XT or X9

The Northern Monkey

Controversial topic I know,....

I came across this video and was wondering what the pro's and cons were
http://www.pinkbike.com/video/15232/

To me, the xt seems to work with the chain over natural chain movement when diding over bumps.... meaning when you change gear they are both in the same sort of state.

The SRAM seems to keep everything still and steady which surely means its working against the chain... the SRAM however shows that the derailleur would actualy stop the chain from bouncing around and therefore produce crisper changes more constantly.

Whats your view after seeing that video?

Northwind

My view is that the video tells you bugger all, only using them tells you anything. Both shift brilliantly in all sorts of conditions.

lesz42

shame they tested old shimano tech, and tbh, i have used my mates X0, and feels no different ( apart from the shifters look and feel) to xt/xtr


all in the mind/wallet i reckon

stevet1992

A bit like the whole PS3 vs Xbox 360 arguement ? As far as im concerned they both do the job they are designed for ... Im just a SRAM guy 8)

lesz42

and really, cant wait until someone designs a decent gearbox for bikes, no more mech type things out back


cost/weight means not going to be soon tho

Raymondavalon

Got both, but I do prefer the feel of the SRAM in the way it shifts
Either way the SRAM and Shimano kit are both up to performing the tasks bestowed upon them both which is moving the chain up and down the cassette on demand.
Neither of them have ever let me down

Anonymous

having owned some shimano (deore, lx, xt (briefly), dcl, xtr) and some sram (x7,x9,xo,) i can categorically say i much prefer sram, the change is swifter, more definate, and is completely easy to set up and stays set once done.

I would say x9 compares more directly with xtr in terms of quality which means x0 is in a whole league of its own.

That said, when i ditched my xtr kit, i replaced it with x9 as x0 is so expensive but the performance doesnt feel all that different to x9

lesz42

i may be wrong but X0 is just added carbon and a titanium spring? cant see that helping much apart from weight?



my mate has a remedy 9, and is sure if he breaks the rear mech , he will go over to a X9 mech


tbh i cant say much i just have a poorly SLX mech

joshtp

its not really fair as i think that most people buying shimano now would go for shadow, which is very different. i have shadow xt and have had x7, and i preffer the feel of the big S(himano). i also think the shadow tech is fantasic in terms of avoiding rock/logs/general trail junk. i used to have the problem of always smashing up my mech and hanger, not since i moved to shadow.......

Northwind

sheepsteeth wrote:

I would say x9 compares more directly with xtr in terms of quality which means x0 is in a whole league of its own.

x0 is pretty much the same as X9 IMO, blingier, lighter and slightly more adjustable but nothing very major, it certainly seems to shift exactly the same as X9.

dave_hill

I've just swapped my shifters and mech on my Giant from LX for X-9. Result? It's a lot quieter and I just love the "thunk" of the gear change rather than wondering if it did actually change.

Massive improvement. Should have done it ages ago.

Anonymous

i normally describe sram as 'positive' and shimano as 'vague' but no matter how you dice it, sram is better.

supersonic

I usually desctibe SRAM as clunky, and Shimano as slick ;-)

Ben, you should know better than bring this up! Now go and ride a singlespeed!

nicklouse

I usually desctibe SRAM as slick, and Shimano as sticky

Andy B

nicklouse wrote:

I usually desctibe SRAM as slick, and Shimano as sticky

(X9 for the rear mech & shifters, XT for the cassette & front mech.)

The Northern Monkey

supersonic wrote:

I usually desctibe SRAM as clunky, and Shimano as slick ;-)

Ben, you should no better than bring this up! Now go and ride a singlespeed!

I figured we haddn't had a contravercial topic for a while

I've never used SRAM shifter/mechs before either... Always used shimano, so was wondering if there is actually any difference.

I'm quite surprised the most people seem to like SRAM though, I was convinced it'd sway more to shimano!

Andy B

bigbenj_08 wrote:

I'm quite surprised the most people seem to like SRAM though, I was convinced it'd sway more to shimano!

Sram users are taking it easy & posting on here

Shimano users are not able to post on the forum cos they're still fettlling with their gears trying to get them right...

*runs for cover*

nicklouse

bigbenj_08 wrote:

I'm quite surprised the most people seem to like SRAM though, I was convinced it'd sway more to shimano!

why? Shimano are still trying to catch up with Sram after shimanos failure with the combined brake lever gear change which happened at the same time as Sram launched the triggers.

and Shimano then failed in the courts trying to stop Sram making them.

The Northern Monkey

nicklouse wrote:

bigbenj_08 wrote:

I'm quite surprised the most people seem to like SRAM though, I was convinced it'd sway more to shimano!

why? Shimano are still trying to catch up with Sram after shimanos failure with the combined brake lever gear change which happened at the same time as Sram launched the triggers.

and Shimano then failed in the courts trying to stop Sram making them.

lol honestly never knew that!

The Northern Monkey

Andy_B wrote:

bigbenj_08 wrote:

I'm quite surprised the most people seem to like SRAM though, I was convinced it'd sway more to shimano!

Sram users are taking it easy & posting on here

Shimano users are not able to post on the forum cos they're still fettlling with their gears trying to get them right...

*runs for cover*

I have to say.. in defence of shimano... my Saint derailleur/shifter combo is awesome! The derailleur took a beating a week ago and has some battle scars, but is still shifting crisply and directly

supersonic

If you want to sample the clunky SRAM top end type shifting, buy some Shimano Altus ;-)

The Northern Monkey

hahahaha
[stupidly deep voiceover from the tele]
Its Mod 'v' Mod, SRAM 'v' Shimano... who will come out on top, Nicklouse or Supersonic... only time will tell.
[/stupidly deep voiceover from the tele]

nicklouse

Ben, I will be changing my XT equipped bike to X9ish shortly.

supersonic

DO you a swap then? I have been waiting to get rid of my X9 for ages now!

The Northern Monkey

LOL!

nicklouse

supersonic wrote:

DO you a swap then? I have been waiting to get rid of my X9 for ages now!

Nope its OK this lot come as new and with match makers and a bike attached to it for other bits.

Anonymous

sonic, your x9 is more acurately described as x7, the nwer stuff is awesome (as it happens, i like the old stuff too)

supersonic

I will hunt down some old Shimano kit - a couple of generation old XT will be fine, or even an old XTR rear mech.

Anonymous

theres nowt wrong with 'fine' shifting, its just i prefer awesome shifting, so i run modern sram.

joshtp

to me i cant aggree that shimano is vage and sram is positive, i know what you mean, but i always think sram is clunky and shimano is smooth,slick, and, well just good, to be a gear change should not be acompanied by a loud click and clack and a jerky movement, it should be a seamless trasition onto a mildly harder/softer gear accompanied by a soft click to let you know its happened.

supersonic

sheepsteeth wrote:

theres nowt wrong with 'fine' shifting, its just i prefer awesome shifting, so i run modern sram.

You should try Altus ;-). Probably stronger too...