Upgraded after market derailleur cages for T-Type transmissions

[Nomad1]

So far what I found for upgraded cages for the T-Type are the Ratio SR52T & Cascade Components Transmissions Derailleur cage. From what I've seen both seem to be a improvement over any of the stock cages. While the Cascade looks like it is the best of the two the price seem way out of whack even when considering that. Has anybody used either one of these with or without the new jockey wheels or better yet used both? What other options for upgraded cages have people tried?

 

[sethimus]

what's wrong with the original ones?

 

[Powerslider]

So far what I found for upgraded cages for the T-Type are the Ratio SR52T & Cascade Components Transmissions Derailleur cage. From what I've seen both seem to be an improvement over any of the stock cages. While the Cascade looks like it is the best of the two the price seem way out of whack even when considering that. Has anybody used either one of these with or without the new jockey wheels or better yet used both? What other options for upgraded cages have people tried?

What improvement do they deliver?

 

[Hob Nob]

what's wrong with the original ones?

Made from a particular form of extra soft cheese?

 

[Nomad1]

what's wrong with the original ones?

They are not as robust and we are talking upgrade don't get me wrong they are ok but not on par with the rest of the derailleur for one thing.

 

[Nomad1]

What improvement do they deliver?

That is part of what I'm driving at I recall seeing a short Rob made of the Cascade one. From the looks of both units I see were both appear to be more refined then the any of the factory options and not just in a bling way.

 

[Gila Man]

That is part of what I'm driving at I recall seeing a short Rob made of the Cascade one. From the looks of both units I see were both appear to be more refined then the any of the factory options and not just in a bling way.

In the event of a strike/crash, wouldn’t a more “robust” cage transfer more energy to the derailleur thereby potentially damaging it? It seems like the stock cage, while weaker, would be the sacrificial piece (and cheaper to replace) instead of the more expensive portion. Just a thought.

 

[Powerslider]

That is part of what I'm driving at I recall seeing a short Rob made of the Cascade one. From the looks of both units I see were both appear to be more refined then the any of the factory options and not just in a bling way.

So there’s a refinement that’s performative and not just cosmetic? Tell me more.

 

[Nomad1]

In the event of a strike/crash, wouldn’t a more “robust” cage transfer more energy to the derailleur thereby potentially damaging it? It seems like the stock cage, while weaker, would be the sacrificial piece (and cheaper to replace) instead of the more expensive portion. Just a thought.

That may seem like the case on the surface but, there are certain things about them that make them less likely to take a direct hit that would cause any more damage than the stock one in the same scenario to the rest of the derailleur and remember Sram has that sacrificial washer and kicks out of the way when stuck and also a few guards as well. These things of course don't make it absolutely bomb proof. That is a good question as far as potential damage but, it is a question as to whether that is likely or would be only in small percentages of the time that would be the case. As far as cheaper there was a time when that wasn't the case as you could only get the Sram one with the spring and all. I think now you can get just the cage. Getting back to the whole upgrade thing we are talking about the idea of getting better bearing and more protection for jockey wheels and such. I hoping we can here from someone who has used these.

 

[Nomad1]

So there’s a refinement that’s performative and not just cosmetic? Tell me more.

I can only go by the spec's and picture so that why I want to hear from people that have actually laid hands on them and used them.

 

[S1mmo]

I've had the Ratio SR52T cage for around 18 months.
I'm not sure if it's that much better than the SRAM original but it's holding up well to a lot of abuse including getting caught in the spokes when my rear axle came loose.
With the more rounded design it seems to glance off rocks better and looks great in silver.
I'd buy another if this one ever breaks.

 

[Nomad1]

I've had the Ratio SR52T cage for around 18 months.
I'm not sure if it's that much better than the SRAM original but it's holding up well to a lot of abuse including getting caught in the spokes when my rear axle came loose.
With the more rounded design it seems to glance off rocks better and looks great in silver.
I'd buy another if this one ever breaks.

Good to here feedback from someone that's had one for a while are you using the stock jockey wheels?

 

[S1mmo]

Good to here feedback from someone that's had one for a while are you using the stock jockey wheels?

Yeah, stock jockey wheels.
They were originally GX but I upgraded to X0 when they wore down, they don't seem any different.
Slightly off topic but I was a little bit unsure of whether or not to invest in a Transmission groupset but I'm glad I did.
It's been absolutely flawless for the last two years with very little maintenance.

 

[Nomad1]

Yeah, stock jockey wheels.
They were originally GX but I upgraded to X0 when they wore down, they don't seem any different.
Slightly off topic but I was a little bit unsure of whether or not to invest in a Transmission groupset but I'm glad I did.
It's been absolutely flawless for the last two years with very little maintenance.

