XT Front Derailleurs

Bleedproof

I'm in the process of replacing the LX bit's on my bike with XT (vanity really.... the bike not me) and I'm looking at replacing the front derailleur. Currently it's and LX and I have an XT shadow on the rear. The rear XT is great and I'd like the matching front.

I now have one question ... what is the difference between these two?

XT M770



XT M771



Apart from the mechanical differences what function do they differ on? My current LX looks like the M770.

BTW it's an 08' Giant XTC1

Cheers

Stu

crashtestdummy12

The bottom ones heavier but I think it's more versitile- it can be used top or bottom pull ect.

wallisdene

The XT M770 is a top swing mech and will have the cables running above the top tube of the bike. The XT M771 is a conventional swing mech and the cables run underneath the down tube of the bike. Top swing has an advantage as the cables stay free of mud. A top swing mech is also supposed to be more precise than a conventional/bottom swing mech but apparently doesn't last as long.

stumpyjon

I think they both can be setup with cables fron the top or bottom. The key difference is where the band sits in relation to the mech. I had the M771 when I was building up my hardtail but it wouldn't fit because the band interferred with one of the bottle mount bosses on the seat tube so I had to swap it for the M770.

I think if your frame will take either the M771 is a slightly better choice as it's easier to clean.

Larok

The 771 looks so much more bling too!

stumpyjon

Yeah, I was gutted to have to put the 770 on .

Bleedproof

771 it is then. Theres got to be some advantage having a huge bike