• Index shifting compatibility: 6/7/8 speed (with Shimano branded or compatible index shifters and freewheels/cassettes)

• Friction shifting compatibility: Several options (most 5/6/7 speed freewheels/cassettes)

• Front capacity: Double chainring w/14T (max) difference

• Rear capacity: Minimum to maximum...11T to 27T

• Total capacity: 28T (combined front chainring and rear sprocket difference...also known as chain wrap)

• Weight: 250 grams (per our digital postal scale)

• Other notes: The short cage (SS) designation relates solely to the pulley cage length, which represents the technical specification having the most direct impact on rear derailleur capacity limits. This particular model has the shortest cage length...measuring 50 mm from the center of the jockey/guide (top) pulley to the center of the tension (bottom) pulley. The primary benefit to a shorter pulley cage is less weight (although, in all honesty we are only talking about grams here, so probably not a noticeable savings for most of us). The downside, as most already know, to a shorter pulley cage is lower capacity limits, which limits these derailleurs to double crankset road bikes with a relatively narrow gear range on the freewheel/cassette.

  One other note regarding pulleys, Shimano incorporates a Centeron mechanism with it's jockey pulley on this rear derailleur, which allows for some laternal movement to compensate for imprecise index shifting. In other words, the jockey pulley has some built-in play within it's cage to better align under a sprocket when the indexing adjustment is not optimal.

This particular model RSX rear derailleur was introduced in 1999 and was intended (and marketed) for an 8-speed drivetrain. It should be noted that before the turn of the century (so the 1999 model year to be specific), the RSX groupset was upgraded to accommodate an 8-speed rear cluster. Prior to 1999 (so from 1995 to 1998), the RSX groupset/drivetrain was designed to accommodate a 7-speed cluster. So just to confirm, this rear derailleur offering incorporates the Shimano design upgrades to allow for 8-speed index shifting. Although (and as noted above), this unit will also index shift fine on 6/7 speed drivetrains with appropriate Shimano branded index shifters.

These units show visible shopwear (scuffs and scratches in the silver finish). Functionally, these units are clearly new and unused...with clean pulleys, lively spring action and tight pivot points. Having said this, we took delivery of these units from a wholesaler in Western Europe and the individual packaging was minimal.  In other words, the units were shipped in their original carton/crate with cardboard dividers between each derailleur unit, but those cardboard dividers had long since deteriorated to the point where there was marginal packing/protection between the units.  So while these rear derailleurs may have been stored and shipped in their original carton/crate, the individual packing was inadequate for a number of years...which explains the shopwear.  I do not say all of this to dissuade someone from purchasing one of these units (because they are functionally new...and a good quality new-old-stock rear derailleur at this price point), but please keep in mind each of these units is shopworn. Listing Update...I have begun updating the pictures to reflect the next unit that will sell/ship. To this end, I can confirm the aforementioned description of cosmetic condition is accurate for this next unit (meaning the unit is shopworn). Please also note that while we may have multiple quantities listed for sale, we will repeatedly update the pictures to reflect the next offering that will sell/ship.