I got a new rear derailer and when I ordered it I asked the sales guy if it was rapid rise. He said yes. Well it wasn't. So my question is, does it matter. The shifters don't care which way the derailer goes right? I ask because the rapid rise version of the one I got is twice as much.
Are you sure you wan't rapid rise? Are you replacing the stock RD? Somebody please correct me, but I don't think most bikes come stock with rapidrise. On the same note, I don't know anyone that uses rapidrise. To answer your question, if you replace a rapidrise deraileur with a non RR, the shifting will be reversed.
I have an XTR 8-speed rapid rise. I like it pretty well, but as mcgrath says it is reverse shifting. Screws me up when I switch to my backup bike which is standard shift. It doesn't matter from a compatibility standpoint with your shifters, cassette, etc.
I thought only the XTR was available in rapid rise if I'm not mistaken. I personally liked rapid rise, but have since switched over to SRAM on all my bikes and like the shifting a lot better.
