bongo_x

Started riding again. My street bike has SRAM Attack 8 speed twist shifters (Shimano compatible) and the grips are melting off, apparently that's a thing that happens. They're working fine otherwise, but it looks like you can't replace the grips and it seems like my only choice is to replace the whole shifters. Which sucks.

I'm having trouble figuring out what decent twist shifters are in 2020 I want something good and reliable that will work with my old XT and 8 speed. Not wanting to change out a lot of parts that are working fine. There seems to be a few options, but almost no info on how well any of them work. All I can find is people replacing cheap shifters on kids bikes.

It's cool if you like triggers, but I'm not interested.

Amt0571

Decent, probably few. I used a Shimano Revoshift on a folding bike though and it worked. It was a plasticky POS, but it did its function.

That worked ok and almost anything should be better built, so you should be able to find alternatives.

fietsbob

Sram Sued Shimano to get a slice in the big OEM market many years ago, its the American way..

Maybe the after market ones are better than the ones the (cost conscious) factory installations use..

Miele Man

Where are you located? I have a pair of slightly used SRAM 8-speed MRX GRIPSHIFT shifters. Even have the box they came in. PM me if you're interested in those.

Cheers

LesterOfPuppets

Attacks are the best 8sp shifters, period. A lot of right side Attack shifters available on eBay, and some grip replacement parts. About a year ago I got two full sets of Attacks on eBay for cheap.

bongo_x

I was worried that the rubber on older ones would be just as bad as the ones I have.

LesterOfPuppets

I've been lucky with the used ones and NOS ones I've gotten.

Even mid-80s NOS road brake lever hoods i got the other day are just fine.

fietsbob

.. that depends on their storage conditions.. (unknown)

bongo_x

Good to know, thanks.

bongo_x

So I went digging through my boxes of parts and found an old set of gripshift 800x. Weird because they don't look like the ones I see on the internets. They're not clear, not x-ray, and the grips are just like the attack shorty grips I see, except they're the internally ribbed replaceable kind. Also realized my Attacks were not the shorties.

It seems a lot of people think the Attacks were better than the 800x, so ordered some shorty Attacks on ebay at least to have them, and decide what to do next.


800x

800x

bongo_x

So I got the Attacks I ordered and they are totally different than the ones I had. These are almost exactly like my old 800's, I think the model number is even 800 something. These don't have the internal coil spring.

I guess we'll see.

LesterOfPuppets

I guess I never realized Attack went that far back. My favorite style is the 803-80. I also have 805-86, which are still good, but the grips aren't as grippy.

bongo_x

Installed them and rode and they were fine. I think I like the newer Attacks I had better, the older ones seem to require a little more force, but they work great and I like the grips better. Amazing that the grips seem like new after all this time, so do my old 800's.

I really wish the newer grips were replaceable (and didn't melt off). In the 90's you could even buy third party replacement grips, and some of them came as sets with the GS and handlebar grips that matched. Making grips that fall apart AND aren't replaceable is quite the decision.