Bicycle Mechanics - Comments wanted of XT / XTR shifter pod

Being used my 02' LX shifter pod for 3 years. I find it is getting harder / heavier to shift rear gear.
I have done by disassemble the shifter and add lithum grease to it. Replace with XTR hose and XTR shfit cable and lube with it. But this thing aren't getting any better. I'm going to get a new shifter for my drivetrain and can you guys give some comments or share experience about 02' XT / XTR shifter ( the old days models)

Except XTR is some 2x gram heavier than XT (i aren't a weight weinnie) and the color is different.

May i ask for the following comments?
1. what's the different between those old model of XT / XTR shifter?
2. Does XTR shifter has more bearings inside to make it shift light/easier than XT?
3. Durability of XT / XTR? which has a longer life to serve my bike?

Price different wont' affect my decision, i want to know the price/preformance in mechnicial way, which one is more worth to get.

thz for your comments in advance.

Greetings from Hong Kong

Have you checked out the rear derailer as a cause?

Have you checked out the rear derailer as a cause?

My current R.derailer is XT. I have a spare new XT derailer and replaced to have a check. Both is 02 XT derailer.
No improvement at all.

xt has 2 bearings. xtr has 4. versus none in lx... I'd get the xt myself... hard to tell the difference between it and xtr in a blind taste test...

Before you replace, I'd doublecheck everything else in the system, as it's very rare for a shifter to cause excess friction. If your cables run under the bb, make sure that the little bb guide is still in good shape... they do wear out. If it has a deep groove it can add a ton of friction... same with a poorly sized middle (the one running from top tube to seat tube) housing on a top route bike.

An easy way to check for friction is undo the der cable bolt... hold the cable under tension (gently pull on it from about where it was bolted to the der... pretend you're the derailleur return spring) and run though the gears in the shifter... if there is still friction, remove the r der cable housing and check the next point, either middle housing piece on top route or bb guide on down route. Remove the shift cable from either the guide or middle housing piece and shift though the gears holding the cable under tension again. Usually most of the friction will have disappeared by this point. If not remove the frontmost piece of cable housing and try shifting again. I'd bet money there will be almost no friction with no housing...

Also teflon (black coated) cables generally like to be run dry... if you lube 'em they seem to bind up pretty quick. I prefer stainless cable and lube over teflon cable.

hope that helps,

M.

When our Deore pods got sloppy/worn, I happened on a nice/fantastic deal on a set of XT and a set of XTR pods at a small-town bike shop. The wife got the XT and I got the XTR. I can't notice any difference between the two. We really like them, though.

I wouldn't worry about life/bearings. Just go for the price if you want Shimano.. Then there's SRAM. I was going to try SRAM before I found these. I'm used to the old Shimano pods, like the functionality, so I just bought them.

Al

i do all my bike tunning and servicing. I've tried your kindly suggestions before i post on this forum and really appreciate your experience.

I lube xtr shift cable with Finishline Telfon plus so i won't create friction with the hose.

xt has 2 bearings. xtr has 4. versus none in lx... I'd get the xt myself... hard to tell the difference between it and xtr in a blind taste test...

Before you replace, I'd doublecheck everything else in the system, as it's very rare for a shifter to cause excess friction. If your cables run under the bb, make sure that the little bb guide is still in good shape... they do wear out. If it has a deep groove it can add a ton of friction... same with a poorly sized middle (the one running from top tube to seat tube) housing on a top route bike.

An easy way to check for friction is undo the der cable bolt... hold the cable under tension (gently pull on it from about where it was bolted to the der... pretend you're the derailleur return spring) and run though the gears in the shifter... if there is still friction, remove the r der cable housing and check the next point, either middle housing piece on top route or bb guide on down route. Remove the shift cable from either the guide or middle housing piece and shift though the gears holding the cable under tension again. Usually most of the friction will have disappeared by this point. If not remove the frontmost piece of cable housing and try shifting again. I'd bet money there will be almost no friction with no housing...

Also teflon (black coated) cables generally like to be run dry... if you lube 'em they seem to bind up pretty quick. I prefer stainless cable and lube over teflon cable.

hope that helps,

M.

Looks like i can save some $$$ and go for XT shifter. AI, how long have you been using both XT/XTR pods? Shifters are very reasonable price in HK (xt pods US$40 only)

When our Deore pods got sloppy/worn, I happened on a nice/fantastic deal on a set of XT and a set of XTR pods at a small-town bike shop. The wife got the XT and I got the XTR. I can't notice any difference between the two. We really like them, though.

I wouldn't worry about life/bearings. Just go for the price if you want Shimano.. Then there's SRAM. I was going to try SRAM before I found these. I'm used to the old Shimano pods, like the functionality, so I just bought them.

Al

Looks like i can save some $$$ and go for XT shifter. AI, how long have you been using both XT/XTR pods? Shifters are very reasonable price in HK (xt pods US$40 only)


It's been about 15 months and 937 miles (mostly single track) for the XTR's. It's been the same time, but probably less than half the miles on the XT's as my wife doesn't ride as much or as far. Also, she doesn't record her mileage and she doesn't shift nearly as much. I do much steeper trails and shift some climbing out of the saddle which stresses things.

I was originally planning on XT's (with Sram thumbshifters as an Option) for my bike when I stumbled on the XT/XTR deal during a trip to go mountain biking in the mountains (the shop owner had just bought two ATB's for personal use and was going to SRAM). Heck, if the XTR's are not way too much more, I'd get them now that I know (from M's post) that they have double the bearings. In theory at least, they should work like new longer and there will be no more.

Al