Bicycle Mechanics - Nashbar-branded Microshift rear derailer

As some of you are aware, Nashbar has started marketing their own drivetrain components, which now include brifters and derailers made by Microshift (http://www.microshift.biz/). Reports have been basically good so far, apart from some people disliking the semi-Shimano-knockoff design of the brifters.

I've been wanting to get a Shimano road rear derailer for my Centurion Ironman (http://www.unc.edu/~cupery/pics/bikes/Centurion_Ironman_Expert/), setup with 9-speed STI drivetrain but using a Shimano XT long-cage rear derailer that came out in the 8-speed era. It's a very good derailer, but doesn't shift super-crisply over the 12-26 9-speed cassette, tracking further away from the cassette because it's designed to handle larger cogs, and with perhaps less precision than 9- or 10-speed rear derailers.

http://www.unc.edu/~cupery/pics/bikes/Centurion_Ironman_Expert/small/3-MG_5589--rear_cluster.jpg (http://www.unc.edu/~cupery/pics/bikes/Centurion_Ironman_Expert/small/3-MG_5589--rear_cluster.html)

So I bought the Nashbar rear derailer for $30 (with 20% off offsetting shipping and sales tax charges).
I haven't yet installed it or ridden the bike, so for now I'm just attaching pictures of the box and the derailer itself. I'll post more information once I've ridden it.

The only problem is that the bottom pulley wheel turns with resistance. I'm going to open it up and clean and lube it and will report back.

I'd be interested to hear if it indexes correctly. I've not heard whether it's meant to be able to mix and match with Shimano components.

I'd be interested in what you find also. These would be a good choice for a beater or to put an older bike back into service at low cost, IF they work decently.

It's Shimano-compatible, and others have reported it to be "about 105 quality level" however it is one goes about judging that. Presumably finish-polish plus weight.
I'll report back once I've set it up and ridden it. Hopefully it doesn't make my nice pink bike look too much like a beater.

While I was at Eurobike last fall, I spent some time at the Microshift display, playing with the brifters and chatting with the rep'. I liked what I saw and felt, and I'd certainly consider buying it. They're making everything interchangeable with any Shimano part, so you can mix and match as much as you want. The rep' was also very proud to tell me that there were a couple of Spanish bike manufacturers now putting full Microshift drivetrains on some of their production road/racing bikes. I'm all for competition - especially if it can drive down the price of brifters a bit.

The 52-page catalog that I picked up at the stand is available as a pdf here (http://www.microshift.biz/driver/drivers/microSHIFT%202008-2009.pdf).

+1 Competition is appreciated and hopefully will get brifters down to a more reasonable pricing level.

I've been playing with the SB-R08 levers (8-speed) on a couple of '07 Fujis. The throws are long and the levers spongy. We can hope the 10-speed levers are a significant improvement.

The rep' was also very proud to tell me that there were a couple of Spanish bike manufacturers now putting full Microshift drivetrains on some of their production bikes.

My BikeFriday tikit was factory equipped with a Microshift twist shifter, rear derailleur and cassette.

tcs

Hey Tim, I am sending you a PM about that XT derailure. By the way nice machine. Good luck with the Nashbar part, it ought to work fine.

While I was at Eurobike last fall, I spent some time at the Microshift display, playing with the brifters and chatting with the rep'. I liked what I saw and felt, and I'd certainly consider buying it. They're making everything interchangeable with any Shimano part, so you can mix and match as much as you want. The rep' was also very proud to tell me that there were a couple of Spanish bike manufacturers now putting full Microshift drivetrains on some of their production bikes. I'm all for competition - especially if it can drive down the price of brifters a bit.

The 52-page catalog that I picked up at the stand is available as a pdf here (http://www.microshift.biz/driver/drivers/microSHIFT%202008-2009.pdf).

If Microshift wants my business, all they need to do is make their brifters *serviceable*, and make the parts available, and I will buy from them instead of Shimano.

