It's easy to remember that SS (short cage) is for cross-ratio road sprockets and GS (medium cage) is for wide-ratio sprockets, but just because the maximum number of teeth is large doesn't mean that GS (medium cage) is the best choice.
What does SS mean on rear derailleur?
Shimano categorizes its rear derailleurs into three tiers depending on the cage length, and they're denoted by the suffix on the model number. “-SS” refers to the short-cage versions, with a maximum chain capacity of 33T or less. These are usually the domain of road bikes.
Do I need a short or medium cage derailleur?
It's generally best to go for as short a derailleur cage as you can get away with, as long as you can avoid the chain contorting on the extremes of the cassette, such as using the largest on both sprocket and chainring. Smaller cages tend to have snappier gear changes, they're lighter, and also less exposed to damage.
How do I know what derailleur I need?
If you are replacing an existing derailleur on a bike, simply count the number of cogs on your cassette and you're good to go. If your drivetrain's speed is an unknown quantity, you can count the number of steps that your shifter runs through and add 'one' to determine the number of gears your drivetrain has.
Can I put any derailleur on my bike?
A derailleur for your mountain bike should match the specifications on the original derailleur. That is, while it doesn't need to be the same model of derailleur, it does need to be the same brand, in almost every case. It also needs to match the number of gears, or have more intended.
42 related questions foundCan I use a 9-speed derailleur on a 7 speed cassette?
Can I use a 9-speed derailleur on a 7-speed cassette? The answer is yes because the rear shift ratio of 9-speed and 7-speed derailleurs is the same if you stay within the same brand.
Can I use a 7 speed derailleur on an 8 speed cassette?
8 speed shifter and cassette, 7 speed derailleur? You'll be fine. There's no "probably" about it. 6-, 7- and 8-speed gear is all cross-compatible in terms of chain width.
Can I change derailleur cage length?
Its not just the tooth capacity, the maximum sprocket size the derailleur is rated for can also change with the cage size in the same product line (i.e. they're not just changing the cage), with the maximum sprocket size going up with cage length.
What does Shimano SGS mean?
Shimano MTB rear derailleurs last letters will be GS or SGS, which stand for "Short cage" or SGS for long cage. A XTR rear derailleur will be RD-M970-GS (for short cage) or RD-M970-SGS (for long cage)
How do I know which Shimano derailleur I have?
Shimano stamps the rear derailleur model number on the underside/lower plate of the parallelogram.
Is 8 gears enough on a bike?
Means no I don't believe 8 gears is enough once he gets up to speed and fitness. 50-11 at a top gear is plenty for 95% of riders. For high speeds the number of gears is irrelevant. Hsi worry less about chain wear and more about knee wear....
Will a 10 speed derailleur work with an 8 speed cassette?
And yes, a shimano der will work with any cassette and a SRAM der also. You will have to buy the derailleur depending on your shifters, since SRAM derailleur are only compatible with SRAM shifters and Shimano derailleur are only compatible with Shimano shifters. Then you all good to go.
Are 7 and 8 speed chains the same?
Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo all use the same chain with 8 speeds. Chain for 7 speeds is a bit wider – 7.3 mm, while a 6 speed one is substantially wider – 7.8 mm. That is why the reverse is not the case and a 7 speed chain and especially a 6 speed one will not work as well on an 8 speed system.
Can you use an 8 speed chain on a 9 speed bike?
Yep, it'll be absolutely fine. Should work fine, the differenec in width of an eight and nine speed chain is minimal. You may have a problem with the chain not seating on the chainrings. Chains, sprockets and chainrings all wear at the same rate, if you replace one of these items there is a chance they just wont 'fit'.
Are 8 and 9 speed chains the same?
7, 8, and 9 speed chains have the same inner width, but 9 speed chains have thinner outer plates for a thinner overall chain. So while a 9 speed chain works fine on a 7 or 8 speed drivetrain, it will be a weaker chain that tends to "stretch" faster.
Are SRAM and Shimano 9 speed cassettes interchangeable?
In some cases, it is possible to run a cassette from a different brand than the rest of your drivetrain. SRAM and Shimano cassettes, on either road or mountain bike, are interchangeable with each other as the spacing is the same between the sprockets.
What is front derailleur?
The front derailleur is the mechanism that shifts the chain on bike with more than one front chainring. There are many different makes and models, but they all share the same basic design and functionality. Front derailleurs are attached to the bike with either a clamp or bracket. Clamp mounted derailleur.
Can I use 10 speed derailleur with 11 speed cassette?
You can use the 10 speed rear dérailleur on an 11 speed cassette with no issues at all but you can not use 10 speed shifters on an 11 speed cassette.
How much does a derailleur cost?
If you take your MTB into a local bike shop the average price to replace a rear derailleur is going to be $110. If you DIY replacing a derailleur will cost about $50 (plus your time) This price will depend a lot on the actual derailleur needed. Usually a bike shop will also take care of other problems.
How do I choose a replacement derailleur?
When buying a new rear derailleur be sure to match it with your drivetrain 'speed'. 10-speed drivetrains use narrower chains than 9-speed so you'll need a mech to match. Most rear mechs are made of a polymer and alloy mix but you'll find carbon fibre in top-end models to shave even more weight.
Is deore compatible with Altus?
Yes. You can take any 7-9 speed Shimano rear derailleur and use it with any Shimano 7-9 rear shifter. And the Deore front shifter will pair fine with the Altus FD.
Can I use Shimano cassette with SRAM derailleur?
SRAM's cassettes and chains are compatible with all of Shimano's groupsets, and vice versa. Likewise, Shimano and SRAM buyers have the freedom to mix different levels of chains and cassettes so long as they are designed for the same kind of transmission.
