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Anyone tried the SLX, XT or XTR shadow plus rear derailleurs ?
Just wondering if anyone have used the shadow plus rear derailleurs on their bike ?And what's the feedback if you have it ?
Supposedly it will give you silent rides, but heavier than the standard derailleurs and requires more maintenance.
Cheers,
Mario
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My XTR + is awesome. I use it 1x10 with a top chain guide. Chain has never fallen off, barely any chainslap, can tighten the tension if you want, shifts are heavier, but only slightly, they weigh 30gm more or so, which is nothing!
The 5 Star reviews for the XTR one are your answer. Haven't seen any reviews for the others though....
"Only 30 grams more" !
A backward step for a bike component.
So was a suspension fork over a rigid fork. Never heard anyone complain about that one...
I dare Shimano to make more of their XTR components heavier.
I've been using a Shadow+ XT for a few weeks now, and it definitely reduces chain slap to practically nothing, in fact I'm thinking of removing the chain protector from my chainstay.
The shifting is definitely 'different' - a more positive 'click-clunk' and requires a little more pressure on the lever. It's a result of the stronger spring tension, but also that Shimano have done away with the float on the upper jockey wheel with the shadow+.
Some will like the feel of the shifting, some won't - to me it reminds me of the more positive shifting of my Saint, and I found it great for race situations where you just want no-nonsense fast shifts.
I haven't noticed the weight gain slowing me down any
Remove that chainstay protector! I now only run a lizard skin plastic strip along the top of my chainstay. http://melbournebicyclecentre.com/shop/lizard-sk...
The chain hits the top rarely, and never hits the bottom of the chainstay. In regards to the float of the top pulley, I tried to change the top pulley to a fancy KCNC one, and it ruined the shifting (wouldn't shift to smaller cog anymore). Putting the original one back on solved the problem. Could have been that i needed to adjust the derailleur again because the new pulley was offset different though.
There must be a reason that Shimano have gone away from what has been a feature of rear mechs for about three decades now - side-to-side play in the upper jockey wheel.
My guess is that whereas this play is an advantage in normal RDs and helps smooth shifting, for some reason it has the opposite effect in the new shadow+ mechs - something to do with the extra spring tension perhaps? Anyway, as you found out - beware swapping 'normal' jockey wheels for the ones on the Shadow+.
"I dare Shimano to make more of their XTR components heavier."
XTR Di2 sounds like your worst nightmare then.
From a different perspective, I've been running the SRAM Type 2 for a month or so now, and love it too! Same theory, slightly different application, but does the job! Granted, I've got a top guide & C-Guide v2 lower device, but the chain ain't coming off at all!
thanks guys.
I was looking at the XT model and can only find one online review.
http://twentynineinches.com/2012/08/08/shimano-s...
and one of the comments was
"PaulH Says:
August 10, 2012 at 7:16 am
We like the Shadow+ mechs a lot for the reasons you have stated, but have now started to see more broken hangers come through the workshop with these fitted. Our thoughts being that if riders catch a stick in their wheel there is no chance for the mech to ride up and give you that momentary warning to stop pedalling. Has anyone had similar occurences?"
"Our thoughts being that if riders catch a stick in their wheel there is no chance for the mech to ride up and give you that momentary warning to stop pedalling"
Don't understand this comment about mechs 'riding up'. As far as I can see, if a stick stops your wheel dead, there's nothing the RD can do about it - shadow or shadow+ - as its on the return/slack side of the drive, not between the cranks and the cassette.
In fact, I did get a stick in the spokes soon after fitting the shadow+, and the back wheel just locked up and I skidded to a stop - one slightly bent spoke was the only damage luckily - but I can't see how the kind of RD you have would make any difference?
Maybe I'm just not figuring it out right and someone can explain it to me?
I think he meant a stick getting caught in the derailleur, not the wheel. Just guessing.
Ah - could be it....
I have the X0 type two. That's why its nice and quiet to ride
Shadow plus is the gun!
