XT rear derailleur

[Constant]

Hi

I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than one
XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.

Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?

Thanx, Constant J. NL

 

[James Connell]

Constant wrote:
> Hi
>
> I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than one
> XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.
>
> Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?
>
> Thanx, Constant J. NL
>
in general go with the long one, it you have a very narrow gear range, or are content to loose a few
gears on the small ring, the short cage is good, it is a little less susceptible to damage.

 

[Craig Brossman]

"James Connell" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Constant wrote:
> > Hi
> >
> > I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than one
> > XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.
> >
> > Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?
> >
> > Thanx, Constant J. NL
> >
> in general go with the long one, it you have a very narrow gear range, or are content to loose a
> few gears on the small ring, the short cage is good, it is a little less susceptible to damage.
>

To the best of my knowledge, Mr. Connell is correct, but let me add. I think the long cage is the
"normal" one. On my first ever trip to the Fruita Fat Tire Festival 5 years ago, I had my never been
ridden, brand new Ellsworth Truth, with long cage XT rear. We arrived Thursday and rode Eagles Nest,
the first 8-10 miles on my new bike. The next day, after much rain, we started out on Mary's loop.
Within 1 mile of the start, on a short but fast fire road decent, I tore the derailleur off the
bike, broke the hanger and 2 spokes. That mud in Fruita can be brutal. The derailleur was shot, no
other hangers for an Ellsworth in sight. When I replaced the rear derailleur I was nervous about the
problem and got a short cage. It has not been a problem since and I have a 34 tooth pie plate in the
back (though I almost never use it anymore Perhaps I am missing out on better shifting which
would be available on a long cage, but my shifting is fine by me.

I don't know if all that means anything, but it is my story.
--
Craig Brossman, Durango Colorado (remove .nospam. if replying)

 

[Robert Quindazz]

On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Hi
>
>I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than one
>XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.
>
>Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?
>
>Thanx, Constant J. NL

No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work fine.

Bob

 

[Technician]

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
> On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Hi
> >
> >I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than one
> >XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.
> >
> >Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?
> >
> >Thanx, Constant J. NL
>
> No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work fine.
>
> Bob
>

unless he has 9-speed cogs...

the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is better, not weather or not he should
upgrade to 9-speed.
--
~Travis

travis57 at megalink dot net http://www.megalink.net/~farmers/

 

[Nelson Binch]

"Technician" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
| In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
| > On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant <[email protected]>
| > wrote:
| >
| > >Hi
| > >
| > >I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than one
| > >XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.
| > >
| > >Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?
| > >
| > >Thanx, Constant J. NL
| >
| > No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work fine.
| >
| > Bob
| >
|
| unless he has 9-speed cogs...
|
| the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is better, not weather or not he
| should upgrade to 9-speed.

That is true, according to Shimano, however, I have a **7** speed XT derailleur shifting a 9 speed
system perfectly.

---
__o _`\(,_ Cycling is life, (_)/ (_) all the rest, just details. Nelson Binch =^o.o^=
http://intergalax.com

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.480 / Virus Database: 276 -
Release Date: 5/12/2003

 

[Chris Snell]

"Technician" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
> > On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant <[email protected]>
> > wrote:
> >
> > >Hi
> > >
> > >I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than one
> > >XT-9s rear derailleur: one
with a
> > >shorter and one with a longer cage.
> > >
> > >Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter
one
> > >the 'normal one?
> > >
> > >Thanx, Constant J. NL
> >
> > No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work
fine.
> >
> > Bob
> >
>
> unless he has 9-speed cogs...
>
> the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is
better,
> not weather or not he should upgrade to 9-speed.
> --
> ~Travis
>
> travis57 at megalink dot net http://www.megalink.net/~farmers/

The point was that to upgrade to 9-speed he doesn't have to change his 8 speed rear derailleur at
all. Possible downside: there may be some rub with 8-speed derailleur and 34 tooth cog.

But an 8 speed derailleur /will/ work with 9 speed cog-set.

- Chris.

 

[Robert Quindazz]

On Mon, 12 May 2003 20:34:33 -0400, Technician <[email protected]> wrote:

>In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
>> On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> >Hi
>> >
>> >I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than one
>> >XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.
>> >
>> >Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?
>> >
>> >Thanx, Constant J. NL
>>
>> No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work fine.
>>
>> Bob
>>
>
>unless he has 9-speed cogs...
>
>the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is better, not weather or not he
>should upgrade to 9-speed.
Actually my point was an 8 speed derailer will work fine with 9 speed cogs. As Sheldon often points
out, there really is no such thing as a
7/8/9 speed derailer.

