Grip Shifters

[rocky289]

My current ride, SDURO Fullnine RC
I have Neuropathy in my hands & feet which is gradually getting worse.
I use clipless pedals so my feet arnt a big problem but its getting harder to change gears.
I need to make a choice, give up riding or change to grip shifters.
I would prefer to keep riding for the exercise value.
Some might say why ruin a good bike. But I would retain all the trigger components.
So I need advice on just how to go about this & what components I would need to get, so that it could be reverted back.
I suppose another alternative would be to change to a lower spec bike that already has grip shifters.
But I would prefer to keep this one as my wife has the same model & we can share the spares.

 

[rich c]

Personally, I find grip shifters harder to operate than trigger or rapid fire shifters. But, I've never ridden a bike with high end grip shifters.

 

[Shoestring]

Hello mr rocky289, reguarding your shifters: do not be afraid of high end grip shifters. In my case, I switched out low/mid grade sram X5 trigger shifters for High end sram XO grade twist shifters, they perform flawlessly! They shift fast and crisp, you can grab a handful of gears as fast as you can twist. they are indexed perfectly, I have not dropped a chain or missed a shift for hundreds of miles. I have another XO set to put on my Haibike hard seven before spring arrives.
Things to look for: make sure your twist shifter match your rear cassette (9spd to 9spd; 10 to 10 etc) Its best to stay with matching components ( Sram-Sram, shimano-shamino etc) the cassette is interchangeable .
Another option (possibly) would be to switch to Shimano DI2 electronic shifting, this would require some pricey component upgrades but when its dialed in, its effortless to shift at the push of a button.

You will not RUIN it with component upgrades that make the bike work better for you! In fact, its fun and satisfying to make your bike individual. Good luck, let us know what you decide.

 

[JRA]

I also use an XO grip shifter on my e mtb. It mates better with my startup throttle than a push shifter for my needs.

What I find is that I try to never downshift more than a gear at a time and always stop pedaling briefly before I shift. The motor runs for enough longer so that the shift is made under power but not under the stress of my pressure quite nicely. The grip shifter is very positive and easy to use but in the end it is all about personal preference.

 

[rocky289]

Thanks for the quick replies.
The current shifters are Shimano Deore, SL-M 610, Rapidfire, I-Spec
Rear Mechanical is Shimano SLX M 675 Shadow Plus, 10 Speed.
The duel chainwheel has the same shifter but opposite hand.
Can you advise on what make, model or part numbers would be compatable?

 

[Shoestring]

OK mr rocky289, here's (MY) recommendation : Switch your shifters and derailleur out with Sram XX 10 spd set up. A quick check on "universal cycles" web site show the shifters on sale for $120 and the long cage derailleur for about $230 + tax/shipping. I know its pricey, but it will kick some butt after you get it tuned in.

If you decide to do it, you will need to swap the new shift cable with the old one. If you have internal cable routing, do NOT pull the cable casing out of the frame. just disconnect the cable from the slx derailleur and slide it through the casing connected to the shifter. Then slide the new one back down thru. You may have to break the chain to make the install. I say the difficulty on a scale of 1-10 is about 6. Basic bike tools and some patience are all that's needed.

 

[Shoestring]

Also, regarding the front shifter setup, it is not necessary to change the front derailleur. just swap the shifters and tune the adjustment. An added bonus will be unlimited trim with twist shifter as opposed to a designated indexed shift position. I other words, you can fine tune the placement of the front derailleur with the shifter- move it over a micro click inward in the low gears (no chain rub) move it outwards a micro click when in the high gears.

 

[rocky289]

Thanks, I'll follow that up.

 

[rocky289]

Looks like SRAM X0 would be the way for me to go.
The cheaper of the two.

If I buy a pair, do they come with cables?

Also re the rear derailleur, short, meduim or long?

Would it be worth trying to see it matches up with the current one first?

 

[Shoestring]

Double check the XO, I think that's a 9spd only ( I might be mistaken) Yes they come with cables. Rear derailleur Long cage up to 36 tooth granny gear on rear cassette. It might be worth a shot to see if it shifts correctly with the SLX first. Theoretically, the gear spacing is the same, so the shift points should be the same. Sram always says their "black box technology" is only compatible between their shifters/derailleurs. Marketing hype???? It won't damage anything if it doesn't work, it will just shift crappy or jump gears back and forth. I'd like to know if it works!! The thing that changes is the amount of cable the shifter needs to complete the shifts- The Sram might need only a 1/4 turn to go through all the gears, the SLX might need a 1/2 turn. I don't know if the shift geometry on the two derailleurs is exactly the same or not.

 

[rocky289]

Thanks.

This is the one I'm looking at

(Link Removed - No Longer Exists)

Best price I can find is on eBay

(Link Removed - No Longer Exists)

 

[Shoestring]

They look good! They look exactly the same as the set I'm using. I'm still pretty sure you might need a derailleur. I'll keep an eye on this thread, If you have any problems setting them up, I'll help as much as I can.

 

[rocky289]

At least the derailleurs aren't so hard to find.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/gobike88-S...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

 

[rocky289]

Well I made the change.

SRAM X0 2x10-Spd Grip Shifter Set
SRAM GX Type 2.1 10-Spd Long Cage Rear Derailleur

Only issue I had making the change was lining up the derailleur.
Finished up having to remove the hanger to make it work.
They work good, but getting used to them is another thing.

 

[Shoestring]

Great job Rocky, I knew you could handle it. I hope it helps your wrists and fingers. We've got to stay in the saddle untill the lights go out!!