Strengths: The deore rear mech is a solid bit of kit. it really takes a bashing. it also shifts well and is a simple but effective alternative to higher priced pieces of kit out there.
Weaknesses: Maybe slightly heavier? not quite as smooth as XT or XTR possibly.
Overall: The original reason i bought the deore shifter for my new bike about 6 months ago, was because of the SUPERB PRICE. At 30 quid, you cant do much better than this, yet suprisingly there is very little to prove why this mech cost so much less than the alternatives. XTR and XT and even LX mechs have little more going for them and cost as much as 3 times the price, for no apparant gain. Ok you shave a few ounces off, but unless your some whippet racer, whats a couple of ounces when you can save 40 pounds!
I disregarded quite a few peoples advice in buying the mech, and was told instead to go for the LX: "its smoother" etc. however whereas my friend's lx mech got repeatedly stuck after just a few rides, mine is still running as smoothly as when i first put it on ( and greased it up!). He now says that he will be getting a deore mech INSTEAD of his LX: what more must i say?
My mech still continues to run sliently and unnervingly smmothly, despite the bashing that i have already given it. Last week i managed to fall down a steeply sloping concrete wall, which i was trying to carve along, and although my bike fell strongly on the rear mech, it did not bend, or shift out of line, but only suffered some surface scratches. On my first ride i managed to come out of a bomb hole and hit a tree with it, and again, it stood up to this in a style worthy of SAINT (freeeride and downhill specific) kit.
Maintenance is minimal. just scrub the dirt off every now and then, and lube up the chain after every ride. I have ridden my bike through some VERY, very wet and muddy conditions and it has stood up fine. As i have already said, this is a hardy bit of kit.
Now unless someone hacks it off my bike, i am not going to part with my shimano deore mech if at all possible. I cannot find fault in it, and unless youre a real weight watcher, neither should you: The only fault i might possibly be able to find in the deore mech is with the scratchy paint, but then again i have the black version so if in silver this need not appply.
Strengths: strength - these things arent going to give up easily! nice anount of very progressive travel.
Weaknesses: clicky sound. very heavy indeed!
Overall: beast of a fork, only not for serious xc use, unless you're some beast yourself! look cool too, and work very well. simple and quite adjutable, very cheap.
'AMAZINGLY LIGHT, STRONG, AND TURNS LIKE A MONKEY'
Strengths: you'll break before it does, and it looks brilliant. very well made, superb welding around BB and drop outs. short wheel base, amasing for manuals wheelies etc.
Weaknesses: Dirt jumper forks, or ones with wide crowns limit your ability to do x ups etc and bang on the frame, there's not quite enough clearance on the meaty downtube. shouldnt be aproblem unless you stack badl;y
Overall: serious value for money. looks great, hand made, light and chuckable. very worth buying!! also merlin cycles are brilliant help.
