Originally Posted by
New2Two
It looks like there is another option on Kickstarter for electric shifting. I'm not associated with this in any way, it just looks interesting.
This "electric" system has two fundamental flaws. First, it relies on cables to move the mechanical derailleurs. The cables and derailleurs are subject to wear and contamination. Unlike Di2, EPS, and eTap, the Xshifterwill drift out of alignment over time. This cable-actuated system won't come close to the speed of real electric shifting (esp at the front derailleur).
The other problem is the Xshifters won't integrate with existing road shifters. At high speed (or in traffic), it's dicey to take a hand off the hood to make a shift. It will also be easy to mis-shift because each shifter has 4 buttons with different functions. Although mtn bikes use separate brakes and shifters, this system lacks the electric motors that can power through dirt and muck for consistent shifts.
Why spend more money when it won't improve on a good mechanical drivetrains like Ultegra or XT?