Seeking derailer recs for a Hillborne build.

[Eric Marth]

Hi all — I'm building up a Hillborne with a Sugino XD2 triple, Shimano 9s 12-36 cassette, 113mm bottom bracket. 

I currently have Shimano XT front and rear derailers: FD-M771, RD-M771. I figure these will work fine. Only problem is... they're hideous. Okay, I can abide the rear. The front, though...ouch!

I'm looking for recs for comparable mechs but in a silver. With a classic, innocuous look. Vintage is fine. Readily available is groovy. 

Thanks! 

[Jack Barnes]

I don't have data to back this up, but it seems like the only good-looking all-silver FDs are braze-on style. You can buy a silver braze-on adapter (Origin8 makes one) if you want to go that route. All of the clamp-on FDs I've seen have a bunch of black plastic which I agree is not so great-looking.

You also might try a low-mounted version since I think yours is high-mount and thus the clamp will be more prominent. My FD is similar to this, but the clamp is mostly hidden on the drive-side so it doesn't bother me much.

[Joe Bernard]

Three good things about the XT front:

1. Low clamp so the kludgy plastic doesn't show on the drive-side. 

2. That kludgy plastic is light and doesn't dig into your paint, a thing recently discussed here. 

3. It matches the rear for much matchy-matchy! 

But if I haven't talked you into using it you can try searches for 9-speed Ultegra and 105 triples, lots of Rivs came with them. IRD and Microshift made clones, too. 

Joe Bernard

On Friday, September 10, 2021 at 2:29:36 PM UTC-7 eric...@gmail.com wrote:

[lconley]

I like the IRD Alpina with IRD clamp - both all silver. The IRD clamp is single position in relation to the braze-on derailleur whereas the Origin 8 allows the derailleur to be adjusted relative to the clamp. I prefer the cleaner looks and simpler design of the IRD clamp. Just a bit more tweeking needed to install. 

Also all manner of old Campagnolo derailleurs (but not old enough to be "vintage") - they can often be had new for less than a new Japanese or Taiwanese. Just need to verify the seat tube size if they have integral clamp. This brand new Athena 11 was $33 shipped - with integral 31.8 clamp

.

Laing

Delray Beach FL

[David Person]

Sun XCD rear derailleur, if you can find one.  Look at MicroShift for front derailleurs.  Though, finding ones that fit a 28.6mm seat tube are getting harder to find.  Problem Solvers makes a adapter in 28.6mm, as to others, in silver.  That with a MicroShift R9 braze-on front derailleur would do the trick.  As with lots of things these days, finding bike stuff can be difficult.

Let me know if you decide to sell the XT RD M-771.

[Eric Marth]

Thank you all for the great recommendations and photos! I'm on my way. 

David, I'll let you know if I decide to part ways with that RD. 

[ascpgh]

I've watched all the responses since none of my experiences and derailleurs meet the requirement of compatible or readily available. No one would say that about mine. They are vintage, interesting and they work for me in the group I've collected.

Since my Rivendell has a French model name, Rambouillet, I've added French pieces as I've been able. My derailleurs are Mavic, my crank is Specialties T.A. The front has that nice fully flat cage that plays nice with low-Q cranks, not contacting them when adjusted for big ring x small cog chain trim clearance.  I took these pics to add to Peter Weigle's 2020 virtual French Fender Day:

Yes to the sharp eyes who ask, that is a WolfTooth gizmo to get the hard max limit from 28t to 32t.

On my new in 2020 Coast Rando with RH cranks, my old parts box yielded the best fitting and performing FD among all the new options, it is a SunTour Superbe Pro, also with a flat outer plate:

May the sale of mechs from parts bins of trend followers continue to offer us these awesome derailleurs for riders who shift across multiple chainrings themselves. Both are on the endangered list.

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

[Garth]

I'll only add that don't limit yourself to just 28.6mm FD's. Nashbar/Performance bike sell 31.8mm Ultegra shims for about 4 bucks plus 2 buck shipping.

[st nick]

This all silver combo looks pretty good to me.

Origin8 clamp

https://tinyurl.com/6u2325f6

Microshift derailer

https://tinyurl.com/2mhn4ak3

Paul in Dallas

.

[velomann]

I recommend hunting down a nice silver set of Ultegra derailleurs. I don't have the model numbers handy, but whatever's shiny and matches a 3x9 search. I have a Sugino XD crankset on my Sam Hillborne - running as a double with the inner two rings and the outer ring filed to a chainguard. Cassette is an 11-36 9-speed. The long-cage Ultegra RD came from my Ocean Air Cycles Rambler after that bike died, but I would guess has at least 40K miles on it and still shifts like a dream. I've stockpiled at least a coupe more of these, but at this rate my children will inherit them.

Mike M

On Friday, September 10, 2021 at 2:29:36 PM UTC-7 eric...@gmail.com wrote:

[Eric Marth]

Thanks again for the recs, I like that Microshift derailer and the Ultegra suggestions. I also like the Sun XCD/Microshift rear but can't find any new or used. 

Purchased a used Ultegra for the front and now seeking one for the rear!