WTB/ISO New or Used Shimano Deore XT rear derailleur

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Caroline Golum

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Oct 11, 2023, 8:23:34 AM10/11/23
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Hey RBOBs,

The time has finally come for a new rear derailleur! And this time I’d like to expand my gear ratio, ideally without having to replace my single crank with a double. My new favorite mechanic (shoutout to Damon at Nomad Cycles) suggested I switch to the Deore XT (I’m running a 105 with 11-28T right now)

Now here’s my question: given the overall decline in quality for.,…..everything on planet earth…….should I get a new rear derailleur or hunt around on here/EBay for something a little older (not by much, c. 2009 or so).

Will Boericke

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Oct 11, 2023, 10:40:17 AM10/11/23
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Older is cheaper, but you risk worn-out in that move.  I run an older (8sp era) XT on a silly double setup I have and it has trouble getting down to the small cog on the cassette all the time.  You don't say how many speeds you are working with but I assume 10 or fewer.  I'd get a newer 9sp era XT.

Will



aeroperf

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Oct 11, 2023, 11:04:50 AM10/11/23
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Why not both?  You can still get a Shimano M591 new, though it is an older design, that works well with a 34-tooth cassette.  This is a solid, reliable design that Rivendell used to ship on their builds.  It is Deore, but not XT.  
A Deore XT equivalent like the M772 (also older design) is rated for 43 teeth on the cassette, but I found mine a little more fiddly to set up than the M591.
Those are both 9-speed.  You can still get them both new.  I’d say go the route of a new derailleur of an older (proven) design.

Eric Daume

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Oct 11, 2023, 11:06:12 AM10/11/23
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Are you running friction shifting, and how big of a cassette will you go? Those will help determine what derailer you can run. 

Eric
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Caroline Golum

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Oct 11, 2023, 3:38:15 PM10/11/23
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Currently running a 1x10 right now: 46T crank in the front with the aforementioned 11-28T in the rear, and non-indexed shifting friction shifting on the bar end. I'm looking at a 10 or 11 spd cassette in the 11-36T or 44T range. Trying to avoid redoing the whole drivetrain with a 2x9 or 2x10 setup, but not entirely opposed to it.  

On Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 11:06:12 AM UTC-4 Eric Daume wrote:
Are you running friction shifting, and how big of a cassette will you go? Those will help determine what derailer you can run. 

Eric

On Wednesday, October 11, 2023, Caroline Golum <carolin...@gmail.com> wrote:
Hey RBOBs,

The time has finally come for a new rear derailleur! And this time I’d like to expand my gear ratio, ideally without having to replace my single crank with a double. My new favorite mechanic (shoutout to Damon at Nomad Cycles) suggested I switch to the Deore XT (I’m running a 105 with 11-28T right now)

Now here’s my question: given the overall decline in quality for.,…..everything on planet earth…….should I get a new rear derailleur or hunt around on here/EBay for something a little older (not by much, c. 2009 or so).

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Bill Lindsay

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Oct 11, 2023, 5:28:00 PM10/11/23
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I've got two copies of the Deore XT M786, which should be perfecto for a 1x10 11-36 or an 11-42.  I probably have an 11-36 10 speed cassette also, if you need it.  Let me know.  I'm going to be away from my parts stash Thursday through Monday.

Bill Lindsay
El Cerrito, CA

Kim H.

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Oct 11, 2023, 11:48:11 PM10/11/23
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@Caroline -
I have a Shimano Deore M952 9-speed rear derailleur with an extension arm that I am not using. I bought it to work with a SunRace CM983 11-46T 9-speed cassette ( 11-13-15-18-22-28-34-40-46T Cogs ) and a Wolf Tooth Road Link. I kept the road link.



The rear derailleur and the cassette have very little mileage on them, say less than 10 miles. I just did not like the cog count spacing. I switched out it out and went back to my SunRace 11-40T 9-speed cassette and a Shimano Deore M591 rear dearilleur with the Wolf Tooth Road Link.

I am willing sell you one or both of them. If you are interested, PM me.

Kim Hetzel.


20230523_165047.jpg

Nick Payne

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Oct 12, 2023, 4:21:07 AM10/12/23
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On Thursday, 12 October 2023 at 2:04:50 am UTC+11 aeroperf wrote:
Why not both?  You can still get a Shimano M591 new, though it is an older design, that works well with a 34-tooth cassette.  This is a solid, reliable design that Rivendell used to ship on their builds.  It is Deore, but not XT.  
A Deore XT equivalent like the M772 (also older design) is rated for 43 teeth on the cassette

Did you accidentally type in 34 backwards? Because 34t is the nominal maximum cog size for the M772 RD - matching the largest CS-M770 9-speed cassette Shimano made. It usually copes with a 40t cog OK with the B screw in a few turns.

Nick Payne

Drew Saunders

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Oct 12, 2023, 4:54:07 PM10/12/23
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How much do you like the 1 and 2T hops of the 11-28? If you find yourself shifting 2 or more cogs often, then a very wide range cassette might be a better fit, but if you like the fine tuning of your 11-28, then maybe it’s time for a front derailleur.

I went from 3x9, 24-36-46 with 11-23 to a “one by with bailout gears” setup: 26-42 with a 11-28 11 speed. I really do use the 42 as a 1X most rides, and only shift the FD if I’m climbing a big hill, which turns out to be about 1 ride in 4, or so. Plus, I’ll often only use the FD twice in a ride, one down and one up shift. I may even replace my left Silver bar end with a downtube shift lever instead. My physiology puts my left knee (but not my right) awfully close to the handlebar end when I stand while riding, so I have bumped the shifter once or twice a year.

A 30-46 with your 11-28 would let you keep what you have for some (most?) of your riding, and give you a bailout chainring. A 30x28 is functionally about the same as a 46x44.

Drew
On Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 12:38:15 PM UTC-7 Caroline Golum wrote:

Will Boericke

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Oct 12, 2023, 6:04:04 PM10/12/23
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I do prefer 2x for bikes that see pavement.  As a winter project thought experiment, I built a bike with 46/26 x 11-28.  The double 1x setup is pretty awesome - I have a climbing set of gears and a cruising set of gears.  I still get plenty low with 26-28, 650b wheels and 175mm cranks.  It does require a long cage RD though.

Will

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Caroline Golum

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Oct 18, 2023, 3:41:47 PM10/18/23
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I've considered converting to a double in the front - only problem is I don't remember if my Sugino crank is a single or double because the build was so long ago....
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