I'm looking to get a shadow-style rear derailleur due to frame clearance issues. I was planning on getting an SLX, but it seems that it's easier (and cheaper) to get an XT online. However, when I read the reviews here on the forums, it seems that a lot of people have durability issues with the XT (M772). So if you've had experiences with the derailleur (good or bad), please share.
I never had a problem with my XT...I have also ripped it off twice and had my LBS have to bend the cage back and its still working, not like brand new but good enough not to piss me off to buy a new one.
Never experienced any problems with the RD-M772 in approx. two years of use. Only worn shifter cables affected it's efficiency once, but that is not to blame on the derailleur itself of course. Solid peace of engineering, and better looking than SRAM derailleurs imho.
I had an XT Shadow rear derailleur. The first stick I picked up with it killed the derailleur. The derailleur kicked back putting a big notch in the part that attached to the drop out tab. The derailleur would no longer swing for and aft. There was a c-clip on the back of the pivot bolt but the bolt must be pressed in. I had to junk the derailleur and I bougnt a regular XT instead.
This is probably a fine derailleur for western riding. Be advised if you use this derailleur in the midwest or east you could have a problem.
I know, watch out for sticks. That is easier said than done. Every other derailleur I have had (bought my first mountain bike in 1984) has shrugged of sticks with little damage.
I had an XT Shadow rear derailleur. The first stick I picked up with it killed the derailleur. The derailleur kicked back putting a big notch in the part that attached to the drop out tab. The derailleur would no longer swing for and aft. There was a c-clip on the back of the pivot bolt but the bolt must be pressed in. I had to junk the derailleur and I bougnt a regular XT instead.
This is probably a fine derailleur for western riding. Be advised if you use this derailleur in the midwest or east you could have a problem.
I know, watch out for sticks. That is easier said than done. Every other derailleur I have had (bought my first mountain bike in 1984) has shrugged of sticks with little damage.
so because you picked up a stick and broke your deraillier its no good?
do you know how many derailliers have broken from sticks, thousands. It doesnt matter what type of deraillier you have if a stick gets in there
wow,thats like saying I backed my car over my bike and it broke so its a piece of crap
under normal use the shadow deraillier will be less likely to have an issue because it tucked up closer to the cassette and doesnt stick out so its less likely to hit something, it also doesnt have the extra pivot so it doesnt need that big loop of cable in the rear and lastly it has a stronger spring so the shifting is crisper.
the only dissadvantage I've found is it doesnt come in rapid rise. and I ride East coast rocky terrain
What part of my post did you not understand? As I have said I had many other instances of rear derailleurs picking up sticks and none of those occurrances killed the derailleur. It may had gotten a little bent up and needed some adjustment, but wrecked, no.
The Achilles Heel of the Shadow is the small area the derailleur pivots fore and aft on. On the Shadow that pivot are is less than a 3/16" wide. On a regular derailleur that pivot is upwards of 3/4". The force is dispersed over a larger area.
The original poster asked my opinion and I gave it. If your experience with the Shadow derailleur has all been good, I can accept that. But my experience was not good.
Been using one in New England....
I should say I have used 2....one did get bent around with the perfectly placed stick. Originally had a XTR shadow that got crunched in a crash.
I went with the Xt because it's 100 bucks cheaper...is only a little heavier and works just as well.
The Achilles Heel of the Shadow is the small area the derailleur pivots fore and aft on. On the Shadow that pivot are is less than a 3/16" wide. On a regular derailleur that pivot is upwards of 3/4". The force is dispersed over a larger area.
Then it appears this possible design flaw is common to all the shadow type derailleurs, not just the XT. Thus the SLX wouldn't be any better in this regard.
Twenty years of using normal derailers with no problem. I've twisted two XT Shadows in the past year, both times from sticks bending the derailer hanger. The first stick was a piece of tumble weed around the diameter of cable housing, more like a dried piece of weed than a wood stick. The derailers look fine, but I can't get them to adjust correctly. Careful inspection shows the mounting plate (where the derailer bolt goes thru to the frame) is slightly twisted and bent. My opinion is that the strong spring and design of this derailer makes it less likely to move out of the way of sticks, and then the thin mounting plate is more likely to bend. I am now running a normal XTR I got on clearance at Performance. I will be keeping my fingers crossed and keeping an eye out for sticks since apparently we have them here on the west coast also.
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