|   Anybody want to comment on the 2003 XTR... | Font
Nov 6, 2002 7:51 PM | | ...particularly on the new shifters they have out now? Has anyone tried them or has anyone got any good ideas on why it will or won't work/catch?
thanks all
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http://www.njtrails.com |
| Curious as well.. | DIRTJUNKIE
Nov 6, 2002 11:42 PM | | Well they caught on for road bikes so why not mountain bikes? I have been thinking about those the last couple of weeks also.I want to upgrade my XT shifters and have always wanted to go SRAM gripshift untill these came out.I am still not convinced as to what I want.What I like about the SRAM is you can twist from one end of the range of gears to the other end all in one twist.But these new XTR shifters it looks like it is one gear at a time just like the old style.Hmmm what to do what to do anybody want to chime in about changing over from Shimano levers to SRAM gripshift.Are you happy you did? |
| I made the switch (Rapidfire to twisters)... | næstep
Nov 7, 2002 9:18 AM | | (This should probably be a different thread.)
...out of no hate of all things Shimano or Rapidfire. In fact, I'm still a proponent of Rapidfire.
However, I gave up derailleurs for a Speedhub, which mandates use of their twister. At the same time I built up a 1x9 and figured I'd give Sram a shot, as I was very pleased with the performance of my wife's new Attack shifters I installed on her bike. Ok, enough history...
The newer Sram stuff is a far cry from their old X-Ray and SRT400 shifters. The Attacks I used provided very light, crisp action. I even got comfortable with the Half-pipes on my wife's bike, although I prefer the shorter grip lengths which seem to be standard now. Being able to grab a handful of gears is a cool thing, but I don't think of it as a necessity. More often then not I'll use it when cresting a hill and heading back down, but that was something I could do with two thumbpresses with my Rapidfire pods and Rapidrise rear derailleur, too.
I think the either/or debate is overblown. There is something very cool and simple and precise about Rapidfire's "pushbutton shifting", but there is also something to be said of the mechanical simplicity, low profile and rider connectedness of Grip Shift.
I will say that I'm not a big fan of Sram's SRS system, which my year 2000 Attacks didn't have but the new ones do. It spring-loads the shifter and only "releases" the shift once you complete the shift. To me it feels like a loss of precision, but I've heard others say that the ESP compatible models have a better feel then the Shimano compatible Attacks & Rockets.
næstep |
| Thanks naestep some good info. [more] | DIRTJUNKIE
Nov 7, 2002 10:14 AM | | I know I thought about the fact that I almost changed the subject of this thread.But it seems to be going the original direction. |
| Not directed at you, just didn't want... | næstep
Nov 7, 2002 10:22 AM | | ...someone who hit "viewall" to think I was answering the wrong question. It seems as the weather gets wetter, the little flame wars have picked up on the boards and I was just trying to prevent someone from starting another.
næstep |
| the cost should keep most people from ever trying it... | seeker333
Nov 7, 2002 12:35 AM | | Just sitting at the dinner table, I calculated a grouppo with hubs would cost about $1750, using figures in the Supergo catalog I just received. I may be remembering that wrong by a couple hundred but I don't think so.
Now who the heck is gonna shell out that kinda money for MTB components. Campy Record costs less.
I'll stick with my SRAM brake levers and twist shifters. They cost ~$275 less than '03 XTR sti levers.
I've bought entire functional bikes for less than $275. |
| I don't like shift/brake lever combos... | Dirt Pilot
Nov 7, 2002 2:47 AM | | ...It's OK on road bikes because crashing isn't as common of an occurance as in the dirt, one meeting with a tree and you're out some big bucks.
You can bet that they won't be selling left and right side seperately. |
| I don't like shift/brake lever combos... | Ventanarama
Nov 7, 2002 7:46 AM | | They will be available as left and right seperately, still very expensive though. I prefer seperate shifter pods also.
Larry Mettler
http://www.mtnhighcyclery.com |
| 2003 XTR, my prespective | BH
Nov 7, 2002 9:46 AM | | Cost: Very expensive. As Shimano has always done in the past, they will get as much as they can when supply is low and demand is high. Cost is pretty much irrelevant since the pricing point will adjust depending upon whether or not they are selling as much as they want to.
Design: I love the polished finish. I hate the integration. It makes it impossible to inexpensively upgrade a single part or replace a single broken part. Whenever given a choice I choose separates. I don't like the idea of being forced to use everything from one source.
