[Verskis]

I noticed this article on Pinkbike: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Shimano-Saint-Prototype-2013.html
and started to think about how does this stiff derailleur affect the suspension? Especially with bikes that have much chain grow.
Is the force so small that it is negligible regarding suspension performance?

 

[Dogboy]

I don't feel any difference with the clutch switched on or off. That's on my Yeti SB-66 which doesn't have much chain growth.

 

[?????]

It might make your 400 lb spring a 401 lb spring.

 

[frango]

What about ease of gear changing? Any noticeable decrease?

 

[Banshee Rider]

started to think about how does this stiff derailleur affect the suspension?

It doesn't. I understand what you're thinking, and I'm sure on some decimal level there is a change, but it's not one any human without a pre-existing dent in his head would feel. Think of it in terms of making the two springs move by hand, derailleur vs shock. It's too big of a difference to matter.

Shadow+ is rad, by the way. I'd love a Saint derailleur with it on my downhill bike. The cost of XTR makes it only fit for my xc bike right now though, until SLX is available. The derailleur action is stiffer, but being a SRAM guy for the previous 6 years, which has a defined clunk upon shifting, I thought it was actually nice. The noise reduction was more noticable than the shifting action though. It definitely works.

 

[Gary]

Folk are still racing 224s at Wworld Cups and you're worrying about a slightly stiffer derailleur spring?

 

[Verskis]

That's what I supposed, but I have never fiddled with a Shadow+ derailleur so I have no idea how stiff it is.
But now that I think about it more, you have to be able to overcome the spring force with your thumb and a small lever, so it can't be that stiff.

 

[Uncle Cliffy]

I'd love a Saint derailleur with it on my downhill bike.

In case you didn't see the Pinkbike article:

 

[bdamschen]

I'd love a Saint derailleur with it on my downhill bike. The cost of XTR makes it only fit for my xc bike right now though, until SLX is available.

I'd kill for an XT or SLX with a short cage option. Only reason I'm still running sram on my trail bike.

 

[frango]

I've been told, that if you measure the distance between the ground and the bottom end of the Shimano Shadow SGS cage and Sram SS cage, you get like ca. 2cm of the difference... Shimano SGS cage is just tad closer to the ground.
That is way I am thinking about XT or SLX Shadow+ SGS RD for 2013