Bob

 

[Technician]

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
> "Technician" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> | In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
> | > On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant
> | > <[email protected]> wrote:
> | >
> | > >Hi
> | > >
> | > >I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than
> | > >one XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.
> | > >
> | > >Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?
> | > >
> | > >Thanx, Constant J. NL
> | >
> | > No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work fine.
> | >
> | > Bob
> | >
> |
> | unless he has 9-speed cogs...
> |
> | the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is better, not weather or not he
> | should upgrade to 9-speed.
>
> That is true, according to Shimano, however, I have a **7** speed XT derailleur shifting a 9 speed
> system perfectly.
>

Interesting, so is the opposite true? will a 7-speed derailer shift a 9 speed system?

I only ask because should i wish to upgrade to 9-speed, it would be a lot cheaper to only have to
swap out the front shifter and rear wheel (and cogset of course).
--
~Travis

travis57 at megalink dot net http://www.megalink.net/~farmers/

 

[Technician]

In article <[email protected]>, travis57 @nospam.megalink.net says...
> In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
> > "Technician" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > | In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
> > | > On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant
> > | > <[email protected]> wrote:
> > | >
> > | > >Hi
> > | > >
> > | > >I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than
> > | > >one XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.
> > | > >
> > | > >Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?
> > | > >
> > | > >Thanx, Constant J. NL
> > | >
> > | > No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work fine.
> > | >
> > | > Bob
> > | >
> > |
> > | unless he has 9-speed cogs...
> > |
> > | the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is better, not weather or not he
> > | should upgrade to 9-speed.
> >
> > That is true, according to Shimano, however, I have a **7** speed XT derailleur shifting a 9
> > speed system perfectly.
> >
>
> Interesting, so is the opposite true? will a 7-speed derailer shift a 9 speed system?
>
> I only ask because should i wish to upgrade to 9-speed, it would be a lot cheaper to only have to
> swap out the front shifter and rear wheel (and cogset of course).
>

Ok, so this is a true brain fart. could it get any more redundant.
--
~Travis

travis57 at megalink dot net http://www.megalink.net/~farmers/

 

[James Connell]

Chris Snell wrote:

> "Technician" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
>>
>>>On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant
>>><[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Hi
>>>>
>>>>I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than one
>>>>XT-9s rear derailleur: one
>
> with a
>
>>>>shorter and one with a longer cage.
>>>>
>>>>Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter
>
> one
>
>>>>the 'normal one?
>>>>
>>>>Thanx, Constant J. NL
>>>
>>>No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work
>
> fine.
>
>>>Bob
>>>
>>
>>unless he has 9-speed cogs...
>>
>>the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is
>
> better,
>
>>not weather or not he should upgrade to 9-speed.
>>--
>>~Travis
>>
>>travis57 at megalink dot net http://www.megalink.net/~farmers/
>
>
> The point was that to upgrade to 9-speed he doesn't have to change his 8 speed rear derailleur at
> all. Possible downside: there may be some rub with 8-speed derailleur and 34 tooth cog.
>
> But an 8 speed derailleur /will/ work with 9 speed cog-set.
>
> - Chris.
>
exactly an 8 won't like 34 teeth much.

 

[Nelson Binch]

"James Connell" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
| Chris Snell wrote:
|
| > "Technician" <[email protected]> wrote in message
| > news:[email protected]...
| >
| >>In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
| >>
| >>>On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant <[email protected]>
| >>>wrote:
| >>>
| >>>
| >>>>Hi
| >>>>
| >>>>I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than
| >>>>one XT-9s rear derailleur: one
| >
| > with a
| >
| >>>>shorter and one with a longer cage.
| >>>>
| >>>>Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter
| >
| > one
| >
| >>>>the 'normal one?
| >>>>
| >>>>Thanx, Constant J. NL
| >>>
| >>>No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work
| >
| > fine.
| >
| >>>Bob
| >>>
| >>
| >>unless he has 9-speed cogs...
| >>
| >>the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is
| >
| > better,
| >
| >>not weather or not he should upgrade to 9-speed.
| >>--
| >>~Travis
| >>
| >>travis57 at megalink dot net http://www.megalink.net/~farmers/
| >
| >
| > The point was that to upgrade to 9-speed he doesn't have to change his 8 speed rear derailleur
| > at all. Possible downside: there may be some rub with 8-speed derailleur and 34 tooth cog.
| >
| > But an 8 speed derailleur /will/ work with 9 speed cog-set.
| >
| > - Chris.
| >
| exactly an 8 won't like 34 teeth much.
|

The 8 speed XT derailleur IMHO marked a low point in the quality of that line. I don't see too many
of them around any more, while you can still find many 7s era units.

