Strengths: Totally direct. Thought that the thumb-thumb would take some getting used to, but great half way through 1st ride
Weaknesses: Price is scary, but it was standard on my bike and I've promised myself not to break it.
Overall: I can't believe it. Twice now I've bought a SRAM equiped bike and got the shop to fit shimano before delivery because I was happy with it. MISTAKE. If i'd just tried SRAM once I'd never had bothered. Feels far more direct, and keeping an extra finger on the bars is no bad thing either
Strengths: I've been running the same XO rear mech for nearly five years and it is, without doubt, the best piece of kit on my bike. I'm a big fan of the 'fit and forget'MTB component and this mech has never been looked at in all the time I've had it with the exception of a change of jockey wheels after 2 years. Shifting is super smooth, accurate and fast and the skeletal design means it isn 't super heavy either. Combine this mech with the XO shifters and there's nothing that can compete with the shifting prowess of SRAM.
Weaknesses: There's no escaping the fact that it's expensive. With the intoduction of more carbon component parts to this mech means its only going to become more expensive. Can you really justify a weeks wages on a back mech? Yes, you can. Prior to buying this mech I would go through 2 or 3 lesser mechs a year costing £50 a pop. Bearing in mind I've had this for nearly five years, the initial outlay of the £150 I paid in 2003 is excellent value.
Overall: If its light, strong and does the job its intended to do, I'll stick it on my bike. The XO rear mech ticks all of these boxes and more. You get what you pay for and and I'd happily buy another one tomorrow (but, as the price seems to be creeping up, hopefully I won't have to).
Strengths: Light weight good looks shifs very well
Weaknesses: don't know what I would do if I smashed it (probally cry) it is very expensive
Overall: I have this rear mech extra pimped out with all the bolts changed to titanium for that extra bit of uber cool it shifts perfect every time and is very light but then again so will any well set up rear mech. I didn't atcually buy this it came on a bike but it is a fine rear mech.
Overall: I have ridden many bikes with various gear sets short course Welsh championship races, mountain mayhem, Merida, rough ride etc. In clay and all sorts of crap. With skinny tyres and not much mud this well cleaned lubed shifter on my 1 month old trek ripped apart the hanger and wrapped itself aroung the frame with the chain. Just upset it never happened to any other bikes I have abused. Now I have to make a choice of what to replace it with.
Strengths: Very smooth, very reliable, light and oh so bling !!
Weaknesses: A touch expensive !!
Overall: I changed over from Shimano at the recommendation of a freind and have never looked back, faultless smooth shifting, very reliable, had it on the bike for nearly ywo years and apart from the anual service I've never touched it, blinding !!
Overall: im lucky enough to have four bikes one set up with the xo one with a sram plasma mech with forge 9spd thumb shifters another with a xtr mech and rocket grip shifters and a xt mech with xt rapid fires ... to pick the best out of that lot is difficult .for weight the plasma with thumbies wins hands down but for function cant pick a winner as all my systems work flawlessly.... and as for me picking price as a strength i got mine from the states and after paying postage and taxes both mech and shifters along with a xtr front mech came to approx £130
Strengths: Now available with trigger shifters, you have to experience the wonderful performance of this mech before buying anything else. Superb build quality (as it should be).
Weaknesses: None yet - apart from cost.
Overall: Bought mech and X-9 shifters for rrp of mech alone. Unbelieveably fast, smooth and positive shifting - you have to try it for yourself. Having clouted a rear mech just once before in 10 years of riding, I caught the XO on a rock within a month of fitting it. Marked the inside of the cage next to the top jockey (don't ask me how...), but otherwise it was totally unaffected (although I'm wondering whether I should fit a breakaway bolt as I don't have a replaceable hanger!). Great looking, superb performance, worth every penny I paid for it.
Strengths: light weight good shifting very durable not shimano
Weaknesses: cost cost cost
Overall: I have had mine now since they were first released, it still looks as good as the day i took it out of the tin, shifting is superb (X.O. shifters) in all conditions and it has never missed a shift. even in soggy and wet conditions it has worked really well and given the price it should. definatly recomend this mech.
'GORGOEUS MECH WITH A REPUTATION YET TO BE ESTABLISHED'
Strengths: Light, pretty, unique, will be a rare sight on the trails, shifts well
Weaknesses: Expensive.
Overall: Very early report. Just had X.0 added to racing aluminium hardtail. New to Gripshift. Everthing positive so far. Only done 10 miles and in good conditions. Will update more accurately when it tastes some Scottish mud! It will win lots of friends on looks alone (me included) but you ride more carefully with £150.00 dangling from the rear.
Performance
80%
Reliability
80%
Value
60%
Overall Rating
73%
MY REVIEW
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Average Rating: 4 out of 5
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