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Submitted by
endfreq
a Weekend Warrior
from Indiana
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | That one | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Never had a skip I couldn't tune out of it.
Least inexpensive cassette worth a s#!t.
Minimal wear after 5 years of commuting on it. | | Weaknesses: | A bit on the heavy side, but more metal = longer wear. | | Similar Products Used: | Mostly other Shimano series. XT, low end stuff like Alivio that gets swapped out quick. No discernable shifting difference between XT + LX that I could tell. | | Bike Setup: | 03 Giant Prodigy commuter. Mostly stock, some upgrades.
Drivetrain is completely LX. | | Bottom Line: | If weight isn't a huge issue, this is the one you should buy.
If you compete all of the time and must shave off every gram then why are you reading this review?
Personally I've never had a problem with the cassette or drivetrain for that matter, but the bike it's on was a daily commuter which was relegated to baby-hauling duty (2/3 times a week). No hard offroad, so grain of salt people.
Best value IMHO and the most maintenance-free drivetrain I've ever had. Recommended | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pill
a Cross Country Rider
from eastern europe
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | forest trails | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Local bikeshop | | Strengths: | Quite durable. Shifts well.cost not so much. Rust-free. | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | CS-M770; HG-40 | | Bike Setup: | Giant XtC | | Bottom Line: | I am Using an CS-M580 cassete. No complaints at all. Use it with HG-93 chain. No rust at all. It is fully serviceable. The 32tooth ster can be removed to obtain a lower weight (and 8-speed transmission).
XT is a lighter-one. It has the same material of the chainrings, but the chainrings are on a spider. So the XT cassete cannot be disassembled. XT has much greater performance while pushing dirt through itself. It is practically opened, so has a greater mud clearence.
As usual - had to replace chain after 2000km. First 200-300 km with the new chain cassete get groundet. So some sprocket jumping took place as an issue. It is all okay now. I will change the chain to a neew one again after 2000km. and so on. 3 chains. And then i'll re-circle the used chains. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dave
a Cross Country Rider
from boise idaho
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | jenson | | Strengths: | price, durability | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | sram, shimano xt | | Bike Setup: | 2005 heckler, 2004 ibex trophy hardtail | | Bottom Line: | I read so many reviews about drivetrain problems, one must realize that you do have to replace the chain periodically use a park chain wear tool and you will find your drive train will last a lot longer typically 5 or 6 chains before the other stuff wears out, that is thousands of miles.the LX cassete is my favorite much more durable than anything lighter be it shimano or sram, fact is the lighter cassettes wear out faster, if you race and every gram counts then go for lighter cassette, the lx shifts well to..but hey I know how to tune and maintain a drivetrain. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Notion
a Downhiller
from UK
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Lasts VERY, VERY long, had one for 1 and half, barely any wear for me, and sold the bike on... Got another one on my DH bike, same story so far. | | Weaknesses: | None... It's a cassette... With HG... And its metal... Damn... | | Similar Products Used: | Loads. | | Bottom Line: | Cheap, effective. Wouldn't really bother going any higher at all... As long as a cassette is a HG one, no need to go any higher. I would have got a Deore one, but I am not fond of Deore components, so never tried one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JOHN
a Cross Country Rider
from MD
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | LOCH RAVEN | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | PERFORMANCEBIKE.COM | | Strengths: | LOOKS A LOT NICER THAN MY STOCK BLACK RUSTED CASSETTE AND SHIFTS BETTER TOO. VERY LIGHT WEIGHT | | Weaknesses: | NONE | | Similar Products Used: | JUNK | | Bike Setup: | IRON HORSE WARRIOR DISC, XT HUBS, MAVIC DISC RIMS, AVID BB DISCS, DT SWISS CENTERLOCK, LXM580 CASS, MEGA 9 SIIFTERS AND LEVERS,TRUVATIV CRANK | | Bottom Line: | GOOD PRODUCT. I CHANGED FROM A STOCK 8 SPEED TO THIS 9 AND HAVE REALLY ENJOYED THE PERFORMANCE DIFFERENCE, INTEGRATED WELL WITH THE SETUP I HAVE. AFORDABLE | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy
a
from Centennial, Colorado
