Bicycle Mechanics - Sora Shifter Shim

My wife's bike has 8speed Sora Shifters (triple). She has difficulty reaching the brake levers from the drops... in fact, she can't reach them at all.

From searching on the forum, I've seen some posts suggesting that shimano makes shims for at least some of their levers. Does anyone know if there are shims made for 8speed Sora levers? Anyone have an online source?

Thanks a bunch!
Jon

they exist. i haven't seen them for sale online, though. your best bet is to go to your LBS and see what they have. they'll probably just give them to you for free if you're good w/ them. they probably have a box of them sitting around.

I am pretty sure there is no such thing for Sora, because Sora has an internal reach adjustment.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=14721525

Specialized makes shims for 105 and Ultegra.

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=41915

You might be able to trim them to work as well, or you can use Sticky Back Foam. I have heard it works just as well as the actual shims

I am pretty sure there is no such thing for Sora, because Sora has an internal reach adjustment...

they exist. it came w/ my bike.

My daughter's Sora shifters have a reach adjustment built in. It has far more adjusment than the Specialized Slim Shims I put on my Ultegra levers.

Specialized shims are the only ones available for Shimano levers, as far as I know. They do not offer them for Sora shifters, which would make sense because (if) the soras still have built in adjustment, they wouldn't be needed. Maybe the poster who received them with Sora shifters got some other type?

Here's the page which lists the specialized shims. http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqSection.jsp?sid=EquipComponentsRoadBrakeLevers&eid=367

internal reach adjustment!

brilliant!

Thanks for the help guys; I'd never noticed the little screw adjustment on the hoods. A few twists and the levers are now reachable. Now my wife can stop for red lights. She appreciates it!

-j

I did not know about the Specialized shims. Would have bought them a long time ago if I knew.

I did not know about the Specialized shims. Would have bought them a long time ago if I knew.


If you look for them at your local bike shop, be aware that there are three or so types, and you need to specifically get them for your shifters. I was given two or three sets by ignorant techs from stuff they had laying around. I said "Ultegra 9 speed" and they assured me they'd work. Didn't. Finally ordered them somewhere online and the shipping cost almost as much as the shims. But I like them a lot and when installed look like they belong (i.e. "finished"). Spec. website sells them too.

If you look for them at your local bike shop, be aware that there are three or so types, and you need to specifically get them for your shifters.

I special ordered them through my LBS. They went through the catalogue with me and I was able to identify the part no. of the 9 speed versions. You are correct - there are 3 types: 9 speed, 10 speed, and 10 speed Dura-Ace.

Older Sora 8 speed has an adjuster screw for reach adjustment. Newer Sora 9 speed comes with (when bought in a box, can't speed for when installed on a bike OEM) shims for adjusting reach.

I special ordered them through my LBS. They went through the catalogue with me and I was able to identify the part no. of the 9 speed versions. You are correct - there are 3 types: 9 speed, 10 speed, and 10 speed Dura-Ace.

Yea I know this. Both LBS's I went to, I had the actual part number (from the Spec.website) and in neither case did they listen to me - after all they are a LBS and know everything. Both cases they gave me a little baggie w/ shims in it (free, so that's good), and assured me they would work and really wouldn't work with me to order them. In both cases I pretty much knew they wouldn't, but again, they knew best. Yet another reason I never rely on LBS's for any technical expertise.