Derailleurs aren’t consumable items.. should be fine for tens of thousands of miles, maybe a pulley replacement. I wouldn’t bring an extra one.
Magpiecicle on
Well, my old Peugeot had the same one for about 35 years, working fine, so I think youve still got some life in yours.
5_hundo_miles on
I’ve never replaced a derailleur because I needed to, but I’d pack two derailleur hangers.
Fresh-Put645 on
Once a year for me
hike2climb on
These are pretty durable. Also cheap and accessible if you run into an issue. I’ve seen some cheap 12s Srams fail at the low end of the line from use (sx/nx) but generally derailleurs fail from impacts not use. If it’s currently fine you’ll probably be fine. If it quits or breaks it’s replaceable on route assuming you aren’t touring remote or underdeveloped places. Carrying a spare is definitely overkill.
Carrying a spare derailleur hangar however can be smart. These are small, cheap, and light but sometimes hard to source. This is usually the fix for derailleur issues rather than the derailleur itself. On a long tour I would carry a hangar but never a derailleur.
dd113456 on
When it fucks up
Go ride
2E26_6146 on
With proper care (cleaning, lubrication, don’t crash it) derailleurs can last as long as a bike. Check for sloppiness (wear) at the pivots and make sure the idler wheels are in good shape and lubricated, but if it’s shifting okay now the odds are that it will remain so at the end of your trip. Check its cables, too.
mtbd15 on
When it stops functioning past the point of tuning or if something breaks that can’t be easily replaced
psychling78 on
I mostly agree with the sentiments expressed here, but I have worn out derailers. Usually they are lower end models. My opinion would be that if it stops functioning properly, it should be replaced. The last one I replaced was an Ultegra that had pins which had become sloppy and movable in the pivots. That’s no good.
HandyDandy76 on
Bolts become too corroded to work properly, the return spring can wear out, mileage can get slop in the body and it won’t shift right.
If you actually take care of your bike then the RD won’t ever “wear out”, realistically.
ChunkbrotherATX on
Nevery miles.
AdultSwim1066 on
Don’t need a spare because derailleurs like that are easily available most places, even remote places, next day delivery.
If the shifting gears is giving you issues there are other things you should look at first.
The very first is, gear cable, inner and outer. Has moisture damaged it over time causing cable rub? Cables need to run slick as possible.
Then scale up your investigations if need be.
Derailleurs are pretty reliable to say the least and if it’s giving no issues now there’s no reason it should any time soon.
TheNetworkIsFrelled on
Looooong time. Is that an old Altus?
Sirwompus on
A der hanger is more useful and smaller to carry. My advise is beyond tubes and maybe a tire don’t over prepare. As you go you’ll figure out what wears out and what doesn’t. You may not even finish with the same bicycle you start with
mickeyaaaa on
when its worn out – loose & sloppy, lots of play and wont shift well.
StunningBuilder4751 on
Derailleur’s dont really have a predictable lifespan inbthe same way that chains and cassettes do, they just work until they dont.
But you should get plenty of life out of them, I know guys who’ve run them for decades.
isidoro29 on
I still use a Shimano exage to comute…still going since the 90’s…(Yes i know, the chain is quite dead, already bought new one and cassette😂)
Directly proportional to number of crashes onto the drive side. Worst one included my collarbone and ribs so parts delay was nonissue
InfluenceEfficient77 on
Definitely bring another hanger.
Is that a deore? you can find a replacement at any bike shop
JadedEntrepreneur505 on
When it breaks….
JudsonJay on
My derailleur from 2008 works like a charm. I am riding 7000+ miles/year.
bdog2017 on
It’s probably fine but that doesn’t seem like a lot of range for touring unless it’s all flat, but with 3k miles I doubt that’s the case. 3k puts you in Atlantic to pacific territory. So for that reason I’d upgrade to something like alivio to get a wider range cassette like an 11-32 or 11-36. When you hit a mountain range your legs will thank you.
On top of that before you start any long tour I recommend that your bike is freshly serviced and that most crucial components are not close to end of life, ideally new. New tires, new chain, clean drivetrain, etc. because a loaded bike over that sort of mileage will wear all those things at an extended rate and good portion of stuff will be in need of replacement by the end. Bringing a spare hanger is also a good idea. As sourcing those can be difficult when you’re in the middle of nowhere with no support. A decent lightweight toolkit that you can use to service basically anything on your bike to an acceptable degree is also a must.
Groundbreaking_Code3 on
That derailleur will out live us all
mtbboy1993 on
Replace when it doesn’t work anymore. When it doesn’t shift properly makes chain skewed, sags I tot he spokes and point sout at the front pivot and ha massive play.