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Apex, Enchanted Forest, Grub stake | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Came on the bike. | | Strengths: | Shifts fast and accurate. | | Weaknesses: | wears out quickly. | | Similar Products Used: | LX on an old 93 Trek 7000 | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Enduro Expert - stock | | Bottom Line: | Guess I ride harder than I use to? Went to the LBS today because of skipping gears and they said the cassette was worn down. I asked how many miles should it get, he said about 800-1000 miles. Mine has no more than 275 on it and it's already 3/4 the way worn. What is going on? I'm going to read around your suggestion boards some more and see what kind of replacement will be the best, but will probably try an XT. If it comes on your bike ride it till it breaks and then beef it up. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a
from Modesto, CA
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT | | Bottom Line: | Decided to try the LX when my last XT had worn out. I was curious to see if the XT was worth the extra money. After 6 months of hard torque (I like to grind out the tougher gears) the LX is done. That's about how long the XT has held up in the past. I could not notice a difference in performance between the LX and XT. I decided to replace it with an XT. I guess in the back of my mind I expect the XT to be more durable. The LX is heavier. I'd say weight was the only difference. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: December 24, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Cheap, Strong enough | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Cannondale F900 | | Bottom Line: | Haven't had time to fully test it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Predmore
a Cross Country Rider
from Daphne, AL, USA
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Gasline | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | OEM | | Strengths: | Shifted well | | Weaknesses: | After cleaning chain, cassette and chain didn't seem to mesh correctly even when new. Felt like Wally-Mart el-cheapo bike quality. Finally gave up after 3 months and only a few hundred miles. Will try SRAM | | Bike Setup: | Enduro, custom WTB LL/VXC wheels, Scorpions, Easton Monkey Lite Carbon bar,Flyte seat, stock MX Comp fork,Fox Float R | | Bottom Line: | LBS couldn't find anything wrong with this cassette. Felt like some teeth were hooked. New SRAM chain/cassette combo seem to mesh much smoother. Will see how long they last. I cleaned chain and re-lubed frequently. Very sandy conditions here and wet. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nitish Nag
a Cross Country Rider
from Fremont, CA
Date Reviewed: December 19, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | 30 | | Strengths: | Cheap, Good Shifting, Consistent Shifting, Shimano quality (?) | | Weaknesses: | Heavy, Wears quite fast, | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano, Alvivo, Deore, XT, XTR 03 | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Santa Cruz Blur, 2003 XTR with discs, Progressive 5th Element Air Shock, Easton Carbon Cockpit, eggbeaters SS, | | Bottom Line: | This is a great starting out cogest, not for the hardcore rider. If you want a durable performance oriented cagset, go for the 10$ more XT cogset that will last you an actual season. If you want to skimp on the cogs, this is your cogset. lasted 6 months for me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Harry
a Cross Country Rider
from Boise
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | durable - DURABLE - Durable | | Weaknesses: | heavy | | Similar Products Used: | XT | | Bottom Line: | I think some of these reviewers might be having problems tuning their derailers. I've used the same LX cassette since late 98. I've probably put around 3500 miles on it. In Boise we ride up a couple thousand feet and then down, and I've never had much of a problem with the cassette. Over the years I've never had much problem with skipping, and some micro tuning on the derailer has fixed all that. I just put on a new chain and some XT shifters and my bike has been shifting like a dream.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Devil's Spine | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | -great shifting performance
| | Weaknesses: | -fast wearing
-a bit heavy
| | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Acera, Deore, some SR ones too. | | Bike Setup: | '99 Mantra Comp, RS Judy SL, Fox FLOAT R, LX/XT/XTR, Bontrager post, michelin tires, lots more | | Bottom Line: | A good cassette that shifts quite well but it wore out so fast that I will not buy another, also the slightest bit of dirt or mud on the cassette will make shifting non-exsistant. I'm going to buy a SRAM 7.0 to replace this because they are a clearly better company. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
walter
a Cross Country Rider
from Netherlands
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Name and marketing | | Weaknesses: | chewinggum like steel quality | | Similar Products Used: | XT, LX, SRAM | | Bike Setup: | XT, LX, SRAM | | Bottom Line: | The first cogset came on my bike(we are talking 8 speed here), used it for 5(!) years.