When I make the move to 10 speed, I'll be going directly to Shadow plus. They are super quiet on really rough trails.
Just happened to me on the weekend at margaret river, stick gaot caught up in the chain and derailler no time to stop pedalling and the dropout snapped leaving me with a lovely walk. Thanks to the local riders for the tour and the local bike shop I was back riding the trails the next day. Rule #1 now learnt is to carry spares. Aside from this the XT gear is great.
But a stick in your RD is probably gonna spoil your day regardless - surely this is not a new issue specific to the Shadow+ design, and is the point of the rear hanger, ie. a weak point that will fail before your mech is destroyed...
Nine-speed, with the integrated shiftign where you change gears by flipping the brake lever up and down. Not just a shadow-plus issue.
While it didn't save the derailleur from getting bent, it did save the rear triangle from needing replacement, which would have been needed if they were one piece like on many roadies.
It was enough to get me home, albeit with the gear shifting having a mind of its own! Once home, the RD was successfully resurrected in the vice with careful application of a rubber mallet and a vice (knuckle was also twisted).
I am careful to always have a spare hanger in my camelbak just in case.
I just ordered the XT shadow plus, I guess I'll need to start carrying spare hangers as well.
Really looking forward to the silent ride
@bmar560, have you fitted the new rear der. I have the X0 type two and its so quiet. I actually have stopped noticing how quiet it is but I'm sure if I rode something else I would notice it.
Came standard on the epic it's never missed a click don't know how it compares to xt-xtr but I think it's awsome.i do have some trouble when the chain becomes dry & clogged whith dust.
Still in the post Brian. I should get it this week, fingers crossed.
There's actually a review on the Flow magazine tests on the XT version and they seem happy with it.
... and EvansCycles decided to send me the wrong Rear derailleur, just the normal XT and not the shadow plus ... #$%& !!
I had problems with Evans too.
Ordered a product, they sent a different one. A few emails including comparison photos of the one they sent, their website photo, and my old one resulted in no joy. Even after circling the missing bits in red they ended up not replying.
Lucky i paid with paypal. Got a full refund.
This is my third order with them and the first one with issues.
Did you have to return the wrong stuff they sent to get the refund ?
The part was only $30 or so, and they didn't ask for it back. In fact, the only email received was asking for clearer pictures. As a published photographer (honk honk), I kinda thought my photos would have been good enough. After the 2nd round I just got an email to say they had got my email, then nothing.
In your case, I also wouldn't be paying to send anything back. Tough luck for you if you order the wrong thing. Tough luck for them if they send the wrong thing.
I definitely didn't order the wrong thing.
The box had their sticker with M786 on it but the Shimano Sticker says M781
I'll raise a case with paypal and see what the outcome is. Definitely won't be paying anything to get it shipped back.
Contact them first, im sure its not the norm to ignore complaints/mistakes.
I managed to source the correct rear-der locally and it arrived last week. Installation went smoothly with no issue. I rode it on the weekend on the trails in Canberra and it was flawless. Yes it requires a little bit more effort to shift the chain up the cassette but nothing that you won't get used to.
The shifting is also more accurate and precise I think.
It is a lot more quiet than the standard rear-der, the only noise I heard was when the chain hits the cage of the front-der, most of the time is silent.
Have not tested it on a rock garden yet as Canberra trails are quite smooth
Is it a worthwhile upgrade ? I'd say so, but I'll probably wait until youre current rear-der is on it's way out.
where were you riding apparently you didn't hit Stromlo they have rock gardens there or were you riding the fire trails ??
well Stromlo was rocky in some places but I didn't hit the double black diamond trails.
Kowen hardly had any rocks, but it was one of the best singletracks I've ever ridden, and sparrow was almost the same as Kowen
Will try it at Manly Dam tomorrow morning, a few rock gardens there
Stromlo felt pretty rocky to me on the weekend, but back on topic, my Shadow rear mech is great, very quiet over all types of trails.
