Mountain Biking - Avid SD-7 -> Shimano XTR brake/shifter combo??

I thinking of going from Avid SD-7 levers & XT shifters to XTR flippy brake/shifter combos for my Rocky Mountain Instinct.

Good idea?? :)

http://i18.ebayimg.com/01/i/03/00/c5/55_1_b.JPG

PS...I love Christmas presents

Have you ridden bikes with the flippy-shifters yet? You might want to consider riding with them first before making the decision to switch. I have tried them and personally, couldn't stand them.

Have you ridden bikes with the flippy-shifters yet? You might want to consider riding with them first before making the decision to switch. I have tried them and personally, couldn't stand them.

That maybe a good idea :) I will have to go and arrange a test ride with my LBS...

are flippy shifters like the STI's on a road bike? I'm confused.

are flippy shifters like the STI's on a road bike? I'm confused.

Yeah...kinda like the same idea. You flip up the lever to up-shift and vice versa.

The design is supposingly good for XC, which is the type of riding I do. That is why I am considering buying them. However, they will restrict me to get hydraulic disc brakes in the future in case I ever want to upgrade those.

Tough decision to make ;)

I love em, but we have been over this in too much depth in other threads. On this one you should just try them for yourself.

The design is supposingly good for XC, which is the type of riding I do. That is why I am considering buying them. However, they will restrict me to get hydraulic disc brakes in the future in case I ever want to upgrade those.

Shimano does make a hydro version of their lever but of course it's only for use with their hydro brakes. I ride XC mainly and couldn't really tell how the flippy-lever offers any advantages. To me, it's different for the sake of being different and I felt it only had downsides. Are you getting the matching rear-derailleur too? I didn't like the Rapid-Rise either. I'm not sure if the flippy-shifters require a high-normal rear derailleur or not although gut instincts tell me that it shouldn't but you never know with Shimano.

I'm not sure if the flippy-shifters require a high-normal rear derailleur or not although gut instincts tell me that it shouldn't but you never know with Shimano.
They don't Specialized was spec'ing "standard" derailieurs with flippy dippy levers last model year.

Shimano does make a hydro version of their lever but of course it's only for use with their hydro brakes. I ride XC mainly and couldn't really tell how the flippy-lever offers any advantages. To me, it's different for the sake of being different and I felt it only had downsides. Are you getting the matching rear-derailleur too? I didn't like the Rapid-Rise either. I'm not sure if the flippy-shifters require a high-normal rear derailleur or not although gut instincts tell me that it shouldn't but you never know with Shimano.

By restricting my purchase I meant that most if not all hydraulic brakes require their own levers, so I will have to replace the levers, as well as shifters if I ever want to buy hydraulic disc brakes.

I may buy the rear derailleur the seller has for sale as well. Although I'm currently running a XTR that came with my Instinct. I'm not so sure if I'm so fond of rapid-rise myself.

Actually, the entire purchase is not going to be much of an upgrade, if any; but my parents agreed to let me buy a couple hundred dollars worth of stuff off ebay as my Christamas present. So I'm just thinking what I could possibly buy to make the best use of the money. Maybe I'll just buy a pair of new SIDI shoes instead...

Maybe I'll just buy a pair of new SIDI shoes instead...

IMHO, a nice pair of Sidis will provide more benefit than new shifters. ;) I really love my Sidis. They're the best fitting most comfortable shoes I own... cycling or otherwise.

IMHO, a nice pair of Sidis will provide more benefit than new shifters. ;) I really love my Sidis. They're the best fitting most comfortable shoes I own... cycling or otherwise.

I will go and try them on at my LBS. My feet tend to be different than most people because for some reason, Nike runners fit me perfectly while Saucony provide way too much arch support.

I am thinking the whole shifter/derailleur "upgrade" would really be a waste of money, and I dont really have anything that needs to be upgraded on my Instinct right now :D So shoes it is!!!!