XTR M900 vs XT M739

[ibbz]

@ibbz

Hi

I used to work as a bike mechanic back in 94-96 and rode most of the bikes and Shimano groups back then.

I have the following recommendations for you:

- Sell your M739 brakes. They are crap!
- If you really want to keep the M739's buy M008 shifters for them ( http://mombat.org/96XT.jpg ), they will work fine with M900/M737 mech's.

Now for the build. If you follow this "recipe" I guarantee that you will be satisfied!

Rear mech: M900, you can use M737 also and they are good but M900 are much nicer.

Front mech: M900, same as above.....M737's are also nice but M900 looks better.

Chainset: M900! M737 are not nearly as good (compact drive and too weak). In fact M900's are among the best cranks ever made!

STI's: M737/M738, they rule. Great shifting and fantastic brakes. Best there ever was back then. M900's are not so good. They look great but have poor functionality compared to M737/M738. I would actually go for M738 because they have nicer and more solid shifting displays.

Cantis: M900, they are forged and are stronger and even look better. Get the newest pads (M910 or M737 style).

.....and then you will have a true classic Shimano build, best of breed.

You will also find a lot of information and images regarding the classic Shimano groups here: http://mombat.org/Shimano.htm

Good luck with your build!

Hi mate, thanks! I've just bought the M739 V brakes
I have the M900 rear mech
And Syncros forged cranks with Sunn Ringle rings (compact)

What I need are shifters, , front mech. brake levers
and I will replace the V brake M739 if they're as bad as people are saying.

Will try and get hold of M008 shifters.
And M900 front Mech
As regards Brake levers - That's where i'm stuck. M739 levers? (if I stick with the V's I have just bought)

or some Avid SD ultimates - levers and brakes?

I don't want canti's as the bike is a 1999/2000 RSP Ti Torus frame.
The reason for the M900 is because the hubs are and the high quality polished look matches the frame

 

[ibbz]

I've got a pair of the black SD Ultimate V levers like these:

I think they came out in 1999. Lovely

Wanna sell?

 

[mkaavin]

@ibbz

Hi

I used to work as a bike mechanic back in 94-96 and rode most of the bikes and Shimano groups back then.

I have the following recommendations for you:

- Sell your M739 brakes. They are crap!
- If you really want to keep the M739's buy M008 shifters for them ( http://mombat.org/96XT.jpg ), they will work fine with M900/M737 mech's.

Now for the build. If you follow this "recipe" I guarantee that you will be satisfied!

Rear mech: M900, you can use M737 also and they are good but M900 are much nicer.

Front mech: M900, same as above.....M737's are also nice but M900 looks better.

Chainset: M900! M737 are not nearly as good (compact drive and too weak). In fact M900's are among the best cranks ever made!

STI's: M737/M738, they rule. Great shifting and fantastic brakes. Best there ever was back then. M900's are not so good. They look great but have poor functionality compared to M737/M738. I would actually go for M738 because they have nicer and more solid shifting displays.

Cantis: M900, they are forged and are stronger and even look better. Get the newest pads (M910 or M737 style).

.....and then you will have a true classic Shimano build, best of breed.

You will also find a lot of information and images regarding the classic Shimano groups here: http://mombat.org/Shimano.htm

Good luck with your build!

Hi mate, thanks! I've just bought the M739 V brakes
I have the M900 rear mech
And Syncros forged cranks with Sunn Ringle rings (compact)

What I need are shifters, , front mech. brake levers
and I will replace the V brake M739 if they're as bad as people are saying.

Will try and get hold of M008 shifters.
And M900 front Mech
As regards Brake levers - That's where i'm stuck. M739 levers? (if I stick with the V's I have just bought)

or some Avid SD ultimates - levers and brakes?

I don't want canti's as the bike is a 1999/2000 RSP Ti Torus frame.
The reason for the M900 is because the hubs are and the high quality polished look matches the frame

Well with forged Syncros cranks......you can't go wrong I guess?

Finding M008 shifters is not difficult. They pop up relatively often, both in here and on e-bay. A post in the wanted section could also be an idea. The same goes for the M900 front mech depending on what clamp size you want.

...as for V-brakes, I'm not the expert. I never liked the concept as a whole but the poor quality of the 739's was fixed by Shimano in later models I guess. It was actually the brakes themselves that where s*** and not so much the levers if I remember correctly.

Maybe Avid Ultimate levers and Avid Arch Supreme brakes? That is V-brake heaven I guess?.....and would look great on the bike.

 

[elPedro666]

Shifters I linked any good?

Not used m739 but other Shimano parallel push Vs have been brilliant, when they start to rattle just shim them. Plus you can just use the matching levers, those Avids are just daft money :?

 

[elPedro666]

Alternatively are these the mounts that work with m900 shifters?
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... sc&start=0

 

[elPedro666]

Alternatively are these the mounts that work with m900 shifters?
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... sc&start=0

 

[ibbz]

Shifters I linked any good?

Not used m739 but other Shimano parallel push Vs have been brilliant, when they start to rattle just shim them. Plus you can just use the matching levers, those Avids are just daft money :?

Thanks for the link, I'm getting them shifters. Thanks!

I think avid ultimate and avid arch supreme. Sod it. They look superb and expensive yes but what the hell, ill girdle my loins and tighten my belt for a month until next payday. Got to source some silver ones first.

Quick question, so what's the diff between avid arch rival supreme 50 ti magnesium etc? I've looked on the tinternet but no sign of any info

 

[cce]

Chainset: M900! M737 are not nearly as good (compact drive and too weak). In fact M900's are among the best cranks ever made!

You're actually trumpeting it being ATB drive as a reason for it being better?

 

[mkaavin]

Chainset: M900! M737 are not nearly as good (compact drive and too weak). In fact M900's are among the best cranks ever made!

You're actually trumpeting it being ATB drive as a reason for it being better?

If you are referring to me not liking compact drive.....so yes, I am.

42-11 was never enough for me. 44 made it a little better but my favorite was 46/48-11. I always used the XT cassette. The M900 cassette had flaws (I was told, never used one myself) and had 12 teeth.

 

[cce]

Chainset: M900! M737 are not nearly as good (compact drive and too weak). In fact M900's are among the best cranks ever made!

You're actually trumpeting it being ATB drive as a reason for it being better?

If you are referring to me not liking compact drive.....so yes, I am.

42-11 was never enough for me. 44 made it a little better but my favorite was 46/48-11. I always used the XT cassette. The M900 cassette had flaws (I was told, never used one myself) and had 12 teeth.

Where do you ride? I've never felt a need for 42-11 offroad...