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Quality Grip Shifters

Old 01-29-21, 06:04 PM
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Quality Grip Shifters

A friend of mine is a vet and has service connected hand issues. He just got a fat bike, got it all together and on his maiden ride realized that the trigger shifters are not going to work for him.

What are the best, quality-est grip shifters around? He's running 7x3. I don't know what he's running for derailleurs.
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Old 01-29-21, 06:06 PM
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The Grip Shifter thing was his suggestion- is there another option for removing/minimizing thumb/hand interaction in shifting? Doing it in cold would also be a consideration.
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Old 01-29-21, 06:28 PM
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I've been happy with the Microshift stuff I've used, and for the listed price, I'd give these a try. This linked shop has them listed as out of stock, but at least this gives you an idea of what to look for:

https://www.performancebike.com/micr...ds85-7/p316901

Also, aren't there some trigger shifters available that are pull/pull? In other words, there are two levers per hand, but instead of pull with finger/push with thumb, both levers are actuated by pulling back with fingers. (I'm assuming your friend's issue is pushing forward with his thumbs.)
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Old 01-29-21, 06:36 PM
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Thumb shifters can actually be pretty good for hands that don't work great, provided they are comfortable moving a hand while riding. You can put your palm on top of the whole thumb lever and push/pull it pretty easy.

Not really many options for good grip shifters these days. You can get the SRAM MRX units, Shimano Tourney, and some Microshift thing. None are fantastic, the slightly older SRAM MRX shifters are pretty decent, much more positive clicks.

There are also these odd Shimano mountain STI things where the whole brake lever moves like a road STI/brifter, but obviously for flat bars. They come with a huge thumb paddle, but you can remove that and just use the brake lever. I believe they only existed in the time of 9spd though, no other options.
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Old 01-29-21, 06:46 PM
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Here's another idea -- these thumb-only trigger shifters, again from Microshift. If finger-pull is the issue, these might be the ticket. If thumb actuation is the issue, couldn't these be mounted rotated forward as a finger-pull-only alternative? It may take some getting used to, but could be worth a tinkerer's try. Just a thought.

https://www.microshift.com/en/product/ts38-7/
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Old 01-29-21, 07:14 PM
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REI just had these but sold out. Grips, shifters and cables...MRX does Shimano
https://www.amazon.com/SRAM-Bicycle-...0017YX2OO?th=1
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Old 01-29-21, 09:58 PM
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I recently went through this working on a buddy's bike. His DB Apex came with early RapidFire and they were giving his tendonitis fits. I suggested GripShift and put on a set of MRX for him. A few miles and we changed the front shifter from indexed to friction (lots of little clicks instead of three big ones were easier for him to shift) and he rode that for a while. Eventually went for a largish SunTour XC thumbie on the front to give improved leverage for the left hand and that works best for him.


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Old 01-30-21, 09:38 AM
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Thank you much everyone!

wesmamyke if'n it were me, I'd go with thumb shifters- just because you can nudge it with your palm, or fingers, or side of your hand or whatever...
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Old 01-30-21, 09:50 AM
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Originally Posted by thumpism
I recently went through this working on a buddy's bike. His DB Apex came with early RapidFire and they were giving his tendonitis fits. I suggested GripShift and put on a set of MRX for him. A few miles and we changed the front shifter from indexed to friction (lots of little clicks instead of three big ones were easier for him to shift) and he rode that for a while. Eventually went for a largish SunTour XC thumbie on the front to give improved leverage for the left hand and that works best for him.


After viewing this image, I'm wondering if Campy style(2 paddle) brifters could be used. Rotate them some so the brake levers are closer to the ground. The Microshift/Micronew ones are cheap enough to give it a try.
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Old 01-30-21, 03:06 PM
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I suggest cross-posting in the adaptive cycling forum, as well. Some very helpful and innovative folks there.
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Old 01-31-21, 09:50 AM
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Kid asked for her first geared bike during the holidays. Ended up scoring an early 2000s Giant w/24" wheels for her that had the early non-comp MRX twist shifters that frankly weren't very easy to use, and the front shifter was ultimately broken. Still, I wanted to stick with what was there, so I replaced with the current iteration of SRAM's MRX product. To my surprise, her small 10yo hands have no issues with using them.

