Shimano road STI to mtb derailleur compatibility?

[mistermo]

I have a tandem with an XTR rear derailleur controlled by bar end shifters. I'd like to swith to STI shifters but seem to recall there's some shifters that play well and others that don't. Shown in the pic is my rear derailleur. Can anyone suggest which model (triple please) STI shifters play well with it? Or, asked in another way, which (9 or 10s) STI lever to MTB derailleur combo would work best?

Much appreciated

[eddief]

if non-dynasys, then based on my experience, any 8,9,10 STI shifters will work.

[idrinkwater]

I'm fairly sure that even dynasys stuff will work with STIs, as long as it's 9 speed. Could be wrong. It's all about cable pull, and shimano changed the cable pull for their 10 speed mtb stuff.

[kramnnim]

I thought Dynasys was 10 speed. You might be thinking of the Shadow derailleurs...?

[eddief]

shadow has to do with cable attachment location and no adjusting barrel on the RD. Dyna Sys changed cable pull ratio and does not work (well) with STI...to the best of my experiece.

[eddief]

duplicate

[dave thompson]

Shimano 9-speed MTB rear derailleurs work perfectly with Shimano 10-speed STI shifters. Shimano 10-speed MTB rear ders don't. The 9-speed rear/10-speed STI combo is very commonly used on touring bikes as well as tandems.

[oldpotatoe]

Any STI except 11s works fine with any shimano MTB rear except 10s or 11s ones.

[eddief]

put it to bed.

[kramnnim]

9...and the cable is unraveling.