The 8s had weaker springs and a shorter pivot bolt. Various sources claim this was to combat SRAM
(making their shifters perform terribly with the Shimano derailleurs - prompting the development of
ESP and giving SRAM a better toehold)

The 9s went back to the strong springs and burlier construction. I absolutely love 'em (though If I
had my druthers, I'd take the old 7s if it's in good shape.)

---
__o _`\(,_ Cycling is life, (_)/ (_) all the rest, just details. Nelson Binch =^o.o^=
http://intergalax.com

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.480 / Virus Database: 276 -
Release Date: 5/12/2003

 

[Nelson Binch]

"Robert Quindazzi" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
| On Mon, 12 May 2003 20:34:33 -0400, Technician <[email protected]> wrote:
|
| >In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
| >> On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant <[email protected]>
| >> wrote:
| >>
| >> >Hi
| >> >
| >> >I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than
| >> >one XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.
| >> >
| >> >Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?
| >> >
| >> >Thanx, Constant J. NL
| >>
| >> No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work fine.
| >>
| >> Bob
| >>
| >
| >unless he has 9-speed cogs...
| >
| >the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is better, not weather or not he
| >should upgrade to 9-speed.
| Actually my point was an 8 speed derailer will work fine with 9 speed cogs. As Sheldon often
| points out, there really is no such thing as a
| 7/8/9 speed derailer.

Yes. Almost all indexing capable Shimano derailleurs move through the same arc. The difference is
in the shifter itself by how much the cable actually moves per click. 7s and 8s were very close,
letting you get away with some funny business like using 7s XT thumbshifters to shift 8s because
it had a "ghost click" in it. 9s has a drastically (relatively speaking) smaller spacing, so all
bets are off as far as shifter compatibility, but like I said the most important difference is in
the shifter.

---
__o _`\(,_ Cycling is life, (_)/ (_) all the rest, just details. Nelson Binch =^o.o^=
http://intergalax.com

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.480 / Virus Database: 276 -
Release Date: 5/12/2003

 

[James Connell]

Nelson Binch wrote:
> "James Connell" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> | Chris Snell wrote:
> |
> | > "Technician" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> | > news:[email protected]...
> | >
> | >>In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
> | >>
> | >>>On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant
> | >>><[email protected]> wrote:
> | >>>
> | >>>
> | >>>>Hi
> | >>>>
> | >>>>I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than
> | >>>>one XT-9s rear derailleur: one
> | >
> | > with a
> | >
> | >>>>shorter and one with a longer cage.
> | >>>>
> | >>>>Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter
> | >
> | > one
> | >
> | >>>>the 'normal one?
> | >>>>
> | >>>>Thanx, Constant J. NL
> | >>>
> | >>>No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work
> | >
> | > fine.
> | >
> | >>>Bob
> | >>>
> | >>
> | >>unless he has 9-speed cogs...
> | >>
> | >>the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is
> | >
> | > better,
> | >
> | >>not weather or not he should upgrade to 9-speed.
> | >>--
> | >>~Travis
> | >>
> | >>travis57 at megalink dot net http://www.megalink.net/~farmers/
> | >
> | >
> | > The point was that to upgrade to 9-speed he doesn't have to change his 8 speed rear derailleur
> | > at all. Possible downside: there may be some rub with 8-speed derailleur and 34 tooth cog.
> | >
> | > But an 8 speed derailleur /will/ work with 9 speed cog-set.
> | >
> | > - Chris.
> | >
> | exactly an 8 won't like 34 teeth much.
> |
>
> The 8 speed XT derailleur IMHO marked a low point in the quality of that line. I don't see too
> many of them around any more, while you can still find many 7s era units.
>
> The 8s had weaker springs and a shorter pivot bolt. Various sources claim this was to combat SRAM
> (making their shifters perform terribly with the Shimano derailleurs - prompting the development
> of ESP and giving SRAM a better toehold)
>
> The 9s went back to the strong springs and burlier construction. I absolutely love 'em (though If
> I had my druthers, I'd take the old 7s if it's in good shape.)
>
>
> ---
> __o _`\(,_ Cycling is life, (_)/ (_) all the rest, just details. Nelson Binch =^o.o^=
> http://intergalax.com
>
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.480 / Virus Database: 276
> - Release Date: 5/12/2003
>
>

like the 7sp myself. it took 3 years of solid mud to kill one. i've heard that about the 8, seems
likely shitmano was loseing a lot of ground to sram in shifters particularly in the low to mid range
stuff. thing about the 7sp stuff - it was pre XTR. when XTR came out the quality of XT dropped
dramaticly

 

[Squid-In-Traini]

> exactly an 8 won't like 34 teeth much.

