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Submitted by
Bill
a Cross Country Rider
from Concord,NC USA
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Shermans Branch | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Strengths: | Easy to set up. Seems like it will last forever. | | Weaknesses: | Can be pricey. | | Similar Products Used: | LX,XT and other lower grade Shimano | | Bike Setup: | 2004 Superlight,Marzocchi MX Comp fork, mechanical Avid disc,various wheel and tire combinations | | Bottom Line: | I bought this XTR rapid rise used for about $40. I coupled it with some old Scram grip shifters. It stays in adjustment and has never ghost shifted on me. I do my own work.With it I'm confident to stand on the pedals and down shift as needed. As with any nine speed the adjustments to keep it in tune are small. You have to be adaptable to shifting backward.I think XTR is overrated and too expensive. When I replace this unit it will be XT or another used XTR. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brett Fisher
a Cross Country Rider
from Asheville, NC
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Bent Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | came with bike pkg | | Strengths: | Light. | | Weaknesses: | Using with rapid fire finger shifter sucked being backwards. Did not want to get the 32t gear. Slow shifting to larger tooth cogs. Felt like I could never get enough tension in it. | | Similar Products Used: | XTR XT | | Bike Setup: | DEAN Colonel X-light XTR M-960 | | Bottom Line: | Never liked it and at the time I got the bike there were no XTR 'normal' spring type derailleurs. Maybe it worked better with their brake/shifter combo. I just changed to a new normal XTR shadow and it rocks! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Oscar Katz
a Racer
from Surrey, UK
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Strengths: | Rapid rise, solid, smooth | | Weaknesses: | None after the first 2 rides. Once you've got used to rapid rise, you're hooked | | Similar Products Used: | Other Shimano | | Bike Setup: | Scale, XTR | | Bottom Line: | Rapid rise is the way forward if you _ever_ hit an unexpected uphill. That must be anyone who's not doing 100% DH. Try it and you'll be converted. (I've given it 4 Chilis for value because now you can get rapid rise in XT). Apart from that, it's as precise and smooth as you'd expect from XTR. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Avery
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Bicycles Etc | | Strengths: | Few | | Weaknesses: | Very hard to keep adjusted | | Similar Products Used: | XT | | Bike Setup: | Klein Palomino | | Bottom Line: | Probably works good on gravel paths and sidewalks
The Rapid Rise derailleur is way too hard to keep in tune and out on the trail the last thing you want is 10 miles in to have your chain bouncing up and down the cluster. End game: don't buy this derailleur. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Wiblraham
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | The Notch | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$110.00 | | Purchased At: | Ski-In | | Strengths: | Great looks, strong design. Makes my Cannodale Scapel run like it should......... | | Weaknesses: | None as of yet | | Similar Products Used: | Older XTR model | | Bike Setup: | XTR rapid rise rear, XT front. | | Bottom Line: | Well what can I say. After destroying 2 XTR older models on the trails I was lucky enough to get the new 2007 XTR rapid rise. I'll tell you what, the bike has never been dialed in this good in a long time. Just hope this continues..... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
hcampian
a Cross Country Rider
from Romania
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | BikeSport | | Strengths: | impressive shifting, gorgeous looks | | Weaknesses: | too beautiful to pack it with mud | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM X9, SX5, Shimano Alivio, XT | | Bike Setup: | B1 Rockbumble | | Bottom Line: | this review is for the 2007 model. It's so beautiful and it shifts like nothing I've tried before. It shifts perfectly even when running 20mph over rock garden. The SGS (rapid rise feature) is very usefull if you are serious about climbing. Much better then the SRAMs, possibilly because of the rapid rise. I've tried X0 and, even if it's a gorgeous derailleur, I prefer the XTR, it seems smoother.
I use the XTR with SRAM Attack triggers (best ever shifter system). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from Orange, Ct
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | West Rock Ridge | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | very light, clean shifting, easy to set up, shifts under a lot of power, looks cool | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | shimano acera, deore, LX | | Bike Setup: | 2007 Specialized Epic, Rock Shox Reba team, LX dual control levers with hydro discs, '07 LX cranks, race face diablous BB cups, XTR rear mech, easton monkeylite carbon riser, mavic x223 wheelset w/ IRC mibro treads | | Bottom Line: | i was a bit hesitant getting the rapid rise at first, but im glad i did. this baby shifts very smoothly, even under load. i like the glossy pewter color too. sealed bearings in the pulleys make me feel better also. set up is quite easy and there is no barrel adjuster to worry about. i just hooked mine up, did the basic gear adjustments, and rode away. its seems to compensate automatically for cable stretch b/c i have not had to adjust it since i bought it [about 2 1/2 months ago] and i ride frequently.
