Mountain Biking - Sram X7 or X9 for first MTB?

Hey Guys-
I'm looking to hit the trails on something other than my cross bike to keep it fresh between road sessions. I've been looking at a few mountain bikes and am leaning towards a hard tail. My question is, will I notice a big difference between an X7 and an X9 bike or an XT and an XTR bike? Not really worried about the weight, but I am more interested in crisp shifts and reliable performance. Thanks,

XTR = X.0
XT = X.9
SLX = X.7


X.7 will work pretty much as well as X.9...just won't work nice'n'perfect for as long.
SLX will work about the same as XT...just not nearly as long.

XT and X.9 are more durable.

I built my buddy's bike with X.7 shifters, derailleurs, and LX crankset. He doesn't ride like I do...but it still works excellent 2yrs later.

I'd say X9 over X7 is worth it. You don't need to consider X0 for an entry level bike. And if you go with Shimano XT is more than enough. A bike with XT is not an entry level bike, it is one hell of a bike. No need to look at XTR.

Awesome. Thanks for the info! I know this stuff like the back of my hand for road but mtb is foreign to me.

I find X9 to be reasonably priced from the various online discount sources and is worth the price difference over X7, IMHO.


Actually, today on JensonUSA the 2010 X.9 is actually cheaper than the X.7 ($60 vs $66)!

XTR = X.0
XT = X.9
SLX = X.7


X.7 will work pretty much as well as X.9...just won't work nice'n'perfect for as long.
SLX will work about the same as XT...just not nearly as long.

XT and X.9 are more durable.

I built my buddy's bike with X.7 shifters, derailleurs, and LX crankset. He doesn't ride like I do...but it still works excellent 2yrs later.

And why isn't XTR = XX ? What is XX equal to in Shimano ?

And why isn't XTR = XX ? What is XX equal to in Shimano ?

in my opinion nothing. i have not used it, but XX seems to stand alone at the top.

it was always

XTR = X.0
XT = X.9
SLX = X.7

before XX came out, so why would everything get "demoted" just because a new, better, group came out? nothing else changed.

Ghey=XX :D

Ghey=XX :D

So that would make XX = Yumeya. :D

Hey Guys-
I'm looking to hit the trails on something other than my cross bike to keep it fresh between road sessions. I've been looking at a few mountain bikes and am leaning towards a hard tail. My question is, will I notice a big difference between an X7 and an X9 bike or an XT and an XTR bike? Not really worried about the weight, but I am more interested in crisp shifts and reliable performance. Thanks,

In Shimano raod terms, roughly:

X7/SLX/105
X9/XT/Ultegra
X0/XTR/DuraAce

Shimano's got their version of the XX style coming up all too soon. I wouldn't worry about X7 or SLX level performance, but depends on your needs.

Ghey=XX :D

C'mon get serious I really wanted to know :D

But I guess it's been answered now. XX = the Campy Super Record of MTB's

Do you guys think there are hills you couldn't climb using XX because of the lack of granny gear ?

Yes.

Do you guys think there are hills you couldn't climb using XX because of the lack of granny gear ?


I'd have to want to buy it before I'd worry about whether my slightly lower 22/34 low gear or knees get into the argument at all (but there are a few climbs around that even the 22/34 doesn't do it, but that's mostly me). I just don't need a new component group, and don't have any desire to run a 10 speed, I had/have no problem with 8 speed let alone wanting 10...I don't even have 10 on my road bikes.

Yes.

I'm on the fence about it. Granny gear slips a lot when combined with the largest cogs in the back. I mean the crank spins out so fast while the tires barely grab the terrain and it kinda slips.

You could always go with the new 36t max cassette. It looks to be a good solution for the 1x9ers too.

You could always go with the new 36t max cassette. It looks to be a good solution for the 1x9ers too.

36?? when will it stop - does the cassette body need 6 arms to keep it rigid enough to shift.

You could always go with the new 36t max cassette. It looks to be a good solution for the 1x9ers too.

Holy crap, 36T cog? That's wrong in multiple ways. I would go Hammerschmidt or even 2X front with chainguide before I strapped that behemoth to my wheel.


36?? when will it stop - does the cassette body need 6 arms to keep it rigid enough to shift.

Maybe it just uses a bottom bracket with a crank spider for a rear hub?

I'm on the fence about it. Granny gear slips a lot when combined with the largest cogs in the back. I mean the crank spins out so fast while the tires barely grab the terrain and it kinda slips.

Which front chainring are you using?

Do you guys think there are hills you couldn't climb using XX because of the lack of granny gear ?

No. I don't use granny now.



