Comparison of Deore, SLX, XT, XTR shifter

Wheels of Happiness

According to the author, SLX and Deore are grouped together on price points and performance, XT and XTR are on one group.  Deore/SLX could cost $15, while XT could be double the price at $30.

But the xt has the advantage of having 4, 3, 2 clicks on the downshift (larger gears) and 2 on the upshift (smaller cogs)   You can push or employ trigger pull (bi directional shifting) which are quite an advantage.

Just like campy shifter.    

So go for the XT.  Fortunately I have xt on my mtb.     

Important things to remember in rd and hub assembly disassembly

Wheels of Happiness

When I diassembled the rd and hub  of the TI mtb, this post forgot certain key points:

1.   For the RD: (Deore XT 8000) no clutch

     1.   When you reinstall the rd, there is a stopper that must be at the bottom and the rid cage must slant 180% not 90 degrees.  When I did not observe this the consequences were:

           1.  The central pulley bumps into the chain stay and the 11 cog dfoes not shift;

           2.  The limit screw does not work,

           3.   You cant remove the ws assembly

 2.  For the RD again   When reassembling the spring assembly, you must turn the cage 180 degrees.   Watch the YT video well, adn you can clear the cable attachment by playing with the parallelogram.  It may look like an impossible puzzle to you (but that is whre thinking out of the box in space topology works)

  2.   The axle lentgth  -  It must be longer at the non drive side and not at the drive side, otherwise, again, you cant shift properly nor get the WS out

   

Changing the drive train of a carbon fiber MTB imported from the Mainland

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

6.24.2021

1/3 of the new bike which this post bought from a e commerce platform has been changed - its drive train:  the rear derrailleur, chainset, the chain ring and crank the chain, the cogs, the brake set and the changer  with xt Shimano group set, a preloved group by an MTB rider from Marikina.   I nearly had the scare of my life when the axle of the crank was seen as short by a mechanic I saw earlier,  yesterday.   But the mechanic I saw today, analyzed the problem and was able to deal with it.  He simply clamped further the  

the bb pressfit.  The seller recommended having spacers (but would further shorten the reach of the crank axle)   He would have scraped if there was a machine shop:   2 mm from both sides of the bottom bracket and 1 mm from the crank arm (for a total of 5 mm which  was the estimate of the first mechanic.  I would be disappointed if the crankset would not fit.   That would be nearly 2/3 the cost of the purchase.

The more challenging part was the removal of old brakeset since the bike frame is internal cabling.  It meant that the brake hose had to be cut, removed, reinstalled with the fitting and bled;  the new one had to be cut also, and inserted from the back, reinstalled. and bled.  I came prepared because I had the pressfit tool for the barb and the olive.  Now I know how to use this firsthand. 

I removed the  42t chain ring and reinstalled the CST shimano 11-36 cogset.   

I must have shaved off:

      1.  Cogset    -        300 grams

      2.  Crankset          500 grams

      3.   Shifter             200 grams

which could further reduce the bike weight to only 11 kg.  If I use a ridgid fork, this would remove about 2.4 - .6 or 1.8 kg.  reducing the weight of the bike to less than 10 kg.    And 24 holes wheelset.  But the mechanics said I would remove the fun out of MTB if I make this very light.    (And very expensive.

        Cost    -          wheelset P8,000;    rigid fork, carbon   -   P4,000.00  but would negate the                                                                                advantage  of RTL

The upgrade which cost a good low 5 figures adds to the prestige and riding experience - smooth shifting and riding.   

What remains is to have an xt brakeset because it appears to be generic now.   The illusion can be made by buying an XT brake lever.  

It should be said that the mainland sellers are very good in marketing,  They oversold me and many others on the Carbon fiber and its technology, on the German design.  But the actual performance and the sales transaction has not been up to par:    they gave me the wrong color size, and groupset.  Their current groupset while it performs normally has a derailleur that is about to give up being thin and weak in it fabrication;  the crankset is heavy and made of tin cans (hahaha -  iron unlike Shimano which is alum) ragged in construction.    They invest much in bloggers and the e commerce platform.   

Why investing in Japanese GS is a good and wise decision

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

5.28.2021

I encountered several riders who bought cheap MTBS with funny sounding GS and several weeks after, the shifter dont work anymore:  the front shifters are busted.

Early on this post invested in top of the  line GS - Shimano XT and  while they were cheap then, they are expensive now.  They work well, do not wear out soon enough and are trustworthy.  Shifts still remain sharp and fast.   I am glad this post did.  

