worriesnot Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 OCD getting the better of me, I decided to upgrade my front derailleur to Shimano XT since everything else on my drivetrain is XT (also recently upgraded the shifters).I went for the top swing, top pull M785 model XT. Depending on where you buy, you get it for around R500 – add or take R50 depending on whether someone is running a special or not.The old mech is a M675 SLX – also top swing, top pull. Both mechs are clamp on by the way.I finally got some time this weekend to install the new mech but after taking the SLX off the bike I noticed it looked very similar to the XT, in fact a little too similar.Have a look at the pics below (the dirty one is the SLX). The SLX is 2 grams heavier but is probably the muck on there I couldn’t be bothered to clean off. I'm not a weight weenie but were trying to figure out why the XT would be better specced and more expensive, as the SLX is R100 cheaper. These mechs are identical in every way. Maybe the photos don’t show it but trust me; they are exactly the same.I feel a little done in by this… really.It’s not about the money but what irks me is buying something “better” and more expensive just to find out it is exactly the same as the cheaper or do I dare say “inferior”. Just some advice should anyone be in the market for a new front derailleur... Anybody have similar experiences they want to share?
worriesnot Posted March 10, 2015 Author Posted March 10, 2015 Filter-down technology?Also crossed my mind however... If it was the other way around, then yes, but this is replacing an old SLX with a new XT. New "better" spec should not be the same as old "lesser" spec
NotSoBigBen Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 But if the XT is new how can it already be 'filtered' down unless it's 'new old stock'?
nonky Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 500 bucks for that lekker silver XT logo is a BARGAIN and you know it... It makes the whole bike just LOOK better. Stop it with the empirical approach, just have a glance at how beautiful your baby looks with her new all-xt parts.
Cat2forLife Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 From what I can see is that is a much older model of XT front derailler. Am I right in saying 3x10? The new 2x10 XT shifts a lot better than the SLX 2x10. But again, only if you have XT shifters.
s14phoenix Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 ummm ok everything you said is true... sometimes it is just a bit crisper. tweak on the dents and bends of the metal. it is all marginal. That's why it is almost not worth it going from slx to xt. However the shifters make a huge difference. XT is crisp. besides... you lost a whole 2g there
Wolfie1 Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 Here is something to read. http://www.bike-advisor.com/bicycle-guides/options-shimano-deore-or-shimano-deore-xt.html
Skinnyone Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 This is what I tell people ALL the time, if you ride along and shift gears with either system, I want you to tell me the difference...most people (99.9%) couldn't/wouldn't be able to say there is a discernible difference between an SLX or XT (even XTR for that matter)... You my friend have just been sucked in by the "let's waste my money" crowd for bragging rights to say I have a complete XT groupset..... In my experience (10+ years in bike shops) the XT shifters are not that much better than their SLX counter parts, they shift the gears like they are supposed to don't they? Do the XT shifters make you faster? A few years back I did an exercise and weighed XTR and XT parts and the difference between complete groupsets was 500 grams, its a lot yes but the XTR is double the price! long term servicing then comes into play - smash an XT RD and it'lll hurt, Smash an XTR RD and it'll hurt more... The thing is about the bike manufacturer is they fit the best components for the best money to suit a price point - so they fit an SLX FD to put the bike in the R30-R35K region whereas if the fitted an XT FD it would push the bike into the R36-R40K bracket. The people who spec the bikes at this level do the maths and they don't just aimlessly fit parts to "short change" you as the consumer, contrary to popular belief. But hey its your money not mine....
Mr X Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 Thanks so much for posting the weights since I have an xt bike except for the front derailleur. I think it all depends on the specific part, like the shifters make a noticeable difference and some other parts xt is lighter. As for front derailleur I think there is no difference at all.
Amberdrake Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 1x10 Then its even lighter! also still full XT!
JXV Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 XT RD shifters have a few advantages such as ability to push or pull on the short lever to change down...and can go down 2 gears at a time...and 4 up on the long lever. XT cluster is muuuch lighter, cranks too.But yeah I think there is very little value in the FD upgrade. You can drop about 400g going 1x10..... this is the weight of losing the XT FD, shifter, small chainring, 4 chainbolts and the cable.
EmptyB Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 A while ago I chaged the FD from SLX to XT.....ended up having more sh*t with XT than I ever did with SLX. Go figure!!
arendoog Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 My choice is XT crank, RD and shifters .SLX FD and cassette.Many problem-free hard miles .My real question is if i should go shimano 1 x10 or sram XO 1x10 when this lot needs to be replaced
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