SRAM Components

[MtnBikerChk]

I'm going to ditch the crapid rise on IAB's Quasi moto and switch to SRAM.

The x9 rear derailleur is $99 (avg retail) and the xo is $239! What's the difference? I ride XO and LOVE IT. The shifting is clean and I've never had to adjust it. But we're talking IAB here. He goes through Shimano derailleurs like they're tissues. Should I stick with x9? He wants the bling, of course. (We're swapping the whole thing, triggers, front and rear)

Also, which CAGE do I want to buy? Long?

[Quo Fan]

The way he bashes derailleurs, get the short cage. The little bit of clearance that you get is the worth it.

Theoretically, long cages shift more accurately, and shorter cages shift faster. Personally, I can't tell the difference, so I ride the short cages.

[Mike B.]

The latest X9 is very similar to the X.0, just not quite as crisp in my opinion and of course there are weight differences. I've got X.0 on a couple bikes but if I was paying retail all the time, I'd run X9. I would go X.0 shifters and X.9 rear if you want to save some bucks but still have a nice shifting setup and you're out less if he tears up the derailleur. That said, I've wrapped X.0 rear der all the way around to the seatstay on two occasions and never done any damage other than the derailleur hanger.

Cage length depends on the gearing combo he is running. Just some quick math tells you which way to go but both SRAM and Shimano are pretty generous with the numbers, you can push the derailleurs further pretty easily.

[(# of teeth on the largest ring)-(# of teeth on the smallest ring)]+[(# of teeth on largest cog)-(# of teeth on smallest cog)]=capacity

A SRAM long cage has a capacity of 43 teeth, medium 37 teeth, and short is 30 teeth I believe. Chainstay growth figures in to it but his horst link bike is pretty forgiving. For what it's worth, I'm currently using a medium cage on my Racer-X 29er geared 44-32-22 up front and 11-34 in the rear without issues. You can see by the numbers, I should be running a long. Theoretically I shouldn't catch the medium cage on as many sticks but we'll see how that plays out.

[loco-gringo]

You'll be fine with mid cage X9, but why ditch the rapid rise? Best invention ever for me.

[MtnBikerChk]

.... but why ditch the rapid rise? Best invention ever for me.

well it needs to be replaced right now either way - and he doesn't like the rapid rise and I don't like trying to adjust them!

I'll have to go count his teeth in the front but he's only got a middle and small chain ring (so my guess is it's 32-22) and 11-32 in the back is the biggest - maybe medium is the way to go?!

thanks!

[MtnBikerChk]

pricepoint has the 06 x9 for $60 and the 07 for $99 - are there any real mechanical differences?

[I Are Baboon]

but why ditch the rapid rise?

Because I hate it.

[Westy]

The only major differences that I know of are weight and the XO used bearings in the jockey wheels and the X9 uses bushings. X9s will work fine and are a much better deal.

[bluebug32]

I upgraded last year and got the 07 just after it came out. It's super strong and literally shreds things. Yesterday I ran over a thick green stick and I thought it was curtains for the rear. The derrailer hanger was split down the middle, but the derrailer just keeps on going, even though the cage is now slightly bent.

[bluebug32]

pricepoint has the 06 x9 for $60 and the 07 for $99 - are there any real mechanical differences?

Yup, there was a major redesign and the 07 is much tougher.

[moff_quigley]

MBC...definitely go with the newer X.9. I was running the 05/06 stuff and I just setup 07 X.9 on my SC. The new stuff shifts so much nicer. 07 X.9 is essentially X.0 without the carbon "bling".

You should be able to get a better price than that too.

edit: FYI my setup is 24-36 front w/ 11-34 cassette and a mid cage der.

[H8R]

Tell the bum to go single speed.

[w00dy]

Or pick up a saint der. They're cheap right now.

[daisycutter]

they are rapid rise.

[robdamanii]

they are rapid rise.

And require a through axle.

[jonKranked]

i just got the '07 x7 mid cage for my dh bike, i have a penchant for blasting through deraillers (10 last season - most of which were because they were incompatible parts frankensteined together). i think the x7's will be a good blend of performance and cost (i got 2 at ep). i'll let you know how it goes.

[TreeSaw]

I'd recommend the newer X9 too. Sq-Earl has the XO on his bike and I have X7 & X9. I love the SRAM 1:1 and I think we have medium cages as well.