I don't like the idea of learning a new set of shifters. I don't like the new bulky/complex design. Simplicity is better (as I glance at my oldest bike that still sports thumbies). I don't like the idea of not being able to shift down 4 gears at a time. I use this feature all the time at the base of a downhill that continues into a climb. I can't remember every having to shift 4 gears up. If I'm accelerating that fast, it means I'm going down hill and not in jeopardy of losing momentum if I don't shift fast enough.
I don't like the idea of being forced to use Shimano brakes if I choose their shifters. I am on the fence with Grip Shift right now. I have a set of Rockets on a bike that I like equally well as the Rapid Fires on my other 2 bikes. These new XTR shifters are pushing me the way of the Grip Shift.
I think the new crankset is a huge leap forward except that I like a 46 tooth big gear. I also question whether or not the BB axle will stay squeak free and if the bearings will live. In time we will see.
The new brakeset looks excellent for XC but I question their power for a larger rider. XTR disks are reported to be less powerful than XTs. I have never experienced brake fade with XTR V brakes but I have with my XT disks (6"). I like the ideal of the stainless rotor with an aluminum carrier but didn't Magura try this and fail? Are these rotors going to stay true when the brakes are overheated since aluminum has a higher rate of expansion than steel when they get hot. Are the rotors going to stay tight on the carriers? In time we will see.
I have had great luck with Shimano hubs. My XT disk hubs are boat anchors and the new XTR disk hubs are significantly lighter. If the rotor and the rotor attachment system work, these will definitely be close to the top of my list for a future upgrade of my current wheelset. I was going to go with King but now I'm not so sure.
The derailleurs, casette and chain are basically the same except for more sizes now. These items shifted flawlessly before so there really isn't anywhere to improve to. I question if Shimano fixed the large cog weaknesses that many report, especially with the trend to use smaller rings which will increase the chain force. Personally, I'm still running 8 speed because of the cog failures everyone reports.
The only new XTR part that I currently want right now is that crankset for my F/S bike. I'm running a Race Face Turbine compact/UN72 setup on my F/S bike and the new XTR is much much lighter. If I were building a new bike for XC, I think I'd go Hope Mini disk (185mm front rotor) with Gripshift Rocket, XTR derailleurs, the XTR crankset, casette, SRAM chain and King hubs.
My $0.02,
BH |
| Good post... | primetime
Nov 7, 2002 2:03 PM | | Helps to see what others would prefer. I am pretty much in the same boat. I love the XTR calipers but do not need or want the shifter/levers so I might have to go Hope or Magura or maybe even the new Hayes for XC with King hubs although they are quite a bit pricier than even XTR. Thanks. |
| why not SRAM XO? | aeon
Nov 7, 2002 11:16 PM | | I hear the new SRAM derailleur is extrememly light and shifts very crisply. Ditto with the shifters, which you can get in short lengths so your hands won't have to rest on them all the time. |
| Definitely consider them if the price goes down | BH
Nov 8, 2002 11:22 AM | | or the XTR price goes up. I bought my last XTR rear D for $65. $135 is still too steep for the XO. I have also heard reports of problem with SRAM pulleys and durability with their other derailleurs and I've had zero problems with Shimano. Also, I like having choices to use both SRAM shifters and Shimano. |
| Isn't "S" trying to up their "perceived value" in the market .. | man w/ one hand
Nov 7, 2002 9:56 AM | | The link to the artical posted a while back seemed to indicate the
head honcho @ "S" wanted the biking public to "perceive" a higher
value of their bikes, components, ect., & he seemed to indicate it
might be accomplished by higher prices,(ie min. pricing), meaning
"higher prices = higher value", 'er higher "perceived" value. Didn't
Harley Davivdson do this 'bout 10 yr. ago ? Jacked their prices
through th' roof so they could get rid of the "riff-raff" Hells Angel
types that HD was associated with. Seemed to work for them. Try to buy
a "FatBoy", if your heart can stand th' "sticker shock", then maybe
you can stand the 6 months to 1 yr. wait for your bike you just
dropped $20k+ for. Now that's "perceived value".
Am I way off base here or what, put me in my place I can handle it.
Oh yeah, I haven't tried the new XTR brake/shifters likely never will
unless I get to demo a shop or freinds bike. I love my SRAM halfpipes
I cut down to emulate a shorty cause a freind give'em to me, I'm on
my 2nd replacement grip.
my .02 |
| Had a short demo ride | pedalAZ
Nov 7, 2002 5:34 PM | | I was skeptical until trying these out. The dual levers are more natural feeling thant I thought they would be, and I ride SRAM. I liked the fact that you could also dump gears with the thumb paddle while braking, so that you don't have to coordinate braking and shifting on the single lever. You'll have to ride them and see for yourself. |
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