... :rolleyes:

[bunky]

So true... :rolleyes:


I know: this is the slippery slope part--look what I said this AM:

<<The more questions of this sort I ask, the more I realize what a slippery slope I am on where this matter is concerned--can you say single speed? OY!
>>

[IFBikeMD]

Todd may sell you his if he keeps drining the kool-aid at the Schaeffer rides... Oh, the power of the OY! side...

[bikerRob]

8/18/06 >> I use Conventional LX on my newer bike and (Conventional) XTR on my
other bike. Both work fine, I notice no difference when riding either although the LX is on my 9 speed rear. No after market thing-a-ma-jigs needed although the XTR is still using 7 year old Gore cables. As for the Rapid rise stuff...I never saw a good reason to re-learn my shifting patterns. Of course there is the "Bling envy factor" that no one else mentioned. It's nice to have at least one bike XTR equipped if just to make the SSer's grit their teeth and foam at the mouth.. :D

[werace424]

I moved from XT to XTR (rapid rise). I noticed a very large difference. I still ahve to keep my cables very clean, and change my housings somwhat regular. But with the XT I was changing them about every other month or less. With the XTR, about once every 4 months, depending upon riding conditions. It does look cool too!

I would have changed to SRAM if I didn't have to buy new shifters, and brake levers to go along with them. (Dual Control). My mech at the Bike Dr. even tried to fit an x-7 thumb shifter on w/ the dual controls to save me some $. NO FITTY!!:(

Oh well, I am pertty satisified with my XTR so there you go!

Paul

[wrench177]

XTR is too much $$. Bunky started this whole thread because he knew the derailleur was going to get trashed while riding at Gambrill. With that in mind, going to XTR is just a waste of good beer money IMHO. If I were going to suggest a new drivetrain it would have been for Sram, but, he's just looking to keep what he has running as smooth as possible. Hence the Rollamajig. It cleans up the cable line to the rear derailleur (no big arse cable loop). Also, it seriously reduces the amount of cable maintenance a Shimano drivetrain requires to be smooth.

XTR is very nice though, just cuts into the beer fund a little too deeply.


Just my 2 cents

[Brizn]

And not have to worry about aftermarket gizmo's to help it not shift like crap :p

Went SRAM, and I'm never going back.

DaveOh no..not more shimano/sram smack talk!! ...reminds me of the skater vs. biker wars of the mid-80s. I biked and skated back then....and I have Sram (mtb) and Shimano stuff (commuter rig) now. Fully rigid, SS, 29er, now Sram. :p

[IFBikeMD]

...Fully rigid, SS, 29er... :p

That's the best answer...

[pepelkod]

Oh no..not more shimano/sram smack talk!! ...reminds me of the skater vs. biker wars of the mid-80s. I biked and skated back then....and I have Sram (mtb) and Shimano stuff (commuter rig) now. Fully rigid, SS, 29er, now Sram. :p

Rohloff.

I wanna be "that Rohloff guy", just like "that 29er guy". "All he ever talks about is his *fantastic* Rohloff. What a jerk." If Matt would post here more I might have some competition.

-D

[bunky]

XTR is very nice though, just cuts into the beer fund a little too deeply.

Hell, I'll ride a singlespeed--scratch that---a unicycle, before I swap Sierra Nevada for Bud!