WildH

Looking for some opinions....getting an 09 Trance X2. Wondering what peeps thoughts are on upgrading the shifters to XTR and whether it is worth upgrading the FD to XT from the stock SLX. Been using XT 760 for a few years and it's ok, but I like PRECISE....so wondering if anyone can say for sure the XTR shifter upgrade is worth it.

Also, only other thing I am considering/questioning is the stock Hayes Strocker Trail brakes....are they better than the HX-9s? I had those on a Trek Liquid and had continuing issues.

thanks forum foes!

T

kenhill3

Unless you have a particular affinity for spending money, XT is as far as I would go. In my opinion, the insane price of XTR doesn't bring about a commensurate increase in performance. Precise? Xt is plenty precise. So is SLX for that matter.

Personally, I have never had an issue with Nines. But plenty of folks have. Most opinions that I've seen have given thumbs up to the Trails- in improved design/performance as well as being superior to Nines.

ed 

You want "precise"? Go 1x9.

WildH

Thanks for the info. I hear ya on the price of XTR....I guess the only reason I even thought about it was I rode a buddy's Anthem Advanced with full XTR and it just seemed to be so much quicker shifting. But, that is probably a result of the chain and casette (XTR on both). The Trance X2 comes stock with a PG980 and HG-73 chain. I haven't had much luck or been at all impressed with that chain....no experience with PG980s, but the 990s are pretty nice.

Good to have the reassurance on the brakes. If you would have said they were like the nines, i would have just had the shop upgrade to XT instead of dealing with the BS.

kenhill3

Personally I can't say much about Sram since I've never used it. I'm a Shimano guy and for me it works perfectly.

But from my own experience I will say this, that Shimano drivetrain components from LX on up work flawlessly as long as they are in decent condition and adjusted properly.

Bosock

I say ride with what you have until you wear them down and then upgrade. When i got my stumpy I was faced with the same question you pose. I had rode several rides with the LX shifter and they worked fine...didnt impact my riding to the least bit. Came across a sick price for full XTR rapid fire shifters and front derailer. Posed the question on these forums if I should upgrade as I could get such a great deal and the advice provided to me was wear out what you got and upgrade when you need. I felt like i couldnt let the deal go so I got the upgrades and slapped them on...noticed some difference, however, like i was told, not a stunning difference nor did it really make me a better rider. One person however, told me that if i really wanted to notice any upgrade on my stumpy then I should ditch the stock HG50 rear cassette and upgrade the cassette. Got a Sram 990 cassette for 40 dollars (got a decent deal on that as well) and that seemed like the best upgrade of the lot.

If you have the money, and the purchase will motivate you to ride more and make you feel your bike is a ton better, then do the upgrades you mentioned. However, if there is other things you can use that money for, i would hold off, wear out what you have as they are good working components, and then upgrade them when the stock components wear down. I know i didnt follow this advice, that is why they say you get wiser with age and experience. Either way, you have a nice bike and going to enjoy it immensely, with our without the upgrades. Good Riding.

WildH

Thanks gang...now I am convinced....no changes on the shifters and FD or RD, but I am going to still replace the chain right up front and keep it as a back up for my wife (I really shimano for everything else). I honestly broke 3 of those bad boys right out of the shoot and swore I'd never go back. Used Wipperman and SRAM ever since and never had a breakage...road or MTB. For $30 the shop said they'd get a 991 on it....on top....i have a couple spare power links i can keep in the hydro pack and I have a 990 Cassette with very few miles on it from my old bike so I'll use that and sell the 980. On the shifters, the last post made a lot of sense. Might as well wear out the existing components or replace them when needed. Thanks for the advice Bosock and for saving me a couple hundred bucks. Headed to Crested Butte this week for some riding on the trails and then gonna pick up the new bike next week when I get back. Looking forward to some days off and riding. Been a nutzo spring.

Have a good week everyone.

T

nitropowered

I love my XTR shifters. I think they are a lot better than XT.

Everything else I would not touch, its all good spec.

G-Monkey

Upgrade your brakes...Hayes sux.

lofnsjoke

without some reasons as to the why of this, i gonna have to say

g-monkey, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

G-Monkey

Key words here are Trance X2 and Hayes.
Let me help educated you on something lofnsjoke
and you can thank me later for your lack of
understanding and/or research.


https://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=506935
https://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=405214
https://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=466476
https://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=446690
https://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=429530
https://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=529342

Basically Hayes does admit to providing (accidentally) faulty brakes
on some of the Giant Trance X2 bikes.
There you go lofnsjoke, now you're as smart as some.