Or vice-versa?

Is it due to the chain line?

are the rings on road and mtb triple chainsets the same spacing between the rings, and same overall?

its due to the cable pull ratio.

The pivot/parallelogram locations differ between road/mtb which means that every millimetre of cable pulled by the shifters does different things to the derailleurs.

Xt 9 speed front mech is working with Sora shifters on my cross bike and a Deore triple chainset 22/32/44

Using an X9 shifter, a 105 mech and a road compact chainset here with no problems (both 2speed/double).

Using a XT front mech on a road triple, with 105 double shifter and using the”trim”position to get all three rings. Works unbelievably well!

XT front triple with a campag veloce shifter on a drop bar tourer here.

Have you routed the cable into it’s clamp correctly? Some of the bottom swing mechs have a lug that the cable needs to go around the outside of, but looks like it should go on the inside of, which alters the pull ratio quite a lot.

I haven’t tried yet. Just figuring what parts I need to acquire 🙂

Most do. The cable pull is slightly different, and the throw is less, but all bar the newest ones will work, you may just have to fiddle a bit.

Edit: actually road shifters/MTB mech works better than than the other way round.

Old 9 speed mtb mechs will work with 9 & 10 speed road shifters as the pull ratio was the same, not sure about 11 speed.

Old 9 speed mtb mechs will work with 9 & 10 speed road shifters as the pull ratio was the same, not sure about 11 speed.

Rear?

I was on about the front.

I have no desire to go 10 speed on a build (Salsa Vaya) so looking at XT 9sp rear and a ‘touring’ triple (48-36-26ish) up front. I have an unused XT front mech but need to get some shifters (was thinking Sora 9speed).

I guess I’ll just see what happens 🙂