[Closed] SHifters or mechs - which is most important to shifting quality?

mechs have to deal with more mud and knocks

so your answer is.......?

Shifters are more important- the mech is, in essence, just a spring and some pivots. Shifters are where the speed and precision is (mostly- but not entirely).

However, you can get XT shifters and rear mech for £105 on Merlin (SLX is £75). Might make it easier to just get both?

Shifters make the most difference IMHO.

Don't bother. Go singlespeed.
(Sorry, but if I didn't say it I'm sure someone else would!)

Seriously, I've always gone for a better mech when there was a choice such as yours (but that choice wasn't really based on any science or research). As kimbers said it takes more abuse so needs to be a bit more hardy. Alternatively, you could say that the mech is more likely to get broken so buy a cheaper one which won't make you weep when it has to be replaced.

Shifters can have different feel. I didn't like xt 8s shifters as they had very little throw, I run stx/alivio now.

High end mechs [i]seem[/i] crisper but I think that may just be in the mind...

GMJ - thats my thought - better shifters are tucked away, an SLX shadow mech is £30, and XT shadow mech is £54 or nearly another mech more!

SLX FTW then al?

Ive found my LX mech to be better than the XT one it replaced. The best shifters ive had are either XT or thumbies, very different but good.

spend the money on the rear mech, the shifters will make more difference but the mech will look more bling!

not bothered about the look really onza - i have X9 atm and it looks ace

Good cables, clean and well lubed with decent shifters for me. A 'better' mech seems mainly a weight issue, I've always stuck with LX for the mech!

Cables, cables and cables. Even the best mechs money can buy are duff with old manky cables.

Hmmm

I changed from xt to xtr mechs on my bikes without changing anything else and the shifting was noticeably better. This could be due to the xt mechs being worn out and the XTR not but I think the less "slop" in the pivots of the xtr was the biggest factor.

muffin_the_mule - Member

Cables, cables and cables. Even the best mechs money can buy are duff with old manky cables.

Which would deliver best shifting (providing they were both set up well with good quality cables etc)?

Did you read the first post MTM?

I'll agree with Jezza, though- XTR does make a pretty obvious difference to performance.

not in the equation tho

xtr rear mechs £25 from here secondhand. I have bought 4 now

surely if they are second hand they will be pivot wear which negates the crisp feel?

Thats "STW secondhand" which equates to "TJ hardly used"

All of them were obviously more precise than the old worn XT / LX I was using with far less slop

Cables are most important IMHO, far more than spangly shifters or mechs.

XTR shifters seem to last for ever, really smooth & precise

2nd hand ones are therfore also ace as TJ sez

SLX shadow with medium cage has a much stiffer spring than long cage XT shadow, whether thats the difference between the cage length or kit level I dont know but it might be a factor.

I got an XT shifter/rear mech box set last year for £90 from my LBS, with a free 25th anniversary of XT badge woohoo. Dunno if that was pre-price increases?

i know about cables matt hence the first post

shifters 🙂

did anyone mention good clean cables?

I always thought the SLX mechs came with stiffer springs same as Saint as they were designed for dh/freeride use.

XT cassette.
The cassette does the shifting, the mech and the shifter just push the chain... That said, don't skimp on replacing chains. Get a chain wear indicator. I put 5 chains through my last XT cassette.

shifters make the biggest difference.

deore shifters compared to xtr shifters with the same mech will not feel as crisp or positive.

slx is the same internally as xt btw. we all use slx FTW.

shifters make the biggest difference.

...that would make a difference as you are putting new cables in....

Your chainrings *want* a new chain.

cables

Shifters first, cables second, mech third.

Cables defo, then shifters.

Best shifters I ever used were 8spd XT - now on the wife's bike. Bizaarely (SP?) the acera ones on my cheap commuter feel very similar!

well in my experience shifters never ever go wrong or wear out so spend a bit more there and it serves you for years, but mechs have a limited life.

That said I've never noticed any differnce in shift 'quality' from a shifter but have only used deore and lx. Come to think of it, I don't think I've noticed any difference in shift quality from new mechs, but cheaper mechs seem to wear out far quicker for me.

cables 😀