Shifters

[saxman]

A couple times on my old Klein, I would go from the mid chainring to the big one, and the shifter would do nothing. I'd have to hit it a couple times. I thought it was odd behavior. Upon closer inspection of the shifter (Shimano Rapidfire 8S), it appears it has given up the ghost as part of the shifting trigger has started to separate from the rest of the body, it's not coming back together.

I guess it's new shifter time. I run an 8 speed drivetrain. The only thing I've seen that are new and still 8 speed compatible are the SRAM Attack shifters. So far, the SRAM components that I've used on my bike, I've been very satisfied with. I would expect the same with these shifters. Does anyone here have experience/opinions on these shifters?

[jabberwocky]

If you only need a front shifter, I have a few extra SRAM X9s that would work. Yours for free.

[OverStuffed]

Until you get Jabberwocky's shifter, if you have some aerosol lube or cleaner (Tri-flow, white lightning, pb blaster) spray a whole bunch in there. Sometimes it works, sometimes not, but it usually cleans it up enough to work (Most of the time, one of the ratchet plates gets too dirty, and won't return to its proper position).

[nocro]

The only thing I've seen that are new and still 8 speed compatible are the SRAM Attack shifters. So far, the SRAM components that I've used on my bike, I've been very satisfied with. I would expect the same with these shifters. Does anyone here have experience/opinions on these shifters?


I use the SRAM Rocket 8 speed gripshift for shimano (2:1) rear derailleur and have been real happy with it. But if you're just having trouble w/ your front shifter, I'd just change that one out.

[OverStuffed]

I use the SRAM Rocket 8 speed gripshift for shimano (2:1) rear derailleur and have been real happy with it. But if you're just having trouble w/ your front shifter, I'd just change that one out.
I missed that part of the original post. You can still also get XT, LX and Deore 8 spd stuff new. It's old design, technology, etc, but yo ucan still get them new and they still make them. There's also the timeless technology of thumbshifters if you can find them.

Nocro's right, though, it's pretty easy, and cheaper, to just change the front/left shifter.

[Pinoy Rider]

I still run an 8 speed Attack gripshift/XT rear D set up on my hardtail. I run a gripshift XO /X9 on my dualie. The shifting is not as crisp and the feel of shifting is a little harder with the Attacks. The Attacks have a more mechanical feel to them than the XOs. I do like how the Attacks grip are more intergrated to my Odi grips. Reminds me of my original Xray gripshifters

[saxman]

Jabber, thank you very much for your offer. I decided to go ahead and purchase the SRAM Attack shifters. I'm planning on using the existing 8 speed shifter pod from the Klein to do a 1 x 8 conversion on my homebuilt SS.

Before I do the 1 x 8, I'm going to try again to change the gearing from 32:16 to 32:18 first. I purchased a half-link for my SS chain which should be enough to get me a solid chainline, which was what stymied me every time I tried to put the 18T cog on the rear previously. I just find 32:16 is too deep for me to ride comfortably, particularly on long upgrages.