Front mech...

Jeast

Probably another popular topic, but here goes...

Ok, so the rear mech on my Boardman HT Pro - SRAM X0 - is super crisp and precise, but I'm finding the front mech - SRAM X.9 - feels a little bit...ummm...sloppy (exaggeration - there's probably a better word to describe it but i'm tired and that's the best I can do)? I've tweaked the setup but am unable to get it feeling quite right. Shifters are X.9 too.

Any suggestions? I'm thinking of replacing the front mech with Shimano XT, or is it worth stretching to the XTR? And will that actually make any difference?

Any advice welcomed.

nicklouse

replace the cables.

Jeast

Why the cables?

Andy B

cos it's usually the cables that are at fault.

clean out the old outers & fit new inners, a lot cheaper than a new mech

Jeast

It's no more than 6 weeks old...I've probably only managed to 60ish miles on it so far! It's barely even got dirty yet!

supersonic

Lube the cables then! You done any maintenance yet?

Andy B

cables will have stretched then.

have you looked on www.parktool.com for help on setting up a mech

Anonymous

Front mechs are much of a muchness, really. No real difference between them.

Jeast

Yep, lubed cables and kept fully on top of the cable stretch...and yes, I know how to set up the mechs.

I'll just add...it hasn't gradually got worse, it's felt this way since I got it. And like I said, I've played around with the mech set up which got it marginally better, but still not as clean as I'd like.

supersonic

Unless the cage has bent, ot the pivots have gone, it won't get any better. Assuming the adjustment is right.

Jeast

Ok, so now we've got past the usual 'what a dumb censored , he obviously doesn't know what he's doing' remarks...can anyone recommend the XT or XTR front mech over the X.9. Or like yeehaamcgee said, is there really very little in it?

This is my first MTB in nearly 15 years, the last bike I owned had Shimano Exage 400LX *correction, it was 500LX!* mechs and a biopace crank, so I'm a little out of touch.

Thanks.

nicklouse

you will not notice any difference.

the XTR may be a tad lighter but that is it.

Anonymous

Fine, don;t trust me then

For what it's worth, the XTR mech is supposed to have some black magic plates that move independently or something - but I've never bothered forking out that much for a front mech.
Anything else from XT or X.0 downwards are so similar as to not make a difference.

Oh, and realistically, the XTR even is not going to make one iota of difference.

supersonic

No difference at all.

XTR not worth the extra.

Jeast

Perfect, thanks. That's all I needed to know.

Sorry yeehaa, I did believe you really!

Anonymous

joshtp

it wont make one ounce of diference, if the x.9 (a very high end mech) feels slopy, well it needs adjustment/maintence of some sort. It may never get better, or it may be the way you feel it, rear mechs have sharp ,precise clicks moving one gear, front mechs pull alot more cable, so do feel more laboured and slopy compared to rear. thats just the way it is!

ride_whenever

front mechs always feel sloppy,

adb1006

My X7 feels perfect with my X9 shifters (when i very rarely use it) - send me your X9 and we'll do a swap

Jeast

My X7 feels perfect with my X9 shifters (when i very rarely use it)

Yep, in fairness, I very rarely use mine either! Really only use the mid ring, and very occasionally the top.