X-9 Trigger and Rear Mech Review

[Scott]

While the big S (Shimano) sit on their healthy mound of money, SRAM continually improve their product range. Lindsay checks out SRAM's X-9 drive train and tells us what all the fuss is about.

Check it out here ('http://www.farkin.net/page.php?p=f3a47df6c1a1662f7e0acfc64b0c83e5').

[toodles]

What's the RRP on this gear?

[Avanti_Racing]

i have the sram x-7 and i have to admit the only thing that lets the gear down is the fact that you can shift with just your thumb meaning your thumb and it gets really annoying but other than that its good, i liked the old up and down system beter than the front to back kinda action u get with the srams

[dunk]

i liked the old up and down system beter than the front to back kinda action u get with the srams

Do you mean you liked the Shimano front and back over the SRAM up and down :?:

[peachy]

srams really is stepping up.
i'd also like to know the price, seems like good reliable gear - i wanna follow the SRAM chain!
It would be the same price as XT i assume? Would SRAM XO be the equivelent of XTR gear?

Great article

[cam-o]

i have the sram x-7 and i have to admit the only thing that lets the gear down is the fact that you can shift with just your thumb meaning your thumb and it gets really annoying but other than that its good, i liked the old up and down system beter than the front to back kinda action u get with the srams
I've got X-7 and love the thumb shifting. My shi(t)mano days are over for the moment.

[Dirt Devil]

I have X-9 rear with X-7 triggers and I definitely won't be changing back to Shimano.

[Avanti_Racing]

i liked the old up and down system beter than the front to back kinda action u get with the srams

Do you mean you liked the Shimano front and back over the SRAM up and down :?:

thats the one, yeah shitmanos over for me when i get a rearr cassette and chain, these are awsome products though

[kalem]

i'm lovin the x9 stuff on my SGS, very nice.

[Gonzo]

Does Anybody know a store in northern sydney that sells Sram stuff, cos ive been to a few and can't seem to be able to get it.

[11:11]

www.phantomcycles.com.au
not sure if they're in north sydney tho

[Techno Destructo]

Am I that old that I'm the only one who's owned Shimano Rapid-Fire shifters in their first incarnation with just thumb triggers?

It's funny. Shimano's first incarnation of Rapid-Fire, abandoned by themselves, and picked up by SRAM, and heralded to be better!

Funny stuff!

You spelt "dearailleur" wrong. Suckah.

[cam-o]

Am I that old that I'm the only one who's owned Shimano Rapid-Fire shifters in their first incarnation with just thumb triggers?

It's funny. Shimano's first incarnation of Rapid-Fire, abandoned by themselves, and picked up by SRAM, and heralded to be better!

Nope, I'm that old too but the execution is WAAAAAAY different. Those old Rapid Fire's needed a thumb extension to get the buggers to shift.

[hutchy]

SRAM don't specifiy an RRP - that's up to the store to decide but the X.9 derailleur was cheaper when it came out (last year) than an XT but is now about the same price since Shimano prices have dropped with the stronger aussie dollar. Maybe SRAM will drop soon too.?

As for shifters, the X.9's should be about $70 cheaper than XT's (per set) . SRAM also do right hand shifters on their own but I'm not sure what the price difference is - I'm guessing $40.?

[kalem]

i just noticed this on my shifter... does the big paddle hit the little paddle when you shift? Everything looks okay, it just seems weird.

[Woodsie]

Yay!!!! :D :D :D :D :D
Just put my new X.0 on my bike today! :D
It arrived the day after I broke my collar bone, so has been a "decorative piece" in my room for the last five weeks. :(
Only rode it to the end of the road and back, so not a real test. But feels so much sweeter than my old XT mech.
Love the thumb shifting. :)
Love not having that stupid loop of shifter cable hanging out the back of the bike. But that's probably just because I'm a bit anal! :lol:

[jays_5000]

Sram gear is sick!

I'm sure if I had it on my bike I would move the shifter to where it felt comfortable, but on the bike I rode with it, I kept accidentally shifting up gears with my thumb knuckle when I tried to Bunnyhop.

[Gonzo]

For all those that can't really see the point of being able to shift into a faster gear and break at the same time, i discovered how useful it could've been. I don't have sram but im sure if i did i wouldn't have hit those two old people that decided to walk right out in front of me as I came hurtling down bridge st in sydney. I was shifting into a bigger gear because I was accelerating down the hill when they suddenly step out in front of me and couldn't reach the brakes in time. Fortunately I was able to swerve enough so that i only glanced them. Pedestrians should really be far more alert.

[Luke Andrews]

so, roughly what did u pay for the sram, because my shitmano rear and front dearailleurs are fucked. especially the rear it fell apart! im looking for somthing better to do up my goose with.!! the shitmano has about 15mm slop in the rear and the front i need to help it change wit my foot, also i think the chain is fucked. how much side to side slop should a chain have?? if any.

