Review on microSHIFT 3X7 Speed Black Twist Grip Shift Gear Shifters - Shimano Bicycle Compatible by David Miller

I was restoring a 2003 GT Palomar and found that the rear derailleur cable was rubbing back into the cable housing. When I was looking for a cable I found that (if you could find a cable) it was sold for a pack of 6 or 10 (which I didn't want or need). I started searching out of frustration. for shifters and these popped out. Replacement switches with cords are a few bucks more expensive than a couple of cords I don't need. The job is done. Worst case scenario, if these switches don't work, I would use the cables that came with my old switches. The bike was factory fitted with SRAM grip shifters. As you can see from the first photo, they are almost identical. The body is the same, the attachment is the same (a 4mm hex grub screw). The only difference is that the rubber is softer and has a different pattern. In my opinion they are actually a bit better as they turn easier/smoother but still "nimble". The cables were more than long enough and it took about 45 minutes to swap out both derailleurs, adjust the derailleurs and do a test ride. , then take a picture of the end result. For me that's 5 stars across the board as long as the switches or cables don't fail prematurely. They're much easier to turn than stock shifters, and with a matched drivetrain (stock Shimano Acera rear derailleurs and Tourney derailleurs), multiple shifting is easier and smoother than ever. I compared Microshifts to Shimano Revoshifts on the same drivetrain (Shimano Acera rear 7 speed and Altus 3 speed front). Microshift has an "instant" sound and feel when shifting, while Revoshift has a smoother and more refined feel. Both effortlessly shift 3-speed sprockets and seamlessly shift individual gears with a single click or the entire 7-speed freewheel range with a single turn. However, it appears that Microshift requires less wrist movement to shift from 1-7 or 7-1 in a shift. how to use your bike. Personally, I would put a Microshift on a bike that spends more time on the trail as the shifting feels quicker and with their snappy clicks they never accidentally downshift like the Revoshift did when shifting my hand position. They also seem to have a simpler design, easier to maintain and don't have a shift indicator window to damage while riding. I have a few suggestions for people who might consider these switches. There are negative reviews about them. wrong gear shift after installation. Search for "bike derailleur adjustment". There should be a great video from Park Tool explaining how to set up the shifters and shift index. I come from a generation where, on multi-speed bikes, we just had the cables taut and derailleur gears gave us "felt gears”. I didn't know how indexed shifting actually works. Now I get it and the GT I revived shifts better than when it was new. Find your current brand of switches and switches. Indexing incompatibilities may occur with some brands and types. Ironically, in my case, I wanted to spend more to replace SRAM with SRAM, but the SRAM replacement parts were not compatible with Shimano shifters on the GT. some medicinal alcohol in the hole between the handle and the steering wheel. Remove the screwdriver or allen wrench, twist the handle and it should slide off easily. A small amount of alcohol on the sticks also makes it easier to assemble the grips. Use WD40 or degreaser to clean switches. Once completely dry, lube the pivot points and secure them (I used a few drops of WD 40 wet chain lube on the pivot points and some synthetic grease on the road wheel bushings). You'll be surprised at how much smoother they run (which helps with adjustment). Mine got so loose I had to reset the L and H settings Order some crimped wire ends if you don't know how to solder. You will most likely have an extra wire that you will need to cut after installation and if you don't cap or solder the end of the wire after cutting it will eventually wear out. You should probably also order a new cable housing or Schwinn kit for around $10, since that gives you cables and housing for both derailleurs, as well as your brakes (the housings are plastic lined and I've used two of these kits on my bikes ). ). Have a set of metric allen wrenches and a small Phillips screwdriver handy, as that's probably all you'll need to get the job done.