Mountain Biking - Grip Shift or EZ-Fire? Which shifter is better?

Hey, I just bought a new Diamondback OUtlook 2003 model, and i noticed it has the EZ-Fire shifters (EZ Fire 29). I was wondering if i should have got the GT palomar, which actually cost less, but I would have got it for the same price as the outlook. The palomar has SRAM MRX shifters (Grip Shift MAX). Which bike is better, and which type of shifter is better?

Thanx

Whichever is more comfortable for you. Both are great. I personally hate grop shift. My hands a big so I shift at bad times and I like 1 click equaling 1 shift. No multiple clicks for the best shift.

Others prefer grip shift.

My Trek 4300 has the EZF 29 shifters and I like them -- no problems whatsoever after 1000+ miles, and the shifting is very smooth. As Maelstrom mentioned, one problem with grip shifters is that you may find yourself shifting unintentionally. Also, there was a thread yesterday started by someone who had reliability problems with their MRX setup and was on their third set.

I'll vote for easy-fire as well, for the reasons mentioned above, and I don't have big hands!

I like the grip shifts best, but I know I am in the minority here. I like being able to grab gears without having to release my thumb from the bars. I get "shifter thumb" real bad too. Probably the best all around is to have grip shift on the rear, rapid fire on the front. The old original grip shifters were better IMHO...

I prefer Grip Shift. I'm not sure how some of these guys accidentally shift.. I've never once done that in years of using Gripshift. I'm gonna buy a set of the new SRAM XOs pretty soon.

Originally posted by MikeOK
I like the grip shifts best, but I know I am in the minority here. I like being able to grab gears without having to release my thumb from the bars. I get "shifter thumb" real bad too. Probably the best all around is to have grip shift on the rear, rapid fire on the front. The old original grip shifters were better IMHO...

Thats odd I would think having grip shift in the front would be better. Rapid fire in the back allows for very crisp and accurate shifting (as long as deraileur is setup correct) but the chainring shifter never seems to be right. Rocks bending the guides etc. Grip shift allows for smaller incremements which I would think would be better for the front.

Very interesting...I don't like them in either case because I shift every time I try to lift my bike or do bunny hops...:)

In your case, EZ fire is better, becuase the economy of Australia is booming, so you can afford more expensive stuff, unlike Canada, which is quickly becoming a 3rd world country........:crash:


MRX is crap, so you did good getting the EZ fire. When you get into higher end SRAM(5.0 or higher) it becomes whatever you like better.

Originally posted by Maelstrom

Very interesting...I don't like them in either case because I shift every time I try to lift my bike or do bunny hops...:)

That's most people's complaint. I used to get mis-shifts too, but after riding with them awhile I always just seemed to know when it happened and automatically correct it. My son has some SRAMS on his bikes, they are okay but I liked the old Grip Shifter brand better...

I'm w/Maelstrom on this one. If I were to have a Frankenbike and mix components. I'd put the grip shift on the left(front derailleur) to micro-shift when in the middle chainring to avoid chain rub at extreme ends of the cassette range. I'd keep the rapid fire on the rear.

I will note however, that 1) I'm a bike mechanic and have gotten "pretty" good at adjusting my derailleur to avoid this, and 2)I have full XTR, so all my shifts are super crisp!

I also agree with Fubar, to get decent Sram (Gripshift) components, you've got to stick with 5.0 or better. Side note: I think a 5.0 derailleur works almost as well as my old 9.0, but using 9.0sl shifters.

Havent' had the pleasure to try any of the new X.0 stuff yet!

L8R

EZ Fire is great! my old roomate even said he preferred my EZ Fire shifters over his rapidfire ones... because you can shift multiple gears at a time.

Originally posted by Jim311
I prefer Grip Shift. I'm not sure how some of these guys accidentally shift.. I've never once done that in years of using Gripshift. I'm gonna buy a set of the new SRAM XOs pretty soon.

Good man, jim311.

I've got my XOs ordered and should get them early Jan. Watch out for my how-do-you-install posts!:D

Originally posted by Jim311
I prefer Grip Shift. I'm not sure how some of these guys accidentally shift.. I've never once done that in years of using Gripshift. I'm gonna buy a set of the new SRAM XOs pretty soon.


Big hands. Anytime and everytime I got into scetchy sections I would shift. In fact just about everyone I know can't stand grip shift and look at it as a low end option on a bike. Ironic that it is actually higher end. It really sucked. I don't mind pulling my
thumb from the bar to shift up or down.

This definately isn't anything against Sram. They make quality stuff, I just don't like it. (except their chains. They rock)

I deffinitely agree about the SRAM chains.. they're simply the best. Plus, that Power Link is awesome.


For those of you that were shifting accidentally.... were you using the shifters that are actually PART of the grip? I mean.. the really long ones, or the shorties? I use the shorties, but I can understand how you could mis-shift with the longer grip style.

I'm a gripshift fan! I will admit their lower end stuff isn't to hot. I love their higher end stuff. It's all personal preference on how you shift and how you ride. For me I like Grip Shift on my all around bike....but on my DH ride I use rapid fire. I do love the fact that the sram shifters are very simple to service. There's only on spring inside..and no mechanical internals like in shimano. Well I'm sure you'll get what ever one works for you...just thought I'd give you some more info. But I'm sure you have a ton of it now.:D

i hate grip shift! it is so hard to change on the left gears (the 3 gears) and when your hands are sweaty, its pretty hard to change, and when u need a new handlebar with gripshift, you need to go throo soooo much trouble, same when u get new grips with grip shift, the "special" grip shift grips are pretty hard to find!

Whichever is more comfortable for you. Both are great. I personally hate grop shift. My hands a big so I shift at bad times and I like 1 click equaling 1 shift. No multiple clicks for the best shift.

Others prefer grip shift.

My old bike had a thing on the handlebars that you twist to change the gears. Is that grip shift? Because it was pretty nice, except when you were out in the rain (and then it was really hard to upshift, but not to downshift). It was a shaft-driven bike that became unrepairable, so I got a new chain-driven bike and it has the EZ Fire shifters. Not that they're bad, but it's kind of fussy about upshifting the front gears; if you push it too fast, it won't upshift, but will start making noises until you push it halfway and release. If I ease it back, it works, but it's still kind of fussy. But again, maybe that's just how shifting gears on any chain-driven bike works; I had never done it until I got this bike (Friday).