| |
Submitted by
Jared
a Cross Country Rider
from Bowling Green, KY
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Lock 4 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Montgomery Cyclery | | Strengths: | Pretty durable, looks good (not that that matters) | | Weaknesses: | shifts slowly | | Similar Products Used: | Deore LX, and XT | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F5, SID fork, Sram X9 RD, XT FD, Sram PG upgrades, Shimano pedals, etc. | | Bottom Line: | This derailleur came with the bike. It's the first derailleur I replaced, if that tells you anything. It's actually pretty decent for entry level stuff, but seeing as how inexpensive front derailleurs are, I didn't see any reason not upgrade to XT quality. If you're a beginner, and it came with the bike, keep it for a while. However, I would advise upgrading before your first race.
The thing just shifts really slowly, especially into the lower gears, and makes a lot of racket no matter what gear your shifting to. Seeing how much people pay for this thing, I'm not surprised. This isn't even really a good value for the $. Just pay an extra couple bucks and go to LX. You can buy them from Nashbar for $20. Or spend a tank of gas on an XT. I drive a MINI and it still costs $40 for gas, so unless you're driving a hybrid... $40 isn't that much $$$ anymore. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Henk Noordermeer
a Cross Country Rider
from Mexico City, Mexico
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Ajusco | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Came with bike, Alubike Dropper | | Strengths: | It looks kind of good on my bike | | Weaknesses: | It doesnt allow for big adjustments | | Similar Products Used: | Deore | | Bike Setup: | Alubike Dropper, All Alivio | | Bottom Line: | It came with the bike. It worked sort of ok in the beginning, but shifting to the small blade was allways difficult (took long and made a lot of noise).
After a while it became impossible to shift to the smallest blade, so i tried to adjust it. Only to find out that it didnt allow for any addittional inward adjustment. The adjustment screws dont do much as mentioned by other reviewers.. It shifts horribly now and i have only had it for 3 months. BTW: I do know how to shift and havent had this problem with other derailleurs (Deore). I read some reviewers blame other reviewers for not knowing how to shift or to adjust properly. I think you just have to be lucky that its adjustment range matches your bike, if it doesn´t, it´s hopeless!.. I´ve had to bend(!) the cage to be able to shift to the granny again.. I hate it already!
Hence, for my bike it doesnt work.. lowest rating in flames. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josh Wolfe
a Downhiller
from Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | came on my bike | | Strengths: | havn't had any strength problems, easy enough to tune,it came on my bike but i know it very affordable | | Weaknesses: | horrible shifting, i have to jam my shifter and hold for like 5 senconds before it shifts, it gets out of alignment after almost every ride, its the noisiest deraillleur i have ever had and most importantly it doesn't match my bike! | | Similar Products Used: | deore, lx, x-gen | | Bike Setup: | 05 Norco rampage downhill hardtail, 04 jr.t's, integrated stem, hussefelt drivetrain with shiftguide, -derailleurs and rims to be upgraded this season!- | | Bottom Line: | This is a god derailler for anyone on a low budget. That is a VERY LOW budget. i would recomend this derailler to someone who needs on temporarily until they can afford a better one. If you can you are beeter of to save your money and get something better, particularly SRAM, whose derailleurs actually shift and work properly for more than 3 hours! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Stock on my 1996 GT Ricochet - D'Ornellas Bike Shop (1996) | | Strengths: | Durabilty, weight, colour and crisp shifting. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore LX (bottom pull), Shimano Deore LX (top pull). | | Bike Setup: | 1996 GT Ricochet | | Bottom Line: | This front derailleur came stock on my 1996 GT Ricochet that I got on October 15,1996. It was a trouble-free derailleur that I used along with the stock Shimano Alivio 42/32/22 crankset. I opted to replace it for a Shimano Deore LX bottom pull derailleur and a Sugino 44/32/22 crankset.
