Hot Potato

I was test riding a Fuji Touring bike to use as an inexpensive foul weather commuter/ ride with the wife and kids bike. I already have better bikes for nice weather and riding faster and longer. On the test ride, the shimano rear derailer brifter would shift to a smaller cog/harder gear when I used the long silver brake lever, and would shift to a larger cog/easier gear with the little black lever. This is opposite shifting from my other bikes with shimano brifters.

Salesman says Fuji must have designed it that way, since there is no way it could have been assembled or manufactured backwards. LBS Mechanic says I will "get used to it." Yeah right, when all my other bikes are the opposite.

Ever hear of this????

Its a deal breaker for me.

mikespug

It has nothing to do with the way Fuji set it up...it's funny to me how little some sales people know about the products they sell. I was changing my tire at a local bike shop and he asked me how I wired my derailleur to do the very thing you're referring to.

The feature is called "rapid rise" and it was an option, if you will, that shimano built in to some of their derailleurs. I don't have the specifics on the dates when it was initially designed and produced but I use the same style on my commuter. I bought the derailleur new two years ago. It takes a little adjustment to get used to but like anything else, becomes second nature before long.

J.P.

This can be changed by replacing the rear derailleur. Shimano makes both "Low Normal" and "High Normal" rear derailleurs that are differentiated with slightly different model numbers. For example the Deore LX RD-M581 is “High Normal” while the Deore LX RD-M580 is "Low Normal". The LBS should be able to change out the rear derailleur if they want to sell you the bike.

Hot Potato

Thanks for replying.

So, if I make switching things back to the regular way a condition for sale, what has to be replaced? The Brifter, the derailer, or both? From your explanation, it sounds like a derailer swap would be all that is required? With two other bikes the regular way, I am not going to have one bike backwards!

It seems that the "owner" would have to approve any swaps when he comes in tomorrow.

edit: duh, didn't see J.P's post

HillRider

Yes, they will only have to change the rear derailleur.

BTW, Sheldon Brown was a real advocate of "rapid rise" rear derailleurs but it's strictly a personal preference. I agree, that having two bikes with a completely opposite shift action would be a bit difficult.

operator

The majority of bikes do not run so called "rapid rise"

Hot Potato

I have to thank everyone for replying. I had never heard of "rapid rise." Perhaps I won't sound like such a dummy when I talk to the owner tomorrow. Gotta love BF!