Bicycle Mechanics - Sunrace Brifters are ****

Ugh, I just got a pair. Wish I had simply stuck with Soras.

The problem is the downshift paddle. OMG, the travel required is humongous.

Which wouldn't be a problem so much only -- that you can't shift the brake lever.

Big travel + stationary brake = awful shifts.

But they're cheap..



"YGWYPF" :innocent:

But they're cheap..

Yes they are.

The STR-90 is easily the worst designed shifter I've ever seen. I'd have been better off getting mtn bike shifters....

I agree that the travel distance is quite far, and was the main reason I didn't equip my 10-speed microshift levers (that and the price of slightly-used Shimano was not much more, and would increase the resale value).

To ensure all bases are covered, are you judging shifter throw of the lever mounted on the bike, or just off the bike and in your hand? I thought 105/Ultegra STI levers had a long throw to downshift when held in my hand but once I mounted it I thought they were fine.

I agree that the travel distance is quite far, and was the main reason I didn't equip my 10-speed microshift levers (that and the price of slightly-used Shimano was not much more, and would increase the resale value).

To ensure all bases are covered, are you judging shifter throw of the lever mounted on the bike, or just off the bike and in your hand? I thought 105/Ultegra STI levers had a long throw to downshift when held in my hand but once I mounted it I thought they were fine.

Holding it in my hand. Yeah, brake pull might make it a different story, but I'm thinking that these will be returned.

update: just ran a shift cable through it and applied tension (ie pulled it with my left hand).

No improvement. These would be extremely annoying to use long-term. Avoid!

FWIW try comparing the throw of your shifters with Shimano shifters above Tiagra level (i.e. without the thumb shifters). You may find that they are very similar. This is true with 10-speed when I compared; if anything the Microshift was just a very slight bit longer. At least mount it to a set of bars first to see if it makes any difference before you return them.

The reason I'm pushing this is because if you're coming from Sora and don't have experience with higher-level Shimano shifters you may have the same opinion when you get a pair in your hands. I had the same experience and have come around to love my Ultegra shifters.

yeah, I have limited experience with higher end ones.

But being able to quickly downshift is pretty important, esp. since I tend to underestimate hills :)

Don't there exist "shift assist" paddles? I was thinking for a moment that it would make more sense to just attach a piece of foam to the downshift paddle.

Also, IIRC, higher end brifters simply have the upshift paddle underneath the lever. For these microshifts, the problem is not with the upshift, which isn't so bad, but the downshift, which is awful awful awful. Only by moving the entire brake assembly can you comfortably get the range of motion and leverage needed to shift well.

I thought the design would have had a tighter clearance, in which case it would have made sense. But the throw is just as long as a shimano brifter, only you have to stretch your middle and fourth finger b/c the brake lever doesn't move. It's a really ****ty design.

Gotta love a review based on assumptions instead of the performance of the product actually installed on a bike shifting gears while riding down a road.

But yeah, if they don't seem to suit you return 'em. Tell everyone that you were skeptical about their performance, NOT that you actually found their performance poor.

Gotta love a review based on assumptions instead of the performance of the product actually installed on a bike shifting gears while riding down a road.

But yeah, if they don't seem to suit you return 'em. Tell everyone that you were skeptical about their performance, NOT that you actually found their performance poor.

+1. First time I tried Campy brifters, I said OMG! Who would ever want to use these. Then I rode with them awhile and rather liked them after that. Different strokes for different folks.

you clearly haven't setup your microshift brifters properly. Mine have a long throw but they are also throwing 3 gears down in the course of that one throw. have you actually hooked them up to the deraileur and ridden the bike yet?

Gotta love a review based on assumptions instead of the performance of the product actually installed on a bike shifting gears while riding down a road.

But yeah, if they don't seem to suit you return 'em. Tell everyone that you were skeptical about their performance, NOT that you actually found their performance poor.

lol, just saw this after I wrote my post. couldn't agree more. the microshift stuff works great at 1/4 the cost of ultegra/duraace. its not perfect nor is it perfectly ergonomic, but its awfully good for $100. their flat bar shifters are even better, some of the best flat bar shifters I've used.

lol, just saw this after I wrote my post. couldn't agree more. the microshift stuff works great at 1/4 the cost of ultegra/duraace. its not perfect nor is it perfectly ergonomic, but its awfully good for $100. their flat bar shifters are even better, some of the best flat bar shifters I've used.

If you Google "Microshift shifter review" there are some great reviews from people who actually installed and used them.

http://allaroundcycler.blogspot.com/2009/02/review-of-microshift-shifters.html

http://road.cc/content/review/14420-microshift-arsis-carbon-10spd-groupset

Haven't hooked up since I'm going to return.

The long throw is completely unnecessary. And, to add insult to injury, the upward shift (small tab) actually GETS IN THE WAY of the downshift.