Bottom Line: I still have this derailleur in my extra parts box to this day. While I used it, it was trouble-free with crisp & clean shifts for 1,000's of kilometers. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jay bulanadi
a Cross Country Rider
from philippines
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | scan, kauswagan, paraclete | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$11.00 | | Purchased At: | avk, philippines | | Strengths: | shifts fast..... really fast..... | | Weaknesses: | its hard to adjust, but once you had it mixed in correctly, there'l be no problem | | Similar Products Used: | deore front | | Bike Setup: | custom xc hardtail | | Bottom Line: | this derailleur works perfectly... all you ppl who complain about this component have yours installed incorrectly... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Blaine k
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary Alberta Canada
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | good ones | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike shop | | Strengths: | I havn't had any strength problems yet | | Weaknesses: | I havn't had any weeknesses problems yet | | Similar Products Used: | lots | | Bike Setup: | Rocky mountain flow 2.0 with marzocchi dj pro | | Bottom Line: | its a peice, i keep on playing with it and the chain rubs on it no matter what, there isn't enogh clearence on the gide without having the chain rub, i've had this bike for two days and it's already screwed (good thing for warrenty)
The bottom line is take your money to a different deralleur
this isn't even good for begginers. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josiah Elliott
a Weekend Warrior
from Wheaton, IL, USA
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | dunno | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | shifts right on time occasionally | | Weaknesses: | usually a bit of lag shifting, need to get it adjusted... or learn how... | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Giant Iguana 2002 | | Bottom Line: | don't but just buy deore or better | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Choctaw, OK, USA
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | nudraper | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$14.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bike Shoppe | | Strengths: | Price and shifts when I want it to. I really like the bottom pull/top swing design. | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Deore, Tourney | | Bike Setup: | 2004 KHS Sport, Mavic x221 rims, Acera Rear Freehub, SR 7 spd cassette, Acera EZ Fire shifter pods, stock v-brakes, Alivio FD, Prowheel 42/34/24 crankset. Wheels handbuilt by yours truly. | | Bottom Line: | This is so far the best front derailleur I've put on this bikd. The stock Tourney was a piece of junk and the Deore I got on ebay for cheap had too long a cage for the crank size. It shifts fine and is quite responsive. The top swing/bottom pull design is great. Of course, this is a front derailleur, one of the few instruments on a bike where high end/low end doesn't make much of a performance difference. I think most of the problems people have are related to poor adjustment/installation/placement or bad shifters. This is a great front derailleur for XC or anyone looking for a good value or replacement derailleur. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Colin Clayden
a Downhiller
from Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | o'dell xpert trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Stock on Haro Esacpe | | Strengths: | Shifts up when you want Shifts dow when you want. | | Weaknesses: | None that I have noticed dont understand why its getting such bad ratings..... | | Similar Products Used: | deore front derailleur I found it worked ALOT worst! | | Bike Setup: | haro escape 8.1 with maxxis high roller 2.5's | | Bottom Line: | It shifts down 2-3 seconds after you click the shifter (with rapid fire shifters) smooth both up and down I have had no problems with the alivio but have had problems with deore front derailleurs.
5 FLAMMIN' CHILLI'S | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg Dawson
a Weekend Warrior
from Thunder Bay, Ont.
