SRAM Rival rear derailleur

amaferanga

My Sram Red derailleur broke last night - either the hanger broke sending the mech into the wheel which caused it to break, or the mech broke causing the hanger to fail. Not sure which actually since it happened as I was just riding along.

So anyway, I had a look and given the eye watering prices of Red rear derailleurs and the fact that I need one today I am thinking about replacing it with a Rival one instead at about a fifth of the price. Shifters are Red so am I likely to notice any difference in performance? It won't look as nice as the Red mech, but I can't bring myself to spend >£200 if it's just to save a few grams and for show.

Thanks.

styxd

A Rival mech will be fine. I've been using one now for bang on a year, its done thousands of miles and hasnt missed a beat.

Gazzaputt

I'd personally stretch to a Force derailleur if funds allow. There is no noticeable difference between it and a REd mech but there is with a Rival.

jonomc4

I use force rear dérailleur - but have a Rival (long arm) for when I want to switch to major granny gear - I also use a rival on my commuter (long arm also). Not sure if it is the difference between short arm and long arm and although both are great and don't ever a gear - I have got to say the force is a real step up over the rival. Enough for a turkey like me to notice. I use a Red chainset.

I would say go for the force - the price difference between force and rival is negligible - but between Red and force there is a bigger price jump. Feel the Force Luke!

www.richtreen.co.uk

I'm not sure I would even bother paying the extra for the Force - got Force on one bike and Rival on the other both with Red shifters and don't notice any difference at all in performance !

asprilla

I've got short cage Apex on the commuter and short cage Force on the weekender with Force shifters on both. TBH if you blind folded me I's struggle to tell the difference between them. I think my Force mech is nearing the end of it's life and I'm actually contemplating replacing it with an Apex mech to I can get the long and short cage versions for the same cash.

amaferanga

So are those saying Force is noticeably better using the mechs with Red shifters? I'm thinking it's the shifters that make more difference than the mechs.

The trouble is that while I can get a Force derailleur at much less than RRP online, I can't get one today, where as I can get a Rival one for only £45. I think I'm probably going to get the Rival one today and if I can actually notice a difference between it and the Red one then I'll consider getting a Force one and flog the Rival one. I'm actually hoping to get a warranty replacement anyway since I reckon the mech went first and if so I'd not expect a £300 mech to just fall apart after 18 months of use.

styxd

So are those saying Force is noticeably better using the mechs with Red shifters? I'm thinking it's the shifters that make more difference than the mechs.

Of course, its the shifters that matter. A mech is just a series of springs and pivots, they all tend to perform as well as each other.

www.richtreen.co.uk

As above the better shifting comes from the Red levers themselves, apart from weight there will be no differences. Actual shifting between the Rival, Force or Red rear mechs won't be any different.

Save the cash saved towards the new Red Front which will make a noticeable difference !