Upgrading Derailleurs
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Upgrading Derailleurs
Postby WarbyD » Tue Mar 04, 2014 6:47 pm
So.. had a bit of a dig around, and think I've got my head "sort of" around this but wanted to sound it out a little before going ahead..
In January I purchased an Avanti Montari 29.3 hardtail MTB (http://www.avantibikes.com/au/bikes/off ... ifications" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) .. Not knowing much about what I was looking at, my checklist was basically:
(1) Is the bike comfortable for me to ride around the parking lot?
(2) Are the shocks NOT SR / Suntour?
(3) Is the gearing either SRAM X<something> or Shimano <Anything with a name>?
This bike ticked all of those boxes, and overall I am happy with it.. But, I am somewhat of a gear junky and like to tinker, and having spent a bit more time procrastinating on forums of late I have come to the conclusion that my Alivio rear and Acera front derailleurs really aren't considered much chop. That, plus the fact that I seem to be forever having to make minor adjustments to them to keep things running smooth makes me think they're prime candidates for a bit of an upgrade!
I am thinking at this stage that Deore XT Derailleurs front & rear should do me nicely.. And looking online, I'm pretty comfortable with the prices I'm seeing.. So, considering the following components sitting in my c r c basket:
Shimano XT M772 Shadow 9 Speed Rear Mech (long cage)
http://www.this link is broken/au/e ... -prod20700" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Shimano XT M771 Conventional 9 Speed Front Mech
http://www.this link is broken/au/e ... -prod20685" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Questions:
(1) Have I chosen my products correctly? Will these be suitable "drop in" replacements for my current derailleurs?
(2) Should I also upgrade the Acera shifters to Deore at the same time?
(3) Should I also replace/upgrade the chain at the same time? (I am assuming probably not necessary at this stage)
(4) Should I also replace/upgrade the cassette at the same time? (also assuming probably not necessary at this stage)
The bike has around 1100km on it, mostly on roads/PSP but after getting out at Langford Park (jarrahdale.. apparently XC single track stuff) this last weekend and deciding that I want to be doing ALOT MORE of that (FUN!!), I expect to be adding an average of around 10-20km offroad (plus 250-350km on road/PSP) each week to that..
Oh and to get this aspect out of the way.... While some may say that there is no point spending money on upgrading bits of this bike and instead saving for a better bike.. Like I said, I like to tinker and I would rather upgrade this over time to end up at a point where either I'm happy to run it into the ground over several years, or the frame becomes the limiting factor and I then transfer all of the upgraded bits over to a new frame. I don't consider spending a few hundred here or there over a couple of years a big issue, and is much easier for me to manage (ie get past the wife ) than throwing down several thousand dollars up front for a better bike
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Re: Upgrading Derailleurs
Postby mitzikatzi » Tue Mar 04, 2014 7:25 pm
Many claim you should have higher spec shifters than derailleurs.
Maybe average it out and buy SLX derailleurs and shifters.
Derailleurs often eat sticks. Never buy one if you can't afford to buy another.
Have a look at Merlin cycles as well.
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Re: Upgrading Derailleurs
Postby Duck! » Tue Mar 04, 2014 7:26 pm
I wouldn't bother with Deore shifters, there's not a particularly detectable improvement in feel. If you can find them, go for a set of M770 XT 9-speed levers - these offer a much crisper feel than any group below them.
Chains and cassettes are basically consumable items, so I wouldn't worry about replacing them until they're due. There's no difference in performance between the various levels of chains and cassettes - the differences are more in surface treatment, which improves corrosion resistance, and surface hardness on sprockets, and les weight in the cassettes.
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Re: Upgrading Derailleurs
Postby bychosis » Tue Mar 04, 2014 8:02 pm
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Re: Upgrading Derailleurs
Postby Duck! » Tue Mar 04, 2014 9:47 pm
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Re: Upgrading Derailleurs
Postby WarbyD » Tue Mar 04, 2014 9:54 pm
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Re: Upgrading Derailleurs
Postby m@ » Wed Mar 05, 2014 10:22 am
Edit - seems there's no 9-speed shadow+ RD; weird as I was certain I'd seen 'em online...
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Re: Upgrading Derailleurs
Postby trailgumby » Wed Mar 05, 2014 12:42 pm
The best bit is that XTR chains are pretty cheap.
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Re: Upgrading Derailleurs
Postby bychosis » Wed Mar 05, 2014 12:50 pm
Apparently you can use a SRAM 9spd shifter with a shimano 10spd derailleur to get the clutch system. (No personal experience though)
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Re: Upgrading Derailleurs
Postby WarbyD » Wed Mar 05, 2014 12:52 pm
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Re: Upgrading Derailleurs
Postby Duck! » Wed Mar 05, 2014 2:16 pm
Shadow+ is 10-sp. only (M615, M675, M785/6, M985/6). MTB 10-sp. is mostly only compatible within its own little family (left shifter is an exception, front derailleurs & cranks tolerate mismatching).m@ wrote:Is the M772 Shadow+ i.e. a clutched der? Loving the upgrade to XT Shadow+ on my MTB...
Edit - seems there's no 9-speed shadow+ RD; weird as I was certain I'd seen 'em online...
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Re: Upgrading Derailleurs
Postby WarbyD » Fri Mar 14, 2014 2:26 pm
XT shifters
SLX front mech
XT rear mech (9 spd)
Paid about $70 all up for all of the above (along with a spare slx left shifter) so I'm happy..
Bike is getting a new chain today (dropped it in for a service / replace broken spoke.. guy threw the checker on the chain and said it needed replacing.. no biggie, its cheap enough and it will be the last coin this store takes off of me after attempting to charge me $99 for what was supposed to be a free service [first thing he did when I got there was scribble out the "free first service" booking and tick the "$99 basic service" box, then wasn't keen to accept that I was going to be sticking with the free service I was promised] and charging $50 to replace one broken spoke)
So.. if everything goes to plan.. Looking forward to trying it all out next week
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Re: Upgrading Derailleurs
Postby Colonial Marine » Fri Mar 21, 2014 1:49 am
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Re: Upgrading Derailleurs
Postby Marmoset » Fri Mar 21, 2014 5:09 pm
On the upgrade side of things, make sure you're cables are of decent quality - it can make a lot of difference to the shift quality.
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Re: Upgrading Derailleurs
Postby mikgit » Fri Mar 21, 2014 8:53 pm
although, in the old days, I could go though like a bunch of chains in a year, usually 2 through winter (plus a cluster and middle ring along the way), but that was riding 7 days a week thorugh axle deep sluch and mud. Don't really do that these days.
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Re: Upgrading Derailleurs
Postby trailgumby » Sat Mar 22, 2014 10:06 am
It could easily need replacing especially if you are lax wuth cleaning after muddy rides.
I run the best chains I can afford .. they extend the life of everything else. So for 9 speed that's XTR and 10 speed its KMC X10SL.
I also run 3x chains per bike in rotation. Still on my original cassettes and chainrings after 3 years.
After a wet off road ride the chain comes straight off into the kero bath to be cleaned and the next one goes on.
I reckon that's saved me a few hundred dollars a year.
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Re: Upgrading Derailleurs
Postby WarbyD » Sat Mar 22, 2014 11:22 pm
Went and bought a Merida One-Forty-3-b 27.5" mountain bike on Tuesday (from another store) so the avanti will live on pretty much permanent commuter duty now anyway... Once I get the derailleur, shifter, cable and wheel back on it lol (looking like a bit of a mess in the garage atm)
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