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Scribbler | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Came on bike | | Strengths: | the only strenght is the cheap price. | | Weaknesses: | this thing gets jammed up and bends very easily, when i pedal backwards it shifts. | | Similar Products Used: | acera (even worse) | | Bike Setup: | 2005 norco bigfoot | | Bottom Line: | don't buy this derailleur, if it came with your bike upgrade it immeadiately. I'd suggest an LX or XT. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steve giles
a Weekend Warrior
from macomb twp,mich, usa
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | local trails | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | well u need a front der if u go trail riding don't you? | | Weaknesses: | well going downhill makes think if the bike will go to the gear i want to go?or getting stuck between gears or ghost shift,doesn't always shift at high speed.i weigh 162 pounds it seems that my weight causes it to not shift at times.heavy,cheap, going in garabe can when i get xt on my bike | | Similar Products Used: | none really | | Bike Setup: | 2004 gt i-drive 2.0 besides xt front soon everything else stock will change everything to xt-xtr-reba team w/poplock-fox rp3 shock only thing left not change is the frame | | Bottom Line: | well if u like to go ride on anything else besides downhill or racing for fun will not work at all shifting drives me nuts funnt noises at times from this der. but i guess it could be used for replacement der for a dept store bike who plans riding around their neighbourhood or around a skate/bike part area.dirt it sucks big time i hate it so much i got a new xt over a rock hard seat that causes me to walk like a cowboy over the fact the shifting sucks with any kind of weight as i said i weigh 162 pounds.might work with small children on their bikes but a 160 pound man and the weight makes it shift weird go fuigure? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Petaluma, CA , USA
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Annadel | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | um, it usually works. | | Weaknesses: | seems like anytime I am really crankin it uphill and need to drop to the small cog, that suddenly something happens. So that is naturally a bid downer, nuthing like losing your momentum when you are really chugging up some small rocky single track. | | Similar Products Used: | shimano LX or XT don't remember which. | | Bike Setup: | Mostly stock '04 Marin Rocky Ridge | | Bottom Line: | only using because they came with the bike, a fund has already been started form some XTR gear though. So basically don't buy it, if you actually use the bike like it was meant. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
waD
a Weekend Warrior
from asdsad
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Good derailleur for price. Not much to expect...for a piece of cheap derailleur. | | Weaknesses: | well....i do ONLY urban commuting...and it can't even shift onto the next biggest chaingring...have to push the shifter for like 2 seconds. Hate alivio. Want XTR. cannot AFFORD XTR. | | Similar Products Used: | Fake sh!t | | Bike Setup: | nrs 3 | | Bottom Line: | well...if you don't give no sh!t 'bout your front derailleur, buy this baby. It ROCKS FOR NO SHIFTIn'.
Shimano, please make a shifter that at least shifts.
I still love your high-end stuff though... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Al
a Cross Country Rider
from Garden City, MI
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | yes | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | Decorative function of making it look like you have a front derailler | | Weaknesses: | Adjustment screws don't actually adjust the thing, doesn't shift, chain will downshift to smaller rings on any sort of impact | | Bike Setup: | K2 Zed 3.0 hardtail, XT rear (and soon to be front) der., other upgrades, etc. | | Bottom Line: | This thing's worse than a flaming bag of poo on your front porch. It doesn't shift into the next largest ring unless you hold the shifter in, and then you even have to hope like hell that it works. Ordinarily, that'd be a simple matter of adjustment. Problem: the adjustment screws don't do anything at all. Try as you might, you cannot get this thing adjusted. This der. also is crappy enough to allow the chain to jump to a smaller ring every time you hit anything more than a 6" drop. I don't know why, but if you hit a drop, the impact will be enough to make the thing shift to a smaller ring.