[Daver]

i just bought some sram attack triggers (RRP $130) and an ultegra mech and cassette- so i can get the advantages of thumb shifting, but have a rear mech that lasts for more than a week. Shifting is better than XT/ultegra, but it is more reliable than X9/X9

[Jared]

i just bought some sram attack triggers (RRP $130) and an ultegra mech and cassette- so i can get the advantages of thumb shifting, but have a rear mech that lasts for more than a week. Shifting is better than XT/ultegra, but it is more reliable than X9/X9

ive had my days on shimano, and generally would go through about 3 rear mechs a year, I been on sram now for years, i havnt broken an X-O in 2 years, and i have an X-9 and its just as tuff, i never used anything more reliable

[S.]

My X.9 shifter just shat itself, no idea how, but one of the little metal tabs inside it broke off! Weird stuff, must have been faulty or something I think.

[Daver]

i just bought some sram attack triggers (RRP $130) and an ultegra mech and cassette- so i can get the advantages of thumb shifting, but have a rear mech that lasts for more than a week. Shifting is better than XT/ultegra, but it is more reliable than X9/X9

ive had my days on shimano, and generally would go through about 3 rear mechs a year, I been on sram now for years, i havnt broken an X-O in 2 years, and i have an X-9 and its just as tuff, i never used anything more reliable

i have just had chronic issues with the 9.0 and 9.0sl rear derailleurs, which is why i am reluctant to go to sram again. i have never had any isses with shimano rear derailleurs though... i guess it's just my luck

[horsey]

My X.9 shifter just shat itself, no idea how, but one of the little metal tabs inside it broke off! Weird stuff, must have been faulty or something I think.
My X.9 shifter shat itself this afternoon as well! Sounds like the same thing. We're you able to fix it? Was it covered by warranty? My shifter is only a couple of weeks old, not a scratch on it yet.

[S.]

My X.9 shifter just shat itself, no idea how, but one of the little metal tabs inside it broke off! Weird stuff, must have been faulty or something I think.
My X.9 shifter shat itself this afternoon as well! Sounds like the same thing. We're you able to fix it? Was it covered by warranty? My shifter is only a couple of weeks old, not a scratch on it yet.

It should be covered by warranty, but I bought a new one cos a) they're not that expensive, and b) this way I have spares for it, and most of all c) I really cbf waiting for warranty.

[Ryan]

I got warranty over the phone when my X9 der blew up, best experience I've ever had in dealing with an Aussie distributor, I was litterally dumbfounded...

[Lyle]

I've just put on X-0 rear derailleur, X-9 trigger, X-9 cassette, and X-9 level chain on my Bullit, and performance of the setup is WAY WAY better than Shitmano XT.

It looks great, the thumb shifts take about two rides to get used to, but are a much better way than using fingers. The lack of a loop out the back is a big bonus. It does not bash on your frame, as it has something of a bump stop. Each gear change just SNAPS into place, something XT never really felt like. And you are able to replace parts on it, not having to simply replace, as you would with Shitmano. And the gear indicator around the bar is a great way to put it. It's also a mid cage one, so is hanging much less than XT.

I can't recommend it enough - I have genuine confidence in shifts now, that I never had with XT.

[lloydgodfrey]

this gear is the bomb, i fitted it to my 4X bike and my dh rig and it fkn rocks, never ridden on better gear b4, no clunks or chinks and definantley no skipping out and smashing my knees on the crowns of my forks lol

[Jess_Dawg]

i'd have to back sram up in the way of tech support, after braking an X.0 deraileur on a rock at the last magpie creek round, SRAM sent parts up over night to Brisbane and rep came into the shop and fixed the deraileur with new parts( new cage, jockey wheels and spring) for free, no charge on parts or labour. sram is the best!

[arnott]

can anyone tell me what the performance difference is between an x.7 to an x.9 and an x.9 to an x.0 and also the performance difference between the x.7 and x.9 shifter if any. and if there is no performane difference is it just the what they have been made out of like x.0 being partly carbon.

thanks for any help

[Karlos_B]

I went from couriering on XTR 950 series (the original grey goodness) to X.9 shifters & derailleur & all I can say is ALL GOOD. Admittedly my XTR was a bit old (7years) but the derailleur was still indestructable and the shifters strong. The new SRAM shifting action is way better, you get used to a different grip on the bar to avoid accidentally hitting the upshift (harder) button. In Auckland you tend to change gears a lot due to the hilly profile of the CBD, and the whole setup stayed tighter than a James Brown beat. Cable routing is especially excellent if you have a frame with top tube cable styles. Auckland rain and general road scum used to congregate in the cable loop to the rear derailleur (NO cable seals ever work) and bind the whole system up - not an issue with SRAM. As for the more solid shifting, I'm a Campag lad on my roady (don't diss til you've tried it. Ain't nothing like beating them at their own game WITHOUT lycra) so it was nothing new. My X9 proved to be well suited to courier abuse and now that I've retired for a slightly saner job it still holds strong on a daily rider commuting bike (okay still my workhorse but she's bulletproof!!). Thoroughly recommended. On a slight side track, if your frame is an oldy like mine the X9 / Magura HS33 combo is the shizzle my nizzle. SRAM chains are the goods too, as are their cassettes (only used a road one though. No need for a wide gear range for road application).

[Kammy]

I have X-9 rear with X-7 triggers and I definitely won't be changing back to Shimano.

got the exact same this morning what cage by the way