Suntour MD or Shimano XT ???

[daveaasmith]

Can't decide what to do - suggestions appreciated.

My Orange Alu Elite has a complete Suntour XC-comp MD system ready to go on it, but it really isn't in fantastic condition. What I'd really like is a full XC-pro MD system (as I had on my Elite bitd), but that isn't going to happen (or is it ?!!?? you tell me ?!!??).

Then I found myself in possesion of a new set of wheels from a mate - XT hubs on Ritchey Vantage comp rims, with a Porkie and a Megabite. So that got me thinking maybe XT is be the way to go, as there's more of it around.

So I guess my question is "which", but more importantly "why?".

Dave.

 

[tintin40]

XT it works

 

[Sithlord]

XTR works better

 

[tintin40]

XTR works better

true

 

[daveaasmith]

Always been tempted with XTR definitely.

What kind of premium are you paying above XT?

What 'M' codes are we looking at for the '93 - '95 period?

 

[tintin40]

Oh only know about 2007-08 XTR :roll:

 

[messiah]

Oh only know about 2007-08 XTR :roll:

I've never run XTR, XT is where it's at when you want the reliability without the risk of living on bread and water for three weeks when you break something

93 XT was 7spd M735
94/5 XT was 8spd M737 (much better... IMHO)

http://datenbanken.freepage.de/cgi-bin/feets/freepage_ext/41030x030A/rewrite/traut/SHIMANO.html

But it all depends why your building it and what your going to do with it when you finish :roll:

 

[daveaasmith]

I want to build it as light as possible, fully rigid of course - and it's going to be more garage queen. Which is why I have the dilemma of the Suntour parts I have being in non too great nick.

To be honest I think I will have to go for Suntour as that's what my heart is telling me - I guess I'm builiding the bike I used to have - and Shimano didn't feature.

No-one defending Suntour then?!!??
Anyone got any MicroDrive going spare?!!??

 

[Archangel]

Suntour parts are well-made and are lighter than Shimano's equivalent stuff. XC Pro MD is way lighter than XTR M900.
However, What I've understood is that 1) they need to be set up well to function nicely and 2) they tend to go out of adjustment by themselves, so frequent tuning is needed.
Other than that - very cool and you can get XC Comp and XC Pro parts much cheaper than XTR.

 

[billinjah]

go for xc pro the stuff is soo cool o have a complete groupset on my breezer thunder i picked it all up over the course of a year if you wait stuff is cheap enough its very expensive in the states mind. pedals and cranks go for $200+!