Mountain Biking - Installed new RapidFire shifters

I know this is a matter of personal preference, and I know someone that prefers gripshifts vs. rapidfire, but after experiencing the Shimano shifters for the first time ever, I must say they feel better than the gripshifts.

I installed these 24-speed shifters a couple of days ago to replace a 21-speed gripshift that didn't match the actual drivetrain of the bike. Got these STX shifters for $20 used.

A closeup of the 8-speed shifter.

Cool! I have to agree with you on the rapidfire, i've always liked them MUCH MUCH better than gripshifts, i remember when gripshifts first started getting popular and i tried them, and i was like wtf, these things suck, if i'm going up hill or even down i wanna push a button and not rotate anything, plus i questioned the durability. I don't know how they are now, but i still prefer rapid fire, congrats on the new shifters :beer:

Thats why I am excited that Sram is getting rapid fire for its system. Then I can dump Shimano. Until then Shimano is on my bike. :)

I always thought that rapid fire was a much better system, both mechanically and just on how it works. Looks like you got the Alivio Shifters. Enjoy

rapidfire owns ... I never liked gripshift.

Originally posted by Maelstrom
Thats why I am excited that Sram is getting rapid fire for its system. Then I can dump Shimano. Until then Shimano is on my bike. :)

Any idea when thats expected to be availible? What will you do for a front deraileur?

I don't really have any specific dislikings about shimano. I don't see a reason to go for a 'shimano free' bike. I do, however, strongly dislike the brake/shifter combos which they seem to be pushing so hard. To that end, I'd love to score a pair of SRAM triggers.

Originally posted by DiL
Any idea when thats expected to be availible? What will you do for a front deraileur?

I am not sure why people think Sram doesn't have a front deraileur. They do...x9.0 or something like that had one. (its really frustrating because I have seen them advertised but can't find them right now)

As for timing no clue. Hopefully soon because I have to replace my drive train soon and if the sram shifter isn't 'readily' available soon I will be stuck with an entire shimano drive train again :) On the sram web site they are being advertised but due to the lack of popularity here I may be limited for a bit :)

Originally posted by Maelstrom
I am not sure why people think Sram doesn't have a front deraileur. They do...x9.0 or something like that had one. (its really frustrating because I have seen them advertised but can't find them right now)

As for timing no clue. Hopefully soon because I have to replace my drive train soon and if the sram shifter isn't 'readily' available soon I will be stuck with an entire shimano drive train again :) On the sram web site they are being advertised but due to the lack of popularity here I may be limited for a bit :)

Oh.. I had no idea. I'd looked for triggers as well as a front deraileur on their site and found neither. Very odd.

Yeah it isn't on the site. But I did find a company selling them...either way I am probably going to single ring up front anyways so it won't be a concern ... (maybe)

I saw a review of SRAM's trigger shifters about a year and a half ago. And they still havent appeared on their web site? Mael, you said that you think they are available? Very strange.

Oh whell... it can wait, I dont mind the shimano's I do have this penchent for being different mind you... :lol:

Its not being different it is the trickle down theory of the crap called Saint. I hate proprietary bb's, hubs and brakes (and I suppose now deraileurs) and in the next couple of years the lx and xt series (my range of buying) will be like the Saint (omg those shifters BLOW and yes I had a chance to test them) so I want to remove my money from their company. :)

Mael, I do agree, proprietairy components cause a lot of headaches. (Sony Beta anone?)
If Shimano are going to re Vamp stuff at the continued rate, we'll be on 10 speeds in a year or two, and I'm hoping that they arent listening, a Quad crank system? (even more repetition of existing gear combonations!!)
Just the same as Mavic is producing Silver wheels, now that everyone is riding on new black ones.
Hmmm now there is a thought... how long until Mavic crosses the curb and introduces their electric Servo shifting system... I know somone who has it on their LeMond, and well he sais it's mighty slick!!

just like Homer would say... "Mmmmmm electric shifting..... DOH!!"

I actually got to test an air drive train in my run to the city last week. Very interesting and effecient.

I think an idea would be a remote internally geared hub. (by remote I mean NO cabling).

Either way I love standards especially when most of the industry follows. (When I first thought of this proprietary mini rant I was actually think early Apple/Mac products haha :))

Originally posted by Maelstrom
Either way I love standards especially when most of the industry follows. (When I first thought of this proprietary mini rant I was actually think early Apple/Mac products haha :))

Mael? did you just call me old?? :p

Originally posted by Scooby Snax
Mael? did you just call me old?? :p

Nope I owned a Beta machine myself in the beginning. (the mac vs pc wars were only a short time after that for us geeks) :)

Originally posted by Maelstrom
Nope I owned a Beta machine myself in the beginning. (the mac vs pc wars were only a short time after that for us geeks) :)

:lol: sure... Geek livin in Whistler...

Originally posted by Scooby Snax
:lol: sure... Geek livin in Whistler...

hahah...it is odd being a programmer/admin and having a career style job in the playground of canada...haha...old man living in Onterrible ;)

Originally posted by Maelstrom
hahah...it is odd being a programmer/admin and having a career style job in the playground of canada...haha...old man living in Onterrible ;)
Im not even going to respond to that!!:p

I love my SRAM. Works better/faster than my Shimano ever did. Love it love it love it.

My wife has the Mavic Mektronic (Wireless shifting) on her road bike. Let me tell you, it's a sweet operating system once you get it dialed in. Until you do, it's a P.I.T.A.!!!!!!

We initially had nothing but problems, it would ghost shift, or not shift at all....etc. Turns out the zip ties holding the computer to the handlebars were too tight, and the computer itself had to be a certain angle. After we got the bugs worked out it shifted very well.

Not only is it cool, but my wife likes it because she's always had weak hands, and shifting was always an effort for her. Now, she just presses a button and Viola!

I don't think this system would work as well in an off-road version. Too tempermental and sensitive. Plus, it's only the rear derailleur, the front is still wired (cabled). But who know what Mavic and/or others have in store for the near future.

Personally, I'd like to see electronically controlled shocks that increase or decrease spring rates and travel adjustments while riding. Now, that'd be cool!

L8R

Wow, I was joking. I didn't think this kind of thing existed. I think remotely controlled suspension front or back would kick ass. (especially with my ecc fork, I hate reaching down to drop the suspension)

Originally posted by Maelstrom
Wow, I was joking. I didn't think this kind of thing existed. I think remotely controlled suspension front or back would kick ass. (especially with my ecc fork, I hate reaching down to drop the suspension)

Sounds like an awful lot of stuff to break in the middle of a ride :P

Originally posted by DiL
Sounds like an awful lot of stuff to break in the middle of a ride :P

I agree...I am a KISS kind of person (thats 1 reason I still like ht's)...but it would be cool to have an on the fly remote lockout similar to the lefty but on my Marz :D