Mixing LX, XT, XTR parts for Bang for Buck

19-09.-2003, 04:17 PM	#1
rtsy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Manila, Philippines Posts: 41	Mixing LX, XT, XTR parts for Bang for Buck I'm pondering improving the drivetrain of my stock Giant NRS3 and can't afford an all XTR set-up. Goal is to improve my bike's smoothness, shifting reliability, and shed off some ounces. I'm wondering if it's better to go for an all XT grouppo or mix and match Shimano components to get XTR where it matters, e.g.: shifter: lx front derailleur: lx crank: xt bottom bracket: xt rear dlr: xtr chain: lx Is this a sensible approach? I'll deal with brakes later. I'm still researching on whether to stay V-brakes or move to discs. Thanks in advance!

19-09.-2003, 10:35 PM

dabac

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Location: Sweden

Posts: 849

Re: Mixing LX, XT, XTR parts for Bang for Buck

Quote:

Originally posted by rtsy
I'm pondering improving the drivetrain of my stock Giant NRS3 and can't afford an all XTR set-up. Goal is to improve my bike's smoothness, shifting reliability, and shed off some ounces.

I'm wondering if it's better to go for an all XT grouppo or mix and match Shimano components to get XTR where it matters, e.g.:

shifter: lx
front derailleur: lx
crank: xt
bottom bracket: xt
rear dlr: xtr
chain: lx

Is this a sensible approach?

I'll deal with brakes later. I'm still researching on whether to stay V-brakes or move to discs.

Thanks in advance!

In that range compatibility is good, so your planned setup would in all probability work just fine. Personally I wouldn't put an XT crank particularly high on the list, but that's your choice. With that said an XT shifter does work smoother than an LX...

19-09.-2003, 11:21 PM

MtnBikerChk

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Location: USA

Posts: 291

Re: Mixing LX, XT, XTR parts for Bang for Buck

Quote:

save some $$ and skip the xtr on the rear - xt is fine. and if you are putting all that brand new stuff on, you should put on a new cassette too. personally, I prefer sram chains - love that powerlink!!

20-09.-2003, 12:18 AM	#4
hedgehog Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 34	Re: Mixing LX, XT, XTR parts for Bang for Buck Put your money into the shifters, this will give the best performance. Derailer's are just controlled by the shifters so go better shifters instead of better rear der. Bike manufacturers upgrade the rear der. to try and fool the consumer.

20-09.-2003, 01:52 AM	#5
percious Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Vernon, CT Posts: 66	I agree with the last post about the shifters. I would try and find XTR shifters that are non-rapid rise, and mate them with xt deraileurs. The reason XTRs are better then LX/XT is that they use 4 bearings in the shifter. I have used XTs and now XTR for years, and I think there is a noticable performance increase1 with XTR. Furthermore, I would consider bying a non-shimano crank. It will save you some bux, and probably offer a better product for the money. I would recommend going with an ISIS BB and a FSA, Raceface, or Truativ crank. Chain-wise. Not sure there. I only use an XTR chain. I figure its worth the extra 8-9 dollars. What are you doing about brakes?

20-09.-2003, 04:59 PM

rtsy

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Location: Manila, Philippines

Posts: 41

Re: Mixing LX, XT, XTR parts for Bang for Buck

Thanks for all the replies. This newbie appreciates your inputs.

Quote:

Originally posted by dabac
Personally I wouldn't put an XT crank particularly high on the list, but that's your choice.

Quote:

Originally posted by percious
I would recommend going with an ISIS BB and a FSA, Raceface, or Truativ crank.

Is the aversion for Shimano's LX/XT/XTR crank due to price alone or are there in fact performance and reliability issues?

Quote:

Originally posted by MtnBikerChk
you should put on a new cassette too. personally, I prefer sram chains - love that powerlink!

Oh yes, I forgot to mention the cassette. Where would your money go then, LX, XT, or XTR cassette?

Quote:

Originally posted by hedgehog
Put your money into the shifters, this will give the best performance. Derailer's are just controlled by the shifters so go better shifters instead of better rear der.

Quote:

Originally posted by percious
I agree with the last post about the shifters. I would try and find XTR shifters that are non-rapid rise, and mate them with xt deraileurs. The reason XTRs are better then LX/XT is that they use 4 bearings in the shifter.

Oh, I see. And I thought it's the derailleurs that matter more than the shifters.

Quote:

Originally posted by percious
What are you doing about brakes?

I frankly don't know yet. I'm still reading up on V-brakes vs. disc and determining which works better for me. I do mostly XC riding, hardly and free-riding...for now.

