Do You Really Need A Clutch Derailleur? | Clutch Vs Non-Clutch Mech Comparison
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Do you really need a clutch derailleur? Rear mech technology changed dramatically with the introduction of the one by drivetrain and derailleurs built to include clutches. But with further advances in 1x gearing such as narrow-wide technology, are clutches really adding that much our mountain biking experience anymore? Doddy's on hand with some thoughts and an experiment!
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Пікірлер: 445
Funny how Doddy talks about noise half the time but the editor decided to throw music over it so we couln't hear any of it.
@mtbbros964
3 жыл бұрын
Yh
@sigmaoctantis_nz
3 жыл бұрын
Exactly what I was thinking lol
@plmn93
3 жыл бұрын
Complete incompetence. I mean how do you even do that unless you are completely oblivious to what the video is about?
@BobBmxRid3r
3 жыл бұрын
If there would be some decent music in the first place lol
@MarcWdives
3 жыл бұрын
I can not watch a video with 1 minute of content, with 4 minutes of someone riding. This video was not that bad.
Doddy: I put this piece of metal so you can hear how loud it is Producer: nah
Incredible how that old chain setup sounds like a hip hop instrumental..
@flippinsteel2352
3 жыл бұрын
Best comment award winner 👏 🏆
@diviscadilek1764
3 жыл бұрын
Sounds like a shopping cart full of pots and pans.
@csn583
3 жыл бұрын
Good thing he strapped on that metal bit!
@ninovagus1297
2 жыл бұрын
Read the comment befor watching the video, was excited to here the chain do a rim shot. Then Doddy started to ride with the "old" setup und the thought of your comment hit me like a truck. Hillarious!
chains only fall off when you let your mate try your bike for 30 seconds
@slooriginal1727
3 жыл бұрын
True lol
@eduardkalmanawardze
2 жыл бұрын
That is why I never give my bike to my friends
@Frankson909
2 жыл бұрын
happened yesterday to me LOL
It's more impressive that he disassembled/assembled his crank in the middle of a field & used a tree as bike lift 😁
That was stupid putting music overtop of being able to hear chain slap.
@Bv1nte
3 жыл бұрын
because it wasnt that bad:/ he also had to pedal back to drop the chain...xD
“No wonder riding off-road often sounded like pushing a tool cabinet down a flight of stairs” 😂😂
@markopavsek3189
3 жыл бұрын
For those who are wondering: just watch Home alone 2.
@enrico8655
3 жыл бұрын
@@markopavsek3189 Thats what i was thinking too
@beaterbikechannel2538
3 жыл бұрын
Go singlespeed.
@daverts
3 жыл бұрын
Go belt drive too, or throw in an internally-geared hub too. Love my Gates drive gravel rig.
Puts stuff on so people who only use modern day expensive derailleurs and chainrings can hear how it sounds to not have all that luxury parts, then the stupid editor puts damn music over every test
@samb2334
3 жыл бұрын
Fury XVanity about a month ago I had a 3x9 coil entry level hardtail but sold it. Now I’ve joined the dark side with a full squish gx 1x12. What a difference to not hear a stupid chain rattling, you know what they say, a quiet bike is a fast bike!! Saved up all year for it as I’m only 14
@nicolae3657
3 жыл бұрын
@@samb2334 i am doing the same thing but i had a old full suspension 3x8 i i am going for a hardtail that is 1x10
@nicolae3657
3 жыл бұрын
@@samb2334 bdw, i am only 14 too lol
@user-yq2tq5eo4u
3 жыл бұрын
@@nicolae3657 Im 14 too,but Im not gay like you,I run 1x7 dh setup
@Bobcatspiritdude
3 жыл бұрын
@@samb2334 Good job ! Now you can enjoy the fruits of your labor with your upgraded bike !
Great video - one of the many helping me catch up on 20 years of MTB innovation. I can't wait to get my hands on a new bike!
I remember having to coast through the rough stuff and even then may require soft pedal gear change before finally stopping to reattach the chain. Clutch is such a game changer..
I have an 8in scar on the back of my calf just above my Achilles’ tendon. Chain came off peddled real hard with no resistance, foot slipped and chainring went through the leg. I’m glad we’ve all moved on 😊
@noliemig
2 жыл бұрын
Same bikes are painful 🤣
I can remember bashing my knees on my tubes so many times back in the day from dropping chains. Dropping chains literally shaped the way I rode and it took a long time to break those habits when I finally changed bikes in 2018. Thankful for the narrow wide
Microshift Advent X 10sp groupset is a great budget alternative to the more expensive Shimano and SRAM set ups.
