Mountain Biking - XT Compatibility....

Hi, I was wondering if a Shimano XT rear derailleur would work on my Trek 6500ZX. I believe it has a 7 speed cassete. The thing is, the site says 9 speed for the XT. I would just buy a 9 speed cassette, but I am having the shop put on a 7 speed cassette right now and they are charging me $55.00. I just want to see if the XT will work when I get my bike back, if not i'll stick with the components I got right now. Thanks!

the XT rear would work a lot better with 9 speed cassette. Otherwise you'd have to play with limiting screws and the such and it'd never work right. Like you thought you'd be beter off buying a 9 speed cassette too

If you have a 7 speed specific wheel a 9 speed cassette will not work. You will have to get a 8/9 speed wheel. Also $55 is ALOT of money to switch cassettes, how much is the cassette?

OK thank, I don't know how much the cassette is.. The bike shop is probably just ripping me off. They said it would be $55-60. My other bike shop was saying $50 and they'd do some more work on it, but they aren't open right now.

I'm hoping that they plan on giving you a tune up while they switch that cassette.

O.k. Trek6500ZX, you've just pressed my button!

How are they ripping you off by providing you with a service you cannot do yourself?

Do you ask the same question when you buy groceries? How about when you rent a video?

If you feel they are charging too much, go somewhere else. Shops charge for parts and labor and usually do "other" things you need without charging you.

Why don't you just buy the part online, hope you buy the right one, get the necessary tools, and perhaps a book on how to do it yourself! You'd save the shop the hassle of dealing with a customer who nickles and dimes them on everything!

Rant Over!

O.k., I've calmed down. Seriously, learn to do it yourself. You'll be better off in the long run. The costs of the part, tools will probably be more initially, but you'll now know how to do it, and the tools necessary to do it next time.

L8R

LOL, sorry I didn't mean it like that I just felt they are overcharging me for labor. I am guessing the cassette costs around $25-$30 so wouldnt $30-$35 be a lot for labor?

Only if all they're doing is swapping out the freewheel for you.

If they're going to (most likely) do a tune-up as well, then no, I don't think $50 is too much. Plus, with the age of your bike, they may have seen other problems that they know they'll need to replace. i.e. new shifter cables.

I'd rather give an estimate of $60 and not use it all with it ending up costing only $50, then to quote you $40, call you back and tell you it's gonna cost another $10.

L8R

Actually they stated that they will only be replacing the rear cassette for $55-60.

I am getting what I need done to it, so lets not make this into a big deal. I guess I just should of taken it to my other shop. They said they'd replace the rear cassette and give it a tune-up for $50.

Does anyone know of a good/decent rear derailleur that will work with a 7 speed? I am running an Atlus C10 right now I believe.

find an 8 speed rear derailleur. older gen m739 xt's have worked very well for me. online mail order shops are good, i actually think 9speed derailleurs would work as well since the actuation ratio is the same, correct? anyway, it's pretty easy to install if you know how to route the chain (take off chain and put back on) and set the limit screws. and dont worry about paying 50 bucks to get a cassette put on. true it's a simple task but in life we are constantly faced with these situations. giving your automobile a tuneup isn't difficult if you know what you're doing and if you had the tools, but a lot of people pay 100's for a shop to do it because they dont have the tools/knowledge.

Everyone else was saying I couldn't put on a XT.. I really want to, but I can't afford to buy a new 9 speed cassette and a new rim.

All 9 speed rears should work with 7.

No.. the limiting screws prevent this. You'd have to spend quite a while playing with limiting screws, or even worse, your LBS would have to do this as its a very fiddly process. You are better off saving your cash, and replacing what needs to be replaced so everything will work fluently.

lol I am getting a mixed message here, some say I can use a 9 speed rear with a 7 speed and some say it won't work. What are some good rear derailleurs made specifically for a 7 speed? Thanks

Originally posted by Trek6500ZX
lol I am getting a mixed message here, some say I can use a 9 speed rear with a 7 speed and some say it won't work. What are some good rear derailleurs made specifically for a 7 speed? Thanks

I've used a SRAM 7 9spd mech on a 7 speed set up with no problems, and a current 9spd LX mech on 8spd with no problems - the actual throw of the mech is very similar. In terms of mechs designed for 7Spd, you'll be restricted to low level stuff unless you can get old stock.

Richard

Originally posted by Richard D
All 9 speed rears should work with 7.

Originally posted by Hunter
If you have a 7 speed specific wheel a 9 speed cassette will not work. You will have to get a 8/9 speed wheel. Also $55 is ALOT of money to switch cassettes, how much is the cassette?

I think he meant rear derailleur. WHAT are we talking about anyway? :confused: :p

Originally posted by Trek6500ZX
Hi, I was wondering if a Shimano XT REAR DERAILLEUR would work on my Trek 6500ZX. I believe it has a 7 speed cassete. The thing is, the site says 9 speed for the XT. I would just buy a 9 speed cassette, but I am having the shop put on a 7 speed cassette right now and they are charging me $55.00. I just want to see if the XT will work when I get my bike back, if not i'll stick with the components I got right now. Thanks!

lol

I've been contemplating on switching to a 9-speed system myself. My 7000 has an 8-speed on it right now. Not to mention a brand spanking new XTR front derailleur. :D Still has the STX rear derailleur, but I'm thinking of slowly going over to XT for the back, so that is going next. I'll still be running an 8-speed after that, until I can get a new 9-speed cassette (possibly a road cassette, closer gearing), and shifters. Haven't decided on whether to go for the new XT or stick to the old stuff.

Gradual upgrades ... just a little here, a little there, should get me to the 9-speed upgrade by the end of the year. ;)

Hi.. I am planning to buy an XT rear derailleur but want to know what the difference between a long cage and short cage is. How do I know which one I need? I plan on doing all the installation myself, I have ordered a chain removal tool, so I will be ready. If it turns out that the XT will not work with my 7 speed, I will buy a new rear hub and a 9 speed cassette (although it will be pricey).

i'd get the long cage. short cage is for 28t or smaller on the rear cog. i run a short cage SRAM rear derailleur with a 12-28t cassette, and it is giving me headaches. i'd love to get my hands on a long cage rear der.