The bottom line is this: Don't buy this thing, and if it came stock on your bike, get rid of it and spend the $40 or $50 and get something better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Will
a Cross Country Rider
from Arkansas
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | The Ride | | Strengths: | I really can't say I know of any real strengths with it. I know it shifts when I want it too without any problems. | | Weaknesses: | It did fine right out of the bike shop for about a day. I then would not shift from med. to high very well, would grind and after clicking shifter twice it would finally go in. I looked it over good and found that is wasn't parallel with the chain and gears. I loosened and twisted the whole thing on the frame around to where it was. I didn't move it just a little bit and then barely tightened the cable up on it and presto, it works great now. | | Bike Setup: | OEM from bike shop. | | Bottom Line: | I believe it to be a reliable component. At least for me and my riding around town and some offroad. I have put quit a few miles on it now though and works fine. I think that maybe the bike shop didn't look it over that good before it went out the door. Like some has said the adjustment screws on it don't do a whole lot, they just keep it from shifting up or down too far. I think placement on the bike frame is a factor to really look at when trying to adjust it if needed. It gets the job done for me though. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Anagnostou
a Weekend Warrior
from Indianapolis, IN USA
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Orig Equipment | | Strengths: | Shifts seemlessly (what more can be said). | | Weaknesses: | None so far (not the lightest for those counting grams) | | Similar Products Used: | Deore | | Bike Setup: | Haro V3 (2003) | | Bottom Line: | No probs whatsoever. Shifts are crisp and easy- even under pedaling load starting climbs. Cannot comment on long-term reliability yet. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rubén García
a Cross Country Rider
from Madrid (Spain)
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Every XC | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | I forgot it! | | Strengths: | Price- value, reliable, durability. | | Weaknesses: | I don’t find anything, Ok, but I don’t find many differences between these things | | Similar Products Used: | STX-RC, Deore, LX | | Bike Setup: | My old self-made Chromoly Tange bike, with a mix of Shimano Alivio, STX-RC and Deore | | Bottom Line: | My comment is for the 2000 version (with the big A). It works; I had no problems with it, makes his job.
As I said, I can’t find many differences with these things, for me all work very similar. After 3 years, it is looseness and flex, but works.
I’m very happy with it… Maybe I can’t be really critic, because I don’t pay attention to this component.
Sorry for the writing mistakes!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from Suwanee, GA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Galyan's | | Strengths: | Shifts alright when on flat ground | | Weaknesses: | A pain to shift when under load of any kind. It has got to go before i kill somebody. | | Bike Setup: | Stock Hawk Hill | | Bottom Line: | It came stock and I pretty much figured I would have to change it, o well don't mind putting a little money into my bike. Doesn't work that great and it tends to be a pain. I haven't had my bike very long and am just trying to break it in, but the Alivio has got to go. Don't buy this individually, spend a couple more bucks and get a Deore or better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Cross Country Rider
from Chapel Hil, NCl
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | It seems to move back and forth (a little). | | Weaknesses: | The whole thing. | | Similar Products Used: | Didn't pay much attention, they just worked. | | Bike Setup: | 04 IBEX Ignition-2 | | Bottom Line: | This derailleur is a joke. It has 2 adjustment screws. One of the screws moves it in and out a tiny bit through half of the screw's adjustment range, then does nothing. The other screw just does nothing. The derailleur does not have enough range of travel. That would be a good function for the 2nd adjustment screw, if it did anything. And who knows? Maybe through the workings of the derailleur fairy it was intended to do just that. Anyway, if you have it adjusted so it works properly with the inner chainring, it doesn't shift onto the outer one, and vice versa. The only way to adjust it to work on either ring is by pulling it into the desired position by hand before tightening the cable. You can kind of get it to work halfway if you spend hours playing with it and only if it's in a specific gear on the rear. Change gears in the back and voila!.. it doesn't change gears properly in the front anymore. So basically, you shift the front derailleur where it should be to go into the gear you want in the front, then you change gears in the rear until the chain goes where you want it in the front. A brilliant system. It would be a terrible value if it was $1 because it doesn't work. I give it 2 chilis overall because at least it hasn't broken (yet). Maybe it was just designed to work on the ever-popular bike with 2 front chainrings. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Genital Apparatus