@vtecmossy
3 жыл бұрын
Shimano ain't that expensive to be fair unless ur getting xtr
@thebmtbchanel6531
3 жыл бұрын
I have a microshift 11 speed
@thebmtbchanel6531
3 жыл бұрын
@@vtecmossy not cheap for evryone tho...
@thebmtbchanel6531
3 жыл бұрын
Microshift is best buget drivetrain
@JustAGlitchFL
3 жыл бұрын
I personally think NX or GX Eagle is the right balance between price and performance.
Mr Doddy, I learn so much from you! I appreciate you very much. Thank you for everything and explaining things in a way I can understand.
Thanks for the videos. The clutch it’s really useful when you want to start pedalling just before the chain is back to the normal state. If the clutch is off, I normally have problems with the chain in the tension pulley that can become stuck if start pedalling. Never had issue on the chainring tough. Cheers from NL
I ordered an XTR shadow plus in May 2012, back when I worked in a bike shop. Didn't get it until the next summer! Probably says more about my riding habits than anything, but it's still going strong on my 2011 Reign 0!
Editor: Agh, this riding footage audio is unusable because of all the chain slap.
Back in the day I used a Mr. Crud DCD...... never lost a chain, even on a 3x crank set.... great bit of kit 👌
I can always tell when I forget to turn my clutch back on because I hear a ton of chain slap haha! Great video Doddy, completely forgot about chain drops thanks to modern design!
Xx 10sp nw ring . Down hilling with no problems. I was surprised, do have a xx1 11sp to be install but no rush.....and Great video, like always. And that Nukeproof is awesome.
Hi Doddy. When I first looked at this title I admittedly thought it was going to be a bit boring. My apologies. It s really well put together and very interesting. I started riding in 2000 at the age of 44 in Madrid. I’ve ridden some pretty tough trails and loved mountain biking because it was a full contact sport. In all these years I have never dropped a chain. I’ve broken a couple. I never paid attention to the technology of clutches and narrow/wide all this time. I guess I’ve just ridden what I had. Thanks again for a really good article.
Agreed. After doing a ride on my 2014 Surly Pugs (no clutch) descending in the Rocky Mountains, the drivetrain was bouncing like crazy.
excellent vid! it answered some questions i've had for a while. thank you!
Nice article. I'm amazed how much the narrow wide helps. I often forget to flick the clutch back on and I cant rememebr the last time I dropped a chain on my MTB... bloody road bike is always dropping chains - so far behind in the tech! I'd love to see a similar trail side analysis of Suspension settings. Could @GMBNTech do a trails side analysis on what each suspension setting does? e.g. changing pressures, changing tokens/ramp, changing platform modes and then changing compression and rebound.
@1:08 WOW! I had a pair of Cook Bros 181mm cranks on my ELF when I was racing BMX back in the day.
Yup need that clutch. Thanks for the demo!
That for another awesome and informative videos Doddy , I’ve just got a digital tyre pressure gauge, love to see a video experimenting with different pressures on different width size tyres and how they perform on n the trail ?
18 months ago, I brought a entry level Giant Fathom E+3 29er which came with a conventional (all in one) chainring and a non clutch Deore 9 speed derailleur.. One the road, fireroads, towpaths and smooth single track, the combo worked perfect but the moment I took my bike off piste, all kinds of trouble came my way which started with poor shifting and ended with incredible chain suck. Three week ago, I finally got round to upgrading the entire drivetrain with a 10 speed XT derailleur, a 11-42T 10 speed Raceface Cassette and a Praxxis chainring with a narrow wide profile. Words cannot describe the utter transformation this as done to my bike.
I really have to thank you for comparing all of this. I myself have a regular chain ring (Shimano Saint) running on my bike without a chain guide, although with a clutch. Always got me frustrated when my chain dropped. Now thinking about getting a nw chainring
@RichJ-nr1ho
3 жыл бұрын
If you don't have a front derailleur, then yes for sure get a narrow-wide. There are off brands that sell them for like $10 USD
Great angle with the cameras to show the chain. Thanks for the video!!
