Shimano Parts.

64&Stayinalive said:

Having recently purchase a low end MTB (Specialized Rockhopper) I now realise my mistake. Most of the parts are really ordinary but I am not sure how much so. Is there some quality kind of listing for Shimano parts. Which are better? LX or XT etc. etc.

I should point out that I am not a complete novice, just a little out of touch with modern equipment and terminology.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

XTR
Derore XT
Deore LX
Deore
Alivio
Acera
Altus
SIS

-XTR being the best (in [censored] range anyway...)

moparchris said:

XTR
Derore XT
Deore LX
Deore
Alivio
Acera
Altus
SIS

-XTR being the best (in [censored] range anyway...)

Many thanks.

64&Stayinalive said:

Many thanks.

I detect a subtle inference that Shimano may not be the best of products in your opinion. If that is so what would you suggest as alternatives. Sram perhaps?

As I said I have just bought the bike, unfortunatly because of my geographic location sight unseen, by post. It replaces a Cannondale Jekyle 900. I only parted with it because the semi desert, flat terain where I live warrants a hardtail. I still have a Giant NRS3 which is too small for me and I intend to sell. Both bikes were/are in every regard superior to the Rockhopper's components. The Specialized frame, and the Shimano discs seem OK. I am not sure about the the front forks but would swap the with the Giants, Rockshocks if they would fit. Everything else appears to be really down market and I will upgrade a bit at a time. The chain broke third ride out. I only got back into bikes about 5 years ago and was lucky enough to buy good stuff and haven't had to worry about substandard parts. I would get rid of the Rockhopper and buy something else but my wife wouldn't understand.

Any advice on reasonable quality parts would be appreciated. I always use Shimano 7701 chains. They generally last me about 1800ks. My training rides which are very dusty and sandy last 1.20minutes. I lubricate with Pedrose wax (because its so dry here) every third ride. Does any of that that make sense?

Cheers

64&Stayinalive said:

I detect a subtle inference that Shimano may not be the best of products in your opinion. If that is so what would you suggest as alternatives. Sram perhaps?

lol well i like SRAM, after using X.0 you'd never use shimano agian, well maybe but i wouldnt :p . i also use Campag on my road bike and have a singlespeed which has no shimano either. nothing wrong with shimano though, it works and its not like its going to fall apart on you just because its shimano

Hello,

there is a discussion around Shimano/Sram/Campa which is almost like talking about religions.

So you can favourize Shimano or SRAM on MTB section or Shimano and Campagnolo on the road section.

The main difference is the handling as you have Grip shift, Trigger (Sram) and Rapid fire and Dual Control (Shimano) at an MTB. The rest works similar well.
The different STI handlings at the roadbikes are also the main difference except the handling with the brake release.

So feel free to find out your favorite system by trying them at a bicycle shop.
The only thing you should really take care of is the cost of group for maintainence.
For instance Campagnolo chains and cassettes are much more expencive than Shimano.

Here in europe we have the discussion much more stronger also on the bicycle frame market. For instance italian/ american / taiwan manufactures.

Have fun

Steve

Hi I am looking for some documents on shimano samll pitch chain , it is about 10 mm , any help from you ,

tks

I have mainly XT components (cassette & derailleurs), but after reading good things about the SRAM Rocket Trigger Shifters (which can be used with Shimano derailleurs), I thought I would try them. Let me tell you...MoparChris is right, SRAM components are awesome! I had chain jumping issues occasionally with XT shifters and they just didn't shift precisely, but with these rocket triggers, every shift is smooth as silk and no chain jumping after 2 years of riding. They are also made of aluminum with stainless steel clamp bolts (no rusting or stripping), which to me is a sign of quality. I am all about light weight, but some things need to be quality first, lightweight second.

Good luck and good riding!

After doing tireless research and test drives before finally deciding on my bike build.. I went with a mix or mishmash of SRAM and Shimano..

I got Simano XTR Brake Calipers, Front Derailleur, Crankset and Cassette and I got SRAM XO rear Derailleur (more rugged design) and triggers in carbon fiber.. I also used SAINT brake levers which are basically same as Shimano XT but made of Ti (I believe).

So for me, at least in the realm of the rear derailleur and shifters/trigger the SRAM XO was superior.. but you should prolly test drive a bike or two with different stuff on it and see for your self, and then also read this and
other mtb forums..

I am told the XT and XTR Shimano is all made in Japan, and the SRAM XO is made in Taiwan (not a bad thing), where as a lot of the lower end stuff is made in China or worse..

use the search feature on these forums which is what I did for weeks and read on peoples experiences..

good luck, and share with us what you end up doing.

I have Shimano on both road an MB. My road bike components are old (8 speed 105) and are in great shape still, rear deraileur is a Shimano 600, even older! My MB has less than a year old LX (new type shifter, the brake handle is the shifter) shifter, crankset and other parts, rear deraileur is a deore, they work flawlessly eventhough they are covered in dirt (sand + oil + whatever) since I'm too lazy to clean them, I only spray some oil before each ride, but soon I'll clean them.
Not too long ago I bought an SRAM chain and finish was not as good as with Shimano chains it is rough and Shimano looks better. That's specially the round parts between links (name?)

Solanog said:

I have Shimano on both road an MB. My road bike components are old (8 speed 105) and are in great shape still, rear deraileur is a Shimano 600, even older! My MB has less than a year old LX (new type shifter, the brake handle is the shifter) shifter, crankset and other parts, rear deraileur is a deore, they work flawlessly eventhough they are covered in dirt (sand + oil + whatever) since I'm too lazy to clean them, I only spray some oil before each ride, but soon I'll clean them.
Not too long ago I bought an SRAM chain and finish was not as good as with Shimano chains it is rough and Shimano looks better. That's specially the round parts between links (name?)

I'm sure many will disagree, but I have to agree with you that the finish on the Shimano is generally better.. The only items that I preferred by SRAM were the XO rear Derailleur and Shifters.. otherwise the Shimano stuff was hands down nicer looking (the XTR).. and the SRAM cassette didn't compare to the XTR cassette (which is made of Ti and Al).