DERAILLEURS - FRONT
2010 SRAM XX High Clamp Front Derailleur
The SRAM XX high clamp front derailleur is not a triple-chain ring front derailleur. It is not a compact double-chain ring front derailleur. It is its own thing. While the shape can handle up to a 15-tooth differential between the front and rear, it is shorter than a triple-specific ...read more
2010 SRAM XX Low Clamp Front Derailleur
The SRAM XX low clamp front derailleur is not a triple-chain ring front derailleur. It is not a compact double-chain ring front derailleur. It is its own thing. While the shape can handle up to a 15-tooth differential between the front and rear, it is shorter than a triple-specific ...read more
2009 SRAM X-9 High Clamp Front Derailleur
At first glance, the SRAM X-9 High Clamp front derailleur looks like the X-Generation with a new finish. It isn’t. The cage looks basically the same, just less metal. There’s more of a difference than that. The X-9 parts are forged, whereas the X-Gen is stamped. As component ...read more
2009 SRAM X-9 Low Clamp Front Derailleur
At first glance, the SRAM X-9 Low Clamp front derailleur looks like the X-Generation with a new finish. It isn’t. The cage looks basically the same, just less metal. There’s more of a difference than that. The X-9 parts are forged, whereas the X-Gen is stamped. As component ...read more
2009 Shimano XTR Front Derailleur - Top Swing FD-M970
Shimano XTR 970 front derailleurs are a refinement over the 960 series. The logo has been laser-cut through the cage, the finish matches the rest of the 9707 line, and the back of the cage is more minimal. The two features save you 7g over last year’s design. As with last year, the seat tube ...read more
2009 Shimano XTR Front Derailleur - Traditional FD-M971
After all these years, it turns out that the front derailleur can still be refined. Besides the wider link that the cage pivots off of for easier shifting, there was metal to be removed and the limit screws to be repositioned for easier access. Many will say “so what, it’s just a front ...read more
2009 Shimano XT Front Derailleur - Traditional FD-M771
Style. We'd all prefer more rather than less. Even if we don't admit it, we'd prefer a part that has something to distinguish itself from others, even if the part isn't particularly important. Shimano addressed this concern with their new Deore XT FD-M771 traditional front derailleur. It has ...read more
2009 Shimano XT Front Derailleur - Top Swing FD-M770
Metal stamping. Looking at the 25th anniversary Shimano Deore XT FD-M770 Front Derailleur, we think of that lowly art. Crudely stamped and cheaply plated parts formed form thick sheets of steel adorn many a Huffy, Columbia, and Free Spirit, but high-end front changers are impressive works. ...read more
2010 Shimano XT M771 Direct Mount Front Derailleur
Since suspension design shouldn't be limited by your front derailleur, Shimano has created a direct-mount version of their XT front derailleur. Like a braze-on, only different, the derailleur bolts directly to the seat tube abutting a flat plate via a single Allen-head bolt. It is like a braze-on in ...read more
2009 Shimano Saint FD-M815 Front Derailleur
83mm bottom brackets lead to cranks with 57.5mm chain lines which need front derailleurs that can go this wide. Shimano makes two front derailleurs for the Saint FC-M815 double crankset. The Shimano Saint FD-M815 Front Derailleur is the top-swing version of the derailleur. Top swing. Bottom ...read more