Okay, here's my report. Also, I added 3 photos of the derailer, mounted on the bike, to my initial post at the top.

Installation: the lower pulley wheel turns with some resistance, and remains stiff after pulling out the (steel) bushing and applying some thick oil. But it spins okay as-is, and will free up with time. Putting the derailer on the bike and adjusting it was no problem, same as any indexed rear derailer. In the stand, the derailer shifted fine, with no need to over-shift. I'm running a 9-speed drivetrain with Sram 12-26 cassette, Shimano HG-90 chain, and Shimano 105 STI.

Riding performance: I went on a 25-mile ride today and am very pleased with the shifting. Crisp, quick and precise, as I would expect running a 10-speed rear derailer on a 9-speed drivetrain. Much cleaner shifting than the XT long-cage, 8-speed era rear derailer that was on there previously, and with no change in any other factors. I was wondering if the cable housing by the rear derailer (which was old used housing prior to my putting it on this bike) was a cause of less-than-perfect shifting, but apparently everything comes down to the rear derailer.

The old XT M737 rear derailer will serve some 8-speed touring or mountain bike well in the future.

+1 Competition is appreciated and hopefully will get brifters down to a more reasonable pricing level. Nashbar themselves are selling ultegra brifters for $150; and I bought a pair over the holidays for something like $119. I know this pricing isn't common, but it'd take a lot for me to buy nashbar brand brifters if I can get Ultegra for near the same price, from the same site no less. It's like nashbar is hurting their own chances of selling microshift units by selling the ultegra 6603 for such a low price.

I hope to see more reviews about these components, though I don't know if I'll be buying them any time soon, unless somehow all the cheap / older shimano groups disappear off the market. Shimano groups are known quantities to me, both in shifting quality and ergonomics, I know what I'm getting.

Would expect better/crisper shifting with the Microshift since it's a short cage. If Nashbar decides to carry the Microshift lineup and keeps the price down, I wouldn't mind trying out the thumb shifter and long cage derailleur. Would be an inexpensive way to update/upgrade components and see how well built they are for the long haul or demanding use.

Nashbar themselves are selling ultegra brifters for $150; and I bought a pair over the holidays for something like $119. I know this pricing isn't common, but it'd take a lot for me to buy nashbar brand brifters if I can get Ultegra for near the same price, from the same site no less. It's like nashbar is hurting their own chances of selling microshift units by selling the ultegra 6603 for such a low price.

On that note, can anyone explain why Nashbar's doing that? $150 will barely buy used Ultegra on Ebay. Are these discontinued, and if so, what's the difference with the new ones?

If they are the ones with the silver face plates rather than the dark ones, they are an old version. I have them on my bike and they work fine. I don't know what the difference is between the 6500 models and the 6501.

Given that you've gone from an 8 speed long cage setup to a short cage setup, I would be disappointed if the shifting wasn't world's better just because of that.

If they are the ones with the silver face plates rather than the dark ones, they are an old version. I have them on my bike and they work fine. I don't know what the difference is between the 6500 models and the 6501.
Actually, the 9-speed Ultegra STI's came in two models, 6501 and 6510. The 6501 version had a real problem with the face plate rattling. It wasn't a functional issue but it drove some riders nuts. The 6510 had a redesigned faceplate attachment and solved the problem.

There was web site with a way to shim the 6501 faceplates to quiet them down but I can't find a reference to it anymore.

If they are the ones with the silver face plates rather than the dark ones, they are an old version. I have them on my bike and they work fine. I don't know what the difference is between the 6500 models and the 6501.

In this case, the ones Nashbar is selling are the 6603 10-speed triple. The double version is still $300. They do appear to have silver face plates, however.

