In my opinion, this mech is a brilliant piece of kit which just keeps on working - just as good as the more expensive models (XT/XTR, which yes I have used). It's only £25 quid for something which looks so good, works so well and for so long, it really is a bargain for anyone who takes cycling seriously (and by that I dont mean just on roads!).
Made by THE manufacturer of bicycle gears, shimano, so you know spares, advice etc from bike shops isn't going to be hard to find. Dont waste your money on a more expensive one (£85 for an XTR, - you could buy a cheap bike for that!), get this which in my opinion looks better, and is only a few grams heavier (just skip on the chocolate for a few days and your combined weight will be the same!) and spend your money on something more crucial - a gear mech is the kind of thing that should be bought to last, which this will.
This is a 9 speed model, meaning it'll work on a bike with anything up to 27 gears, but will also work fine with 24 or 21 speed systems (from my experience anyway). Once properly set up with a compatible shifter such as one of Shimano's own (there is also an LX 9 speed shifter, which is just as good value) and a half decent cable shifting is smooth, quick and accurate - you put the shifter in a gear and the mech follows properly. Apart from the more-expensive-than-it-actually-is looks, this mechs main features are its light weight (only 288g), 9 speed compatability, and a number of small but useful things that you usually only see on more expensive models, such as rubber boots to keep dirt out of the cable to keep shifting smooth. The mech can cope with up to a 34 tooth cassette, and right down to 11. The majority of the parts are made from aluminium, which keeps weight down while giving a nice satin-like finish.
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£25
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