SRAM PG830 8 Speed Cassette

Advantages: Looks Good, Smooth Gears, Hardcore, Not Too Light Or Too Heavy, Comfy Ride, Good Grip
Disadvantages: Brakes Should Be Hydraulics, Forks Should Have Slightly More Travel

...The Chucker is now available online at around £320 in the black colour or £350 for the blue (which looks better in real life than it does in the pictures). The Chucker handles jumps really well and, although the bash ring [the front part where the gear change happens- normally has about 3 cogs in it] is not best for speed & long distance road riding (I managed 40 miles in a day) but keeps the chain on during jumps. All the SRAM parts [all the parts to do with gears - changers, derraillier...] are capable of a lot of thrashing about and have a really smooth change. The rear derraillier [the mechanism that moves the chain from one gear to another] even stayed together with my friend jumping on it. It is perfect for stunts as the front & forks are not too light (as in the Diamondback Groove) so you do not fall backwards during jumps... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Top of the range "bling" rear mech
Disadvantages: 9 speed "only", superceeded by RD-7800 10-speed version

...I bought this rear derailleur to replace an Ultegra mech when upgrading my bike from 8 to 9-speeds (well, 16 to 18 speed really with my double front chainset). Apparently, this mech is also compatible with 8-speed systems, you just need to change the cable mounting position. Dura Ace is the name of Shimano's top of the range group of bicycle components, or "groupset", for road race bikes, and the 9-speed 7700-series was introduced to the public in 1997 after Shimano sponsored riders using Dura-Ace 7700 series equipped bikes in 1996. Year by year, it's been enhanced, and this review is of rear mech from the 2004 model year. For the non-bike-ophiles among you, the rear mech (or mechanism) is the device at the back end of the bike that moves the chain across the muliple cogs (cassette) on the back wheel to change gear - bigger cog... Read review

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Advantages: Cheapish
Disadvantages: Heavy, Poor durability

...OK, let's start by clearing up one thing here which I bet at least 90% of the people reading this review will be asking: What's a cassette? Well, a cassette is one of those incredibly boring things on a bike that doesn't look posh, and which your average bike owner would probably never even think about buying. So, take a look at the back wheel of any geared mountain bike or road bike. See that set of between five and nine cogs? That's a sprocket cluster or cassette. So, why would anyone buy such a thing? Simple. A bike in regular use gradually deteriorates, and the drivetrain (front and rear cogs and chain) is no exception. The chain stretches, and this causes the teeth on the cassette to wear down. This eventually leads to the chain jumping under load, and until I could manage to get the money together to buy a new cassette, I... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful