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SRAM X9 trigger shifter review

I’ve never been a huge fan of SRAM’s grip (or twist) shifters. I gave them a chance on a couple of bikes a few years ago and, while they performed very well, I couldn’t get a proper feel for them. As a result, I stuck with the tried-and-true Shimano RapidFire Plus trigger system. My reliance on Shimano triggers was seriously tested when SRAM introduced their X9 and X7 triggers in 2003. When I eventually picked up a set of the X9 triggers, I was impressed by the quality of the shifters and, once installed, their overall performance.

For this review, the SRAM X9 trigger shifters controlled a SRAM X0 rear derailleur and both a Shimano XT and SRAM XGen front derailleur (at different times, of course) on my Giant AC.

First impressions

Out of the box, the SRAM X.9 triggers look sharp. SRAM includes new cables (pre-installed in the shifter) with every new trigger, so you don’t need to worry about frayed or worn cables when you install the product — everything is new and minty fresh. SRAM triggers allow riders to keep their hands wrapped around their handlebars at all times – all shifting activity is performed by your thumbs (one lever is pushed to find a higher gear and another is pushed to move into a lower gear).

The X9 triggers weigh in at around 260 grams, which is a little bit more than the Shimano XT RapidFire shifters (240 grams) but not enough to dissuade all but the most finicky weight watchers. Unlike the Shimano trigger shifters gearing indicators on the SRAM triggers are located in the handlebar clamp, keeping them well out of the way from potentially damaging rocks. Additionally, you can mount the X9s inboard or outboard (either on the inside or outside of your brake levers). The ability to mount the shifters inboard is great for all of you who prefer to brake with one finger on your levers.

Installation of the shifters wasn’t too difficult. It was a little trying to get the shifting dialed on my first try since SRAM shifting systems rely solely on the fine-adjustment knobs / dials located on the shifter – Shimano systems have fine-adjustment features both on derailleurs and shifters – but once things were set, I was good to go.

Note: It’s important to note that the X9 triggers use a 1:1 actuation ratio, which means they’re not compatible with any of the Shimano rear derailleurs (front derailleurs are fine) so, if you’re considering the SRAM shifters but don’t want to lose your XTR rear derailleur, you’ll need to look at the SRAM Rocket shifters.

Performance

When I first got onto the trail with these shifters, I thought that this was going to be a straight-forward review with very few opportunities for criticism. Simply put, the shifters work really well. Downshifts were positive and trouble-free and upshifts were even better; it was extremely easy to tell when a shift was made (ie. the ‘clicks’ were noticeable) and, after a while, I knew that I could rely on the system to get me into the gear I wanted when I wanted it.

That being said, I did have a couple of problems with the shifters. Even though I run my shifters quite far to the inside of my handlebars, occasionally I bump the lower thumb shifter on the left side (the one that controls the front derailleur) and, because the shifter is so positive, I’ll end up in my granny gear when I don’t want it. It’s not a big deal but it is annoying having to shift back into my middle gear after a steep section of trail.

Also, I found that I had to push REALLY far with my thumb to move the front derailleur from the granny ring to the middle ring. For the first part of the test period, I was running a Shimano XT front derailleur, which performed very well for the previous year; I was a little puzzled when it didn’t work nearly as well with the SRAM X9 triggers. I replaced the XT with a SRAM NextGen front derailleur and my ‘issues’ disappeared. I’m going to move the XT over to a Shimano equipped bike to see if it runs any better.

Durability

One of my biggest gripes about Shimano’s RapidFire shifters is the location of the gearing indicator. The flimsy tab always seems to break after your first crash and you’re left either with a mangled piece of plastic or a shifter without any indicators whatsoever. SRAM avoided this issue by incorporating the indicator within the handlebar clamp. As such, you avoid the problems that plague the Shimano indicators. It’s not a big deal, but SRAM improved on the standard with a new idea.

Pricing

MSRP for the SRAM X9 trigger shifters is $70 (usd) and $110 (cad), a price that makes them significantly less costly than the Shimano XTs (which retail for about $110 usd). Of course, you need to purchase a 1:1 compatible derailleur to have the system work on your bike, so for many first timers there will be an additional upfront cost.

Wild card

Everything went reasonably well with the SRAM shifters until I had to replace some worn cables. The X9 shifters feature a cover screw that, when removed, allows you to slide the cable through the shifter body. Unfortunately, the cover screw for my shifters (both front and rear were identical) were composed of a plastic that was far too soft; even with a good deal of care, the screws refused to come out and each became a mangled mess.

After the screws were, well, screwed, I had to take the shifters apart to get the cables out. I won’t recount my ordeal in full detail but let’s just say that it took a good deal of time to get things working properly. I’ve heard that SRAM will replace the screws upon request but I feel that it’s something that should have been taken care of in the factory.

Summary

SRAM’s X9 trigger shifters are some of the best available. I had no real issues with shifting during the test period, although I did find that I experienced a number of accidental shifts and had some problems changing from the granny gear to the middle ring.

If you’re considering ‘going SRAM’ you’ll need to understand that your Shimano rear derailleur isn’t compatible with any of the SRAM products that utilize a 1:1 actuation ratio. Additionally, I had problems changing derailleur cables and the work-around for this issue was a bit of a headache.

Manufacturer website: www.sram.com

MSRP: $70 (usd) | $120 (cad)

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 30th, 2005 at 10:12 am and is filed under Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.