Bicycle Mechanics - 105 shift problem

I have a new Felt F75 20 speed, 105 in the front and Ultegra in the rear. Shifting to the small chain ring in the front requires excessive effort and it snaps instead of the normal soft click. Going the other way to the large ring is easy and normal. My dealer says this hard shift is normal because of a redesigned in the 105 shift lever. Hard to believe a fourteen hundred dollar bike would shift like an eighty dollar bike from Target.
I hope there is a solution for this cause it sure ticks me off.
Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated.

Dale

It is normal. You can make it slightly softer but then you won't be able to shift to the large ring because of cable pull issues.

I too have new 105 on a new bike I just purchased. when I'm attempting to shift into the smaller ring, I push the paddle once, it clicks, and then I have to push it again...Is this normal, and if not, any suggestions to solutions?

Shifting to the smaller ring up front is a harder shift and will make a clank or hard "tack!" noise as it releases cable tension. It happens even with Ultegra shifters and, I suspect, with Dura-Ace. It will not feel like the soft click you get with the rear derailleur shifter. This seemingly unrefined feeling and behavior is normal.



Ardor, that is probably the front derailleur trim function. You can set the front derailleur slightly left or right on your current front chainring so that it reduces noise from the chain rubbing the front derailleur when you go to the extreme high or low cogs of your rear gears and cause excessive cross-chaining. There are two positions for each of the chainrings on your bike.

Moving the shift levers part way will cause the shifter to go to a different trim position. You will feel a slight click and detent partway through the lever sweep, and if you push further, it will go to the next chainring. If you are already in the high trim position and you try to go to a higher chainring, the shifter is smart and will not click to change the trim. It only clicks if you will be changing the detent position from the one you are currently using. The click from going to a lower trim position using the black plastic finger paddle is more noticable than the one you will feel while going to a higher position with the alloy brake levers.

Try backing off your high gear limit screw about 1/8 turn.

Sometimes bike mechanics set the high limit screw tight against the derailleur. That can hold the derailleur like a lock nut and cause it to bind. The result is that, when it finally goes shift, it shoots across and sometimes will even overshoot the small ring.

I too have new 105 on a new bike I just purchased. when I'm attempting to shift into the smaller ring, I push the paddle once, it clicks, and then I have to push it again...Is this normal, and if not, any suggestions to solutions?

This is normal if your front chain ring is a triple. the extra click is called "trim". When on the middle chainring, it allows you to move the front derailer in and out a little to stop chain rub when you have the rear gear on the largest or smallest couple of gears. Try it!

It's a double.

It's a double.


It will still have the trim function.

Thanks guys, good to know.

I'll play with the limit screws a bit and see if I can make it less clunky.

both downshifting and upshifting must be with low noise, otherwise you have to make adjustments and check the cables, distances etc. downshifting is instantenous and it normally does not require any effort from you, just trigger the lever....upshifting is smoother and naturally slower
i'd recommend you check the manuals shimano has available on their web site, it might be helpful
if you set it properly, you should not rub larger chainring when in low gear (cassette).
patience above all.....

cheers