Shimano Altus, Acera, or Alivio: Does it matter?

[seattletwodogs]

I plan to spend no more than around $450 for a hybrid/comfort bike to use on local level and hilly pavement which is mostly bumpy, no more than 10 miles per average ride. I'm 165lb., 6'1'' and will continue to use my old Motobecane road bike for those well-paved trails at a distance from home.

Given these circumstances, I'd appreciate any opinions about the relative negatives or positives of the Shimano Altus, Acera, and Alivo rear derailleurs which seem to be on most Trek and Giant bikes in my price range. Does it make any difference if it's a SRAM X.7(on the Trek 7300)?

Thank you in advance to all those who take the time to read this and respond.

[StokerPoker]

I plan to spend no more than around $450 for a hybrid/comfort bike to use on local level and hilly pavement which is mostly bumpy, no more than 10 miles per average ride. I'm 165lb., 6'1'' and will continue to use my old Motobecane road bike for those well-paved trails at a distance from home.

Given these circumstances, I'd appreciate any opinions about the relative negatives or positives of the Shimano Altus, Acera, and Alivo rear derailleurs which seem to be on most Trek and Giant bikes in my price range. Does it make any difference if it's a SRAM X.7(on the Trek 7300)?

Thank you in advance to all those who take the time to read this and respond.

My tandem has the Altus and my Marin has the Acera. The look very similar, but the Acera seems to shift better. they both have Shimano rapidfire shifters, but the Marin is a few years newer, came from REI instead of Meijer and the Shifters on the Marin are much nicer. I may be wrong, but I think the Acera is a step above the Altus and in this case I notice a difference. The Marin also has Higher quality cables, chain and freewheel. The tandem shifts "well enough" but the Marin shifts smooth even after riding in the snow and salt last winter

[martianone]

IMO,
the SRAM x.7 is better than the others indicated.
had Acera on my son's MTB, it was worn out after
only a few hundred km. put an x.7 (and some twist
shifters), was still going strong at 1500 km when he
out grew the bike and we traded up.

[chephy]

Can you explain what it means for a derailler to "wear out"?

[martianone]

"worn out" deraileur-
the pins that hold the arm mechanism were worn so they broke off,
the bearings on the chain wheels were so ground up that you could
not turn them; sand and grit had just chewed the deraileur up.

[StokerPoker]

"worn out" deraileur-
the pins that hold the arm mechanism were worn so they broke off,
the bearings on the chain wheels were so ground up that you could
not turn them; sand and grit had just chewed the deraileur up.

I may be wrong but that sounds more like a maintenance/abuse issue

[ff72lamb]

Generally speaking, as you move up in derailleurs, they shift smoother, quicker, and more accurate. To some it can unnoticeable. When the derailleurs "wear out" usually the pulleys (small wheels on the derailleur) will round out and the tension spring on the derailleur will wear out as well.

[chephy]

"worn out" deraileur-
the pins that hold the arm mechanism were worn so they broke off,
the bearings on the chain wheels were so ground up that you could
not turn them; sand and grit had just chewed the deraileur up. Wow. I have an Altus derailleur a 15+ year-old bike which I've ridden through Toronto winters and put through all manner of abuse, and it's held up very well. Maybe lower-end Shimano derailleurs of the past are stronger than their modern counterparts.

[Cyclops88]

The Alvio is higher end than the Acera which is higher than the Altus.
Here are some sites with information on Shimano derailleurs:
http://home.ca.inter.net/~kroberge/hierachy.html
http://datenbanken.freepage.de/traut/SHIMANO.html
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/hg/newsletters/94december.htm

[cs1]

Wow. I have an Altus derailleur a 15+ year-old bike which I've ridden through Toronto winters and put through all manner of abuse, and it's held up very well. Maybe lower-end Shimano derailleurs of the past are stronger than their modern counterparts.

Not likely. You probably just take better care of your equipment than he did. If you read the OP you'll see they had sand in the pivot points. Even XTR will wear out with crud in it.

My son's old Trek has Altus and it's still going strong at 7 years. I do all his maintenance. I'm amazed at how good the newer Shimano bottom end stuff holds up. Chephy, I think your experience is the norm. Shimano makes a very good derailleur.

Tim

[jisaak]

I have an Alvio rd on my 2003 trek 4500 mtb - approx 3200 miles on the bike and no significant signs of the rd deteriorating. I ride all 4 season and keep the components clean and lubed - especially in the winter with road gunk and salt.
They all need maintenace...without it even the most expensive parts will wear out before their time.