Help choosing shifters
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Help choosing shifters
My bike currently has SRAM Attack gripshifts. According to Specialized.com, it originally had Shimano R440, 9-speed STI shifters. I'm trying to find out what other shifters would work on my bike. It has a Shimano FD-R443 Tiagra front derailleur and a Shimano Tiagra long cage rear derailleur. I'm a newbie at all things bicycle, so I have no clue other than they have to be compatible with the gearing (9-speed rear, 3 in the front). Could anybody shed some light on the subject and help me determine my best options? Thanks.
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I use the SRAM Attack 9-speed trigger-shifters on my Trek hybrid. They work flawlessly for me:
https://www.bicyclebuys.com/drivetrai...sMTB/1010026-A
Shop around for the best price.
<EDIT> They work great with Shimano Tiagra derailleurs.
https://www.bicyclebuys.com/drivetrai...sMTB/1010026-A
Shop around for the best price.
<EDIT> They work great with Shimano Tiagra derailleurs.
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If the SRAM twist grips are working, why not just leave them alone? Unless you want something different???
I personally LOVE my Shimano Deore LX triggershifters on my mountain bike. I was having a problem with them not always picking up when downshifting (in the rear), I opened them up, put oil on the pivots inside the shifter unit, put the dust cover back on, and the shifters have been like new ever since. They are 8 years old, so I guess a little oil is needed now and again. If I ever feel like shelling out the money on my Sirrus, I want to do a 9speed conversion, new wheels, and a 11-28 cassette. Someday maybe...
I personally LOVE my Shimano Deore LX triggershifters on my mountain bike. I was having a problem with them not always picking up when downshifting (in the rear), I opened them up, put oil on the pivots inside the shifter unit, put the dust cover back on, and the shifters have been like new ever since. They are 8 years old, so I guess a little oil is needed now and again. If I ever feel like shelling out the money on my Sirrus, I want to do a 9speed conversion, new wheels, and a 11-28 cassette. Someday maybe...
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Grip-type shifters can be a hassle. If you stand up on the cranks, your hands can accidentally shift your gears - causing you to lose your cadence - or sending one over the handlebars in a worst-case scenario. Trigger-shifters have no such problem.
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That said, I do prefer triggers.
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I prefer trigger shifters, too, but have never had such a problem with gripshift, on or offroad. Especially for offroad, they offer one MAJOR advantage: the ability to dump ALL gears in a split second. But for offroad, I would want triggers myself.
also, in MY experience, cheap grip shifters work much better than cheap trigger shifters.
I would look for Shimano LX trigger shifters. Mine have always functioned smoothly (until they needed oiling - preventative maintanence?) and still do. They might cost a little more, but, IMO are worth it. If I decide to upgrade my Sirrus, It will get LX shifter pods. Deore shifters would likely be almost as good, for a bit less if you can find them...
also, in MY experience, cheap grip shifters work much better than cheap trigger shifters.
I would look for Shimano LX trigger shifters. Mine have always functioned smoothly (until they needed oiling - preventative maintanence?) and still do. They might cost a little more, but, IMO are worth it. If I decide to upgrade my Sirrus, It will get LX shifter pods. Deore shifters would likely be almost as good, for a bit less if you can find them...
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Thanks for all the information. There's nothing wrong with my shifters, per se. I just wanted to get trigger shifters so that I could change grips to the Ergon GC3s. I can't find the GC3s in the large gripshift length without buying from overseas for an inflated price. I could get the regular length and cut them, but it would look sloppy. So, Deore 9-speed shifters are compatible with my Tiagra components? I did not know that.
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Also from what I have read SRAM road and MTB rear derailleurs have different cable pull ratios so cannot be swapped w/o changing shifters, unlike Shimano parts.
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Gear Hubs Owned: Rohloff disc brake, SRAM iM9 disc brake, SRAM P5 freewheel, Sachs Torpedo 3 speed freewheel, NuVinci CVT, Shimano Alfine SG S-501, Sturmey Archer S5-2 Alloy. Other: 83 Colnago Super Record, Univega Via De Oro
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You can always go back to the original spec, Shimano 440s. Not cheap, looks like $83 from UC:
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...ls.php?id=7410
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...ls.php?id=7410
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You can always go back to the original spec, Shimano 440s. Not cheap, looks like $83 from UC:
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...ls.php?id=7410
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...ls.php?id=7410
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I removed my Shimano Deore 9-spd. trigger-shifters and replaced them with the SRAM Attack 9-spd ones. They are Shimano compatible and work great with a Tiagra RD/FD. I upgraded my drive-train to Ultegra, and they work great on that as well. Under $50 if one goes hunting*. Much smoother and sure in the shifts than the Deore ones. Which I still have for someone who wants/needs them (no - I'm not offering them for sale here).
* - Or shopping as the ladies would say - usually. Not always!
* - Or shopping as the ladies would say - usually. Not always!
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I removed my Shimano Deore 9-spd. trigger-shifters and replaced them with the SRAM Attack 9-spd ones. They are Shimano compatible and work great with a Tiagra RD/FD. I upgraded my drive-train to Ultegra, and they work great on that as well. Under $50 if one goes hunting*. Much smoother and sure in the shifts than the Deore ones. Which I still have for someone who wants/needs them (no - I'm not offering them for sale here).
#15
aka Phil Jungels
I have the Shimano Deore shifters, and have never had a problem with them.