Ive just fitted a pair of NOS xt thumb shifters, which i managed to source on ebay usa, (couldnt find any for years on ebay UK at a decent price). These are to replace my old faithful DX versions from 1991.Although they work well and look nice,they seem much the same as my old DX ones. my question is, apart from the price and different colour top cap, what was the difference between the two versions.Is it to do with the workings inside, or are the metals used better quality on the XT versions??
Thanks in advance for any replies, its just a query i was wondering about and thought one of the regulars here might know the answer to!!!
Ive just fitted a pair of NOS xt thumb shifters, which i managed to source on ebay usa, (couldnt find any for years on ebay UK at a decent price). These are to replace my old faithful DX versions from 1991.Although they work well and look nice,they seem much the same as my old DX ones. my question is, apart from the price and different colour top cap, what was the difference between the two versions.Is it to do with the workings inside, or are the metals used better quality on the XT versions??
I haven't needed to take either one apart so have no idea about whether the inner workings are any different. The most obvious outward difference is the mounts.. The DX ones are thin steel, and in my experience they seem to flex and allow slop to develop quite a bit sooner than the thicker, cast mounts of the XT's. The XT's also use allen (hex) head bolts, rather than a phillips head bolt (and chintzy seperate nut in the case of the handlebar mount).
I'm sure the XT's will last at least as long as your old ones did.