4 chilis for value b/c i think even for the great performance, its a bit pricey
5 chilis overall b/c it is THE BEST derailleur ever | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from Orange, Ct
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | West Rock Ridge | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | very light, clean shifting, easy to set up, shifts under a lot of power, looks cool | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | shimano acera, deore, LX | | Bike Setup: | 2007 Specialized Epic, Rock Shox Reba team, LX dual control levers with hydro discs, '07 LX cranks, race face diablous BB cups, XTR rear mech, easton monkeylite carbon riser, mavic x223 wheelset w/ IRC mibro treads | | Bottom Line: | i was a bit hesitant getting the rapid rise at first, but im glad i did. this baby shifts very smoothly, even under load. i like the glossy pewter color too. sealed bearings in the pulleys make me feel better also. set up is quite easy and there is no barrel adjuster to worry about. i just hooked mine up, did the basic gear adjustments, and rode away. its seems to compensate automatically for cable stretch b/c i have not had to adjust it since i bought it [about 2 1/2 months ago] and i ride frequently.
4 chilis for value b/c i think even for the great performance, its a bit pricey
5 chilis overall b/c it is THE BEST derailleur ever | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steve holcomb
a Weekend Warrior
from tampa florida
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | n/a | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | beyond bikes | | Strengths: | 5yrs of use (daily), many 1000's of miles on it, still works like new. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | campy record and super record (campy record, 1978 died in
1996) (campy super record, 1987 to present, still going strong, but getting a little slopy. | | Bike Setup: | doesn't matter | | Bottom Line: | xtr rear is the best performing I have ever used.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kevin
a Racer
from Tyler, Tx
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Tyler State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Great efficiency, low weight, very tuneable, i love rapid rise. | | Weaknesses: | other non rapid rise people cant use it. | | Similar Products Used: | shimano XT | | Bottom Line: | This thing rocks, once i got it adjusted properly and the stops set correctly it was no problem. i love this thing, being able to bear loads and ad loads while going uphill.
buy this thing if you count grams, dont if you dont have enough money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kevin
a Racer
from Tyler, Tx
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Tyler State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Great efficiency, low weight, very tuneable, i love rapid rise. | | Weaknesses: | other non rapid rise people cant use it. | | Similar Products Used: | shimano XT | | Bottom Line: | This thing rocks, once i got it adjusted properly and the stops set correctly it was no problem. i love this thing, being able to bear loads and ad loads while going uphill.
buy this thing if you count grams, dont if you dont have enough money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kevin
a Racer
from Tyler, Tx
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Tyler State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Great efficiency, low weight, very tuneable, i love rapid rise. | | Weaknesses: | other non rapid rise people cant use it. | | Similar Products Used: | shimano XT | | Bottom Line: | This thing rocks, once i got it adjusted properly and the stops set correctly it was no problem. i love this thing, being able to bear loads and ad loads while going uphill.
buy this thing if you count grams, dont if you dont have enough money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kevin
a Racer
from Tyler, Tx
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Tyler State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Great efficiency, low weight, very tuneable, i love rapid rise. | | Weaknesses: | other non rapid rise people cant use it. | | Similar Products Used: | shimano XT | | Bottom Line: | This thing rocks, once i got it adjusted properly and the stops set correctly it was no problem. i love this thing, being able to bear loads and ad loads while going uphill.
buy this thing if you count grams, dont if you dont have enough money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Racer
from South Yorkshire. United Kingdom
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Bottom Line: | Looking for some help / advice.
I have a brand new B1 Team XC Pro fitted with XTR rear mech, Dura Ace ( 9spd. )chain, SRAM 9 speed ( 11-34t ) cassette. This works perfectly on the bike stand - shifts like a dream.
