AceH

Could someone point me to a website that tells how to shift using Shimano EZ Fire 21-speed shifters. I tested a bike with Grip shifters which I liked because it was simple but the bike I'm interested in has the EZ Fire shifters.

P.S. When I google Shimano EZ Fire 21-speed shifters what mostly comes up is where you can buy the shifter, I didn't see anything about instructions on using the shifter.

MMACH 5

There is a lever on the top and one underneath. The top one pulls toward you, like a trigger to shift and the bottom one pushes away from you to shift.

If you're sitting still, they won't work; the derailers will move but they won't shift. Shift while riding down the street.

coffeecake

The right hand one the thumb shifter shifts you DOWN (to larger ring = lower gear). Index trigger shifts you up (smaller ring = higher gear). The left hand one shifts your front derailleur and is set up opposite. Thumb shifter shifts up to big ring, index finger shifter shifts down to small ring.

Oh, and just pedal lightly when you're shifting. One or two quick revolutions should do it. Don't shift under full bore. Your drivetrain will thank you. My SO is yelling "And don't forget to shift DOWN before you stop!!!"

AceH

So the top and bottom levers regulate various gears example: top lever shifts gears 1-5 while bottom lever shifts gears 6-10. And right hand shifting operates the front cogs (big ones ) while the left hand shift operates the rear cogs (small ones)?

Please disregard this reply as I did not notice the previouse post by "coffeecake" until after I posted this.

coffeecake

Yes, right hand is for rear cogs, left hand is for front cogs. Generally you shift the rear more often than the front, and most people are right-handed, so that's why it's set up that way.

AceH

I had the opportunity to test a 7 speed grip shifter which was a no brainer so I really liked that. Plus it had gears 1 thru 7 listed right on the grip.

Would a 21 speed grip shifter also have ALL the gears listed on the BOTH grip shifts?

coffeecake

Usually they have an indicator of what gear you're in - 1-7 on the right hand, 1-3 on the right. Only really cheap and really expensive shifters (some Ultegra) don't have indicators of what gear you're in.

DownTownie

This shifter is on my new 2010 Electra Townie 21D. I love it's simplicity, but get frustrated that the shifters function opposite of each other (ie. on the right shifter the upper lever is to upshift and the lower lever is to downshift - but on the left shifter the upper lever is to downshift and the lower lever is to upshift). I would have preferred the left to match the right.

It is very cool though, and the indicators will tell you what sprocket your on for each cog.

Just my $.02,
Jim

MMACH 5

If there are numbers to indicate the gears, this is what you will find:
L - R
1 - 1 Easiest gear to pedal in or low gear. (Small front ring, large rear cog.)
2 - 4 Middle gear ratio. (Middle front ring, middle rear cog.)
3 - 7 Hardest gear to pedal or high gear. (Large front ring, small rear cog.)

In it's simplest terms, use your low gears when you're riding slowly and high gears once you are up to speed (to remember: low gears = low speed -- hi gears = hi speed).
However, unless you are doing some seriously technical riding, you will probably never even go to your easiest gear. Start out in 2 - 4 then progress to 2 - 5, then to 2 - 6.

As you get stronger, you might begin to just keep the left shifter at 3 and only drop to 2 when you're on a hill.

This may all sound like Greek, right now, but as you get used to using your gears, it will start to make sense.

AceH

I will occasionally need to climb a SMALL hill, what gears should be used for this?

AndrewP

The RH shifter will have closer ratios than the LH shifter. For normal riding leave the LH shifter in 2 and do all your shifting with the right hand. For a sudden change in gradient it may de easier to shift with the left hand as that is the same a several shifts with the right hand.

Wanderer

Actually, they are both the same - clicking the shifters, in the same manner, moves the chain the same direction - toward the smaller sprocket, or toward the larger sprocket - in both instances....... start thinking in "sprockets" and all will be well.

DownTownie

Yes, but using a larger sprocket on the rear is gearing down, and using a larger sprocket on the front is gearing up.
Therein lies my conundrum.

Jim

mtnroadie

It takes a little more force to go up to a larger sprocket. This is why the thumb lever is used on both the front and rear sprockets when shifting to a larger sprocket. Just ride it for a while. It will become second nature in no time.

DownTownie

That's exactly what I assumed, after putting some thought into it. I spend more time going up and down the rear gears anyway. I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually. It's just kinda like when you get a new car and someone puts Reverse, down and to the right instead of, up and to the left where it has always been. Ugh.

Jim

Ryan79

does anyone know is their a way to adjust the distance between the top lever and the lever underneath

LongIslandTom

No. All of the Shimano rapid-fire shifters I've seen and used have their index finger and thumb levers in fixed positions relative to each other.

You can adjust the entire shifter assembly's angle on the handlebar though, by changing the position of the clamp that fastens the shifter assembly to the handlebar (requires an allen key).

justblues

I think of it as a big circle passing through both shifters. Rotating the cicle clockwise (thumb on left, index on right).shifts up. Rotating the circle counter-clockwise (thumb on right, index on left) shifts down. Thinking like this, I have never had aproblem.

indyfabz

Obviously AI-generated.

Wonder what motivates this sort of thing.

Outrider1

Probably same thing that motivated he/she/it to resurrect a 14 year old thread. Some peoples' kids!

indyfabz

That’s what I meant. Why go through the process of creating an account and digging up an ancient thread just to post something useless that you didn’t even create? If it is a kid, it needs a life. Or could it be a bot?