I have an Aventon Level 3. I am very satisfied with the bike except for the Shimano shifters. Many times when I shift I have to play with the levers to stop the chain noise. I also have a 15 year old Specialized hardtail with “higher” level Shimano shifters, and those never miss. These cheaper level shifters are unacceptable; they shouldn’t sell a product that doesn’t do its job properly.
Shimano shifters
- Thread starter cleo1943
- Start date
fooferdoggie
Well-Known Member
no because they are the lowest end and shimano does not make anything else for 7 and 8 speeds anymore. if it is 8 speed you may be able to find some trigger shifters but the derailer sucks too so your kinda stuck. one of those bike shops that fix old bikes and such may have something better.
stompandgo
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
How old are the shift cables? Do you ride in the rain or off road? Replace the cables before replacing the shifters.
It is a brand new bike! (400 miles) and just had a free first tune up. There is no option for a higher level shifter. I am not arguing that a cheaper level shifter should function as well or last as long as a more expensive level shifter, but it should work, at least when it is new. This is scandalous. If these parts were on a car, there would be a recall.
stompandgo
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
What kind of bike, and did you buy it direct or from a shop? I agree that poor shifting should not happen with a brand new bike. I'm not convinced it's a problem with the shifters.
I am convinced because I had a Level 1 which I put 14,000 miles on, with only normal maintenance. It was a great bike except the shifting was subpar. So, I knew I might be unhappy with the shifting, but I bought the Level 3 anyway. Why? Because it is an incredible bike (90 miles per charge! GPS locator if is stolen, seat post suspension. Let me add that I weigh 135 pounds and only use the lowest power level, and I downshift on hills rather than increase the power and, at 81, usually am content to cruise at 10 mph, so that helps the mileage). And, I had hoped that the shifting problem would have been solved since the year 2021 when I bought the Level 1, which, by the way, only got 40 MPC. If is possible that people using a bike with the same level of Shimano shifters as mine, have nothing to compare it to, and think the shifting is normal. I am shocked that Shimano can get away with selling this subpar product for years. I guess I could complain to the commerce department. Interestingly, although Aventon is an American company, I read recently that Aventon bikes are made in China. Perhaps the Chinese should manufacture shifters, because the parts of the bike that they made, are excellent!
stompandgo
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Have you taken it to your Aventon dealer?
My wife has a bike with the same Altus derailleur and 8 speed shifter, both she and I think it works fine (normal). I also have other bikes with mid range components including one with Shimano 105s for comparison. The 105s are certainly smoother, quicker, lighter but I still think the altus and 8 speed trigger shifter works well and normally. If you are convinced that your groupset is inferior despite proper adjustment you can always replace them with something better. It isn't particularly expensive or difficult, depending on what you choose.
I don't see how assist vs non-assist would matter regarding derailleur/shifter performance. My wife's bike is a Dahon Briza folding bike that has been used stock as well as with a mid drive conversion, shifting was the same with both versions. Maybe ask your bike shop if Microshift or Box derailleur/shifter would perform better. I assume that an 8 speed cassette would eliminate higher end choices but I'm not sure. Stompandgo might be able to give you guidance.
stompandgo
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Altus is a good gearset for 8 speed. My guess is that this has something to do with the internal routing. Anyway, if you're thinking about upgrading in the future, 105 is for 10/11/12 speed so you'd have to upgrade a lot of items. Microshift work until they don't. Good initial quality. Take a look at the new Essa 8 speed gearset. It's supposed to shift better than any previous 6/7/8 speed gearset. It uses Linkglide not Hyperglide for added strength.
fritz katzenjammer
Der grosserfahrradmechaniker
- Region
- Other
I see a lot of totally crap shifters and derailleurs on new bikes I’m building, a bit upsetting when it’s an otherwise nice brand name e-bike. Lower end Shimano is now crap… right out of the box, especially the derailleurs.
Microshift makes some very nice Shimano compatible shifters as well as decent derailleurs, straight drop in replacements. I could see them booting Shimano out of the 8 speed market soon.
I’d look into their stuff, swap out your derailleur first, as that’s usually the cause on new bikes with bottom end Shimano and then go for the shifter next.
A few years ago Microshift was made fun of in the back of the shop, now it’s showing up on name brand new bikes and the world is a better place for it. ( I never thought I say that! )
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
This looks like very good advice to me. The late Matt Roberston, a prolific and highly respected DIY builder here, was a big Mircoshift fan.
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
That was certainly the case with the 9-speed Shimano Alivio? derailleur on my 1st ebike from late 2022. Pantograph bearings got way too sloppy at around 700-800 mi, soon taking the cassette and chain with it via accelerated wear.
Mechanic replaced it with a 10-speed Shimano Deore derailleur (along with upgraded Shimano shifter, cassette, and chain). Cost me $300+ total, but 2,100 flawless miles since in a harsh coastal environment.
Why does a company supplying many a Tour de France drivetrain sully its reputation with this low-end crap? To weaken competitors like Microshift?
Seems very short-sighted to me.
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Gionnirocket
Well-Known Unidentified Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Y. O.
I had an Altus derailleur paired with the Microsoft shifter and it worked flawlessly on a diy ebike. I don't use it much anymore but I got 15 years out of the bike and 3_1/2 were as an ebike and it still works without issue.
Good quality cables make a world of difference. At 400mi I'd guess the cheap cables have stretched and the kid at the bike shop is thinking about his girlfriend. I'd also check the housing if internally routed as it may have gotten kink'd during installation.
Good quality cables make a world of difference. At 400mi I'd guess the cheap cables have stretched and the kid at the bike shop is thinking about his girlfriend. I'd also check the housing if internally routed as it may have gotten kink'd during installation.
fritz katzenjammer
Der grosserfahrradmechaniker
- Region
- Other
I love Deore, it’s easy to set up and bulletproof. I run it on my tandem and if anything is going to trash a derailleur, it’s a tandem. Unfortunately it’s all going over to Cues. I’ve gotten really good at setting up Cues, but no matter how much you fine tune them they never match Deore for smooth quiet shifting right out of the box. Whether Cues last is yet to be seen, but I’m now holding out any hopes.
As to selling crap, I think Shimano is greedy and just wants to cover the entire market. We are making fun of Alivia and Tourney and such but they have an entire line of plain derailleurs that just say Shimano on them. I see them on the occasional Walmart type bike that someone has brought into our shop hoping we can work a miracle on it, polishing that turd into a diamond, while they work, they are truly dreadful.
And why do they even bother to put a “B” adjustment screw on these turkeys anyway. You can turn it in till it bottoms or out till it falls out and it doesn’t change a thing.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Are you sure the handle hasnt come loose on your screwdriver.
Gionnirocket
Well-Known Unidentified Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Y. O.
I often find the problem is a loose nut behind the handlebars
