paxtonm

Hi everyone,

I'm about to build up a Cross-check after cleaning the garage out of bikes that I don't particularly like. I'm shopping components, and thinking about Sugino 600-series cranks, bolting on a Brooks and pedals I already have and love. Nitto Noodles, XT hubs on beefy 36 Mavic rims, Schwalbe Marathons. My question is around the drive train. On my racerboy bike, I swapped the Shimano chain for a Sram, and the difference was amazing -- quiet with instant shifts. In a crowd, people don't even know when I shift in back. I'm thinking of Sram through the driveline -- chain, casette, rear and front derailleurs from the X9 series.

Aside from the Flash Gordon naming convention, they look rugged and simple. I'd like to mate them with Dura-Ace barcons. Any issues?

Brake suggestions? I'm thinking Cane Creek Shorties. Thanks?

halfspeed

SRAM make shimano compatible components and components using their own shift ratios. I don't know which one the X9 stuff is, but you'd better find out unless you're willing to go with friction shifting.

seeker333

for a while when they first came out, there was a rash of reports of x9 rear d's snapping in half when a mtb'er would pick up a small stick. i saw pics, so i believe some validity there.

also, i bought a set of x9 ders when they first came out, the front d was kinda fugly to my eyes, i sent it back.

martianone

my partner has x.9 front and rear on her bike, plus grip shifters we installed
as she had difficulty with the reach of trigger shifters. after a few thousand
km, the x.9's still work well, no shifting issues.

Nigeyy

Don't the X9 derailleurs have a 1:1 shift ratio? In other words, they will not work with Shimano shifters? I think that's the case, but check it out with the SRAM website. You might have to reevaluate which rear derailleur you choose.

FWIW, given a choice on touring/mtb drivechain, I'd go with SRAM everytime (and that's not to say Shimano stuff is bad either). I have SRAM ESP9.0 drivechain on my mtb and it's been and still is excellent after many years.

sth

I have been using GripShift shifters for about 15 years and love 'em. Currently I have X9 G/S and an X9 rear derailluer. Shimano LX on the front. My rear X9's as well as the other higher end Sram shifters are a 1:1 pull ratio so they have to be run as a set, ie once you start with it you cant mix and match brands. The front doesnt matter. The rear shift is crisp and precise. I have small hands and find the G/S easier to use. It requires only the slightest twist to change the rear gears. My only beef is the allen bolt that holds the jockey pulleys in place is a teensy little 2mm and it strips easily making removal of these pulleys for maintenance difficult. I have a Sram cog too but I think I will go with Shimano when it gets replaced.

seeker333

On grip shifters, I've found the diameter of the grip rubber significantly affects the amount of leverage required to twist. I had some "amy" 2:1 shorty shifters that were hard to shift (got them from nashbar for 16 bucks). They were intended for women (i'm not a woman) and have a smaller diameter grip. So, this was supposed to make it easier to shift if you have small hands. Thing is, the smaller diameter grip rubber has less mechanical advantage than larger diameter "rocket" shorty shifter. So sram screwed up here. Women generally being less physically strong (is that pc enough?) would be better off with the rocket. I thought it might be the amy shifters i was using, so I swapped the rubber off some rocket shifters, and voila, shifting effort reduced/improved.

So don't get the amy shifters, even if you're the less physically strong gender with smaller hands.

I've used grip shifters for many years with shimano rear derailers, and they shift great. Plus they are crashproof and nearly impossible to break. A very reliable shifter, there's really hardly any parts inside them.

seeker333

yes, that's true.

martianone

with grip shifters-
i don't think it is so much a matter of strength,
but physical reach. smaller hands have a difficult
time reaching the full stroke of triggers, but seem
to be able to do so with twist shifters. when my
teenageer was 8 or 9 he could not actuate the
full distrance of the trigger with his thumb.
my spouse, with small hands and a little
connective tissue disease, could not make
the full thumb stroke with the trigger. switched
to the grip shifter, works great for her. also
it is easier to grip shift (also bar ends) with
mittens on (for those of us who ride in real cold weather)
than triggers.

tacomee

Another vote for Sram grip shifters. They have models made for both Shimano rear derailers (2:1) and Sram rear derailers (1:1). The higher end models are very good. As far a front derailer and cranlset choices, you can use anything you want! The front shifting is "micro adjust" -- ratcheting friction, very easy to set up and run.

I'd go with x9 grip shifters, x9 rear derailer and Sora or Tiagra front derailer. It will work great.