I use the 28-tooth mouth I have. Works fine for any derailleur.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

 

[Squid-In-Traini]

> > Interesting, so is the opposite true? will a 7-speed derailer shift a 9 speed system?

THEY ALL PULL THE SAME AMOUNT OF CABLE!!! BAAAAAAAAAA!

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

 

[Michael Dart]

"Constant" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi
>
> I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than one
> XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.
>
> Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?
>
> Thanx, Constant J. NL
>

You're talking about chain wrap capacity. To determine long or short cage you take the difference
(subtract) the size of the big and small rings up front and big and small cogs in back and add the
two numbers together. This will get you the capacity number. Look this up on the specs for the
derailleur you are looking at. http://www.shimano-europe.com If the derailleur number is smaller
then it won't work. Pretty much with triple chainring setups a longer cage is required. The other
number to consider is max cog size to see if the derailleur will climb up on the largest cog of your
chosen cassette size.

Mike

 

[Michael Dart]

"Technician" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
> > "Technician" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > | In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
> > | > On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant
> > | > <[email protected]> wrote:
> > | >
> > | > >Hi
> > | > >
> > | > >I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than
> > | > >one XT-9s rear derailleur: one with
a
> > | > >shorter and one with a longer cage.
> > | > >
> > | > >Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter
one
> > | > >the 'normal one?
> > | > >
> > | > >Thanx, Constant J. NL
> > | >
> > | > No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work
fine.
> > | >
> > | > Bob
> > | >
> > |
> > | unless he has 9-speed cogs...
> > |
> > | the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is
better,
> > | not weather or not he should upgrade to 9-speed.
> >
> > That is true, according to Shimano, however, I have a **7** speed XT derailleur shifting a 9
> > speed system perfectly.
> >
>
> Interesting, so is the opposite true? will a 7-speed derailer shift a 9 speed system?
>
> I only ask because should i wish to upgrade to 9-speed, it would be a lot cheaper to only have to
> swap out the front shifter and rear wheel (and cogset of course).
> --
> ~Travis
>

Indexing is done at the shifter not the derailleur. So as long as the specs on the derailleur like
max cog size and chain wrap capacity match it will work fine 7,8 or 9 speed.

Mike

 

[<<<<<< ]] Gun_d]

Actually the short cage shifts faster, but you lose out in chain and gear capacity. Some old-school
racers would run a shimano 105 rear derailuer in place of an XT if they had a tight cluster to save
weight and have snappier shifts. "Craig Brossman" <[email protected]> wrote in
message news[email protected]...
>
>
> "James Connell" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> > Constant wrote:
> > > Hi
> > >
> > > I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than
> > > one XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.
> > >
> > > Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?
> > >
> > > Thanx, Constant J. NL
> > >
> > in general go with the long one, it you have a very narrow gear range, or are content to loose a
> > few gears on the small ring, the short cage is good, it is a little less susceptible to damage.
> >
>
> To the best of my knowledge, Mr. Connell is correct, but let me add. I
think
> the long cage is the "normal" one. On my first ever trip to the Fruita Fat Tire Festival 5 years
> ago, I had my never been ridden, brand new Ellsworth Truth, with long cage XT rear. We arrived
> Thursday and rode Eagles Nest, the first 8-10 miles on my new bike. The next day, after much rain,
> we started out on Mary's loop. Within
1
> mile of the start, on a short but fast fire road decent, I tore the derailleur off the bike, broke
> the hanger and 2 spokes. That mud in Fruita can be brutal. The derailleur was shot, no other
> hangers for an Ellsworth in sight. When
I
> replaced the rear derailleur I was nervous about the problem and got a
short
> cage. It has not been a problem since and I have a 34 tooth pie plate in
the
> back (though I almost never use it anymore Perhaps I am missing out on better shifting which
> would be available on a long cage, but my shifting
is
> fine by me.
>
> I don't know if all that means anything, but it is my story.
> --
> Craig Brossman, Durango Colorado (remove .nospam. if replying)

 

[Bomba]

<<<<<< ]] gun_dog99 [[ >>>>>> wrote:
> Actually the short cage shifts faster, but you lose out in chain and gear capacity. Some
> old-school racers would run a shimano 105 rear derailuer in place of an XT if they had a tight
> cluster to save weight and have snappier shifts.

I used to run a 105 about 10 years ago without too many problems and my brother's currently running
a Dura-Ace on one of his DH bikes.

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a.m-b FAQ: http://www.t-online.de/~jharris/ambfaq.htm

b.bmx FAQ: http://www.t-online.de/~jharris/bmx_faq.htm