Oil_LOL

Does anyone here use Microshift components on any of their bikes? I want to upgrade parts of the drivetrain on my Rockhopper, and was looking around the web, and found this. It says they're compatible with Shimano 8 and 9-speed shifters and such, which I believe. I was just curious how the quality compares to Shimano stuff, and if anyone uses them, how are they?

mconlonx

I don't ride them, but we've had a couple Felt bikes in the shop that came equipped with MS shifters. They work, are able to be tuned relatively easy and well. Look a bit clunky, especially the stamped metal return lever, but appear substantial, maybe better feel than certainly lower end Shimano brake/shift levers. Snappy, clunky feel to the shifting, very mechanical, more like Sram, but metal, than Shimano or Campy type of action. No idea about longevity.

I think I saw the 9sp version. If the 8sp is built to the same level, it's certainly a step up from Shimano 2300 offering.

If I needed 8/9 sp brake shifter combo, I'd certainly give them a try.

Fizzaly

I've got about 5-6k miles on Micro shift brifters, without a single problem plus they are lighter than shimano. And I got a microshift rear derailleur on my mountain bike though it's re-labeled for Performance and haven't had a single problem either, I'm running it with XT shifters and a sram cassette. Go for em' they are for sure worth the money, also look at performance they are much cheaper (nashbar carries them as well i think)

RT

I also am a firm believer in Microshift. I use the 8 speed brifters on my rain bike and 9 speed on my road bike. The shifting ergonomics have a huge advantage over Shimano. Well made, works great.

cycle_maven

I have a couple of Microshift 10-speed brifters from Nashbar shifting a 9-speed drivetrain using the "alternate cable routing" on the rear derailleur. So far they have worked flawlesly (but only 300 miles as yet). Yes, the action does have a rather loud click when changing gears, compared to Shimano stuff.

monsterpile

Can you tell me more about this alternate cable routing or suggest a link?

daveF

I have a mircroshift rear derailer on my Bike Friday Tikit. The model I have is lower end, bushings rather than bearings on the pulleys. Similar in design to a Shimano Deore but with a short cage. It has worked perfectly, & the bushings seem to be better than on the Shimano. At least they are less noisy. Yes, they are compatible with Shimano 8 & 9 speed. I would not hesitate to use their derailers.

Fizzaly

Here's what I found nearly at the bottom of the page https://www.sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html

JanMM

Microshift FDs work very well on my 3 recumbent bikes with 'road' triples.

monsterpile

Thanks thats really great to know. Those Nashbar Brifters would be really cheap on a sale sometime, but I wasn't willing to do a 10 speed set u it would be to expensive. Actually the Performance 9-speed might be more attractive even though they are a bit more expensive because then I could do 8 speed if I want. I might be building up a road bike for someone soon so this info may come in very handy.

Praxis

I upgraded an old Shogun hybrid (21 speed, Biopace) to a 9-speed drop bar using Microshift brifters. I read here that some people saw 8-speed versions that were bad on some Felt bikes, so I was concerned the 9 speed would have issues. But they seem fine to me. Caveat: I have had low end (200gs) 7-speed flat bar shifting since roughly 1990 so I may not be the best judge of quality.

Also, 9 speed chain and shifters work fine with the original front chainrings/derailleur. Downshifting the front takes two presses instead of one per ring, this is different from my flat bar setup but I don't know how typical it is. There is a rattle from the mechanism when hitting bigger bumps. I had to do the alternate routing for the front derailleur because of the pull differences between road and mountain front derailleurs, but it worked out fine. Don't forget to order tension adjusters for the shift cables; while the set does come with cables it doesn't include adjusters (many road bikes have adjustment at the derailleur end, I guess).

Amusingly, the Performance carbon Microshift components are all heavier than their (same brand) non-carbon equivalents.