Candle

Hey guys,

I was just wondering what people's opinions are on these kind of shifters, as regards the different brands?

Additionally, am I right in assuming that Shimano's best FBS is the Tiagra one?

Does anyone use this shifter, and how have they gotten on with it?

On a related note, has anyone had any luck using a different brand's shifter with Shimano parts, and if so, how did you manage it?

Apologies, messy thread, I know.

themishmosh

I've only tried Shimano so can't speak to other brands. They do have an Ultegra class flatbar shifter, the R780, 10 speed. I have the previous version the R770 and can tell you it is a sweet shifter. The R440, 9 speed, I have on my other bike is not too far behind. There is also Shimano's mountain bike line available too.

DorkDisk

Hello. Shimano Rapidfire Plus shifters are great. The thumb and forefinger combination is ergonomic and functional. It has been around the MTB world for a long time and when Shimano tried to kill it - they backpedalled pretty hard. The issue is that they also have the patent on rapidfire plus so other manufacturers have to come up with other solutions. The question then becomes, "Which shifting method do you prefer?"

Push - push is made by many manufacturers - some compatible with shimano 7,8,9, or 10 index. Proven and functional. Many options for many drivetrains. A contender for the top spot in the modern shifter ergonomics war until Shimano made their mid to upper end shifters push-push and push-pull

Twist shifters. Either you do everything possible to get these off your bike, or you do everything possible to get these on your bike. Most people are in the first category. Very intuitive

Thumb shifters. Hard to find but theyre out there and new ones are being made. Light, fast shifting, and entire cluster dumps in one motion. May be hard to find good position with hydros.

Compatibility is usually not an issue as long as you match the cable pulls and clicks to the cogs but if you want Guaranteed Compatibility (TM), stick with the gruppo.

Candle

Wow, thanks guys. That's so helpful- couldn't ask for anything more!

Darth Lefty 

I saw in the news that there will be an 11-speed flat bar shifter to go with the next 105.

loimpact

Ya know, I was thinking about this very thing today. I noticed that in my group ride, I *think* (imho) that I actually have it a little better than the roadies out there in terms of shifting. (one caveat being when I accidentally shift chain-ring the wrong way cuz I get used to RD shifting & FD is opposite...pfffft!!)

I'm only ever in one position, with possibly some improvised hand positions, but otherwise, I'm always at the ready.....and, yes, I absolutely LOVE the trigger shifters. (My C'dale Quick 4 has very vanilla Altus 8spd thumb/finger triggers) They are accurate, reliable and the only time I can knock them is when I don't push a climb shift far enough (my lazy thumb)

Anyway, I often notice roadies will be up on the hoods & if they get caught out on a quick turn, sudden climb, drop, etc. they have to quickly drop to the bottom, tap, tap, click, click while I've already shifted.

Coming from decades ago when I road an old SR 10spd w/ unindexed stem-shifters, my FBS are like a dream come true!

badger1

i

Not sure what you're talking about here?? With drop-bars/brifters, shifting from the hoods or drops is immediate. The only position requiring any significant hand movement is on-the-tops ... and even then any experienced cyclist can make that movement in a split second. No different than using bar-ends w/flat-bar shifters, as I do; if on the bar-ends it takes me no time at all to move to the grips.

loimpact

You're right. I didn't mean to say "hoods" but "tops" and, yes, it's only a split second, but when you hit a turn & hill in an instant, I've blown by more than a few roadies in that situation. No biggie, just wanted to show much I love the triggers. I usually ride with finger/thumb at the ready just cuz the finers fall naturally into place there. (at least on my Q4)

badger1

Fair enough. If that's true, though, very odd; hills/turns don't suddenly materialize. One anticipates them, surely. As for 'blowing by' "roadies" ... ok.

dynaryder

I prefer SRAM shifters;they use two thumb levers. This lets me keep a finger on the brake in heavy traffic,and works well with thick gloves or mittens in the winter. Their standard ones are SRAM-specific,but they also make a line that are Shimano compatible and about equal to Deore in quality.

jsdavis

Newer Shimano shifters allow the tension release lever to actuate in either direction. This allows the lever to be manipulated by both the index and thumb. That function is on my M590 Deore 3x9 shifters so I assume anything higher spec and newer would have it also.

dynaryder

The Shimano triggers on my Big Dummy are like that,but it's still way easier to use the thumb levers on my SRAM's.

GaryPitts

The SRAM double tap FBS for Apex is freaking awesome!