Out on the trail it will not go uphill at all - any slight load on the pedals causes the chain to jump the cassette sprockets as though it is a brand new chain on an old cassette. This has been set up by a bike mechanic and I have also spent more than 12 hours trying to sort this thing. Please help. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Sandwich
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything that goes downhill | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$140.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Zone | | Strengths: | Light. Great shifting. Easy to adjust. Rapid rise is the only way to shift! Quick shifts. Always shift in bad condition and during excessive bumping and chattering on descents. Shifts on the climbs even when cranking on the pedals. | | Weaknesses: | Finish scratches easliy. Not sure if it could take a huge direct hit because of "lightweight construction", although I'm not sure of what would. A little expensive. | | Similar Products Used: | Sram X.7/X.8 Shimano Deore/Lx/XT/Acera/Alivio | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Kona Coiler | | Bottom Line: | This derailleur is the best! Buy one and you won't be sorry. I don't know what these other people are talking about it breaking easily and it not being reliable. Mine has worked fine for over 2 years, and I downhill, dirt jump, freeride, and trailride with it! This derailleur will always put you in thr right gear no matter what the conditions are. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Perry
a Weekend Warrior
from Huntsville, AL
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Mountain Mist | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Madison Cycles | | Strengths: | Shifts well when properly setup | | Weaknesses: | Very sensitive to cable friction when shifting to high gears. | | Similar Products Used: | Various | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Fuji Adventure SL | | Bottom Line: | Had problems with cable friction. Would not shift into higher gears but would always shift to lower gears no problem. Turned out the problem was too much cable friction. I put on a rollamajig and that fixed it. It still is a little slow to shift to higher gears but at least it shifts. I think it needs a stronger return spring to pull all the slack out of the cable. There is not much room for error with a 9 speed system so cable friction has to be small for it to work. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Parker
a Downhiller
from Salt Lake, Utah
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | John's Trail (Park City) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$99.00 | | Purchased At: | Onlile | | Strengths: | Works well at first. | | Weaknesses: | After about a month, I couldn't keep the thing adjusted right. Niether could my shop. It's downhill from the day you get it. | | Similar Products Used: | XT, Sram XO | | Bike Setup: | Foes Fly, 888, Deemax, Hope M4 203mm, RaceFace, Sram XO, not XTR. | | Bottom Line: | Don't waste your money on something that won't last long. Look for something else in price range or step up to a higher level of performance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Miller
a
from Fullerton CA
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Fullerton Loop | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Weaknesses: | Two significant weaknesses... the product itself and Customer Service at Shimano. After running this product for less than three months I bunny hopped a curb on the Fullerton Loop at the first Euclid Crossing. No big deal... no hitting the derailer on anything...nevertheless, upon landing the bunnyhop, my derailer sucks into my spokes and nearly jacks me off the bike. There were two witnesses who observed what happened, and If I thought Shimano was going to play the “rider error” card, I would have got their names. Anyway, I take the product back to the local bike shop and the Shimano representative doesn't even request the product for review, and plays the rider error card.
My personal opinion, if I am going to pay over 100.00 on a product, I expect it to last longer than three months. And if you going to call bunny hopping a curb, rider error... you should at least look at the product to evidence if this is indeed the case. | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM XO | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Jekyl with XT XTR drive train components. | | Bottom Line: | DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT! This is my first attempt, and likely only, attempt to contact Shimano concerning their products. In my opinion, this is a poor product. Beyond this, this service policy is even worse! If this is how Shimano does customer service... I am done with their product in part and in whole. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Humpje
a Racer
from Holland
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | hard road&deep mud | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Strengths: | Smooth, fast, reliable. Looks great. | | Weaknesses: | Price. Difficult to clean. | | Similar Products Used: | Deore. | | Bike Setup: | XT,XTR Giant Terrago | | Bottom Line: | This thing rocks! Compared to, say, Deore there is a minimal difference in shifting. If they're clean and new. However, when the crap starts to fly you'll see where your extra (a lot of extra) money went. In the dirt i had constant problems with Deore, often the thing simply refused to shift when coverd with mud or sand. When i cleaned it again, the problems were over. Not so with the XTR (RD-M960). When covered in mud mixed with pine needles (very nasty stuff) the thing didn't fail once. Ofcourse 'clean' mud and sand are even less of a problem. I use it with an XT cassette and at the time had a KMC chain (which is a disaster on XT chainrings with the mud/pineneedle combo). Now i use an XT chain which is better. Only thing i can whine about is the price (but you get what you pay for) and the fact it took me more than a week to get all the pine needles out (like i said:nasty stuff). It would have been easier if it was skeletonized, like SRAM XO. So that's the only downside i found so far, which is nothing since it doesn't affect the action. I think the main difference, compared to XT/LX/Deore, is durability, quality materials and manufacturing tolerances. If you're not a fanatic when it comes to riding, you're better off with the cheaper brothers. But if you are, and want top notch toys, XTR is the choice for you! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pinstripes and Pedals
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$225.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Light and sexy.