Completing repair on the rear hub of XT GS at Mosso

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

4.10.2021

The 5 year old plus Mosso is showing signs of aging.  The rear hub has some play and some sounds being generated.  I regreased and replaced the ball bearings.  However, there are scores on the cones block.  It need  replacement.   

There are several options:

      1.  Buy a non Shimano hub (but I cant use the expensive ice rotor -   Shimano has the only centerl                   lock system for Ice Tech disc

      2.  Buy another Shimano XT but mine is 24 holes and straight pull.  Cant find similar spare

      3.  Buy a cone set or repair kit:

          1. I inquired from Quiapo, local store    no reply

          2. Saw a cone only post, but that is good for 1/4 ball bearing  mine is 3/16  -  I consulted the                       mechanic

Finally I found this but its gonna cost me.   

Shimano XT M8000 replacement parts rear

SHIMANO XT M775 M785 M8000 wheel hub hub base axle ball gear block repair parts

Product details of SHIMANO XT M775 M785 M8000 wheel hub hub base axle ball gear block repair parts

• Shimano XT original repair parts, only suitable for XT quick release hubs, not suitableOther models and barrel axle versions, M775/M785/M8000 quick release version hub repair parts are universal (the 775 series has a little difference in the shape of the outer nut of the rear left axle block),
• The left and right front hub and the left rear hubThe sealing covers on both sides are the same.
• The repair parts are all brand new authentic licensed products.There are only 13 balls on the right side of the rear hub, 20 balls in a bag, too lazy to remove it, it’s not expensive.
• The ball Y26J98030 with cage is suitable for the left and right sides of the front hub and the left side of the rear hub.
• Made in Malaysia.
• SHIMANO XT M775 M785 M8000 wheel hub hub base axle ball gear block repair parts

Shimano XT original repair parts, only suitable for XT quick release hubs, not suitableOther models and barrel axle versions, M775/M785/M8000 quick release version hub repair parts are universal (the 775 series has a little difference in the shape of the outer nut of the rear left axle block),

The left and right front hub and the left rear hubThe sealing covers on both sides are the same.

The repair parts are all brand new authentic licensed products.There are only 13 balls on the right side of the rear hub, 20 balls in a bag, too lazy to remove it, it’s not expensive.

The ball Y26J98030 with cage is suitable for the left and right sides of the front hub and the left side of the rear hub.

Made in Malaysia.

Mas mura 1658 only

The Mosso purchase was a good decision, with parts well ahead of its time

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

4.08.2021

                                                               XT deore 10 S groupset.  

After studying a lot of write ups and searching on line shops I found this much about the Mosso bike:

    1.  The XT group set alone would cost a midrange price MTB  (five numbers)

    2.   The disc is ice tech:

          1.  3 layers of metal for higher heat dissipation

          2.  Floating disc; (for lesser thermal conduction from the  metal contacting the pads and the 

               hub body)

         3.   Patented center lock technology by Shimano for sure fit, and easy removal (with a cog removal

               tool -  You have to tap out the rotor when removing gently with a tool)

         4.  The JO2 break pad is finned again for heat dissipation.  

   3.  Uses 7005 alum technology;    

   4.  The  WS is also an XT;   low weight

Studying well your bike purchase pays off in the long run; makes for a good investment

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

4.05.2021

This Mosso made it to a Google post    Mosso with XT group set

Nearly about a decade ago I purchased my first MTB from somebody in Batangnas City.   The price was steep one but the bike had xt group set, it had blue theme on the bolts and nuts of the crank, the cables, and had high grade frame 7005 alum which makes for the light weight of the bike.   

I had brought this to Baguio climb, Ambuklao adventure, Laguna loop.   I make a lot of kutingting though.  So maybe on the reverse Laguna loop, the hubs may not be working well, (had friction) that's why I struggled with the ride.  

Now I am reviewing the forks and was impressed by rebound control.   I did not realize when I went to a physical store, that the bike fork had rebound control...I was nearly tempted to purchase on line a 5k ish fork with rebound control.   

I finally got the ultimate of all bikes - a titanium MTB

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
June 12, 2016

Happy independence day.

After a month long research and campaign to get funding for the purchase, I finally got yesterday the much coveted SAVA Explorer Titanium bike from Mars Kingdom c/o Kiam and Luds. I got the bike cash for a little under P50,000.

