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Which Shimano Rear Derailleur


GW's picture

By GW - Posted on 20 November 2012

Hey all,

So i've smashed my fourth rear derailleur in just over a year today. I had a cage fail on a xtr shadow (with a carbon cage) then bought the same one again and caught a branch that ripped the cage to pieces.. Switched to an xt and a crash took that one out and bent another cage on an xt today thats beyond repair. So ive been having a look online and it seems shimano have stopped developing 3x9 (please correct me if im wrong but i cant find anything new in 9 speed)

Id love some opinions on whether I should switch to sram or bite the bulllet and change to a new 2x10 system and get the advantages of the new dyna-sys technology ?

My previous derailleurs were XT M772 and Shimano XTR M972 'Shadow'

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bmar560's picture

I think a 10 speed RD will work fine with a 9 speed cassette and shifters. I would suggest the Xt shadow plus RD-M786

Dicko's picture

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?M...

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?M...

Good prices too. If your worried about 9 speed being discontinued - buy 2

pharmaboy's picture

No wont work

10 sp shimano is 1:1 ratio , 9 speed isn't . That's why shimano still offer 9 sp alongside of 10

So of you want plus then you need a new shifter and cassette and chain ( 9sp will become like 8 sp - spares still available , but over many years the high end replacement s disappear ie xtr

DudeistPriest's picture

I have an old XT RD you can have if you like, it's a 9 speed and still in pretty good order I think. I've had it sitting on a bench for a while. I live on the Central Coast if you want to sort something out let me know.

Mamil's picture

Maybe you should try a 9 speed Saint M810, they're a bit tougher than the rest...

...and always get admiring glances from others not gnar enough to need one Smiling

MurrayW's picture

My mate smashed his XTR cage and he was very upset about that. He googled buying parts and was able to buy the cage. If you can't find the web site I will find out for you.

hawkeye's picture

Sounds like you need a Rohloff Speedhub and a chain tensioner Eye-wink

MurrayW's picture

I rode with a guy on Sunday that had a Surly Pugsly with a Rohloff.
That would be great fun.

hawkeye's picture

... the wily Adrian from Belrose Bikes. Smiling

Got chatting with the guys from Dirtworks at the Spring Cycle. Hoping to organise one for a review article write-up when they get past the Christmas crazy season.

GW's picture

Thanks for all the feedback guys, i really appreciate it.
As much as id love a Rohloff Speedhub that's a bit out of the budget at the moment.
Im still looking at my options but I love the idea of running a 9 speed Saint, does anyone know if a RD-M810 9 speed (med cage) will run ok with my current 3x9 of will I need to change to a 2x9 ?
Thanks again

Mamil's picture

Shimano only do the Saint M810 in short (SS) and medium (GS) cage lengths. According to their tech docs the GS has a capacity of 37T (capacity = the difference between your small/small and large/large gears). Shimano's capacities are generally a bit conservative (and I'm currently running a GS cage mech with a 39T difference with no probs), but as a typical 3x9 with 22/32/44 front and 11/34 rear has a capacity of 45T then it's a fair bet a GS mech wouldn't cope with it.

So, to keep within the capacity of a medium cage Saint, you'd either need to run only 2 rings up front, or limit your ratios on the rear to something like 11/28.

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