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Derailleurs

>Front Derailleurs

How can I tell what size front derailleur clamp I need?

The size is generally stamped inside of the front derailleur clamp so you can check there. If you don’t have a current front derailleur you should probably call us to find out what size you need.

What does “E-type” mean?

“E-type” refers to a front derailleur that mounts to the bottom bracket of your bike instead of clamping onto your seat tube. This is mainly used on full suspension bikes that have an interrupted seat tube.

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>Rear Derailleurs

Can I use a 9-speed derailleur with an 8-speed cassette?

Absolutely. As long as it can handle the spread on the cassette, you'll be fine. All reasonably modern derailleurs will handle this. The derailleur is a "dumb" component - it does what the shifter tells it to do.

What’s the difference between various Shimano XTR derailleurs? What is standard shifting versus “Rapid Rise”?

The XTR M952 Rear Derailleur is the standard rear derailleur. The XTR M953 is the Rapid Rise rear derailleur with the Reverse Spring Action. The M953 is designed so that the reverse action spring downshifts with cable release to reduce shifting effort, and relieve rider stress shifting while climbing. It will reverse the way you shift on your current shifter. It's designed to shift the same way as your left (front) shifter. Neither model is better than the other. Choose one according to your personal preference - some people love Rapid Rise, some don't. Both will work with 7, 8, or 9 speed systems.

There are two cage size options for the XTR rear derailleur, GS and SGS. The GS is a mid cage model and is designed to work with up to a 33 teeth rear cassette. The SGS is the long cage model and is designed to work with up to a 42 teeth rear cassette.

What’s the difference between short-cage, medium-cage GS, and long-cage SGS, derailleurs?

For road bikes, your choice is fairly straightforward. If you plan to use a double crankset, stick to a short cage unit. For triple cranksets, you'll want to use a longer cage rear derailleur to handle the increased chain wrap necessitated by the wider range drivetrain.

On a mountain bike, your choice is slightly more difficult. Less experienced riders, or riders who ride frequently in steep terrain should probably stick to a long cage rear derailleur. This, combined with proper chain length, will allow the bike to be safely shifted into every gear on the bike. Racers might appreciate the lighter weight and slight shifting improvement a short cage rear derailleur offers. However, these benefits come with a tradeoff - because of the decreased capacity a short or medium cage rear derailleur offers, it may not be possible to safely use the small chainring in tandem with the smallest cogs. (The derailleur simply can't take up enough slack in the chain)

For mountain bikes, when in doubt, choose a long cage rear derailleur, unless you are certain you understand the limitations of a short/medium cage derailleur.

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>Derailleur Specifications

Is my derailleur Top-Swing or Bottom-Swing?

If the clamp for the derailleur is below the pivot (the part that moves to guide the chain to a different gear), it is considered top swing. If the clamp for the derailleur is above the pivot, it is bottom swing.

Is my derailleur Top-Pull or Bottom-Pull?

If the cable approaches the derailleur from above, it is top pull. If the cable comes up from underneath the bottom bracket, it is bottom pull.

Are SRAM/Grip Shift and Shimano compatible?

Shimano derailleurs work with a 2:1 gear ratio but SRAM works with both 2:1 and 1:1 ratios. A general rule is that SRAM components with odd numbered specifications (3.0, 5.0, 7.0, 9.0) will only work with other SRAM components on the 1:1 ratio. If the product has a non-numeric name like Attack or Rocket, it will work with Shimano derailleurs.

What’s the difference between various Shimano XTR derailleurs? What is standard shifting versus “Rapid Rise”?

The XTR M952 Rear Derailleur is the standard rear derailleur. The XTR M953 is the Rapid Rise rear derailleur with the Reverse Spring Action. The M953 is designed so that the reverse action spring downshifts with cable release to reduce shifting effort, and relieve rider stress shifting while climbing. It will reverse the way you shift on your current shifter. It's designed to shift the same way as your left (front) shifter. Neither model is better than the other. Choose one according to your personal preference - some people love Rapid Rise, some don't. Both will work with 7, 8, or 9 speed systems.

What’s the difference between short-cage, medium-cage GS, and long-cage SGS, derailleurs?

For road bikes, your choice is fairly straightforward. If you plan to use a double crankset, stick to a short cage unit. For triple cranksets, you'll want to use a longer cage rear derailleur to handle the increased chain wrap necessitated by the wider range drivetrain.

On a mountain bike, your choice is slightly more difficult. Less experienced riders, or riders who ride frequently in steep terrain should probably stick to a long cage rear derailleur. This, combined with proper chain length, will allow the bike to be safely shifted into every gear on the bike. Racers might appreciate the lighter weight and slight shifting improvement a short cage rear derailleur offers. However, these benefits come with a tradeoff - because of the decreased capacity a short or medium cage rear derailleur offers, it may not be possible to safely use the small chainring in tandem with the smallest cogs. (The derailleur simply can't take up enough slack in the chain)

For mountain bikes, when in doubt, choose a long cage rear derailleur, unless you are certain you understand the limitations of a short/medium cage derailleur.

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>Cables

When should I replace my shifter cables?

In general, it’s a good idea to replace all your cables (shifter and brake) whenever your bike gets a complete overhaul. Other than that, shifter cables should be replaced anytime you notice fraying – definitely before you break a cable miles from home and are left with only one gear.

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