Hey Guys-
I'm looking to hit the trails on something other than my cross bike to keep it fresh between road sessions. I've been looking at a few mountain bikes and am leaning towards a hard tail. My question is, will I notice a big difference between an X7 and an X9 bike or an XT and an XTR bike? Not really worried about the weight, but I am more interested in crisp shifts and reliable performance. Thanks,If the money is the same, X.9 but if there is a sizeable difference in price, go with the X.7. some people still run the X.7 shifters because X.9 and above lack the optical gear viewer. Raced a whole season with X.7 shifters and rear derailer. It rarely needed adjustment. When i went X.9 rear derailer and shifter, I went MEH and really couldn't tell any difference in shifting.

My FSR MTB still has a left X.7 shifter because I'm too lazy to put the X.9 shifter on it. My FD shifting is perfect and I don't want to fiddle with it. It took long enough for it to get that way.

^^ Multi-quote is your (and all of our) friend. Use it.

Which front chainring are you using?

Well, since I've found my little ring to be inefficient and slip a lot like I mentioned, I climb steep hills on the middle ring and the large cog in the back.

C'mon get serious I really wanted to know :D

But I guess it's been answered now. XX = the Campy Super Record of MTB's

sort of, but not quite. while i do feel super record is on its own at the top (without mixing electric shifting) from what i have read, record was stepped down a little when sr came out. i think it lost a little bit of titanium but i haven't dug to deep into it (im still waiting for my new 10spd cassette...)

when XX came out, i dont think anything changed with x9



back on topic, im not a huge xc rider, but i bought an ironhorse bike several years ago with x7 on it and so far its been great. ive updated several things on it, but all the sram is still there. it did have a lower spec shimano FD on it, but a tree branch did a number on it last year. its currently set up as a 1x9 and i dont see myself putting the front shifting back on it. ironically, after i made the change, ironhorse released a 26in 1x9 hardtail that is nearly identical to the one i built.

Well, since I've found my little ring to be inefficient and slip a lot like I mentioned, I climb steep hills on the middle ring and the large cog in the back.

I thought you were talking XX crankset, so was wondering which small ring, the 26t or 28t, you were using. What's the tooth count on your middle ring?

i thought you were talking xx crankset, so was wondering which small ring, the 26t or 28t, you were using. What's the tooth count on your middle ring?

22/32/42t

^^ Multi-quote is your (and all of our) friend. Use it.

I would if I was replying to the same person mutiple times. How about easing up just a little?

Holy crap, 36T cog? That's wrong in multiple ways. I would go Hammerschmidt or even 2X front with chainguide before I strapped that behemoth to my wheel.



Maybe it just uses a bottom bracket with a crank spider for a rear hub?

Funny...the first time this 36 cassette was mentioned...it seemed to be a positive thing. Now it sucks? It seems that if something doesn't work for you...it just shouldn't be offered to anybody?


36?? when will it stop - does the cassette body need 6 arms to keep it rigid enough to shift.
Rigid enough to shift? :lol: Don't shift under a load and it will be ample rigid. Duh!;)

It seems that if something doesn't work for you...it just shouldn't be offered to anybody?


Now you're catching on!

I would if I was replying to the same person mutiple times. How about easing up just a little?It's just a little bit of forum etiquette; designed to avoid the annoying redundancy of one person filling half a page replying to individual posts with individual posts of their own. A considerate forum user tags multiple posts to quote then answers each one in the context of one, tidy post. Yeah, not that big of a deal; but at the same time not that difficult of a skill to master.

Kind of goes along with spelling, grammar, capitalization, no textspeak, coherent sentences and those other little niceties that set us apart from the 12-year-olds on PinkBike ;).

Rigid enough to shift? :lol: Don't shift under a load and it will be ample rigid. Duh!;)

Apparently you are unaware of the sheer awesome force that can be generated by my ample rock hard thighs :roflmao2: - http://images.google.com/url?source=imgres&ct=img&q=http://www.fearlessgearless.com/files/images/20080301-Cranks-008-2.preview.jpg&usg=AFQjCNH9g8DtH7uuf86bL6I8lspqJZP4ZA

Wow...so your guns are so powerful that even shifting under no load...the metal falls to pieces out of utter fear of the beating to come when the chain drops in?

Yeah...I get that too.:lol:

Funny...the first time this 36 cassette was mentioned...it seemed to be a positive thing. Now it sucks?

I don't recall hearing about it before, let alone commenting positively. And I didn't say it sucked, I said it was wrong in multiple ways. When I say "wrong," the "for me" is implied - and reinforced by my followup of what "I" would use instead to achieve the same benefits with less downside - again, "for me."


It seems that if something doesn't work for you...it just shouldn't be offered to anybody?

Okay, now you're just making stuff up. Why don't you go take a picture of your bike leaning against the same tree or something.

Apparently you are unaware of the sheer awesome force that can be generated by my ample rock hard thighs :roflmao2: -

Nice work there! Guess a cassette's got no chance whatsoever...