cage size

[catbbq]

while cleaning up my bike after a really nasty ride last night, I noticed some damage to my rear derailleur. I don't think it is serious, but I can't think of a better excuse to upgrade.

So looking online, I see both the SRAM X.O and the XTR offer a medium and a long cage on the derailleur.

So what is the difference in terms of performance? Why would I chose one over the other?

[Mt.A TODD]

Do you have big ring? If so stick with the standard long cage. If you are like many riders these days who swap out the big ring for a bash guard and only use middle and granny, get the short cage for crisper shifting, less chain slap and better ground clearance.

[MTBME]

I'll be hosing off my bike tonight. Wonder what I'll find.

Can you throw an SRAM deraileur on your bike without the SRAM shifters?

[catbbq]

Yeah, my bike is pretty big. The Santa Cruz Superlight in XL.

So the smaller cage has crisper shifting. What is the trade off? I don't see how the bike size would matter.

And it looks like the SRAM X.0 only works with SRAM shifters. Not sure about the other models.

[Quo Fan]

The medium cage is for quicker shifts, and the long cage is for more accurate shifts. At least that's what the Shimanno BS wants you to believe. I run the medium cage XTR Low Normal derailers because I have a tendency to bash the cages on rocks. Less bashing, less ghost shifting from bent hangers. The medium cage derailers allow you to run a shorter chain, which increases the tension on the chain, which decreases the amount of chain slap you experience.

[Quo Fan]

Sram X series derailers are 1:1 accuation ratio derailers. Shimanno derailers are 2:1. Therefore, you cannot use Sram X series derailers with any Shimanno shifters, or vice versa.

If you like twist shifting, you have to use the lower end Sram shifters with your Shimanno derailers.

[EVIL BOTA]

Forget sram and get the shimano xtr... Unless your looking to save money. The xtr is more $ ,but well worth it.

forget the shimano xtr and get the SRAM.....Unless your looking to use your bike only intermittantly between crippleing injuries. ;)

[EVIL BOTA]

forget the shimano xtr and get the SRAM.....Unless your looking to use your bike only intermittantly between crippleing injuries. ;)


You might have a point there Mr Bill.......NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[catbbq]

Guess it is the XTR then. I am always looking to use my bike between crippling injuries.

Will the SRAM make it easier to ride during a crippling injury?

[boingboing]

I run a short cage on my Big Hit so I can get the ground clearance with the 24" rear wheel. I run a chain guide with a 9sp so I'm not missing the extra chain length. However, in the future I'm using one of those shimano 105 road bike ones. Those things are bullet proof I have been using one on the DH ride and haven't had any problems. I think they are like 25 bucks at your LBS? On my sugar I have a medium cage cuz I run without a big ring. You can usually find a new/2year old xtr on Ebay for about 70 bucks. Any way thats whats been working for me so far.