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 9.0SL was the result.

The design of the 9.0SL 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 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 an extremely light and very capable gear.

This example is the famous ‘Betsy’ version, named for Betsy Ross, who supposedly sewed the first ‘Stars and Stripes’ flag for George Washington. This ‘Betsy’ is the lightest of my SRAM 9.0SL’s.

The perfect derailleur for a leisurely spin through Sadr City.

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• Derailleur brands: SRAM
• Themes: A riot of colour
• Country: USA, manufactured in Taiwan
• Date of introduction: 1997
• Date of this example: unknown
• Model no.: 600-714
• Weight: 187g
• Maximum cog: 32 teeth
• Total capacity: 33 teeth
• Pulley centre to centre: 85mm
• Index compatibility: 8 speed
• Chain width: 3/32”
• Logic: top normal
• B pivot: two pivots, front sprung and rear unsprung
• Materials: carbon composite (plastic) knuckles and inner pulley cage plate, aluminium parallelogram plates and outer pulley cage plate.