**update**
The Shadow+ rear derrailleur has been great so far, the key word being "so far"
I went for a ride this morning and I noticed the chainslap noise is back, I was thinking wtf...
Got home and whilst cleaning the bike, I noticed the the cage moves freely like a normal derailleur, so I opened up the mechanism and I found a part of the mechanism that adjusts the tension broken.
So there you go barely 2 months old, and the thing is as good as a standard derailleur now. More moving parts more things that can go wrong I suppose.
I hope the part is readily available from Shimano.
warranty I would think.
The new design of the shadow has a second pivot point just below your mech hanger that has bent on both of them ( whilst the mech hanger has stayed straight both times)
Love the shifting of shimano, hate their weak rear mechs. I've now gone down to using an XT as they're a damn sight cheaper to replace.
Gazza, is that maybe to do with the plus side of things - obviously the clutch would reduce their ability to go with some hits?
I'm not sure what kills rear deraileurs, it seems some people kill em, and others never do (my deraileur scratches are all from crashes) - if i'm heading through a close rock gap, it always seems to be the base of my cranks that gets contact
No such problems with my Type 2... Yet
It's looking quite worse for wear, having survived a few solid binnings, but still shifting perfectly.
One thing that is happening though is that, at the start of each ride, there's a noticeable "click" in the clutch mechanism as my suspension compresses. Seems to free up after a few km, but still I'll be watching this to see if it get's any worse.
Called Shimano and they have the parts available
it will cost $20, have asked my LBS to order it for me.
It could've been user error, I might've adjusted it a bit too tight.
The shifting on the Shadow+ is better than the standard derrailleur I must say.
I'll have to keep an eye on this one. My XT + is around 2 months old also. Would be a bit disappointing if it breaks so easily.
Had an interesting comment from a bloke I rode with the other day - he noticed the new XT +, I told him what it did. His commment, being an engineer, was "why not just make the spring tension tighter to start with?" good point I think. Instead of the fancy clutch, just put in a stiffer spring.
Quote, "why not just make the spring tension tighter to start with?"
Because you need to be able to switch the extra tension off to get the wheel in & out.
The switch also gives you the choice to run it like a normal mechanism or a 'plus'.
The sram type 2 doesn't have an on/off but it has a button to hold the derailleur forward so this would work with just a bigger spring idea.
Don't know about you but I normally put the bike in the 11 tooth to make it easier to get the wheel in and out - means less tension even before the shadow + dealy. Wheel comes out fine either in + or not but I do turn it off just because it's what the instructions said to do.
Quote, "Wheel comes out fine either in + or not but I do turn it off just because it's what the instructions said to do."
Really? Well all I can say then is that your experience differs from mine. I've found getting a wheel on and off with the clutch engaged is a major PITA, and lets not even mention trying to connect a chain against the clutch tension! I'm very glad Shimano had the foresight to add a switch that enables it to be switched off, but hey, isn't that the point - the switch gives us the choice, so if you want to leave it on to remove the wheel and I don't, then Shimano have us both covered
I have upgraded to the XTR 986 GS on my carbon 26" Anthem-I basically upgraded due to losing too many chains with the "basic" XTR 985 one. I spent too much time on events passing people then the chain drops and they go past you again! Back to square one...(well, I did pass one or two who had pinch flatted or stacked it!)
It is nice to be able to save the spring tension in the clutch when you say, just ride around the streets (not bombing down rutted descents/tackling jump/logovers etc)
I have never had my chain drop riding around the streets/footpath whilst conducting training rides-I leave it in the Off position at all times when not riding/riding the streets/in storage-turn it on when I hit the MTB trails.
On my MTB rides the Shadow has been worth its weight in gold. No dropped chains and a lot less frustration-and I have a backup rear mech if I damage the Shadow (Whilst I wait for the new shadow and/or parts to arrive.
Money well spent.
FWIW