Need a new front mech & it's got to be a top swinger however the XT has some bad press on Chainreactions site. Seems strange as XT kit is normally reliable, are these a few isolated opinions or has anyone else had trouble?

Go for the Deore it got gold in what mountain bike and is a universal fit top and bottom swing via a cable guide and a interlocking shim for the tube diameter

when you say it needs to be top swing, do you mean top swing or top pull, as theyre very different things!

Top pull = cable pulled from above
Bottom pull = cable under BB

Top swing = parallelogram type mechanism to move mech cage out & over, very compact, IIRC it was designed to fit inside cramped frames & full sus.
- drawback is that every TS mech I've had has rattled like a bastard after a few months, & shifting become very sloppy.

Conventional swing = mounted higher up the seat tube, works on more of a pivoting basis, and seem to last for ever with no maintenence & no rattle.

If you can get an XT conventional swing top pull then choose that above all others (I've got CS bottom pull on, and it works a treat)hope that helps.

kie

Yeah, just checked CR website & they do Conventional top pull, just look about 2 up from the "Shimano XT F-Mech Top Swing" on the front mech list.

havet got all sizes in stock though

kie

It's got to be top swing as Kona rear suspension mount prevents conventional mech being used, it also needs to be top pull..

For info the original STX mech (TP TS) has been doing the business for four years now.

ah, fair 'nuff then, just thought I'd check as I've heard a lot of people misquoting between TP/TS :o)

In that case the deore is a bargain @ £13.99
from CR.

k

Mine's been fine - not a huge fan of top swing as they collect mud when you're in the big chainring and then can't get the lowest one for going slowly. I've got a 34.9 top pull for a fiver if you want it.

But then to be honest I never notice the difference in front shifting between Deore (or Tourney for that matter) and XTR... but it could just be my setting up.

34.9 is too big, thanks anyway

I think the deore system is messy, the plastic spacers look awful. I have one on one of my bikes.

what about an LX one? My TS TP has lasted 3 1/2 years fine.