I specifically went with the MRX Comp twist shifters (TS-MRXC-A1). It's important to note compatibility before you buy, there are a few different MRX models SRAM sells, with differing cable pull ratios. Image below gives the breakdown, here is the service manual if it helps.

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Old 02-01-21, 07:05 AM
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Another thing to try is better shifters. I have had a couple of bikes with Alivio level trigger shifters and even new with new cables they were a bit hard to operate.

I have since found a set of Ultegra level shifters with and Ultegra RD and Wow what a difference, problem is they are 3x10.
Try some XTR shifters and RD he might feel the difference.
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Old 02-01-21, 07:30 AM
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This is probably way off-base but, if they don't need to be indexed, how about those old extra- tall, extra- leverage stem shifters? It might take some MacGyvering but we used to install those for customers with hand strength issues with conventional stem mounts. ???
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Old 02-01-21, 10:27 AM
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Originally Posted by Bianchi84
This is probably way off-base but, if they don't need to be indexed, how about those old extra- tall, extra- leverage stem shifters? It might take some MacGyvering but we used to install those for customers with hand strength issues with conventional stem mounts. ???
Great suggestion. Lots of old Huret chrome jobbies still around on Varsities and Continentals. Right now I'm looking for one of the tall rear-only SunTour stem shifters for a sister-in-law with a hand strength problem.
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Old 02-01-21, 01:01 PM
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Originally Posted by francophile
Kid asked for her first geared bike during the holidays. Ended up scoring an early 2000s Giant w/24" wheels for her that had the early non-comp MRX twist shifters that frankly weren't very easy to use, and the front shifter was ultimately broken. Still, I wanted to stick with what was there, so I replaced with the current iteration of SRAM's MRX product. To my surprise, her small 10yo hands have no issues with using them.

I specifically went with the MRX Comp twist shifters (TS-MRXC-A1). It's important to note compatibility before you buy, there are a few different MRX models SRAM sells, with differing cable pull ratios. Image below gives the breakdown, here is the service manual if it helps.
Whoa!!! I'll let him know.

Thank you for the heads up!
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Old 02-01-21, 01:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Bianchi84
This is probably way off-base but, if they don't need to be indexed, how about those old extra- tall, extra- leverage stem shifters? It might take some MacGyvering but we used to install those for customers with hand strength issues with conventional stem mounts. ???
Originally Posted by thumpism
Great suggestion. Lots of old Huret chrome jobbies still around on Varsities and Continentals. Right now I'm looking for one of the tall rear-only SunTour stem shifters for a sister-in-law with a hand strength problem.
I've let him know that I'm more than willing to help him and work on his stuff- but my bike brain kind of ends at 1994. I think, despite having a 7 speed rear end, he's more of a 'old stuff is old' kind of guy.

He was looking at Tourney stuff-
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Old 02-01-21, 01:31 PM
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Originally Posted by The Golden Boy
I've let him know that I'm more than willing to help him and work on his stuff- but my bike brain kind of ends at 1994.
I was literally just emailing back and forth with a BF'er and said nearly the same thing. My shop knowledge goes a couple of years farther into the 90s, but the hard cutoff mid-late 90s is real. It's been a bear for me during Covid, I'm hitting a lot more off-road trail riding and had a few MTBs fall into my lap needing overhaul, whether on purpose or not. Some of the stuff - like linear brakes - have been super simple, but other stuff I've avoided all these years ... not so much.

That said, if they're looking to go new and not spend a fortune, I've found the Tourney, Acera and some Alivio stuff is relatively inexpensive to pick up and decent quality. You really, really need to be careful to watch out for knockoffs though. The market is flooded with counterfeits people are sourcing from Alibaba and other similar marketplaces, then reselling on eBay and Amazon. I've yet to see a pair of legit EF51 and EF65 levers in what's turning into an endless hunt for a reasonably-priced new or used pair of genuine black Shimano M591 shift/brake combo levers.
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