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'Spy' shots from SRAM: One good leak deserves another

Published: Mar. 1, 2006
The rear derailleur
The rear derailleur

Following SRAM’s European OEM camp in the hills above Malaga, Spain, photos of the new 2007 X.9 derailleur and shifters were leaked to European websites. In an effort to squelch rumors and hearsay, SRAM confirmed the redesign, releasing minimal information and photos of the components in question. SRAM’s official release follows:

The shifter
The shifter

Here's some buzz that just leaked out. A well-positioned photographer snapped some sneak peeks of some of our new X.9 gear! Complete details will be released at Sea Otter.

SRAM recently held a private test session in the remote hills of Malaga, Spain, where SRAM's customers got their first look at new '07 gear.

From this pic, it looks like they took a page from X.0 and went with an exclusive, high-end finish. Alloy push lever, removable upper cover and adjustable clamp positions look to have made their way to the new shifter.

The new X.9 rear derailleur also has a similar look to X.0. It has a new design outer link and what looks to be an aluminum pulley cage.

From the photos it looks like the new shifter features a forged body with an X.0-style adjustable perch; it does not, however, seem to have an adjustable push lever à la X.0. The rear derailleur appears to be an X.0 replica, save for the exotic materials.

The new X.9 looks to improve upon its predecessor's already-solid components. Stay tuned for more X.9 news from the Sea Otter Classic April 6-9.

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