Reviews »
Shimano Deore LX rear derailleur review
Contrary to what people might think I don’t always shell out for the most expensive component on the block. In some cases, I base purchasing decisions on the expected amount of use an item will receive and, should it be less than ‘a lot’, I’ll scale back my purchase accordingly.
This long and drawn out process is what convinced me to pick up a Shimano Deore LX rear derailleur. I figured it would be a good idea to test the part and compare it with some of the other products Shimano (and SRAM) has on offer.
The Shimano Deore LX rear derailleur used in this review was mounted on a Norco Shore using LX RapidFire shifters and a brand new LX 11-34 cassette, a new SRAM 990 chain, and a new chain ring. It was ridden for three days at Whistler Bike Park in British Columbia. That’s right, three days.
First impressions
Just like other Shimano rear derailleurs, the LX isn’t awe-inspiring at first glance. I know that I’ve harped on it in the past but the more I ride SRAM derailleurs the more I really feel that Shimano is being left in the dust when it comes to mountain bike derailleurs. If Shimano wants to maintain market share over the long term, approaching mountain bike derailleur design from another angle instead of relying on reputation and pride of place would be a good first step.
That being said, I expected a certain level of performance after installation – somewhere between Shimano’s Deore and Deore XT rear derailleurs. I installed the derailleur, dialled it in, and headed out for a day at the bike park.
Performance
My critics surely will say, ‘Dude, how can you expect any rear derailleur to last up there?’ My response is that a bunch of other derailleurs lasted and performed well for a good deal longer than the Shimano LX.
On the first day at the bike park the Shimano LX rear derailleur worked fairly well. By lunchtime, the LX was starting to miss shifts (both upshifts and downshifts) but it wasn’t that distracting and didn’t effect my riding all that much. I stopped about mid-day and adjusted the derailleur – I was using new cables – and it continued to function for the rest of the day.
My next day at Whistler was a couple of weeks later and the LX derailleur didn’t perform nearly as well. About an hour into my day the derailleur started to skip, miss shifts, and perform in a way contrary to how I wanted it. At first I thought that I might have knocked it but playing back the day’s runs and examining the component carefully, I found no signs of damage. The derailleur remained tight and free of any sort of significant lateral play.
Durability
On my third day at Whistler, I may as well have ridden chainless. The derailleur didn’t hold any gears (save first) and didn’t shift well at all. When I dismounted and checked the part, I noticed that one of the pins had started to make it’s way out of the derailleur body. This is a fairly common occurrence at Whistler – derailleurs frequently give up the ghost in this manner – but it usually takes between six and ten days at the bike park before the earliest failures occur.
I’ve had other LX rear derailleurs fail in the same way in the past and, usually, I chalked it up to rider error or damage. Additionally, I’ve talked with (and consoled) other riders who complained of a similar lack of performance and durability. I’ve seen brand new (literally, brand new) Shimano LX rear derailleurs fail on the first run down the mountain (and not just at Whistler): the body of one was snapped in half; the pins on another had worked themselves free and caused the derailleur to fail.
Pricing
MSRP for the Shimano LX rear derailleur is $57 (usd) or $85 (cad), depending on your place of residence. This price puts the derailleur above Shimano’s Deore but below the Shimano XT. However, based on the product’s performance and durability, I would recommend the purchase of either a Deore rear derailleur or a Shimano XT rear derailleur – both have proven themselves to be more successful over the long term than the LX rear derailleur.
Wild card
The LX rear derailleur loses points in this section for the same reason that its Deore and XT counterparts lost them: the cable routing on the LX derailleur is antiquated and prone to breakage; the design of the derailleur cage allows it to clatter into your bike’s chain stays on rough descents. I feel strongly that both of these factors limit the overall durability and performance of the product.
Summary
I’ve ridden with a lot of different derailleurs over the years and I can say with confidence that my experiences with the Shimano Deore LX rear derailleur have been less than positive. I’ve experienced regular poor performance, abysmal durability, and, based on the previous two categories, a less than satisfactory price.
I’d recommend taking a pass on the Deore LX rear derailleur. If you’re in the market for something new, save your pennies and buy the lower priced Deore rear derailleur or the higher end XT rear derailleur.
Manufacturer website: www.shimano.com
MSRP: $57 (usd) | $85 (cad)
| Category | Rating (?) |
|---|---|
| First impressions | 7 / 10 |
| Performance | 20 / 40 |
| Durability | 8 / 20 |
| Pricing | 14 / 20 |
| Wild card | 6 / 10 |
| Overall | 55 / 100 |
1. Posted by Shimano Deore XT rear derailleur review » The Biking Hub | 10:05 am, 4 January 2006
[…] Like some of the other derailleurs in Shimano’s stable the Deore XT rear derailleur doesn’t exactly knock your socks off. While it is more impressive than the Deore and Deore LX models, the lack of real innovation in Shimano’s design over the last few years has made the derailleur’s appearance less than overwhelming. I do like the styling of the new XT derailleurs — the lines look a little sharper and the part is differentiated a bit from its lower-end siblings. […]