It is equipped with the following:

Sava titanium alloy frame

WTB seat, WTB rim and tires

Titanium seat post (oversized)

Titanium handle bar

Titanium pedals

XT group set:  brakes, crank, FD, RD,  cogs

11 -36 cogs (I was not able to get the 11 to 42

Manitou magnesium front shocks

I assembled the bike myself last night in 30 minutes.  All you need to do after unpacking from the box are:  install the handle bar on the fork, install the front wheel and the pedal.

Adjustments were made on the fine tuning of the derailleur (the cable needed tightening) and the derailleur needed alignment (the high adjustment).   Save for a bolt that tightens the clamp to the handle bar, (na bilog ang allen groove) The bike is a OK, it  is light and looks like a jewel

I understand that there are just 3 more units remaining for the sale. (50% discount on the list price of P89,000). The unit with Deore groupset and SAVA only fork sells for P43,000 cash (+ 5% if bought with credit card.)

Go to Mars Kingdom Quiapo (the one with maroon and green painting) right after the overpass, and contact Luds or Kiam 02 242 4484

All titanium parts

                                       Titanium seat post

                                            Titanium pedals

                                                Titanium handle bar

Riding better as one gets older

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
May 2, 2016

My experience yesterday, riding up again Sampaloc, and from there riding up to the Wind Turbine farm in  Bugarin Pililla, proves that really only carabaos get old.  One can get stronger as a biker as one ages.  I will be 65 next month, and yet I can tackle as good or better than younger bikers.

I rode the entire stretch from Angono to Km 66 on 44 front chain ring and just changed the cogs from 11 to 17.  I climbed the km 61 using 44 x 30.    However I dropped to 34 x 28 and 34 x 30 riding up the final 3 km from 66 to 69.  I used the 34 chain ring going up to Bugarin.   at 23 to 30 cogs, but not at 32.

I sprinted as usual on flats and down hill.  Max of 46 kph going downhill at Baras and Bugarin;  up to 37 kph riding on flats. And that is on an MTB (the Mosso Falcon 1 with xt group set)

My high end MTB drew admiration at Wawa Park

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
February 28, 2016

Today we have a scheduled ride to Tagaytay.  I ride with Gerry and others. Take off is at 6:00 at Iglesia and that is 20 minutes form now. I will blog for a while.

Yesterday afternoon, I whiled my afternoon on my MTB high end (may I call it XT) and went to Wawa.  There the other MTBs, riders gathered around the xt MTB and asked a lot of questions -  how much what are the parts, how much does the gold chain cost etc.  One rider, who is a DH (downhill) had his eyes glued on the bike.   He went near the bike, touched it, lifted it and rode it.  I was afraid he would ride home with it.   He admired how light and how handsome it was.

Well I made the right choice.  Thanks Matt.

                                       Fork view of the Mosso MTB

                                               Epicon air shock;  very responsive

                                      Gold chain

                                     Each of the new nut cost according to former owner P200 each

Is this a good MTB upgrade?

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
February 14, 2016

Mosso Falcon 1 MTB with XT group set at Olx

Why am I upgrading so soon?  I am used to the lighter road bike and the MTB I use is heavy. Going up to Pililla only is all ready a struggle.  I can only go up Mahabang Parang, Botong Francisco, San Carlos hts. or Antipolo in  ease..  Going to Morong would be challenge

I searched for a good new affordable MTB upgrade.  The one offered to me by Boyeth Flores requires that I sell two bikes and still be short by P10 to P15t

This one a Mosso Falcon 1, 16 inches, weighing 1.5 kg with XT group set, XT rim, Kenda tires, and whom the owner claims to be only 10 kg or less in weight is 27t less in cost.  Thus I would prefer this upgrade.  What do you think?   I would be able to raise the funds soon

At his price, and if we consider the price of XT at P27t, I would be paying mere Pxxx for the tires, wheelset, the frame, the seat, seat post, head set and handle bar.

I tried a deal with somebody who has a Marin MTB with XT too and Easton wheels.   He priced it 60t and I tried to swap my Sava bike and SARS Ultegra.  He said I would still have to fork over P40t. What?  Only P10t each for the two bikes. The Sava is a one month old bike with carbon fiber, with SRP of P140t;   the Ultegra groupset with FSA carbon fiber crank cost P27.00. What about the wheels and frame, bar, seat post, head set.  I would just keep my bike and run it to the ground