Ultra smooth and fast when dialed in.
Shifts better (and much better under load) than forward-action/high normal derailleurs. | | Weaknesses: | Very fussy about cable tension and contamination.
Hard to keep dialed with regurlar cables under regular (ie dirty) conditions. | | Similar Products Used: | '01 XTR rapid rise 8-speed rear derailleur
'01 XTR high normal (regular) 8-speed rear derailleur | | Bike Setup: | Baum Ristretto (custom steel hardtail), XT/XTR etc | | Bottom Line: | A lot of people have been blaming poor shifting and a general unwillingness to stay in adjustment on the low-normal (or Rapid Rise) system. However, it's not Rapid Rise that's the problem, it's the Shimano 9-speed system. More gears in the same space = less room for error = more easily contaminated and damaged = poorer shifting on mountain bikes. My old 8-speed XTR rapid rise was the best derailleur I've ever owned.
I've been struggling with on again / off again shifting from my XTR short cage for two years. It's silky smooth, quiet and fast when everything's dialed at least half the time that's not the case.
The cheapest solution is to run a Teflon-coated or preferably fully-sealed, compression-resistant cable system like Avid's FlackJackets, and make sure your cable routing is nothing short of perfect. If you have down tube routing (hell, even if you don't), ditch the last loop of housing for a rollermajig or similar.
With those three factors (careful routing, sealed cable system and rollermajig) taken care the derailleur has been a joy, and so far has held up in muddy conditions.
Who should buy this?
Anyone who loves Shimano's light, smooth action and is prepared to jump through a few hoops to get it dialed. For people with full suspension bikes or other rigs with funny cable routing it might not be worth the hassle, go straight to SRAM. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rene Hoepelman
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Beach
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | dirt | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Like New Ebay | | Strengths: | Looks great. Rapid Rise. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | xt / xtr standard rise | | Bike Setup: | mountain bike | | Bottom Line: | Rapid rise is the way MTB Derailleurs should have made from the very beginning. Being able to downshift on a climb without to much worry of breaking things under load only makes perfect sense. Your front Derailleur (left hand shifting) works like rapid rise why not the rear (right side as well).
Took me one or two rides to become adjusted to shifting (backwards) I hate to call it backwards but I will to make a point. I will never switch back to standard rise.
As far as shifting in general. Ive not had any problems with shifting performance. I always keep my bike tuned and cleaned ready to race. If your having shifting problems its not the Derailleur. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin Sharick
a Cross Country Rider
from Latrobe, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Local Trails | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$98.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Rapid Rise, smooth shifting, looks, weight. | | Weaknesses: | None so far... the cable end fell off on todays ride and now my cable is frayed, but thats not the derailleurs fault... | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT rear derailleur, Shimano LX Rear Derailleur | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Specialized Enduro
XT Front Derailleur
XTR Rapid Rise Rear Derailleur
XT Chain and Cassette
Race Face Next Carbon Fiber Riser bar
ODI Rogue Lock On Grips
-Everything else stock
| | Bottom Line: | This derailleur has outperformed my expectations. I've only had it for a week or two now but it shifts accurately and quietly and the rapid rise is the way to go. Took me one ride around the parking lot to get used to it; on the trail today it was already second nature. Easy to work on the upshifts and downshifts alike.
When the only notification of your shift is more or less resistance in the pedal, you know you have a good product :)
Good job Shimano!