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 13, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Etobicoke Creek, Urban Trials | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Duke's On Queen | | Strengths: | Well, it sits there, and it derails the chain when I click the shifter. | | Weaknesses: | As stated above, it moves the chain when I tell it to. I know of no weaknesses with this product. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Acera. | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Specialized Hardrock Pro, RaceFace handlebar and stem, Shimano drivetrain. | | Bottom Line: | I can't possibly give this component a bad review because it does it's job without hesitation or complication. It came stock with my bike, and I have only had to fuss over it to get it cleaned. Other people may complain that it's hard to install or adjust, but I didn't find it all that difficult. Great product, but I don't care much for the manufacturer it represents. It loses one toasted pepper overall because I don't like Shimano. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Drew
a Cross Country Rider
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Er...none. This came as stock and I'm amazed I'm only changing it now! | | Weaknesses: | Grunts, groans, grinds and doesn't shift | | Bike Setup: | GF Marlin Disc with SPDs (mostly stock but currently upgrading) | | Bottom Line: | This mech has cost me hours of futile fiddling when I could have been riding! Despite numerous adjustments (the screws appear to be completely ineffectual) this will not shift from med to large chainring. It is also shown to be wanting by the flawless performance of the Deore rear mech. Quite why I have not binned this for an XT at £20 is beyond me - maybe I regarded it as a challenge or am I just a masochist. Anyway, don't make the same mistake as a naff front mech can seriously screw up the performance of your bike (for such a small component) and you all-round fun. Don't but and get rid if stock. Maybe OK for 7spd set ups hence the 2 chilis | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Hayton
a Racer
from Tokyo
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Y's Academy, Tokyo | | Strengths: | When I left the shop it was working ok. The rest of the groupo seems to be ok. | | Weaknesses: | I rode the bike(a Giant Great Journey 2) 15km home after buying it yesterday. Now it won't shift from the middle to the upper ring, even after hours of adjustment. Adjustment screws do nothing. Grinds horribly on outer ring. | | Similar Products Used: | Deore LX groupo, with XT II thumbshifters. Way better. | | Bike Setup: | Giant Great Journey 2. Fat aluminium frame, Alivio gears all round. RST suspension forks. Will be using on the road mainly. Gonna cycle round Japan on it, but already have very little confidence in front derailleur. | | Bottom Line: | If you are a casual weekender Alivio should be fine, otherwise go for DEORE or CAMPAGNOLO. This is my first touring bike after spending a good amount of time off-road and I need it to last for hundreds, if not thousands of miles. I don't expect wonders, but this is not good enough. If you need to rely on your parts for long rides upgrade immediately. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chas
a Cross Country Rider
from Nashville ,TN
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | stock | | Strengths: | Works fine now.Cheep | | Weaknesses: | Very time consuming to set up at first.Three diffrent guys at my LBS managed to do it over about 30min. | | Similar Products Used: | Most types Demoed. | | Bike Setup: | Mostly Stock Fuel 80 | | Bottom Line: | Works great for now.Will upgrade to XTR when it fails.Suggest test rideing at LBS after they adjust then continue to return after each ride to have them adjust it properly.I stopped counting after 5 rides... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
KP
a
from Fairfax,VA
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Durable, cheap, reliable | | Weaknesses: | Slow shifting | | Similar Products Used: | Deore, LX, XT, SRAM X.O | | Bike Setup: | 01 Hardrock A1 FS | | Bottom Line: | Its no SRAM X.O but for the price its an excellent value. In the year and half that we've (my husband and I share the bike) been riding the bike, its only needed one adjustment. Its not the fastest shifter but it hasn't failed us yet. Keep it clean and lubed and you've got yourself a winner. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pierre L'Archevéque
a Cross Country Rider
from Laval, Québec, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | stainless steel | | Weaknesses: | The pivot goints get used up easily making the whole derailer cage wiggle and rattle as you catch little bumps here and there ont the road or trails. I have the 1998 model. I changed it in 2002 because it got so loose that it could only shift up and down two chainrings instead of all three of them. You should seriously consider upgrading to a front Deore XT. | | Similar Products Used: | DeoreXT, Deore, Alivio, acera, sis, | | Bottom Line: | You should definately upgrade to a better front because the durability of the alivio front derailer is pretty much NOTHING. IT's Similar to the cheapest. GET A DEORE XT< IT's WORTH THE EXTRA BUCKS. A front derailler is a very important part of a bike so it should be taken seriously.
