SRAM has been taking the industry by storm with it’s new products and innovations over the past year. With the new Hammerschmidt front drive system, Avid Elixir brakes and a completely redesigned Rock Shox line…2009 looks to be a big year for SRAM components.

What hasn’t changed much for the the 2009 model year is the conventional shifting lines from SRAM. The X.7, X.9 and X.0 lines have stayed pretty much the same over this model year. Do they still meet the demands of 2009?

The SRAM X.9 Trigger Shifter

The X.9 trigger shifters from SRAM are one below the top of the line X.0 group. For the Shimano fans out there…you can consider this XT competition in performance and price point.

From the SRAM website:

• Zero Loss Travel™
• 2-step Front Shifting – uses cable to cradle to equalize overall effort
• Superior 1:1 Actuation Ratio™
• Adjustable Clamp Positions
• Avid Matchmaker™ Compatible
• Compatibility: SRAM 1:1® rear derailleurs, SRAM or Shimano® front derailleurs
• Speeds: 9
• Weight: 240g – Lightest in Class

At a claimed 240g, the X.9 shifters are a mere 15g heavier than the comparable X.0. They are also 15g lighter than the shifter only pods from Shimano’s XT line. Now…this is really only important to the super gram counting weight weenies out there. For the regular users, this doesn’t mean much…just know that they are light.

For those of you that are used to Shimano’s index and thumb shifting action, there will be a change in your shifting habits. SRAM’s system utilizes a push/push action that is completely controlled by your thumb. With a little use…this becomes second nature.

What Is SRAM 1:1 Actuation Ratio And How Is It Different?

1:1 refers to the ration of movement, in mm, between the cable and the derailleur. With SRAM shifting, every 1mm movement in cable travel equals 1mm of movement at the derailleur. With Shamino shifting, ever 1mm of movement equals 2mm of movement at the derailleur.

This means that once you start using SRAM or Shimano shifting, you have to stick with their rear derailleurs. The front derailleurs and shifters are interchangeable. In other words, you can use a XT front derailleur with a X.9 front shifter and vice versa.

According to SRAM:

1:1 Actuation™ is simply superior. The very nature of its design makes it this way. For every 1 unit of cable pulled or released, the derailleur moves the same amount. Simple? Yes. Dependable and tolerant? The best. Ease of set-up and adjustment? Easiest. This is why the top athletes in the MTB world prefer SRAM. From the mud infested Cross Country of the Sea Otter Classic, to the rocks and roots of a Fort William World Cup Downhill the 1:1 actuation stays precise and fluid. 1:1 Actuation precision is why you find SRAM on the elite bikes from cross-country flyers to full gravity bombers. 1:1 • Setting the shifting standard!

Installation – SRAM X.9 Trigger Shifter

You install the SRAM shifter just like you would any other shifter set. There is one bolt that tightens the shifter to the bar and you adjust the distance and height on your own. Cable replacement is accomplished by unscrewing the silver knob on top of the shifter by hand and feeding the new cable through a small bracket. Like most cable swaps, this can be an annoying task, but they have made it about as simple as it can get.

After you attach the cable to the rear derailleur, fine adjustments are made by use of the barrel adjusters attached to the lever body. From here…you can turn the adjusters to tighten or loosen the cable until shifting is crisp. I always recommend getting out and shifting under load to make sure all of your adjustments are correct.

On The Trail with the X.9 Shifters from SRAM

On the trail, these shifters are near flawless. The push/push action allows you to keep all four fingers around the bar at all times. I like this over the Shimano style shifting…especially in technical situations because they allow you to keep one finger on the brake. Shifting down the cassette is crisp and fast as you move through the motions. Shifting up the rear cassette can be done one by one or in multiples. I do find that the Shimano line has a crisper feeling up the cassette than the SRAM’s. It is not by much, but noticeable. Front shifting is straight forward and feels nearly identical to Shimano’s.

The 1:1 actuation ratio is where I believe SRAM really hit the mark. I have found the X.9 shifters to be much more forgiving to hits and tuning than Shimano’s 2:1. There is much less fine tuning and worrying about adjustments after wrecks and hits. They seem to be more bulletproof against mishaps.

How Do They Compare To SRAM X.0?

Nearly identical. In my opinion, X.9 is the best value on the market for shifting. Combine the X.9 trigger with the X.9 rear derailleur and you will have a set that performs like X.0 at a 1/3 of the cost. You will gain a few grams, but the price difference is hardly worth it.

That said…I do run full X.0 on my personal bikes. There is something to be said for the carbon and ti bits for the “bling factor” but I don’t think I will go that route again. The weight savings and sex appeal do not outweigh the price difference. The X.9 set is the sleeper of the group.

One small advantage of the X.0 trigger shifters (besides weight and carbon) is the ability to adjust the position of the large shifting arm (to move up the cassette or down the front chain rings).

Final Thoughts on the X.9′s

Good News on X.9 Trigger Shifters

• Light Weight
• Crisp/Fast Shifting
• Near Bulletproof Design
• Less Adjusting
• Easy Installation
• Incredible Value
• X.0 Performance at a 1/3 of the Cost

Bad News on the X.9 Trigger Shifters

• Lever Arm Is Not Adjustible
• Requires SRAM Rear Derailleur (only a problem if you are currently running Shimano)
• Up Shifting On Rear Shifter Not Quite As Crisp As Shimano’s

Overall, it is hard to find better shifting for the price than the X.9 set. I was a long time user (and fanatic) of Shimano XTR Rapid Fire shifters. Once Shimano started moving towards dual control, I switched to SRAM and haven’t looked back since. It just works…and works every time.

I did some searching and found the shifters at these prices. Pretty cheap if you ask me and they went unchanged for the 2008 to 2009 models.

JensonUSA.com

SRAM X.9 Trigger Shifters – $ 128.00