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Submitted by
Dave S
a Weekend Warrior
from Franklin, NH, USA
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Winnepesaukee River Trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$7.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | Easy to set up. Works incredibly well. Seems sturdy. Simple. | | Weaknesses: | Absolutely none | | Similar Products Used: | N/A | | Bike Setup: | Elderly Mongoose updated with Shimano SLM-C20 24-speed pods. Running rebuilt STX-RC rear derailleur and NOS STX-RC hubs, crankset, and front derailleur. | | Bottom Line: | A huge improvement for a tiny investment. The Shimano pods and derailleurs were installed as an economical way to step up from 21 to 24 speeds. Shifting was smooth but not especially precise (front was okay, rear was the trouble). The Rollamajig was installed- I was not pleased to see no directions with it. But, it can only possibly go together one way. Setup is easy and it does shorten the cable run. The improvement in precision is astounding. It snaps precisely into the selected gear each and every time. There is no noise, no skipping, no drama, just silent and exact gear changes. It shifts with the same precision as the 21-speed SRAM setup it replaces. I believe this device will improve the shifting of any derailleur it can be installed on. The most "bang for the buck" I've ever seen on a bike! If your shifting is kind of sloppy and you can't seem to chase it out, this may be the solution for you. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Huh?
a Racer
from All over the West Coast
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | My Happy Trail | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Freebie from sales rep | | Strengths: | Removes large section of housing. May help improve poor rear derailleur performance. Fairly cheep fix for something as vexing as poor shifting. I got mine for free, but would have freely gambled $20 back in my Top Ramin days to make my bike work. | | Weaknesses: | The new plastic ones need to have their pulley bolt threads loc-tited(DIY). Some people have had their cable slip out of the shallower groove on the pulley of the old aluminum ones (probably a symptom of a loose cable while in the lowest gear). | | Similar Products Used: | Very long lengths of housing. I haven't tried the V-Brake noodle, but that sounds like a good solution too. | | Bike Setup: | '94 stumpy M2FS: with Rollamajig (bike donated to friend after 10 yrs of abuse), '05 Stumpy FSR: with ridiculously long piece of housing for rear derailleur. | | Bottom Line: | Next time you replace your housing, take the cable and run it back and forth through the housing. Do this while you make the bend in the housing tighter. You'll be able to feel how much bend is optimal for the cable to slide freely. You really do need a ridiculously long piece for lower friction. Mine looks like it's about 10-12 inches long. I wish I could say the same for my manhood . . . sigh.
The Rollamajig cuts the amount of housing needed by about a half to a third. Though it looks like a stump lasso, I've never had a problem with long housing catching on anything. That being said, I never had any problem with the Rollamajig either. My recommendation is that folks try the longer cable housing first. If that doesn't bring you happiness, then try the Rollamajig. It's pretty cheep and if you don't like it you can always use it to make a great zip line device for your GI Joes.
ps some will argue that the longer the housing, the greater the friction . . . and they're right. But a short section of tight bend in the housing causes way more friction than a couple of feet of housing. And you can test this for yourself using the method outlined above. Good luck! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pete
a Cross Country Rider
from swindon, wilts, uk
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | anything big and rocky | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | wolly hat shop | | Strengths: | Stops muck slowing you down. | | Weaknesses: | Ice! Ride through shallow rivers on a really cold day and the exposed wheel may freeze. i've only had it happen once, but worth mentioning if you live in norway!! | | Similar Products Used: | There arn't any but tried lots of differint cables and lubes, even uprated my mechs internal spring (which works a bit, just making shifting a bit heavier). | | Bike Setup: | Custom kenesis frame, xt shiftin, xtr cables, magura discs and forks (bomb proof!), mavic rims, panaracer rubber. | | Bottom Line: | Shimano design all shifting products to shift well from the box, which they do. However chucking crud, sand, water, in large quantities provides a problem that all the geeks and computers in the world cant solve.
I have tried every cable and lube and set up going and i still suffered when dipped in a river and rode through smeg, always seeming to loose the smaller cogs on my rear mech when the cables start to slow down, forcing me to loose a bit of momentum. Avid's rollamajig made that all go away, cheap, easy to fit correctly, and tough enough to do the job(i ride like an idiot and i've not broken one!). It keeps me riding fast all of the time and not just some of it. I understand what some people have written about regular maintainence and my bike is looked after, before and after every ride but stopping mid ride for a cable clean and re-lube. If you ride long distances in sloppy goo demanding crisp shiftin no matter what crunchy noises the rest of your bike's making, get one, you wont be dissapointed! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alexander
a Weekend Warrior
from Haaksbergen
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$9.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | it works! I had cut the derraileur cable to short and had al sorts of shifting problems. I installed the rollamajig and the problems disapeared. Shifting is faster en lighter than ever before. Installed on a 2007 XT derailieur | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bottom Line: | best update for an Shimano derailieur | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Irvine, CA
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | The Path | | Strengths: | I have to say, the previous reviewer is completely uninformed about this product and about bike setup. The Rollamajig works great to reduce friction in your cable and allows the cable to be much dirtier before it needs to be cleaned or replaced or your derailler adjusted. Does the previous reviewer realize that all SRAM dereaillers are designed using a similar method as the Rollamajig and they are known as excellent shifting deraillers? Everyone I know that has used the Rollamajig has been happy with it. | | Weaknesses: | None that I can see. | | Bottom Line: | If you have a nagging shift problem, try the rollamajig, it could save you a lot of headaches. Not saying it can fix every problem, but it sure helps in a lot of cases. And if you ride in a lot of dirt/mud, etc. and don't like to constantly clean/replace your cables and adjust your derailler to keep your shifting perfect, this product is for you. Despite what the previous reviewer said, it is not a scam by bike shops. In fact, they are doing you a favor, as without it, you will be in much more frequently to have your shifting adjusted or cables cleaned/replaced. They are saving you money, not ripping you off. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill Miller
a Cross Country Rider
from Pensacola FL
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Good money maker for an LBS to add onto your bill. | | Weaknesses: | Causes uncommanded shifting back and forth between two gears. Anywhere from about two to 20 times a minute. I am not kidding. VERY bad. Worse in the middle of the cassette than the large or small gears. | | Similar Products Used: | N/A | | Bike Setup: | Fisher | | Bottom Line: | My fault. I agreed to a good sales act........
