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 derailleur.” We agree, but old parts do get scarred and even destroyed with use, derailleurs do wear out eventually, weight saving is always a plus, and new bikes look and ride better with new parts.

The XTR traditional swing front derailleur FD-M971 comes with a multi-clamp to accommodate all common seat tube diameters. The total top-low capacity is 22t, the top-middle min capacity is 12t, and the max top gear teeth is 44t. The cable can be routed either from the top tube or down tube. 148g. MSRP $114.99.