Shimano XT Rear Derailleur

[jethro10]

My wifes bike is shimano gearing.
The rear mech is not in good health and she wants me to replace it with an XT one.

Apart from a confusing array of numbers, there seems to be normal and shadow.

Anyone any real world experience of the differences and how to choose on or the other?

thanks

Jeff

 

[gwhite]

The "Shadow" as I remember is the model whereby the return spring tension is in the direction of the largest sprocket i.e. opposite to the normal XT. Good for MTB riders I understand. I'd stick with the normal one myself.

 

[jethro10]

The "Shadow" as I remember is the model whereby the return spring tension is in the direction of the largest sprocket i.e. opposite to the normal XT. Good for MTB riders I understand. I'd stick with the normal one myself.

Crazy, I wonder why they did that?

J

 

[I like Skol]

As far as I know the 'Shadow' part just means it is the newer design mech which is lower profile (doesn't stick out as far) and has different cable routing (again, is less likely to snag on anything as it enters the mech from above rather than the rear, eliminating the big loop of cable at the rear)

In 2009 I fitted THIS SHADOW MECH to replace my 1994 traditional style XT rear mech and it has worked fine although I wasn't certain it would work when I ordered it.

It is not reverse sprung so was a straight swap after a bit of cable shortening.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

As Skol said I believe XT shadow only comes in top normal currently. Both are XT but the one on the right is Shadow:

 

[jethro10]

As Skol said I believe XT shadow only comes in top normal currently. Both are XT but the one on the right is Shadow:

Ah, thanks.
Hell the one on the right seems very close to the cogs..
Wonder why they do both still?
Jeff

 

[e-rider]

The "Shadow" as I remember is the model whereby the return spring tension is in the direction of the largest sprocket i.e. opposite to the normal XT. Good for MTB riders I understand. I'd stick with the normal one myself.

wrong - shadow means a more low profile design where the cage protrudes less

I always avoid the shadow options as it seems like a bit of marketing crap to me. M771 is the XT model to go for IMO however the normal Deore M591 is a good cheap(er) option.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

XT looks nice as it has XT written on it. XTR looks nicer still because as we all know that go-faster R makes all the difference. Deore works just as well and is cheaper.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

XT looks nice as it has XT written on it. XTR looks nicer still because as we all know that go-faster R makes all the difference. Deore works just as well and is cheaper.

The R on my M971 is relieved - if they had taken it off they would surely have saved a gram or two instead of weighing and slowing me bike down? No I checked those lazy bones did not hollow out the back!

 

[gwhite]

wrong - shadow means a more low profile design where the cage protrudes less

I always avoid the shadow options as it seems like a bit of marketing crap to me. M771 is the XT model to go for IMO however the normal Deore M591 is a good cheap(er) option.

Ah well, there you go. Of all the reasons to introduce a new model. Who can fathom Shimano's marketing?

 

[02GF74]

ahh.... I wondered what the shadow bit meant.

the "rapid rise" has the derailleur moving in opposite direction i.e. when the cable is pulled, the gears go down - IIRC was made as seemingly the downhillers needed to shift faster and more positively to the smaller cogs.

 

[marvin]

I had a bit of an accident on the ice recently and my rear derailleur has cracked. I plan to pick up a new one online and replace it myself. How hard a job is it? I like the idea of doing it myself but hate the idea of going to my lbs asking them to fix my bodge job.