recommend me a 9 speed Shimano compatible mid/long cage RD

dbh · #1 08-10-2022, 01:26 PM

I'm thinking of stripping the 5800 group off of my current Granville sportif frame and going back to 9 speed Shimano down tube shifters. I absolutely love the feeling of the positive shifting "clunk" of 9 speed indexed DT shifters. I'm using the opportunity to rethink my gearing as well. The Granville is currently setup with a 34/50 up front and 11-28 in the rear w/a short cage RD. Was thinking of going 46/30 with a 11-32 or maybe 11-34. With the compact, I very rarely find myself in the smallest cogs and figure that a subcompact will give me full range of the cassette. Plus the 32 or 34 will give me a little insurance for the steepest hills.

For an RD, I'd want something that plays well with my DT shifters, can handle a 34 tooth large cog, and comes in black. Shimano Deore and Microshift R9 seem to be the usual suspects. Curious if there are other options I should consider or what your experience has been with either the Shimano or Micorshift option above? Oh, and something with a barrel adjuster would be nice too.

slowpoke · #2 08-10-2022, 01:33 PM

In case you didn't know, Shimano 8/9sp mountain RDs will work fine with 10sp indexed road (10sp mtb is the divergence in cable pull).

xnetter · #3 08-10-2022, 01:35 PM

I would think any 8/9spd Shimano MTB RD would work. The bee's-knees model seems to be the XTR M950/M952 series, which comes in a dark grey/black. You might get away with a short cage version for your needs.

I also like the XT M750 model but I believe they only came in silver.

KJ

rccardr · #4 08-10-2022, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowpoke

In case you didn't know, Shimano 8/9sp mountain RDs will work fine with 10sp indexed road (10sp mtb is the divergence in cable pull).

In case you also don’t know, any 7 or 7 speed (think M550 or later) indexed Deore/MTB RD will also happily shift with Shimano 9 speed down tube shifters & will play with a 34 large cog or bigger depending on your RD hanger length. Don’t come in full black, but many of them had black bodies with polished cages & were very attractive.

spoonrobot · #5 08-10-2022, 01:46 PM

Sora R3000 has 34t capacity (actually 36t for most situations) and offers a little better shifting that the longer cage Deore model IME. I used R9 for a long time but it was a whole ago and I don't remember much other than it worked fine.

mhespenheide · #6 08-10-2022, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spoonrobot

Sora R3000 has 34t capacity (actually 36t for most situations) and offers a little better shifting that the longer cage Deore model IME. I used R9 for a long time but it was a whole ago and I don't remember much other than it worked fine.

I thought Sora 9-speed uses the pull amount of 10-speed and is incompatible with earlier 9-speed Shimano?

If it is compatible, that's nice to know.

spoonrobot · #7 08-10-2022, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhespenheide

I thought Sora 9-speed uses the pull amount of 10-speed and is incompatible with earlier 9-speed Shimano?

If it is compatible, that's nice to know.

I've not heard this. Have been using a RD-R3000-GS with older R3500 shifters since Feb. Compatibility charts confirm 3500/3000 interchangeable: https://productinfo.shimano.com/#/co...453&acid=C-454

NHAero · #8 08-10-2022, 02:36 PM

Shimano XTR RD-M952 is my favorite rd of all time. On several bikes, 9 and 10 speed.

mhespenheide · #9 08-10-2022, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spoonrobot

I've not heard this. Have been using a RD-R3000-GS with older R3500 shifters since Feb. Compatibility charts confirm 3500/3000 interchangeable: https://productinfo.shimano.com/#/co...453&acid=C-454

I see what you're pointing out. I'm questioning whether 3000 and 3500 Sora is compatible with older Deore, Deore XT, Ultegra, and the like. Would 7700 (Dura Ace 9-speed) shifters play nicely with 3000 or 3500? I heard that they didn't, but I don't know that for certain.

All of the "old" Shimano 9-speed stuff works across the board, and is cross-compatible with most of the old 8-speed stuff as well.

spoonrobot · #10 08-10-2022, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhespenheide

I see what you're pointing out. I'm questioning whether 3000 and 3500 Sora is compatible with older Deore, Deore XT, Ultegra, and the like. Would 7700 (Dura Ace 9-speed) shifters play nicely with 3000 or 3500? I heard that they didn't, but I don't know that for certain.

All of the "old" Shimano 9-speed stuff works across the board, and is cross-compatible with most of the old 8-speed stuff as well.

I misunderstood, I've used 3500 shifters with older Deore M750 and it worked great. So as far as I know R3000/3500 are "regular" 9-speed and should work with everything else.

RobJ · #11 08-10-2022, 03:47 PM

I just installed the Deore 9s M592-SGS. Running 12x36 46/28 with no issues. Enough chain wrap.

https://analogcycles.com/collections...40738649079985

Using DA bar end shifters but might swap to the Sora drop bar shifters which advertise 2x9 or as I just learned, Shimano 10s road shifters

NHAero · #12 08-10-2022, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobJ

I just installed the Deore 9s M592-SGS. Running 12x36 46/28 with no issues. Enough chain wrap.

https://analogcycles.com/collections...40738649079985

Using DA bar end shifters but might swap to the Sora drop bar shifters which advertise 2x9 or as I just learned, Shimano 10s road shifters

I use the M952 XTR rd with 105 10s shifter and a 12-30 10s cassette, and a triple 48-36-24 on my Bob Jackson.

dbh · #13 08-10-2022, 07:00 PM

Thanks all for the recs. Just curious if there's any functional difference between the Deore M591 and M592? The M591 has a barrel adjuster, which would be helpful when pairing with DT shifters.

robt57 · #14 08-10-2022, 07:10 PM

Also, the 9 speed triple 6500 will do that well, the XT 9 speeds also VG, LX not terrible either. And my fav for 32t cog and 30/46 subcompact would be Ultegra RD-6700A-GS. Good luck finding one though...

But if you are going 34-36 top cog best stick with the MTB 9 speed RDs. Having said that I have had the 6700A pushed to 34 before, does fine, but maybe a tad noise on that 34T. But climbing my huffin/puffin drowns it out...

mhespenheide · #15 08-10-2022, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spoonrobot

I misunderstood, I've used 3500 shifters with older Deore M750 and it worked great. So as far as I know R3000/3500 are "regular" 9-speed and should work with everything else.

Cool! Thank you for clarifying. I'm running 9-speed and 11-speed, so it's always nice to have more (and newer) options.