5 weeks ago my clutch broke, because somehow moisture got into it and it rusted to death. Replacementparts are available in about 10 weeks. Pulled the clutch out, deraillior worked again, even without clutch. 2 rides after I made the derailiour work again, my frame broke. This riding season starts good :D
Clutch has been around for ten years and I still don’t have one 🤣
@jakeb6703
3 жыл бұрын
me too, cause my derailleurs been on my bike for 15 smh
@bomber9032
3 жыл бұрын
i have zee with clutch im riding mtb stunt killing the bike with the clutch or not it's the same thing for me
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year Iceman. You have taught me sooooo many things getting into the sport.🙏👑
Fantastic Demo. Very appreciated!
Shimano XT 10 sp w/clutch has been a wonderful addition to my SRAM X-7 9sp transmission! KA-POW!
Nice video Doddy, great to see something different!
Maybe suitable for XC hard tail. You should talk about what the clutch mech does to your suspension. And narrow/wide will not hold your chain when things get rowdy, so I still run a 'One Up' top guide with bash, and leave the clutch OFF!
After maintenance on my 1 x 11 setup (narrow wide oval up front) I one time forgot to engage the clutch. And yes, the chain dropped off. Besides of that I never had a problem with my chain and never felt the need for a chain guide.
Bless you for talking and actually educating the viewers. The damn music videos frost me over.
I have ridden a mountain bike for decades and never ripped off a rear derailleur UNTIL I got one with a clutch. Now, every Autumn when my local trails are full of leaves, sticks and twigs, I manage to get something jammed in the derailleur and yank it off. I wonder if the old clutch-less derailleurs were better able to shrug off and spit out the debris, whereas the modern clutch derailleurs offer more resistance and therefore more prone to damage?
@154Jamesp
3 жыл бұрын
Loosen the clutch up a little bit in the fall. I do that on messy trails. It helps a lot while still taking advantage of the clutch.
Love the camera angles.
I think you meant to write “clutch on” at the end at 10:43 there. Btw thanks, I finally know what a derailleur w/ clutch is for. Didn’t even know about the narrow-wide chainrings.
The Narrow/Wide ring with it's longer tooth profile is the biggest reason chains don't come off...I run clutch off on my hardtail...
@OYeahan
3 жыл бұрын
I have 1x8 system running with an old Alivio RD and cheap Chinese NW chainring and it's behaving really well. When the standard middle steel non-NW one was left, the chain was falling off when going of a small curb even when running 1x11 with Shimano M8000 RD.
5:24 that go pro angle would be perfect for a foot placement on fat pedals vid, i'm always trying ot find the perfect angle of my foot while riding
I just went from Sram x5 to Shimano XT, I'm so glad I did.. I thought I only heard loud chain slap when I landed a bit rough, but it's so much quiter in every single way.. I realised I had chain slap with riding off of curbs cause my bike is so much quiter even with that! Literally landed a 5 meter dirtjump to flat and I don't think I heard any chain slap.
clutch: chain wiggle no clutch: cHaIn WiGgLe
Chain (visually at least) looks to slap about practically the same amount in all set ups shown 🤔.
@leovadon
3 жыл бұрын
@@RealMTBAddict 1x is much simpler, so more reliable, solid and cheap. No real reason not to have it
@timangus
3 жыл бұрын
@@RealMTBAddict haha, do you just hate any tech improvement?
@timangus
3 жыл бұрын
@@RealMTBAddict your explanation wasn't there when I made my comment, only the (needlessly absolutist) initial reply. I see where you're coming from to an extent, but I think you're exaggerating the downsides.
@Cous1nJack
3 жыл бұрын
@@RealMTBAddict the chains are designed to work with wider chain lines. Modern bikes are not steam engines mate.
@martonpeintlerkrivan8027
3 жыл бұрын
@@RealMTBAddict depends on what you ride, for cross country it might make sense to have more gears up front but not for enduro or downhill. I never had a front derailleur that consistently worked for longer than a few weeks
Wish the music wasn’t playing so we could have heard the chain slapping the frame... Great Job Doddy!
Im using my old front derailleur as a chain guide works good
@noliemig
2 жыл бұрын
Ayy good idea
12.38s of raw uncut derailleur clutch action
I'm pretty sure most of the time the chain comes off from the top of the front chain ring not the bottom ( unless your backpedaling) . That's where the chain first engages with the chain ring and if it moves to much there it will miss a tooth and drop off. This is also where the narrow wide comes in to play, the wide tooth gives the chain less play to move left and right so the next link is less likely to miss. The clutch just keeps the chain tighter in the whole system, including the top part. Thats the bit that you should film in stead of the lower part of the chain. In the video you see the chain miss tooth on the bottom part of the chain ring, but as soon as you pedal that link looses its connection with the chain ring anyway. BTW if you dont pedal chances of your chain coming of are pretty low ( its not impossible I know and the new tech did improve this) When you'r riding single speed the bottom part of the chain is the important bit. When you dont have a derailleur the tooth of the rear cog are the most likely to miss the chain and they engage on the bottom part of the chain.
