I've noticed that my rear mech cage has been half eaten away by the chain but there doesn't seem to be Shimano cage replacement parts available, and new mech prices are way more pricey than other Shimano 11 speed mechs.
Is there an alternative rear derailleur I can use on a GRX 1x setup?
How did the damage occur? I think the only time I've had cage wear was when the jockey and pulley wheels were worn beyond their limits and possibly using the wrong sized chain? 🤔
These are what you need.
Shimano spares part nos are available via si.shimano.com The inner plate is the same as the one on M8000 XT mechs
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/gear-spares/shimano-grx-rdrx812-outer-plate-assembly-y3gf98030/
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/gear-spares/shimano-deore-xt-rdm8000-inner-plate-gs-type-y5rt09000/
Thanks. I've bought one, and the wear was from the bike being 6 years old and doing a fair bit of filthy mileage including about 10 cx races this past season.
@didnthurt Why was the thread titled “ Shimano GRX 812 rear derailleurs poor value for money”?
If you’ve had it that long and done 10 races then I would suggest the opposite is the case!
Ultegra RX. Bascially what they soft-launched before GRX, its got a clutch etc like a GRX/MTB mech. Little known.
They retail at over £100! Cheapest online in the UK is £85, for a mid range derailleur! And due to Shimano using a weird pull ratio for their road/gravel 11 speed, I can't use another mech that is cheaper. Jockey wheels are £20, for two plastic discs, and I'm on my 4th set.
That's not good value in my opinion.
Out of interest, how long does your rear derailleurs last?
I will agree with you about the poor value for money - it applies to most, if not all bicycles and their components and a case I have made many times. When you compare the cost of brake pads and discs, tyres and wheels with the automotive sector for instance I think we are taken for a ride - at our expense!
I don’t think Shimano are any better or worse than others in this respect although some parts are still significantly cheaper than SRAM.
As regards my component wear, it’s not something I particularly monitor and it’s very subjective, depending on conditions they are used in, the regularity and methods of maintenance.
When I worked as a mechanic there were some people who could destroy components very rapidly and some who would present immaculately clean bikes with all the bearings destroyed by **** off and pressure washer!
I would be interested to know as to why you think your cage has been eaten away by the chain?
812 isn't mid-range though, it's the top range of GRX Mechanical and equivalent to XT/Ultegra which cost... oh look £100 and £90 (with no clutch) respectively at RRP.
SRAM Force 11-speed rear derailleurs are £229 at RRP!
The gripe about it not being cross-compatible with their MTB mech's I do completely agree with though, the manipulating of cable pull ratios to segregate everything is a pain in the backside and makes it less likely to pick up something reduced/cheap second hand.
Wolftooth Tanpan 11 sorts the cable pull thing. Allows Shimano MTB mechs with Shimano drop bar STIs.
I think all shimano road and gravel is now the same pull ratio, across 10, 11 and 12 does. So you can just slap a Grx 400 on or Tiagra
Not on a wide range 1x. Same for Ultregra RX.
You might manage to dodge it to "work" but will not shift as well as a dedicated mech designed for wide range 1x.