Review of Microshift Adventx
 

This video talks about gearing on a gravel bike for hills and focuses on the Microshift AdventX. I posted it to the gravel forum but figured some folks might want to know about the AdventX that don't ride gravel. That section starts around 2:10 in the video:

What Microshift has done over the last 3+ years with their Advent line is really cool. Affordable, reliable, available- heck of a trifecta.
...but that exposed shift cable. I get it, they said they couldnt route it under bar tape without violating patented designs, but still- oof.

I'm running the MTB version and no real complaints. I switched from 11 speed XT to microshift.

My kid with the AdventX conversion just replaced the rear derailleur with a "SHIMANO Deore RD-M5100-SGS Rear Derailleur - 11-Speed, Long Cage, Black" for $50 (Amazon). He managed to strip a few bolts trying to do maintenance on it (and broke my T15). He says this derailleur (nominally 11 speed, but the same pull ratio as the Advent X) actually works better.

The AdventX derailleur lasted about 2 years. (He is very hard on the equipment and rides a lot.) He found the high cogs in the cassette (Mk 1) wore rather quickly. Apparently they have addressed this in an Mk 2 version that will be available shortly.

BTW he converted from 12 speed GX Eagle. He likes AdventX a lot better, and found the 10 speed more robust.

I had a 1x10 Advent X and it certainly worked fine with no complaints. I changed bike and now have a 1x10 Deore and can't say I notice any real difference.

I thought the Advent line had a different pull ratio compared to Shimano. That was the whole thing about Advent- you have to buy the shifter and RD together because of the pull ratio.
Maybe that changed?

He said that particular derailleur in the Shimano line (despite being 11 speed) had the matching (correct) pull ratio (see quoted text). My main involvement in this was to supply the money, but it is now working, possibly better than the original, according to him.

Oh, I gotcha now- 2 times thru and I pick up on most things! 11sp Shimano = 10sp Advent X ratio.

I'll have to ask him, but I had the impression it was unique to that particular model. (I'm not sure that is actually correct or even makes sense, but I am pretty sure he said something iike that. Since it was only $50, and I have bought him several more expensive derailleurs throughout the last 5 years or so, I didn't question it.) What I can tell you is the quoted model works as a drop-in replacement.

My own experience with Microshift is several years old at this point. They were the only ones to carry a front derailleur with a cage the size needed for the large ring on (our) Catrikes. It was pure junk over multiple replacements. I had issues both with the cage itself as well as the indexing in the shift lever. The rear derailleur on both bikes worked fine aside from a similar indexing issue. I don't own anything with that set anymore, but make a conscious effort not to purchase. I look at items equipped with it as a detractor.

To add to the 11 speed shimano working thing. It isn't a specific 11 speed shimano RD that has the same pull ratio. That specific 11 speed RD is made to work with up to 51 tooth cassettes while the others are rated for 42 or 46. I just bought one myself but I also bought a 11-51 cassette, keeping my hard tail 11 speed but still need them easier gears.

Apparently (according to my kid) the newer 12-speed-hub-compatable 11 speed cassettes require a different pull ratio than the older 11-speeds, and that happens to match that of the AdventX.

I think that is consistent with what [MENTION=38542]Canker[/MENTION] just posted.

I see "Removed by uploader"

Anyone else see this?

I have a gravel bike with Advent 1X9 speed and it works great and I like the shifting design (the levers) very well. Much better than Shimano and on par with Sram for my liking.

The only thing I would like is if they were compatible with Sram/Shimano 8 and 9 speed MTB and cassettes like other Microshift offerings. Not a big deal, but it would be nice.