I have the XX and it's less maintenance then XT XTR setup I had which was very nice. I would tell anybody both systems are great but the XX is less maintenance unless you think putting the battery in the charger for time to time is high maintenance you will have to adjust your XT more often than XX Transmission not that it will be bad just noticeable more as far as adjustment of the derailleur.

 

[Patterson Stark]

So far what I found for upgraded cages for the T-Type are the Ratio SR52T & Cascade Components Transmissions Derailleur cage. From what I've seen both seem to be a improvement over any of the stock cages. While the Cascade looks like it is the best of the two the price seem way out of whack even when considering that. Has anybody used either one of these with or without the new jockey wheels or better yet used both? What other options for upgraded cages have people tried?

I replaced my cage after 8000 km of a single track – we live in a pretty rocky rough terrain here in Christchurch New Zealand and after I took it off I realised it was minimally damaged and easily fixed but I changed it anyway so no complaints with the original– Jackie wheels on the other hand get clogged with Tussic and flax quite often and that’s the only pain

 

[Nomad1]

I have the XX and it's less maintenance then XT XTR setup I had which was very nice. I would tell anybody both systems are great but the XX is less maintenance unless you think putting the battery in the charger for time to time is high maintenance you will have to adjust your XT more often than XX Transmission not that it will be bad just noticeable more as far as adjustment of the derailleur.

aI replaced my cage after 8000 km of a single track – we live in a pretty rocky rough terrain here in Christchurch New Zealand and after I took it off I realised it was minimally damaged and easily fixed but I changed it anyway so no complaints with the original– Jackie wheels on the other hand get clogged with Tussic and flax quite often and that’s the only pain

Are you talking about the Sram cage or one of the aftermarket cages?

 

[RustyIron]

Good to here feedback from someone that's had one for a while are you using the stock jockey wheels?

If you're looking for improved looks, you might want to avoid Cascade Components. There are three of us in my crew that have Cascade Components parts.

The first guy noticed that his anodizing was changing color, and got the run around from Cascade Components. Eventually he got his parts replaced.

I was second to have my parts change color. The story I got from Cascade Components was that he was waiting for a shipment, and it would be about a month. I asked him to contact me when the parts came in. That was a year ago.

The third guy in my crew also has discoloration, but he just let it go because it was too much hassle.

 

[Powerslider]

If you're looking for improved looks, you might want to avoid Cascade Components. There are three of us in my crew that have Cascade Components parts.

The first guy noticed that his anodizing was changing color, and got the run around from Cascade Components. Eventually he got his parts replaced.

I was second to have my parts change color. The story I got from Cascade Components was that he was waiting for a shipment, and it would be about a month. I asked him to contact me when the parts came in. That was a year ago.

The third guy in my crew also has discoloration, but he just let it go because it was too much hassle.

Interestingly they seem to only have the raw/silver model available for sale atm.

 

[RustyIron]

Interestingly they seem to only have the raw/silver model available for sale atm.

Ha! That's funny! Nevertheless, my beef is less with shoddy anodization than it is with shoddy ethics. From an economic perspective, Cascade made the right choice. It might have cost them a hundred bucks or more to make good on the defective parts they sold me. And how much could they stand to profit from me in future sales? MAYBE a hundred bucks? Two at the most. So at best, they might break even. There's little incentive to keep a guy like me happy. They can kick me to the curb and still have ten million other mountain bike riders lining up to be fleeced.

 

[Nomad1]

Ha! That's funny! Nevertheless, my beef is less with shoddy anodization than it is with shoddy ethics. From an economic perspective, Cascade made the right choice. It might have cost them a hundred bucks or more to make good on the defective parts they sold me. And how much could they stand to profit from me in future sales? MAYBE a hundred bucks? Two at the most. So at best, they might break even. There's little incentive to keep a guy like me happy. They can kick me to the curb and still have ten million other mountain bike riders lining up to be fleeced.

Actually from a business stand point if the complaint was legitimate in the long run either fixing the issue or compensating the buyer in some way would be best practice. I have been on both sides of that equation and what's key is trying to look at it objectively. That doesn't mean give away the farm or promise something your not going to do. Try to make it right with in reason. Honest feed back whether good or bad is valuable if presented in a appropriate way.

 

[RustyIron]

I have been on both sides of that equation and what's key is trying to look at it objectively. That doesn't mean give away the farm or promise something your not going to do.

Making the customer happy is a delicate balance. If you give them what they ask for and it's not what they need, they're not going to be happy. They're not the experts, so sometimes you need to steer them in the right direction. That's why they give you tall stacks of Benjamins. You gotta make sure they get what they NEED.

If Cascade Components had told me that the color was the best they could do, maybe I'd have gone along with it. Even offering me a token credit on my next purchase would have been a nice gesture. But "Yeah, nah, we're not going to have them any time soon," is pĩșş poor business practice. Had they acted in an honorable way, they would have received customer endorsement. Instead, they get customer condemnation.