The second set lasted "only" one year.
The last set only three months.
Had it send back to Shimano, they said it was normal(?) wear.
This stinks !
Now I use SRAM 5.0, wich already lasts over a year without a problem, and costs about half the price (over here).
Pleaase, can I rate it lower than zero ??? | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mikko
a Weekend Warrior
from Helsinki Finland
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Any xc | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | It's a little heavy for racing use, but for general riding, you can't get any better for the money.DURABILITY!! | | Weaknesses: | Weight | | Similar Products Used: | XT, XTR , Ultegra | | Bottom Line: | Great for the money
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ash
a Cross Country Rider
from Nottingham
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | ?? | | Weaknesses: | wears out quick, prone to rust, heavy-ish | | Similar Products Used: | replaced it with a SRAM 7.0 we'll see how that goes | | Bike Setup: | Giant XCX-ds2, SID, JUDY XC, Raceface etc. | | Bottom Line: | This item came with the bike as standard and wore out after only 8 months!!!! Tends to get a little rusty even with careful cleaning and lubricating. I would have expected a MUCH longer life than 8 months from Shimano!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tristan Skolrud
a Racer
from Yakima WA 98908
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Crow Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$29.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | Shifts great, had a little problems at first with abrubt sprinting but once I got it adjusted a little bit, it worked like a charm. It's a little heavy for racing use, but for general riding, you can't get any better for the money. | | Weaknesses: | Weight | | Bike Setup: | Deore LX everything, Giant XtC 2002 hardtail, Mars 2002 comp coil, Michelin Semi slicks, Sun rims SubIV wheelset | | Bottom Line: | Great for the money
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sieveboy
a
from NY
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | stewart | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | nashbar | | Strengths: | Price, durability | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | SRAM 69 chain | | Bottom Line: | This product holds up well and shifts great. I have used the LX with two SRAM 69 chains, replacing the chains when signs of wear show up. The LX is still running strong with its third chain! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel Frost
a Weekend Warrior
from Middlesex, UK
Date Reviewed: November 15, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$37.00 | | Purchased At: | Chain Reaction, N.Ireland | | Strengths: | Works, smooth, good valu, almost no competition | | Weaknesses: | none for the price. | | Similar Products Used: | None, SRAM simply dont bother with the UK market | | Bike Setup: | Voodoo Canzo Full Susser, mostly LX, bit of XT | | Bottom Line: | Cost me £25uk, equivalent of $37us, hasnt let me down, hasnt worn hasnt done anything wrong, and even if it did, u have to hunt for SRAM like gold dust in this country.
Unless ur a weight obsessional, this will do fine and if du happen to abuse it, it wont bankrupt u getting another one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Burlington CT | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Unbreakable. This cassette is strong. | | Weaknesses: | Several grams heavier than a POS XT cassette. | | Similar Products Used: | XT | | Bike Setup: | All top quality stuff | | Bottom Line: | The heck with XT cassettes.. I rode mine for less than a mile road test. It was noisy, and the chain clicked madly in all gears under cranking pressure. Tried a new shimano chain ( I use SRAM PC99 ) cause it was a cheap way to determine if my chain was worn out... NOPE.. CLICKY maddenly noisy. XT cassette seems crappy. Never had a problem with my LX, so I put it back on the bike, the hell with the weight saving, I would rather ride than break down in the woods. My next cassette, will be LX, unless SRAM can make a good 9 speed cassette by then. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter Spiro
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Strengths: | Really long wearing and good shifting. I have used one set on my winter bike for 5 years, with salt and slush hitting it all the time. Started to skip, and I thoughth I had to replace it. I replaced the chain and cassette, and it still skipped. Then I discovered it was the middle chainring that was worn. I replaced the chainring, put the old cassette back on (yes, with the new chain) and it runs perfectly, no skipping. | | Weaknesses: | A bit heavy, about 300 grams. | | Bottom Line: | A very good product for the price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Big Al
a Weekend Warrior
from NYC
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Cheap, strong..... | | Weaknesses: | heavy | | Similar Products Used: | XT | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Stumpjumper, Z2 bam, XT and XTR build.