You see, I thought that they were akin to shimano mtn bike quickfires, only mounted down on the shifter. I had no idea that they had throws comparable to Shimano brifters -- only with the lever and the other tab getting in the way.

Soras are a much better option than these, and only about 30 bucks more.

Another great review:

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/components-wrenching/microshift-my-experience-244338.html

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/components-wrenching/forte-microshift-gruppo-my-review-pics-216272.html

decent vid of RL shifting with the things.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb_BC9xPkKA&feature=related

as you can see, downshifting is a little difficult.

If your hands are on the hoods, which is 95% of the time for me, then you actually have to rotate your wrists in order to throw them. Shimano you can do it all with fingers.

Not that you would know, since you haven't tried them.

first of all, are we talkin about sunrace or microshift? if you are talking about microshift, your an idiot for not installing them. shifters always seem to have a long throw when you click them without hooking them up. hook them up and let the deraileurs do their job and they will work fine or stop being a cheap bastard and buy higher end stuff.

decent vid of RL shifting with the things.
as you can see, downshifting is a little difficult.

... for a person with small hands that's not actually sitting on the bike. If that video's enough evidence that you won't like them then that's fine. I'm more of a hands-on kinda guy personally.

I like them and for the price, really tough to beat.

Dismissed them without actually hooking them up?

decent vid of RL shifting with the things.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb_BC9xPkKA&feature=related

as you can see, downshifting is a little difficult.

If your hands are on the hoods, which is 95% of the time for me, then you actually have to rotate your wrists in order to throw them. Shimano you can do it all with fingers.

return your $100 shifters and go buy the $500 shifters and I hope you crash and break them the first time out! seriously, your a clown.

Haven't hooked up since I'm going to return.

The long throw is completely unnecessary. And, to add insult to injury, the upward shift (small tab) actually GETS IN THE WAY of the downshift.

You see, I thought that they were akin to shimano mtn bike quickfires, only mounted down on the shifter. I had no idea that they had throws comparable to Shimano brifters -- only with the lever and the other tab getting in the way.

Soras are a much better option than these, and only about 30 bucks more.

Considering the 10-speed Arsis group is often compared with 105 shifting, you can go ahead and stick with your Sora.

Eh, on a second look, they are better suited from a drop bar position. From the hoods they are atrocious but they really do work very well from the drops.

Too late, they're getting returned :) I spend 90% of my bike time from the hoods. Drops are rarely used.

in a few...tests, I've determined that if there were some way to extend the bottom paddle by about 30 degrees, it would shift very nicely. Why they had to design the little cog in such a way as to result in the very long throw is perplexing.

And...you can get Campagnolo shifters for about the same price, if you look around.

I'm not clear on whether the issue is with SunRace or Micro Shift. (Or maybe both?)

I'm not clear on whether the issue is with SunRace or Micro Shift. (Or maybe both?)

Sunrace shifters are just rebranded Microshift shifters - they didn't even bother to change the look.

I'm not clear on whether the issue is with SunRace or Micro Shift. (Or maybe both?)

the issue is with the op. the shifters work great. he is expecting ultegra or durace performance from a part that costs less than 2300 series shifters. that and he hasn't even hooked them up and used them!

Things I am not complaining about:

1. the loudness of the shifter (yes, it is loud, but I don't care)

2. fit and finish

3. precision of shifts.

What I am complaining about is a fundamental design issue that is present in all levels of this shifter. The large paddle requires obscenely long throws in order to operate and yet unlike shifter designs by SRAM, Champognolo, or Shimano, it has other elements of the shifter that GET IN THE WAY of the shift. It is a very bad design.

I've got microshift, and all I can say is they work fine. You do know that the *entire* throw goes through more than one gear right? The first click is all that is needed to go up a single gear. Down shifting is sweet. One tiny little paddle, easily depressed.

Yep, great product. I have them on one road bike and my cyclocross bike, and have no problem shifting even when rocketing in club races. I've also done plenty of 200k+ ride on them with perfect shifts every time. Of course, I primarily ride in the drops and rarely get on the hoods. I can imagine that a person with small hands, when on the hoods only, could have a little trouble, but the same would happen with DA as well.

I think there is a lot of personal preference in this. I tested a bike equipped with SRAM Rivals, which I think most people would agree are a respected groupset. I found the throw distance and force required to downshift were too much for my liking. I don't think SRAM shifters are **** because of this, I just think they're not for me.

I think there is a lot of personal preference in this. I tested a bike equipped with SRAM Rivals, which I think most people would agree are a respected groupset. I found the throw distance and force required to downshift were too much for my liking. I don't think SRAM shifters are **** because of this, I just think they're not for me.

Well said. Regardless, there's no need for the name calling, insults, etc. in this thread. No shifter's worth all that.