...just how shite x-9 is. Its like night and day.
In what way?
I liked how quiet over bumps the Shadows are.
I'm always amazed that people think there's a significant difference between brand new rear mechs. Most of them work perfectly when brand new, right from X5 or deore upwards. It's how they wear that's the difference.
In what way?? I'm thinking on changing to X9 as I quite like the action of the X0 my mate has on his bike.
slickness of shifting, longevity and build quality.
Whereas I FAR prefer the feel of SRAM. Much more solid and precise. Just a shame they break so damn easily. (Ihave Shimano on my big bike for this reason). A SRAM Saint style mech would be interesting.
I went from SRAM (X9) to Shimano (SLX) a few months ago; its not so much the shifting I prefer, but the minimal profile that Shimano Shadow rear mechs have compared to SRAM. Was forever bending either the rear mech or the mech hanger... now a thing of the past.
Im looking to go the other way if anyone wants to swap that horrid SRAM stuff for my XT (non shadow) rear and front mech and shifters.
Must admit, have gone the other way - full XTR set up to XO mech and XO gripshifters. Maybe not as buttery smooth but a little more positive and definitley faster (IMO of course). Not come across a wear issue yet!!
TBH there isn't really that much in it. I prefer SRAM not because of how it shifts but because the controls on the shifter feel more natural to me, as I can chage gears with the thumb (up or down) and still have one finger resting on the brake lever for unexpected stuff I have to slow down for, whereas with Shimano you have to use your finger to change to smaller sprockets.
It all boils down to which shifter style you prefer
2nd this
[i]JonEdwards - Member
Whereas I FAR prefer the feel of SRAM.[/i]
Though I've not tried the newer shadow mechs, I can't see them improving on reliability of sram X9's. Reliabilty as in lack of tweaking required, not messed with one of mine since I installed it over 2 years ago, unlike every shimano mech I've run.
"with Shimano you have to use your finger to change to smaller sprockets"
Not for the 3 or so years since dual-release came in you haven't. It's down as far as LX at least.
have a look at your new shadow mech and clock the sacrificial bit below where it bolts onto the hanger. a mate had a stick go through his mech on it's first outing. mech broke, hanger on frame was fine. be alright if the bit of the mech that broke was as freely available as the frame hanger i suppose - might be now i guess ( this was a few months ago and he couldn't get one easily ).
good luck with it though.
My 2p:
Sram shifters on shimano mechs, using Tacx Jockey wheels and full run XT outers....
Winner!
longevity
You have just fitted it and can already tell it has superior longevity? Impressive indeed...
Sram is clunky = some like / dislike, but the rear mechs really dont last well and jockeys seize up in my experience based on x7/x9 - xo seems nice but i personally dont use it - seen a number of sram shifters bust too - on balance i prefer shimano i think... wouldnt touch anything with truvativ on it either...
I do find normal xt / xtr great as is deore. Fabled cable routing advantgae of sram is overcome by using full outers with shimano - suggest that on either system.
I am not taken with shadow shimano - flimsy despite marketing bullshit...
On reflection i would suggest - full outers - shimano shifters and mechs and use deore chainrings and tacx jockeys.
all this based on a lot of useage and bikeshop experience.
I prefer ESP9.0SL with Gripshift to anything else, but... Shimano wins the trigger war.
pypdjy - yes longevity. It's done around 3000 miles and looks like new. I bought the x9 on a whim thinking it would be even better than the xt, it wasn't so i put the xt back on.
Loads of 2010 are coming with SRAM cos it's cheaper and SRAM do great deals if you spec sram gears, truvative, rockshox and avids - the full ensemble. So if i buy a new bike next year, I'll probably need to throw all the SRAM sh!t in the bin & fit some proper gears!
olly is the winner
SRAM shifters are rubbish bits of plastic that seize at the slightest hint of moisture, jockey wheels are a joke, mechs are clunky.
Ah this old debate again 😀
I have to say, despite being a SRAM fan boy since they were first released, I wouldn't touch the cheap stuff these days. I found the first X7's lasted for ages, but by the end I was eating about one a month - they just wore out. I bit the bullet, bought an X.0 and haven't had to touch it in 2 years, save an annual cable change.
I've not used Shimano Shadow, but the reviews would have to be very, VERY good for me to try them.
And when the Ironwood arrives this week, its X9/X7 will be getting swapped out for the old XO...
Never had a sram shifter seize, and the indexing is more tolerant to mud and manky cables. The jockey wheels are a bit rubbish admittedly.
sram rocket gripshift and xtr mech for the win
You're All Wrong.
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For The Win.
cluncky is good
If anyone reading this thread has decided to go shimano and wants to sell a long cage x7 rear mech please let me know!! one wanted here!
No, you need one of these [img] 
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