Time has come for a new mech, will be 1×10 so I only need short cage. Any advantages in the xt over zee, or is it just the letters? Weight is the same, both change gear….

Zee has shorter cage, XT better quality IME

the Zee has a back plate made of soft cheese… (it bent in a very minor spill..)
and i found it right at its limits of comfort on an 11-36

XT every time for me..
much more solid back plate and the medium cage copes better with an 11-36..

XT. If you are running 11-36 and have any amount of chain growth Zee might struggle.

You get proper bearings on the jockey wheels too

Useful replies as I’m about to buy as the same, thanks

There isn’t a short cage XT, only medium. But as the (super) short Zee can’t handle 11-36 plus reasonable chain growth I’d go medium cage – and buy SLX instead!

XT if you ever plan to run an extender on it

In fact XT every time – zee is just awful build quality

Edit: just to add to CGG’s post – for the cost of XT over SLX I’d pay it just to get decent jockey wheels and a better clutch. You may decide otherwise cos SLX is still good value (basically medium cage Zee)

I’ve had all three, XT all day long,then Slx, zee last. XT worth the couple extra quid for the jockey wheels alone.

Great, thanks, there’s certainly a consensus on this one!

My how Zee mechs seem to be lasting pretty well and work loads better than the Sram clutch mechs that I was running before. Both are run with an 11-36 cassette and one on a full suss. They’re so cheap, if owt happens I won’t be that bothered.

What’s the benefit of bearings in jockey wheels over bushes? I presume they spin a fraction easier but they don’t seem to like wet weather as much!

Last Zee I had on a 1×10, 11-36 was faultless.

But as the (super) short Zee can’t handle 11-36 plus reasonable chain growth

This is interesting, what’s reasonable chain growth? A few of us run 11-36 with a Zee short cage on different full suss bikes without any problems.

I have 11-36 on a helius AC and have not noticed any chain growth issues. Generally won’t be in a low gear if the suspension is being used through much I its travel so I suspect it may be a theoretical issue not borne out in the practicality of riding the bike

for the cost of XT over SLX I’d pay it just to get decent jockey wheels and a better clutch

Just like to point out that the clutch is exactly the same in XT SLX Saint Zee and Deore. Only XTR gets a slightly different design of clutch.

I replaced an XT non-clutch with a Zee clutch, swapped the jockey wheels over when I did it and sold the XT.

I haven’t noticed anything but a quieter drive-train since. No issues with chain growth at all on an 11-36 and 32t. Might throw a 40t into the mix and see how it does, but I’d probably need a new chain.

I haven’t taken the bike to the alps and thrown the mech into any rocks though, so I can’t comment on the strength.

My zee coped *okay* with an 11-36 1×10 set up, but lots of chain slappage in top gear.

Now i’ve gone 11-40 i need a longer cage, so have bought a mid cage XT.

That’s on a spesh enduro ’12 with reasonable chain growth

I’ve had 4 Zee mechs on my bikes, not had a problem with any of them. The one on the hardtail has coped with all manner of mud and crap in the last 3 months too.

perthmtb – Member
for the cost of XT over SLX I’d pay it just to get decent jockey wheels and a better clutch
Just like to point out that the clutch is exactly the same in XT SLX Saint Zee and Deore. Only XTR gets a slightly different design of clutch.

apologies for my poor memory…you are of course correct

old posts

apologies for my poor memory…you are of course correct

old posts

Ha! I’d forgotten about that thread. I got a bit excited about it back then didn’t I – must’ve been off my meds 😆