GET A GOOD ONE. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brandon Haley
a
from Springdale, Arkansas, USA
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Factory on bike | | Strengths: | Cheap | | Weaknesses: | Won't shift to outer chainring without considerable grinding. | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy it to put onto a bike. You will be greatly disappointed. It shifts poorly and you can get chain rub. Shimano is a good company but this part is just too cheap. If you plan on buying a bike with it, plan on upgrading to at least a Deore. It's a shame that bike companies use this cheap piece of metal. For only a couple of dollars more, bike mfg could use Deore and save the customer one upgrade in the future. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig
a
from Forney, TX
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Weaknesses: | Pure junk! Would not shift into top gear straight out of the box and still won't after hours of adjustments.. . | | Bottom Line: | UPGRADE!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bruised
a Cross Country Rider
from Roch cha cha
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | OEM | | Strengths: | Lasts forever | | Weaknesses: | Lousy shifting | | Similar Products Used: | Suntour | | Bike Setup: | GT mutt | | Bottom Line: | This derailluer lasts forever and is bullit proof. I've used the same derailluer for over 5 years. Don't count on being able to keep up with your buddies using this derailluer, however. It just does not want to shift onto the granny regardless if its adjusted right and you pedal as slowly and softly as you can. Upshifts are acceptable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a
from Frankfort, KY, USA
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Has been completely dependable, shifts well (when adjusted correctly) | | Weaknesses: | Rubs chain sometimes | | Similar Products Used: | old nasty bad Acera, another Alivio | | Bike Setup: | stock '01 Specialized HardRock A1 Comp FS | | Bottom Line: | What in the world do all those people do to their Alivios? Take a chainsaw to them? I have not had one ounce of problems once I got it adjusted to my liking. Of course, I'm not a diehard racer, but you gotta be realistic. I keep it clean and lubricated, and it awards me with fluid shifting every time. If it crunches, well, stop pedaling hard while shifting! No derallieur will shift well if you're forcing it so hard.
Also, check the average flamin' chili score for an Alivio front...2.71. Average for an LX front...2.78. So why does everyone complain about these when apparently the LX is not much better? I'll keep mine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam Firth
a Cross Country Rider
from Truro, Cornwall, UK
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere interesting | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Local bike shop [CMC] | | Strengths: | Cheap, works most of the time, and sometimes well. Pretty quick when new, and clean! | | Weaknesses: | Locks chain accross top 2 rings quite often. i've broken 3 this way as the chain wraps 'round and jams in the cage. My FOURTH one is doing OK though, but only because i've learnt to pedal real slow and look when i shift at the front. And, yes i have had the rings changed. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Hardrock ['01] A1 Alu frame, Alivio transmission with LX rear mech, Manitou SixSuper forks, Deore rear Hub [not so hot], HS33s hitting D521s....and so-on | | Bottom Line: | Don't complain if you get one fitted with a new bike..they work OK. Noone i've talked-to has them jam as much as i do, it's even happened when i lent the bike to a friend to ride 'round --so for once its' not my fault! Jamming kills the piviots, and though you can unbend it; it'll get really loose.
Not what you'd want to race on, or depend on for travelling long distances. I guess it's just a fluke, seems to function ok 90 times in 100 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a
from surrey,uk
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Bottom Line: | Came on my Kona. I should stress that this is the "top swing" design which looks neater than the "conventional" style but as i found out is nowhere near as durable due to shorter pivoting distances meaning greater forces on the bolts (leverage is reduced).
Anyway, it never worked too well - very slow shifting especially from bottom to middle (yes, i do know how to adjust these things).
developed a rattle after about a year that got worse and sorse but shifting was not affected.
finally examined the derailleur and the bolts holding it together were *VERY* loose - it had about 5mm play left to right. replaced it with an (XT conventional design) and never looked back
3 flaiming turds cos i think its quite cheap
2 overall cos i expected it to last longer and shift better plus i think this is a floored design whihc should be abandoned.'nuf said. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Cylinder
a Cross Country Rider
from USA
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | The Bone | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | |
|
$