I'm thinking about grabbing a pair, but I can't convince myself that switching to 10-speed is worth it.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=6000104&subcategory=60001194&brand=&sku=13295&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Shifters%2FBrake%20Levers%20-%20Road

Given that you've gone from an 8 speed long cage setup to a short cage setup, I would be disappointed if the shifting wasn't world's better just because of that.
Agreed. I'm not saying that the derailer shifts better than your average 10-speed road derailer, but simply that it shifts well as-expected.

In this case, the ones Nashbar is selling are the 6603 10-speed triple. The double version is still $300. They do appear to have silver face plates, however.

I'm thinking about grabbing a pair, but I can't convince myself that switching to 10-speed is worth it.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=6000104&subcategory=60001194&brand=&sku=13295&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Shifters%2FBrake%20Levers%20-%20Road

That is pretty cheap. I wonder if they are trying to undercut QBP or something like that. I was thinking of a different product they sold in the past so ignore my prior remark.

Given that you've gone from an 8 speed long cage setup to a short cage setup, I would be disappointed if the shifting wasn't world's better just because of that.
That really shouldn't make any difference. It's a myth that short cage derailleurs automatically shift better than their long cage peers. There is no reason they should since their jockey wheel to cog relationship is the same.

Iccaclimber, you mentioned QBP. I thought QBP only sold to bike shops, not retail, is that correct?

In this case, the ones Nashbar is selling are the 6603 10-speed triple. The double version is still $300. They do appear to have silver face plates, however.

I'm thinking about grabbing a pair, but I can't convince myself that switching to 10-speed is worth it.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=6000104&subcategory=60001194&brand=&sku=13295&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Shifters%2FBrake%20Levers%20-%20Road

I wish that deal would end as I've been agonizing over whether or not I should buy a set to build another bike or just to keep as spares for my road bike. Once the deal ends, I'll stop thinking about it so much. That deal almost makes me regret going with 9 speed Ultegra (and paying much more than $150 for the levers) on my new commuter but then I remember how cheap and readily available all ranges of 9 speed cassettes are in addition to chains.

I jumped on the Nashbar Ultegra 6603 deal ($127 shipped after discount code) to replace my crash damaged ultegra 9 speed triples. I was able to convert to 10 speed for a little less than $300. My rear derailer was bent so the replacement (ultegra 10 speed long cage) was $67 of the $300. The 6603 kit comes with new cables and housing which I put to good use also.

The 6603s shift great. My surviving 9 speed front derailer does't seem to downshift as well with the narrower 10 speed chain but I can live with it.

I was wondering if the cable housing by the rear derailer (which was old used housing prior to my putting it on this bike) was a cause of less-than-perfect shifting, but apparently everything comes down to the rear derailer.

So naturally, your first tactic would be to change the derailleur.

I jumped on the Nashbar Ultegra 6603 deal ($127 shipped after discount code) to replace my crash damaged ultegra 9 speed triples. I was able to convert to 10 speed for a little less than $300. My rear derailer was bent so the replacement (ultegra 10 speed long cage) was $67 of the $300. The 6603 kit comes with new cables and housing which I put to good use also.

The 6603s shift great. My surviving 9 speed front derailer does't seem to downshift as well with the narrower 10 speed chain but I can live with it.

I did a similar upgrade with the Nashbar 6603 deal and had an issue with front shifting. The wider FD would occassionally leave the chain slipping between the front rings! I bought the Nashbar / Microshift 10spd FD and now it shifts like butter (front and back).

I jumped on the Nashbar Ultegra 6603 deal ($127 shipped after discount code) to replace my crash damaged ultegra 9 speed triples. I was able to convert to 10 speed for a little less than $300. My rear derailer was bent so the replacement (ultegra 10 speed long cage) was $67 of the $300. The 6603 kit comes with new cables and housing which I put to good use also.

The 6603s shift great. My surviving 9 speed front derailer does't seem to downshift as well with the narrower 10 speed chain but I can live with it.

^^I got that deal too, but got shafted with tax but no big deal. One of the best deals last x-mas.