Quick note...Check the clutch mech for grease b4 riding it for the first time. My Shimano came with very little if no grease and failed 2nd time out. Opennng it I actually saw rust spots. It takes a special grease so a little research will find you the right stuff. Great video again...as always.
@wirenut3020
Жыл бұрын
The clutch itself doesn’t get grease or it won’t work. It’s friction based.
Try pedaling on those rockies after jumping using the regular RD and chainring on a hardtail frame, that's where and when a chain will come off. That was my problem when I joined a DH race on a hardtail mtb here in the Philippines.
The noise of the chain banging onto that plate sounds pretty musical to me.
I’ve been running a non clutch mech with narrow wide chainring and a chain guide. Never dropped a chain since
@JustAGlitchFL
3 жыл бұрын
Well if you have a chain guide, it is nearly impossible to drop a chain.
@johnnygunz2300
3 жыл бұрын
I'm glad it worked for you....I have a DJ mountain bike converted from a 2x8 to a 1x8. It dropped chains in it's original config and drops chains in the 1x8 running a narrow wide/chain guide (chain guide is cheapo and not great).
@johndef5075
3 жыл бұрын
Same here
I really love that alloy bike you featured for the "old mtb" footage. Is there a video about that bike specifically or some more info about it?
I have a canyon strive and once i noticed ive lost my chainguards guarder rail while riding. Been riding without since and never noticed a diffrence except the chain always falls of when you put your bike in your car.
great perspective thank you
Loving that GoPro hack/bodge. Not pretty in the slightest, but would make for good trail shots!
Nice clip! I feel like I just woke up from a coma and discovered clutched derailleurs 😂 apparently it fixes a problem I never had on my 9x3 11year old bike 😅
@Krikstar123
3 жыл бұрын
Riiiiight... Just stay in the 90's then, LOL
@joaodncartaxo
3 жыл бұрын
@@Krikstar123 2020 - 11 = 2009 #math 😅
@vicsimmonds
3 жыл бұрын
I guess a clutch would still help with a 3x setup, beats a DCD! I might struggle to find a rear mech that befits any of my retro MTBs though. 👍🏼
Thx Doddy. Been try'n to explain to my son what it was like (scary). Would like to hear the chain slap
I converted my DMR Bolt to singlespeed. 40×22 on 26". Sit, stand or push. No electric motors either. The joy of simplicity.
The pin that holds the clutch tensioner on my SLX derailleur snapped recently, I’ve been riding with no clutch tension on my hardtail for a while now with no noticeable difference. On another note what about the running a clutch mech with an oval chainring??
I use 1 x 9 xtr non clutch with a narrow wide chain ring up front and I've never had a chain drop yet.i made a chainstay protector and it's very quiet
@stanley3647
3 жыл бұрын
I use 1x10 non clutch (Sram X0) derailleur with narrow-wide oval ring and narrow-wide 14T bottom jockey wheel... No problem at all... No chainstay as well... I've got more chain drop with 2x10 setup!
I just got a circa 2009 Diamondback Edgewood hybrid bike which apparently had almost never been ridden. It has a Shimano Acera 7 speed rear derailleur. It has no clutch. One theory is that you don't need it in the city, but I say “nay, nay”. Dropping off a curb the first time almost made me soil my pants. I think because the chain actually slapped the asphalt, which your video shows is entirely possible and my brain picked up on that distinctive sound and panicked. Well my chain didn't come off, but that was of small comfort. I think I'll look into some sort of guide/tensioner add-on since I can't afford to upgrade the entire drive system.
If you loosen the rear derailleur tension pulley slightly as shown in the video, the tingling effect of the chain seems to be a little less, but is it possible to apply a general hardtail?
Small flex with the ti rails on the saddle lol nice shot
I have an old x9 (no clutch) and NW chainring and it works fine, not loosing chain, but slapping.
Currently running a narrow-wide chainring, chain guide + bash guard and a clutch mech. I don’t think I’ll ever do it differently
I'm happy that Sram clutch gives me great shifting performance and chain retention unlike Shimano counterpart.
Loving my 52-42-32 3-by from the last century!
