Rear mech - XT vs SLX vs Zee - Bike Forum

Re: Rear mech - XT vs SLX vs Zee

SiB — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 22:33:36 +0000

Sorry, quick hijack.......those slx medium cage on merlin, im going 1 x 10 and from reading posts on here gathered 1 x 10 is best with a short cage? Or does it not really matter with clutch mech?

Re: Rear mech - XT vs SLX vs Zee

xherbivorex — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 22:28:48 +0000

bike-discount.de currently shows £44.16 plus postage, so yeah it would appear so!

Re: Rear mech - XT vs SLX vs Zee

Duane... — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 22:21:51 +0000

Thanks, is that cheaper than the German shops too?

Re: Rear mech - XT vs SLX vs Zee

xherbivorex — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 22:07:32 +0000

a PSA for you then mate; Merlin just got the medium cage SLX clutch mechs back in stock today, 42 quid post paid. they're the cheapest i can find for them...

Re: Rear mech - XT vs SLX vs Zee

Duane... — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 21:54:46 +0000

Cheers all. Think I'll go for an SLX. Never had jockey wheel bushing wear out/seize.

Iain, I am, but only for another week and a bit, then my placement finishes and I head back to N. Wales.

Re: Rear mech - XT vs SLX vs Zee

pickle — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 09:15:03 +0000

blimey there's a whole load of different types now isn't there! i've been running the same XTR 9 speed for the last 15 years or so.

Might have to look at a new one though soon and i can tell it's going to be a minefield! ebay for an old one for me i think

Re: Rear mech - XT vs SLX vs Zee

Northwind — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 08:18:35 +0000

Duane... - Member

Thanks all. What is the actual difference between "proper" jockey wheels and ones with bushings? Marginally less resistance?

Lifespan basically, I've always found the bushings wear out long before the teeth do. I've stuck an SLX on the bike that gets ridden least but I wouldn't have one on the main bikes personally.

Re: Rear mech - XT vs SLX vs Zee

t-p26 — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 08:03:53 +0000

XT -money to burn
Zee*-if you have the patience to wait for one
SLX-for mere mortals...

*pronounced ZED in the United Kingdom, the BIRTHPLACE of the English language

Re: Rear mech - XT vs SLX vs Zee

lornholio — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 07:45:16 +0000

I have a Zee on my Mega ... Setting it up for the big sprocket and accommodates chain growth means there is slack on the 11t so I could do with dropping a link.

I had the exact same issue setting up a Zee mech + 11-36 cassette on my Mega but got it tensioned nicely in all gears by setting the B-tension screw so that the upper jockey wheel runs a little further away from the 36t than it's supposed to. No issues, love it.

The alternative is to drop a link like you say, but if I did that then bottoming out the travel while in the 36t (and possibly the 34t) would definitely break something so I'm taking no chances.

Re: Rear mech - XT vs SLX vs Zee

iain1775 — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 21:14:29 +0000

XT gets proper jockey wheels not the bushing things in Zee and SLX.

Which in mine (early adopter from Germany) had all sorts of issues with the bearings pushing through the jockey wheel causing it to run off centre and chain to fall off and jam between jockey and cage (hard to explain without pics but Madison offered to warranty it)
I swopped them for cheapish alloy ones from eBay and all fine since
If I have to replace it would go SLX shadow+, med cage (2x10) don't see point of paying extra for XT when SLX is so good

Duane, you still living local to me?