Do I need short or long cage derailleur?

It’s generally best to go for as short a derailleur cage as you can get away with, as long as you can avoid the chain contorting on the extremes of the cassette, such as using the largest on both sprocket and chainring. Smaller cages tend to have snappier gear changes, they’re lighter, and also less exposed to damage.

What is the difference between a medium and long cage derailleur?

If you are in-between the capacity ranges of the two, which is often the case with mountain bikes, then note the following: long cage derailleurs will accommodate a wider gear range and deliver a better chain line, while medium cage derailleurs are less likely to be hit by rocks on the trail.

What is the difference between a short medium cage rear derailleur?

The only difference between the two is the amount of chain slack they can take up. In theory, the fact that the short RDs have a shorter cage means that the amount of movement is less due to the lower angle and lower flex.

What is the difference between a short cage and a long cage derailleur?

The cage is those 2 idler wheels on the rear derailleur. In a short derailleur, the idler wheels are closer to together while a long derailleur they are further apart. Short derailleurs shift quicker than a long derailleur so it is not preferable to have a long derailleur on a regular double.

Does derailleur cage affect chain length?

In short, the wrong length derailleur cage will make determining proper chain length nearly impossible. Too much chain length and you’ll have shifting issues and suffer from dropped chains, but too little could rip your bike’s derailleur right off.

How do I know if I need a new derailleur?

If there’s play, get a new one. Also, drip some Tri-Flow or something into all the pivots. If it’s really dirty and sticky, it’ll have a harder time with the shift you describe. If with clean, lubricated pivots the derailleur still won’t move well, you probably need a new one.

Why is it called Dura-Ace?

The name, incidentally, was derived from the ‘Dura’ in duralumin, a lightweight and strong alloy the company used to produce the groupset. Following the first debut of Dura-Ace in 1973, in 1978 Dura-Ace EX 7200 came out, offering a 6-speed setup with down tube shifters.

Is MTB chain too short?

You should also see two slight bends at each jockey wheel of the rear derailleur. If the chain is too short, this shift is difficult to make and the derailleur cage is stretched out and almost parallel to the chainstay. If the chain is really short, then you might not even be able to shift into the largest cog.

Can you switch rear derailleurs on a Dura Ace?

We have done this switch in my shop to get a wider gear range on a new Dura-Ace Di2-equipped bicycle, by switching parts between Ultegra and Dura-Ace Di2 rear derailleurs. We would just buy two rear derailleurs — a Dura-Ace Di2 SS (short cage) rear derailleur and an Ultegra GS (long cage) rear derailleur.

Which is better a long or short derailleur cage?

Long cage = easier to move / short cage = harder to move. Given the fact that usually mountain bikes use cassettes with the widest ratios (11-34), we get to the following rule: If you use only one chainring you can use a short cage derailleur. One chainring, regardless its size, does not affect the derailleur rated capacity.

What kind of rear derailleur do I Need?

We would just buy two rear derailleurs — a Dura-Ace Di2 SS (short cage) rear derailleur and an Ultegra GS (long cage) rear derailleur. We would remove the lower knuckle assemblies from both and interchange them. It always worked fine.

Can a rear derailleur be switched to a GS?

Yes, it is possible to convert your Ultegra SS rear derailleur to a GS rear derailleur. We have done this switch in my shop to get a wider gear range on a new Dura-Ace Di2-equipped bicycle, by switching parts between Ultegra and Dura-Ace Di2 rear derailleurs.