That really shouldn't make any difference. It's a myth that short cage derailleurs automatically shift better than their long cage peers. There is no reason they should since their jockey wheel to cog relationship is the same.
Yes and no. You're right that the cage length itself doesn't matter; but the "mountain-bike" design, where the derailer is designed to track along a cassette of up to 34t, does matter because it means that the jockey wheel is further away from the cogs as you get into the larger cogs.
But a road-marketed long-cage ("triple") rear derailer shouldn't shift worse than a road-marketed short-cage ("double") rear derailer.
The other difference, as mentioned, is that the old rear derailer is 8-speed. Or make that, "was designed for 8-speed." It tracks the same, but there's more play in the pulley wheel, basically not precise enough for crisp shifts on 9-speed system.


So naturally, your first tactic would be to change the derailleur.
I already knew that the derailer was sub-optimal, for reasons explained above, and I'd bought the new derailer already before I wondered if the cable housing was a problem. I didn't think it was, but the housing was used (I think) when I put it onto the bike.

Shimano Ultegra 10 Spd Triple ST-6603 STI Shifters: $149.99

Nashbar's latest catalogue.

EDIT: I see someone beat me to this - I'll leave it for the stragglers....

9 spd. Forever!

Don't the Nashbar (Microtech) brifters have 2 little handles for the shifting and not the actual brake lever itself?

Yes and no. You're right that the cage length itself doesn't matter; but the "mountain-bike" design, where the derailer is designed to track along a cassette of up to 34t, does matter because it means that the jockey wheel is further away from the cogs as you get into the larger cogs.
But a road-marketed long-cage ("triple") rear derailer shouldn't shift worse than a road-marketed short-cage ("double") rear derailer.
Right, which is why I was careful to say; ".....than their long cage peers...". Meaning I was comparing road derailleurs with road derailleurs.

Right, which is why I was careful to say; ".....than their long cage peers...". Meaning I was comparing road derailleurs with road derailleurs.
Ah, I missed that, sorry. You're dead on, as usual.

Don't the Nashbar (Microtech) brifters have 2 little handles for the shifting and not the actual brake lever itself?

You're correct. See the pic on this page (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=24354&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=%2Fsearch_results.cfm). There are two paddles behind the brake lever, rather than the conventional setup with one. One lever shifts up, one down. It seemed like a fine setup to me when I played with it on the display stand. It should also prevent accidental braking when trying to shift, which is what I occasionally did a few years ago during the first 1000 kms after going from bar-end shifters to brifters.

There are two paddles behind the brake lever, rather than the conventional setup with one. One lever shifts up, one down. It seemed like a fine setup to me when I played with it on the display stand. It should also prevent accidental braking when trying to shift, which is what I occasionally did a few years ago during the first 1000 kms after going from bar-end shifters to brifters.
If by "conventional" you mean Shimano. Campagnolo and SRAM brifters also have brake levers that don't move side-to-side.

If by "conventional" you mean Shimano. Campagnolo and SRAM brifters also have brake levers that don't move side-to-side.

No, by conventional I mean having only one paddle behind the brake lever (which is true for Shimano, Campagnolo, and SRAM), this seems pretty clear in my original post to me.

Nashbar themselves are selling ultegra brifters for $150; and I bought a pair over the holidays for something like $119. I know this pricing isn't common, but it'd take a lot for me to buy nashbar brand brifters if I can get Ultegra for near the same price, from the same site no less. It's like nashbar is hurting their own chances of selling microshift units by selling the ultegra 6603 for such a low price.


Jump forward to 07/26/2010 Ultegra triple brifters are $369 on sale, not $150. While Microshift are $129. The closeout on Ultegra brifters were a 1 time blip on the radar.

If Microshift wants my business, all they need to do is make their brifters *serviceable*, and make the parts available, and I will buy from them instead of Shimano.

At a $100 a pair on sale that's not likely. Campy has dumped almost their entire line of user serviceable shifters.