Kujo DH, Raceface cranks | | Bottom Line: | I think, for the money, you can't do better. IT is extremely cheap (aprox $20-30), and quite strong. If you are weight contious, get the XT, it is quite similar, except it is drilled out to save weight. I feel the XTR or over the top with money, and from what i've seen, they wear out. So in end, i would suggest the lx for extreme riders, or money contious riders. XT works just as well but weighs much less without sacrificing strength, and the XTR sacrifices a lot of strength for the weigh contious. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Guy
a Cross Country Rider
from Urbana
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | porcupine rim | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Cheap, lasts pretty long | | Weaknesses: | Heavy as hell | | Similar Products Used: | XT | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F1000, XTR shifters, XTR rear der, XTR brakes and levers, Race Face crank w/ rings, some more XTR | | Bottom Line: | Pretty good for the money, but go with an XT and take off plenty of rotating weight. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rod
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary Canada
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Bike Setup: | 99 Cdale Super V 900 | | Bottom Line: | Works gret have had no problems with it. For the money its the best way to go. I think I could loose a few 1000's of grams of my body before I would change it to xt. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick Fenton
a Racer
from Clinton CT
Date Reviewed: August 4, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
the little one in my back yard | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
REALLY INEXPENSIVE*****
GREAT*****
W0RKS JUST AS WELL AS XT***** | | Weaknesses: |
It'ss kind of heavy but good price! | | Similar Products Used: |
Just upgraded to XT/XTR | | Bike Setup: |
K21000 XT/XTR | | Bottom Line: | I loved it, it's cheap and workes great but it likes to suck mud way down inbetween the rings and it's heavy but Xt is lighter but way! more expensive. If your wondering about getting this casset do so unless your a cross country racer and your bike allredy weighs alot,*****Bottom Line Buy It Unless You Race******* I give it a 4 because it's a little heavy | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ted
a Cross-Country Rider
from miami beach
Date Reviewed: July 26, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Oleta State Park | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Strong. Cheap. 20 dollar cheap. | | Weaknesses: |
A tad bit heavy | | Bike Setup: |
FSR comp with Judy | | Bottom Line: | Is a hundred grams going to make a difference? If it is...I'll pay the extra 40 for the XT, but so far so good. If anybody differs with me...e mail and tell me to get something better, but my bike isn't XTR'd out so I'm relatively happy with it. Bikes that cost 1400 dollars usually leave you broke and unable to pay 100 more for a damn hunk of alloy!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Abe Taylor
a Downhiller
from Auburn Cali.
Date Reviewed: May 24, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
downhill ones | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Stuck around for a little while until it broke. | | Weaknesses: |
I didn't know that the teeth were supposed to come off with the chain. | | Bottom Line: | The sound of teeth breaking off of your cassete is a terrible one. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Buddy Benavides
a Downhiller
from Makati,Philippines
Date Reviewed: May 16, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
The FORT | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Its a good cogset, its light ,looks good and its very cheap!! | | Weaknesses: |
none | | Similar Products Used: |
Acera, alivio,STXrc,Exage | | Bike Setup: |
Intenste M-1, Marzocchi Mr.T,LX Gruppo | | Bottom Line: | Its Good!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross-Country Rider
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: April 21, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
easy to keep clean | | Weaknesses: |
couldn't find any so far | | Similar Products Used: |
XT | | Bike Setup: |
stock Cannondale F900 | | Bottom Line: | i think for the money that the LX cassette is a better choice than the XT. I think that it is a good product for the money. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sherman
a weekend warrior
from British Columbia, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 31, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I got this cassette on my new bike. It is a pretty good cassette. Compared to the XT one you can feel the weight difference. I missed putting in a spacer in between the last 2 cogs and the main body. This caused my system to not shift very well. I put it in and it shifted perfectly. Good cassette for the money. | |
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