XT or X9

Re-building a rock lobster, want to make it as light as I can afford and now got to the gearing should I go for XT or X9?
Thinking of purchasing from Merlin as they seem quite reasonable.
Oh yer is it the long cage or short cage?
Thanks

i think x9 is better imo. Shifters and rear mech difinately are. Long cage if running a triple and 11-32 cassette

With ralph more reliable.
Long cage will work on a double (22 /36 slx)

I run a medium cage XT rear mech in a standard triple chainset without any problems at all….so do several others on here.

Personally I’d go X9 though, I’ve not been all that impressed by the current line of XT products.

X9 particular if you are running a full length outer. I find that the slightest bit of muck in the cables foxes XT because of the softer 2-1 ratio, but X9 is virtually immune.

Hmmm I was pondering this. I run an XTR on my hardtail but wondered if the X9 would be a better choice.

Something about the SRAM just looks better made. Not sure what it is. Hmmmm….time for research I think.

Middle cage X9 works fine for me with a triple and an 11-32 cassette. Not ideal chain tension in either big/big or small/small but worth it for a less dangly mech in my opinion.

I just wish the Jockey wheels bearings on the X9 were better.

XT every time. SRAM shifters/mech build quality is shocking.

XT – two way release on shifters, and the option of shadow or regular mech. The shifting is a bit ‘click click’, rather than the more touchy-feely shifting of old, but hey ho. Plus a medium cage would do if you get the chain the right length.
Oh, and I swear by full length outers – personally I’m loving Gore ones at the moment.

XT all the way for me……2007 stuff if you can get it…..

XT as the jocky wheels will last longer than 3 weeks 🙂

The Sram jockey wheels last months, Shimano last years. Also, the limit screws on X9 screw into plastic inserts, not good. They snap off/push out especially if you’re a bit heavy handed changing into the largest sprocket. Shame really as otherwise I was totally sold, still shifting flawlessly after 18 months with same cheap Halfrauds cable. Definitely recommend straight through outer though, as this was probably a big factor. Anyone know of jockey wheels with bushes, like Shimano, that fit X9?

Medium cage X9 with 11-34 casette and triple = no problems as I have the chain the correct length. Could even cross the gears if I wanted too.

shimano all the way for me, and historically so too.

Now have a bling bling bike with XO, but prefer the shifting and ‘feel’ of my XTR stuff.

There’s an awful lot of cheap plastic on the SRAM stuff.

just ditched SRAm for shimano on the rear of my Demo7. No comparisson.

i’ve just ditched all my X-9/x0 SRAM stuff for XT. Although SRAM works slightly better in manky conditions ,XT seems more robust and better put together.

I used to use an X9 setup and initially preferred it but jockey wheels need replaced far to often and the shifter build quality is no where near as good as Shimano. XT or XTR for me

the price shimano is going to at the mo get X0, go on your worth it.

X9 made of soft cheese. After going through 2 I went to X7 thats seems bomb proof.