@beaterbikechannel2538
3 жыл бұрын
Nothing wrong with old tech. 40x22 works for me. Yep singlespeed.
I bought my first full suspension bike last week. Today I saw it had a clutch, hence watching your video. Apart from when you remove the wheel, is there any other time you would turn off the clutch?
Hi ,just one ? What to expect ,when shifting gear on rear derailleur with clutch applied.
I'm on hardtail with norow with chain ring and very tight kluch on shimano zee oan I still maneg to drop the chain on fool sending mod it's crazy 🔥😎
I remember having a tensioning pully on my frame back in the 90's, very rarely had the chain come off. Is this still done instead of paying ££££?
Quick question: If you ride XC on asphalt and light trails, where the chain has very little risk to fall off, and you keep your clutch on all the time do you risk damaging the clutch, or adding wear to it? I'm thinking of a situation where you ride with the clutch on, you don't need it, and then you end up in the service and have to replace your read der, or the clutch in it, simply because you added wear to it?
My efatbike is absolutely hopeless if I disengage the clutch. The moment there is a bump bigger than a dead squirrel the chain drops either from the rear or front ring. When it is engaged there are zero problems unless you count the slightly heavier feel of the gear lever. This could partially be because sometimes, especially on high pedal assist settings, the assistance from the motor is not immediately switched off when the pedaling input stops. So there might be some rotating going on midair/moment of impact on the ground.
Excellent video!
If the chain coming off is only a problem on the front ring , chain guide, if you run single gear up front. I went down to 2 chain ring in front keeping the front detailer on no jump yet.
What an end-boss, hotswapping crank in the field.
Hello I am going to replace my 3x9 to 1x10 with 11x51t. What will be your advice 32t or 34t chainring?
I have an xtr 10spd system I have to take out 2 more chain links to avoid chain slap and drops
Great presentation!
@gmbntech
3 ай бұрын
Glad you liked it!
9:18 who saw the wheel move side to side or is that just me
It's amazing how much the chain still flaps around with the clutch on. My old-school single ring guide was the bashguard sandwich. Extra noisy!
@DaiwaMaster
3 жыл бұрын
Bashguard... That brings back memories :)
Since yesterday my chain dropped twice, one time behind my cassette and one time behind my chainring it keeps slipping off in the first gear - wtf happened? Can the chain be bend? since a 1x12 does not have a lot of space / distance between each gear? Anybody has a recommendation to what I’m looking for? So annoying. My assumptions: Derailleur cage bend, chain bend or chainring bend (I think its not)
An interesting experiment. Stabilizer in Rear Drailleur is easy to break the switch lever. I think Clutch than Chian-guide with Crank much more useful. Chain's slack noise? it just only noise. Chain-off the crank that's the fatal Risk.
You can also easily adjust the clutch so it isn't as active when on
Off topic but could you tell me if a speed and power sensor on any standard stationary bike ?? Thank you
Question: if you had a SRAM x5 9 speed on a 1000W ebike, would you want to get a mech that has a clutch or not on a 9 speed (11-34T cassette)?
And I want to change it to a big pulley, but my MTB is a Korean-made Cello 2021 Chrono 80 lightweight carbon MTB hardtail XC bike. Can I recommend a big pulley that can be installed on this product?
I've got a bike with Altus and it works pretty well, never had the chain come off and it shifts single click under load really well
@maxfathi596
3 жыл бұрын
You’re lucky you’re getting that even on flat ground
I have had to install a chain guide on my trail bike to stop the chain coming off when I smash the downhills super fast, no jumps
I for one do not need reminding “how loud things used to be.” I got my first narrow-wide 1x setup in 2020. I had various old school 3x rigs before that since the mid 90s. Fairly fresh.
It's less the chain noise that is annoying with an old derailleur but more the sound of your derailleur violently smacking against the cassette every time you hit a obstacle larger than 4 inches tall
So, does the clutch release when you change gears, or is it enabled all the time?
I run narrow wide and clutched Shimano on a hardtail and I’ve never lost a chain in 5 years, I’ve lost contact lenses and hit trails so fast I couldn’t focus with the vibration... yet my chain has never let me down. Narrow wide & clutched derailleur allied to the dropper seat post are arguably the greatest advances in MTB IMHO
What about a clutch on a cargo bicycle? Would this help chain flop or would a chain tensioner midway through chain be better?
If I ride on roads, do I turn the clutch off and then put it on when off reading?
Anyone remember DCDs ? Dave's chain device,prevented chain slap,collectable retro now,a couple on a popular auction site.