Recap, here's what my new drivetrain is looking like so far:

shifter: 2002 xtr (stock is unidentifiable shimano 8 speed)
front derailleur: lx (stock is alivio)
crank: raceface or truativ (can't tell what stock is, no markings)
bottom bracket: ISIS BB (can't tell what stock is)
rear dlr: xt (stock is deore)
chain: lx or sram (can't tell what stock is)
cassette: lx (can't tell what stock is)

Thanks!

20-09.-2003, 06:55 PM	#7
garden25 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sweden ,Leksand Posts: 1	For frontderaileur don´t go for anything less than xt. I bought a deore when my xt broke and now I brake my thumb.

22-09.-2003, 07:17 PM

dabac

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Location: Sweden

Posts: 849

Re: Re: Mixing LX, XT, XTR parts for Bang for Buck

Quote:

Originally posted by rtsy
Is the aversion for Shimano's LX/XT/XTR crank due to price alone or are there in fact performance and reliability issues?

it's not so much aversion as lack of appreciation. I've come across a lot of cranks that were all perfectly acceptable (to me at least), and only a few that were noticeably poor. I wouldn't upgrade a crank without some serious indication that there was something wrong with it.

Quote:

Oh yes, I forgot to mention the cassette. Where would your money go then, LX, XT, or XTR cassette?

The main difference between those as far as I can tell are weight and price, not functionality. I stick with one that doesn't require that much of economical considerations before replacing. They need to be replaced every now and then anyhow, so you can always reconsider your choice the next time around.

Quote:

Oh, I see. And I thought it's the derailleurs that matter more than the shifters.

In my opinion this is very much dependent on how you ride. I (used to) ride in very muddy conditions. LX and above kept performing even when caked in mud, Deore and lower sort of jammed. A friend of mine is a fair weather rider, but very strong. He uses LX because anything less twists under the strain when he's standing on the pedals. An XT/XTR shifter is smoother but not always as functionally critical.

Quote:

I frankly don't know yet. I'm still reading up on V-brakes vs. disc and determining which works better for me. I do mostly XC riding, hardly and free-riding...for now.

For good braking in wet conditions you need either discs or ceramic rims. Discs (Avid mech) offers a cheaper solution than ceramic rims. If you're not worried about the weight penalty, go for that.

24-09.-2003, 01:38 AM

percious

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Join Date: Sep 2003

Location: Vernon, CT

Posts: 66

Quote:

Is the aversion for Shimano's LX/XT/XTR crank due to price alone or are there in fact performance and reliability issues?

Personally I have been riding nothing but shimano cranks for the last 10 years. I have used STX, LX, and XT. STX is old stuff... anyway. Most of the cranks wore out where they meet with the Bottom bracket. Shimano's new spline system has fixed that problem. My problem is with shimano's Bottom Brackets. I think their quality is kind of low, and I think that you can do better for your money. PLUS, shimano has patented their BB design so others can't make cranks, or BBs that work interchangably with Shimano parts. So, I guess my opinion towards ISIS is partially political, because I see shimano as sort of monopolistic in this respect. I think that the ISIS designed cranks have come a long way in the past few years, and I will be buying one myself as soon as I can afford to.

Quote:

Oh yes, I forgot to mention the cassette. Where would your money go then, LX, XT, or XTR cassette?

Cassettes dont really vary in quality, only in weight. The XTR cassette will last a bit longer, due to the fact that it has titanium rings. If you are on a tight budget, this is a good place to skimp. No moving parts here.... Just make sure you change your chain every 3-6 months, and your cassette will last a long time.
oh, and make sure you mate 9 speed parts with 9 speed parts....
The 8 speed stuff is increasingly hard to find.

Quote:

Oh, I see. And I thought it's the derailleurs that matter more than the shifters.

Dont get me wrong, derailleurs do matter. I just think that shifters are more of an investment, because they dont wear out nearly as fast. You can have 5 derailleurs or more before an XTR shifter wears out.

Quote:

I frankly don't know yet. I'm still reading up on V-brakes vs. disc and determining which works better for me. I do mostly XC riding, hardly and free-riding...for now.

Do yourself a favor if you are undecided, and buy brake and shifters separately. IMO all V-brakes work about the same, so I wouldnt break the bank on them. I personally race Cross Country, and I am going to try and upgrade to Hydrolic Disc this winter, so Disc isnt just for Freeride anymore. V-brakes are a vast improvement over cantilevers... anyone remember cantis???

-percious

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