xt or slx??

barty81
barty81 Posts: 145
edited December 2011 in MTB buying advice
hi. im giving my very tired looking 2006 trek 6700 a massive overhaul.ordered some reba rl's to replace the knocking tora's and my next step is to replace the x7 shifters and x9 derailleur. like to replace them with shimano slx because they are on my sort of budget.A friend of mine swears by slx and says they are just as good as xt. just want to know your views on the slx shifters/rear mech and wether it is worth paying that little extra for a xt combo :?
Giant xtc
Canyon nerve am 7

Comments

  • Pudseyp
    Pudseyp Posts: 3,514
    SLX is kind od equivalent to X7..great stuff super strong and offer great shifting....XT is X9 equivalent slightly better and lighter....SLX is quality stuff though.
    Tomac Synper 140 Giant XTC Alliance 1
    If the world was flat, I wouldn't be riding !
  • monkey_man_1
    monkey_man_1 Posts: 108
    i cant comment on the slx personally but a friend uses them and has no complaints! ive just upgraded to xt shifters and xt shadow rear mech and am most impressed! lovely changes now and at under £100 delivered quite a good price aswell!
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    As said, XT = X9, SLX = X7. Sort of.

    SLX is robust stuff though that takes a lot of abuse, though with some flaws. On the SRAM side, X9 or better supposedly is equally robust. Though XX is more XC and should be treated with care (especially given the wallet relief involved).
  • Andy B
    Andy B Posts: 8,115
    I'd go for XT shifters and SLX mechs, the XT shifters are much nicer shifting and better quality, SLX mechs because mechs are easy to damage and will only do what the shifter tells them to do
    2385861000_d125abe796_m.jpg
  • DCR00
    DCR00 Posts: 2,160
    i use a mix - SLX cranks and they are very good indeed. XT rear mech and shifters. Deore front mech.

    I bought all mine 2nd hand off eBay
    Tranny
    Tracey
    Bouncy
    Carbon
  • Stu Coops
    Stu Coops Posts: 426
    I got SLX on one bike and XT on the other and both as good as the other, probably a tiny weight penalty with SLX but nothing ya going to notice.
    Zesty 514 Scott Scale 20 GT Expert HalfwayupMTB
  • .blitz
    .blitz Posts: 6,197
    XT shifters are very nice, a real taste of quality every time you shift. But...

    ...the cables need constant attention to keep them that way. The action is sublime but doesn't have the clunk-click solidity of SRAM's finest. SP41 outers and the O-ring tastic ferrules can help but be prepared to fettle esp if you run interrupted outers.

    My advice would be to go for X9 shifters + mech and full outers. Once set up you won't have to fiddle with them for years which is just as well because the cable is a pain to replace :)
  • miss notax
    miss notax Posts: 2,572
    I run XT shifters on my 5 which I am very happy with (will also put them on the Minxy soon), plus XT everything else apart from cranks which are SLX. I'm very happy with the set up - the SLX cranks look good and seem very robust, they have had a fair few bashes over the years and are fine :D
    Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of moments that take your breath away....

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  • stubs
    stubs Posts: 5,001
    I would agree with Andy B XT shifters and SLX mechs. Always go for the best shifters you can afford these days all mechs seem to shift just as well as another, its just more money = a few less grams. In fact I would say Deore mechs would be just fine.

    If your going for SRAM I would go for X9 shifters but avoid X9 rear mechs they are a piece of bling crap I got 6 months out of one before it was wobbling like a warm jelly. All the pivots seem to be made out of cheese.
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  • barty81
    barty81 Posts: 145
    thanks for your comments. just ordered slx shifters and front/rear shadow mech through rosebikes at a great price. never used them before but some of their stuff is cheaper than anywhere else.I'll be getting your views on handlebar,stem and seatpost upgrade next :-)
    Giant xtc
    Canyon nerve am 7
  • stubs
    stubs Posts: 5,001
    Handlebar, stem and seatpost I will say just one word "Easton"

    Not the cheapest, lightest or shiniest but it works, looks good (in an understated way) and has a well deserved reputation for being tough. Every bit of Easton I have had is still running and still looking good.
    Fig rolls: proof that god loves cyclists and that she wants us to do another lap
  • Steve_b77
    Steve_b77 Posts: 1,680
    Without a doubt XT over SLX, that is of course if you can justify the extra expense.

    As for cables etc, once set up correctly with good quality inners & outters there is very little requirement to adjust them once the initial "bedding" in process is sorted.

    Go for Shimano SP41 outters with either Shimano XTR or Clarkes Stainless Steel inners with the XTR end ferrules & caps and you'll have an excellent shift set up.
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    stubs wrote:
    If your going for SRAM I would go for X9 shifters but avoid X9 rear mechs they are a piece of bling crap I got 6 months out of one before it was wobbling like a warm jelly. All the pivots seem to be made out of cheese.

    Most of mine are like that, but, it doesn't seem to matter... They still shift lovely, even though they feel like they're only good for the bin. Don't know if this is by design or what.
    Uncompromising extremist
  • barty81
    barty81 Posts: 145
    Steve_b77 wrote:
    Without a doubt XT over SLX, that is of course if you can justify the extra expense.

    As for cables etc, once set up correctly with good quality inners & outters there is very little requirement to adjust them once the initial "bedding" in process is sorted.

    Go for Shimano SP41 outters with either Shimano XTR or Clarkes Stainless Steel inners with the XTR end ferrules & caps and you'll have an excellent shift set up.

    Im sure they would be a better improvement over my goodridge gear cable kit im running now.seems like the clear casing has developed a slight orange tinge to them. not very good seem as it cost over £20 for the kit :x \
    Giant xtc
    Canyon nerve am 7
  • stubs
    stubs Posts: 5,001
    Northwind wrote:
    stubs wrote:
    If your going for SRAM I would go for X9 shifters but avoid X9 rear mechs they are a piece of bling crap I got 6 months out of one before it was wobbling like a warm jelly. All the pivots seem to be made out of cheese.

    Most of mine are like that, but, it doesn't seem to matter... They still shift lovely, even though they feel like they're only good for the bin. Don't know if this is by design or what.

    I binned the X9 rear mech because it wouldnt shift down cleanly no matter how much I tweaked it. Even a new set of cables and outer didnt cure it. Its now in a cupboard possibly ebay bound some numpty will pay good money for it.
    Fig rolls: proof that god loves cyclists and that she wants us to do another lap
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    See my reviews on BikeRadar.
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    stubs wrote:
    Handlebar, stem and seatpost I will say just one word "Easton"

    Not the cheapest, lightest or shiniest but it works, looks good (in an understated way) and has a well deserved reputation for being tough. Every bit of Easton I have had is still running and still looking good.
    +1

    The carbon bars are reputedly the toughest bars around, alloy or carbon. Whether that's true I don't know but they look nice anyway.
    stubs wrote:
    If your going for SRAM I would go for X9 shifters but avoid X9 rear mechs they are a piece of bling crap I got 6 months out of one before it was wobbling like a warm jelly. All the pivots seem to be made out of cheese.
    My SLX Shadow mech was just like that.
  • Chunkers1980
    Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    Whereas my XTR mech is almost as solid as day 1, years on.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Solid? Mine moves quite freely ;-)

    Easton stuff is good as long as is EA50 or above: Easton don't (or didn't) even make EA30 and is heavy stuff for the money. Exotic is also good.
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  • Chunkers1980
    Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    supersonic wrote:
    Solid? Mine moves quite freely ;-)

    In the pivots/bushes my friend... There's always a hole somewhere! lol

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