DISRAELI GEARS
After the disastrous recall of every single one of its first model of derailleur (the SRAM ESP 900), SRAM boldly stuck with it, slightly redesigning the gear and sorting out the manufacturing process - and the SRAM ESP 9.0 was the result.
The design of the 9.0 includes all SRAM’s signature features; the one-to-one actuation, the steeply angled slant parallelogram, the lack of float in the guide pulley and the single sprung pivot design with the top pulley wheel concentric (or, later, almost concentric) with the sprung pivot (all except one-to-one actuation follow the basic design of the SunTour V GT).
When manufactured using ‘carbon composites’, with sealed bearing pulleys and an aluminium attachment bolt, the result was a very capable gear.
A moderately decent way of dating this generation of SRAM 9.0 models is by looking at the logos:
This, extremely fine, early, example of a SRAM ESP 9.0 displays the following features (amongst others):
It weighs in at a chunky 227g, a full 40g heavier than my lightest SRAM ESP 9.0SL - so the 'SL' moniker really meant something.
No animals were harmed in the making of this derailleur.
Browse associated documents.
SRAM - Spare Parts List 1999 scan 19 of 146
SRAM - Spare Parts List 1999 scan 19 of 146