5 Flamin Chilis all around! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Incline Village, NV
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | White's Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$110.00 | | Purchased At: | CYcle Paths | | Strengths: | Upshifs are fast | | Weaknesses: | Downshifting is a nightmare, constant constant constant maintenance. Keyword:CONSTANT! | | Similar Products Used: | old XTR 8 speed-no problemo ever | | Bike Setup: | Rocky M. ETS X50 frame, XT/XTR STI crap, Monkey liteXC, CRossmax SL with STan's, Race FAce Atlas | | Bottom Line: | I can live with Dual control, in fact I like it....BUT I cannot get it to shift smoothly into a harder gear, my shop can't get it to shift right. Not sure what to do..I would be sooo happy with pods and a standard derail. SRAM here we come!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joel
a Weekend Warrior
from DFW, Texas
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Strengths: | Concept | | Weaknesses: | Execution | | Similar Products Used: | Standard XTR derailleur, SRAM X.0 | | Bike Setup: | Yeti 575 minus the XTR RR Derailleur | | Bottom Line: | This thing killed me. When it was tuned it was great, but it didn't stay tuned on my bike for very long at a time. Maybe if you are 5'5" and 130lbs and only doing single track stuff, but at 6'8" and 230lbs that whole physics thing just seemed to knock this thing out of alignment way to easily. There don't seem to be many 'average' reviews. On the love it or leave it scale, I have left it.
Did I mention I have an XTR rapid rise derailleur for sale, cheap? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a Cross Country Rider
from Woodacre, Ca
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | I'll never tell | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$110.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Reeel puurty, quick shifts, Sets and tunes in no time (after I figured it was sprung backwards!!) light waight, Buttery smoooove. | | Weaknesses: | Instructions said nothing about the fact that the set up is oppisite of everyother deraillier that i've set up!!!(took me 30 mins to figure it out), Very soft high low adjusters...one slip of the screw driver and your stripped. Weak instructions!!! | | Similar Products Used: | standard xtr, xtr,lx,dx,shram xo, deore,eagle exage, | | Bike Setup: | Ventana el fuego...All souped up!!! | | Bottom Line: | Ok, I wrench on my own rigs, and try to keep up with the latest gear but some how the rapid rise thing slipped by me. I cought a link in my old xtr and taco'ed it. So I went down to the local shop and asked for a new one. I got the box open and saw it was a bit differnt that my old one in color and no barrel adjuster or dust gromin. It usually takes me 15 mins to hang a derailler and this one just wouldnt work!!! I kept reading the instructions and they just did'nt make sense??? Finally I ran the chain on, disconected the cable and cranked....Wierd... the thing ran all the way up to the big ring(opposite of normal)???? After that I had it hung and adjusted in 8 mins....piece of cake! triggering takes a ride or two to get used to the reverse opperation. Shifts great!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kerry brown
a Weekend Warrior
from manchester, MO
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | berryman | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | When new, shifts great to lower gear, even under load. | | Weaknesses: | Because of the reverse spring system, it becomes harder and harder to shift to lower gears efficiently. After 6 months, I must have adjusted the thing 20 times, and then the LBS tried to adjust it. We both found that only after 6 months of just weekend use, the derailler no longer shifted to the lowest gear. What a waste of money. Don't buy the hype, Rapid Rise is not efficient at all. | | Similar Products Used: | Deore, now XT. | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Jekyll 600. XT components, rino lite rims, rock shox psylo front fork | | Bottom Line: | Avoid this derailler at all costs. It only works well for a few months, then needs constant attention. Even my LBS is steering riders away from this derailer and no longer even sells them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Bradley
a
from Westboro, Ma, USA
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Rayburn | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Alley | | Strengths: | smooth crisp shifting | | Weaknesses: | smooth, crisp shifting WHEN it works | | Similar Products Used: | XT, LX, XTR | | Bike Setup: | 04 Epic with XT package, crossmax enduro wheels, thompson seatpost and stem, easton handle bar | | Bottom Line: | This system works great with the dual control shifters, but it (as so many others have said) always needs fine tuning. I rode this for 3 months and have already adjusted it (or brought to the mechanic) more often than I took my old XTR which I rode for 3 years. A long time ago Mountain Bike Action wrote a review which said let the people with the money to spend test the new products don't buy based on hype. I should have listened. Shimano needs more product development before this system is truly ready for the market.
Just last week I jammed a 2 1/2" log through my wheel and destroyed my derailler, normaly I would have been pissed but this was the oppurtunity to switch back to the proven performance of Shimano's standard XTR derailler. I took it. | |
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$ 110.00