You will know. It should last a few years. Depends on use obviously. This one looks far from worn out.
24 Comments
Derailleurs aren’t consumable items.. should be fine for tens of thousands of miles, maybe a pulley replacement. I wouldn’t bring an extra one.
Well, my old Peugeot had the same one for about 35 years, working fine, so I think youve still got some life in yours.
I’ve never replaced a derailleur because I needed to, but I’d pack two derailleur hangers.
Once a year for me
These are pretty durable. Also cheap and accessible if you run into an issue. I’ve seen some cheap 12s Srams fail at the low end of the line from use (sx/nx) but generally derailleurs fail from impacts not use. If it’s currently fine you’ll probably be fine. If it quits or breaks it’s replaceable on route assuming you aren’t touring remote or underdeveloped places. Carrying a spare is definitely overkill.
Carrying a spare derailleur hangar however can be smart. These are small, cheap, and light but sometimes hard to source. This is usually the fix for derailleur issues rather than the derailleur itself. On a long tour I would carry a hangar but never a derailleur.
When it fucks up
Go ride
With proper care (cleaning, lubrication, don’t crash it) derailleurs can last as long as a bike. Check for sloppiness (wear) at the pivots and make sure the idler wheels are in good shape and lubricated, but if it’s shifting okay now the odds are that it will remain so at the end of your trip. Check its cables, too.
When it stops functioning past the point of tuning or if something breaks that can’t be easily replaced
I mostly agree with the sentiments expressed here, but I have worn out derailers. Usually they are lower end models. My opinion would be that if it stops functioning properly, it should be replaced. The last one I replaced was an Ultegra that had pins which had become sloppy and movable in the pivots. That’s no good.
Bolts become too corroded to work properly, the return spring can wear out, mileage can get slop in the body and it won’t shift right.
If you actually take care of your bike then the RD won’t ever “wear out”, realistically.
Nevery miles.
Don’t need a spare because derailleurs like that are easily available most places, even remote places, next day delivery.
If the shifting gears is giving you issues there are other things you should look at first.
The very first is, gear cable, inner and outer. Has moisture damaged it over time causing cable rub? Cables need to run slick as possible.
Then scale up your investigations if need be.
Derailleurs are pretty reliable to say the least and if it’s giving no issues now there’s no reason it should any time soon.
Looooong time. Is that an old Altus?
A der hanger is more useful and smaller to carry. My advise is beyond tubes and maybe a tire don’t over prepare. As you go you’ll figure out what wears out and what doesn’t. You may not even finish with the same bicycle you start with
when its worn out – loose & sloppy, lots of play and wont shift well.
Derailleur’s dont really have a predictable lifespan inbthe same way that chains and cassettes do, they just work until they dont.
But you should get plenty of life out of them, I know guys who’ve run them for decades.
I still use a Shimano exage to comute…still going since the 90’s…(Yes i know, the chain is quite dead, already bought new one and cassette😂)
https://preview.redd.it/5vysc44clxef1.jpeg?width=6144&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=59932d1e46f0b2c6856c08dc5d74462397cf6c8b
Directly proportional to number of crashes onto the drive side. Worst one included my collarbone and ribs so parts delay was nonissue
Definitely bring another hanger.
Is that a deore? you can find a replacement at any bike shop
When it breaks….
My derailleur from 2008 works like a charm. I am riding 7000+ miles/year.
It’s probably fine but that doesn’t seem like a lot of range for touring unless it’s all flat, but with 3k miles I doubt that’s the case. 3k puts you in Atlantic to pacific territory. So for that reason I’d upgrade to something like alivio to get a wider range cassette like an 11-32 or 11-36. When you hit a mountain range your legs will thank you.
On top of that before you start any long tour I recommend that your bike is freshly serviced and that most crucial components are not close to end of life, ideally new. New tires, new chain, clean drivetrain, etc. because a loaded bike over that sort of mileage will wear all those things at an extended rate and good portion of stuff will be in need of replacement by the end. Bringing a spare hanger is also a good idea. As sourcing those can be difficult when you’re in the middle of nowhere with no support. A decent lightweight toolkit that you can use to service basically anything on your bike to an acceptable degree is also a must.
That derailleur will out live us all
Replace when it doesn’t work anymore. When it doesn’t shift properly makes chain skewed, sags I tot he spokes and point sout at the front pivot and ha massive play.
You will know. It should last a few years. Depends on use obviously. This one looks far from worn out.