this post was submitted on 02 Nov 2025
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Quality difference between Shimano Alivio and XT derailleurs (mastodon.social)
submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by lightrush@lemmy.ca to c/bicycles@lemmy.ca
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This is the reason a #Shimano XT #derailleur costs more than a Shimano Alivio. On the left you have the whole-body slop of an Alivio M3100 derailleur. On the right you have the same of an XT M8000. There's noticeable slack in all the pivot joints of the M3100. There's no noticeable slack in the XT. It feels like a single piece. The result of this difference is misshifts like going one gear higher then back to the desired one, or otherwise some shifts taking longer between gears.

There's a second video in the original post showing the XT derailleur.

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[–] grue@lemmy.world 12 points 3 days ago (4 children)

One of these days I ought to start caring, and maybe upgrade from my 30-year-old 7-speed Suntour (or whatever it is).

[–] Mpatch@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

Loool I've been telling my self maybee I should up grade to a 9x or 10x. But then I go for a ride and realize. It's more fun to just shut up and ride and not be a prissy over things like fancy parts or weight reduction. Like bro. You are 200lbs on a good day and bike weighs like 40lbs what the hell is reducing half a pound actually going to do for you?.

[–] Amuletta@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 days ago

I loved Suntour components! I wish I still had some of them.

[–] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago (2 children)

If it works for you, there's no need to upgrade. If you ride only occasionally and mainly in flat terrain, it won't make a huge difference.

[–] grue@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I ride often and live in a hilly area. I'm just cheap, LOL.

(My front derailleur is a 3x so a 7-speed rear isn't as low as it sounds, BTW. It's an old mountain bike that I turned into a city/utility bike with slick tires etc.)

[–] Amuletta@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 days ago

If the gearing is set up right, you can ride up mountains with old style freewheels. For 23 years I rode a mid 80s touring bike with a 13-30 six cog freewheel on the back and 28-44-48 chainrings. That kind of half step gearing gave me close ratios and only one or two duplicate gears. The bar end shifters could be operated even when I was out of the saddle.

Did a few tours in the rockies and rode it to work nearly all year 'round.

[–] lightrush@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I don't have experience with the 12-speed drivetrains but the M7000/M8000 11-speed Shimano are incredible. If you have some cash burning in your pocket, you'd be delighted. That said as some have suggested, the same shifting consistency is probably available in cheaper parts too. I can vouch for M7000/M8000 as that's what I've been using since 2017. Especially coming from an old Suntour, it's gonna blow your mind. Perfect shifting under power? Yes.