Rear Derailleur Cage Length

[thebbforever]

Currently bent (ate) my long cage Sram X9 rear derailleur beyond repair.

Since I run 1x9 i'm pretty sure i can go to a smaller derailleur length since i have to get a new one.

Do I get a medium or small cage length?

Drivetrain specs:

1. 34T chain ring
2. Cassette 11-34
3. full suspension bike

Any help appreciated.

 

[The Kalmyk]

I have a medium with the same ratio... No problems

 

[thebbforever]

I have a medium with the same ratio... No problems

do you think a small cage would work or am I pushing my luck?

 

[ddorry]

I run a small cage XO with no issues with a 34T middle and 11-34 cassette

 

[soulchild]

typically with a 1x9 you would want to use a short cage (not that a medium or long wouldn't work, but the short would be best for quicker shifts)... not sure if the full squish travel plays any roll in that decision or not though... I had a medium cage x9 on my FS Fisher setup 1x9 (only because they were out of stock on short cage)...

 

[743power]

Short cage is the way to go, just be careful of chain length in the 34t.

 

[gtluke]

go for the short, it bangs shifts and avoids rocks

 

[thebbforever]

Short cage is the way to go, just be careful of chain length in the 34t.

i was just going to measure the chain length by going around my largest cog and my chain ring 34T and add 2 links?

Does this change with the shorter derailleur?

 

[smufguy]

i was just going to measure the chain length by going around my largest cog and my chain ring 34T and add 2 links?

Does this change with the shorter derailleur?

Short derailleur would have a min of two chainlinks missing from the total chain length as compared to the chain length with a long cage.

You dont want to ADD chain links when going from a long to a short cage.