What type of rear derailleur to buy? - Project Sports
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What type of rear derailleur to buy?

5 min read

Asked by: Hugo Ortosky

When buying a new rear derailleur be sure to match it with your drivetrain ‘speed’. 10-speed drivetrains use narrower chains than 9-speed so you’ll need a mech to match. Most rear mechs are made of a polymer and alloy mix but you’ll find carbon fibre in top-end models to shave even more weight.

What are the different types of rear derailleurs?

You have two choices, so there are four types of rear derailleurs:

  • Short Cage with Hanger.
  • Short Cage Bolt-on.
  • Long Cage with Hanger.
  • Long Cage Bolt-on.


Does it matter what derailleur you use?

A derailleur for your mountain bike should match the specifications on the original derailleur. That is, while it doesn’t need to be the same model of derailleur, it does need to be the same brand, in almost every case. It also needs to match the number of gears, or have more intended.

How do I choose a Shimano derailleur?


Quote from video: The best thing to do is go with a medium cage. Most everybody has medium medium. Works for just about anything medium is good for a road it's also good for a mountain bike.

Which is better long cage or short cage derailleur?

It’s generally best to go for as short a derailleur cage as you can get away with, as long as you can avoid the chain contorting on the extremes of the cassette, such as using the largest on both sprocket and chainring. Smaller cages tend to have snappier gear changes, they’re lighter, and also less exposed to damage.

Do I need long or medium cage derailleur?

If you are in-between the capacity ranges of the two, which is often the case with mountain bikes, then note the following: long cage derailleurs will accommodate a wider gear range and deliver a better chain line, while medium cage derailleurs are less likely to be hit by rocks on the trail.

Can I put any derailleur on my bike?

No, bike derailleurs are not universal. A derailleur that works with one bike may not work with another bike based on factors such as the cage length. Check the difference between the smallest and largest cogs and also the chainring size to determine the derailleur compatibility.

How do I know if I have a short or long cage derailleur?

Quote from video: Now long derailleurs are gonna be very easy to spot because let's go ahead and turn it around here. Now between the two pulleys. Here that is a very short distance between the two pulleys. So this is

How long does a rear derailleur last?

Good quality rear derailleur can last between 3 to 5 years, when unbranded or low-quality ones can last for 2 years, no matter what the durability of the rear derailleur the jockey wheel will wear after time and it can be replaced very cheaply with new ones, on the other hand, front derailleur can last almost

How do I know if my rear derailleur is GS or SS?

Also, regarding the shape of the pulley cage, the GS has a slightly sharper curve than the SS. Sometimes the difference is so small that you can’t tell unless you look at them side by side, but you can tell by looking at them together with the length between the pulleys.

What are the levels of Shimano?

Shimano groupsets: different levels explained

  • Claris R2000: 8-speed.
  • Sora R3000: 9-speed.
  • Tiagra 4700: 10-speed.
  • 105 R7000: 11-speed.
  • 105 Di2 R7150: 12-speed electronic only.
  • Ultegra Di2 R8100: 12-speed electronic only.
  • Dura-Ace Di2 R9200: 12-speed electronic only.


Is Shimano Deore good?

Shimano Deore group



The parts are durable and reliable and the price-performance ratio of this group is therefore very good. The Shimano Deore groupset is often recommended to avid beginner mountain bikers. If you want to change gears even faster while mountain biking, you can opt for a more expensive groupset.

How much does it cost to replace a rear derailleur?

If you take your MTB into a local bike shop the average price to replace a rear derailleur is going to be $110. If you DIY replacing a derailleur will cost about $50 (plus your time) This price will depend a lot on the actual derailleur needed. Usually a bike shop will also take care of other problems.

What is the advantage of a long cage derailleur?

Quote from video: So let's show you what it does. By putting it onto the small chain ring and the smallest cog at the back. As. You can see the hanger has gone right back here as there's not much tension in the chain

Can I use a MTB derailleur on a road bike?

Most 8- and 9-speed Shimano mountain bike and road kit is inter-compatible because they both use the same cable pull ratio. This means that you can use an 8 -or 9-speed mountain bike derailleur with road shifters or vice versa.

What does Shimano SGS mean?

Quote from video: Похожие запросы

How many types of derailleur are there?

Derailleurs come in three sizes: short, medium and long cage. Derailleur capacity is proportional to cage length. For wide range MTB cassettes with three front chainrings, it is practical to have a long cage derailleur.

How do I know which Shimano rear derailleur?

Shimano stamps the rear derailleur model number on the underside/lower plate of the parallelogram. All models for the last several decades.

Can I use SRAM derailleur with Shimano cassette?

Considering these parts were never designed to play well together, the Sram GX AXS shifter and derailleur work perfectly on the Shimano XTR cassette.

What are the levels of Shimano components?

Shimano groupsets: different levels explained

  • Claris: 8-speed.
  • Sora: 9-speed.
  • Tiagra: 10-speed.
  • 105: 11-speed.
  • Ultegra: 11-speed.
  • Ultegra Di2: 11-speed electronic.
  • Dura-Ace: 11-speed.
  • Dura-Ace Di2: 11-speed electronic.


Which gear of Shimano is best?

Shimano Dura-Ace (R9100) Groupset – Top-end mechanical groupset. Used by many Pro Tour teams, and featured as the drivetrain of choice on high end road bikes, Dura-Ace is the pinnacle of the Shimano mechanical gearing and braking arsenal.

Is Shimano XT better than deore?

Thanks to its levers, the Deore XT operates smoother and faster and since the price difference is minimal, you should go for the greater product. The XT bests Deore in terms of weight, 148 grams versus 162, in the case of the top swing 3×10 version, even though the prices are even closer, of 30 and 22 euros.