Traded up from Shimano Alivio to XT. Shifts first time every time. Spend time setting up correctly (or get LBS to do it), and it won't go wrong. Miles better than what I had. Can't comment on any comparison to other types. Don't have a problem with the cble run as described by others, no do I catch my foot on it(?). For this price...do it. It does look the nadgers as well.
Replaced a virtually new Deore mech with this due to the fact that no matter how much adjusting i did, i still got poor shifting and chain rub.
Fitting this was so simple, i now get no chain rub atall and the shifting is spot on. The mech also gets less caked in mud now than when using a top-swing mech.
One tip for fitting: use parktools guide, it took only 10 mins or so to install and fit right first time.
INstalled no problem really. I have top pull and agree the bottom pull may look a little neater (the cable comes out at angle) but how someone can say its flawed in design or secondly that they caught their foot on it(?wtf) is quite strange.
Would suit bottom pull better I think but can't knock the quality and the quick shifting.