"it will make your shifting better"
"How so, my shifting is fine"?
It takes the slack out of the loop in the back, so it will be crisper"
"but the slack doesnt seem to cause any problem, it shifts fine"
"all the new derailuers will have one built in, it really is the way to go"
"ok, put it on"..... I had no shifting problems, but what the heck, only 25 bucks. Big mistake. Bike started uncommanded shifting from then on. After trying to let it break it, I went to a different LBS with a different mech. He immediately took it off and explained the problem with it. That "slack" has a purpose. The cable has to make a 180 degree turn from the front of the bike into the derailuer. That slack is there to prevent putting a kink in the cable. Which is what the rollamajig does. It wraps your cable around the rollamajig in about the same radius that you would have it if you wrapped your cable around your handlebars....not the proper way to rig a cable. That kink changes the cable from a straight pull tension device into a bending moment loaded spring. Depending on where your gears are ....and cable kink....it will change the load on the cable pull and start shifting on its own. Lots of stellar reviews, with a few reviews that had my problem. I suspect the rollamajig is a useless add on that has lots of psychological value if it doesnt noticably harm your shifting. Obviously terrible functional value if it does harm your shifting. Think about it....you are bending a metal push/pull cable 180 degrees in about the diameter of a dime. Like one reviewer said, if you have shifting problems, remove the rollamajig first. Good luck. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joel
a Cross Country Rider
from Kendall Park, NJ
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Canal road | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | Halters Cycle | | Strengths: | Makes shifting much smoother. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Bike Setup: | Recumbent trike with XT rear Derailleur and Dura Ace bar end shifter in index mode. | | Bottom Line: | I was having problems shifting and some shift misses and jumps, installed the Rollamajig and my problems seem to be gone. Best inexpensive upgrade I have done. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nik Graham
a Weekend Warrior
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Can't remember | | Strengths: | Shifting feels lighter and crisper when you first install it | | Weaknesses: | Exposes your gear cable at one of it's most critical and vulnerable points (think about all those big rubber frilly things Shimano have tried putting around your cables here to protect them) | | Similar Products Used: | No Rollamajig | | Bike Setup: | Me rollamajig was on my old School Steel Hardtail, '99 Rock Shox Judy XC, LX/XT mix, Hope Mono Mini on the front, and X-Lite bits here and there | | Bottom Line: | I have to say that I don't find the Rollamajig useful. I commute 100+ miles a week on a rigid "Urban" bike (Revolution Courier) and play on my S-Works Epic every other weekend and I have no compulsion to buy a Rollamajig for either of these bikes after my experience of having one on my hardtail. Yes, when you first put it on you may notice a wee difference in the shifting, but I found a noticeably quicker loss of shifting performance with this gizmo due to all the cack getting into my cable in poor conditions. If you keep on top of your cable maintainence then I don't feel there's much of a benifit to using this unless you're staying in when it's wet and not going out in mucky or dusty conditions. So, just like all the cuffuffle over Super Duper Dry Chain Lubes, it works when the conditions are right, which in my book does not constitute good kit. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lance Armstrong
a
from Paris
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Shortens cable length
Improves performance without weight penalty | | Weaknesses: | Little ball can go rolling into oblivion if you accidentally drop it | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Pacific | | Bottom Line: | I use the rollamajig with friction thumbshifters and even though that's probably not necessary, it still makes shifting a bit crisper. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lance Armstrong
a
from Paris
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Shortens cable length
Improves performance without weight penalty | | Weaknesses: | Little ball can go rolling into oblivion if you accidentally drop it | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Pacific | | Bottom Line: | I use the rollamajig with friction thumbshifters and even though that's probably not necessary, it still makes shifting a bit crisper. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
smokey strodtman
a Cross Country Rider
from Gilliam, MO USA
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Rock Bridge State Park, Landahl Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$8.00 | | Purchased At: | performancebike.com | | Strengths: | Smoother, more consistent shifts. Very inexpensive. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bike Setup: | Lemond Poprad cyclocross bike set up for road and light trail riding with Shimano Deore rear derailleur, 12-32 8spd cassette, and Shimano Sora STI shifters. | | Bottom Line: | This little gadget has made my bike shift better and more consistently. Although it shifted well before, I would get an occasional missed shift when I moved the lever one click. Using the Rollamajig has cured that completely. One of the best inexpensive modifications you can make. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bernie Resch
a Cross Country Rider
from Reading, PA
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Blue Marsh | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$8.00 | | Purchased At: | beyondbike | | Strengths: | easy to install, works great, cheap | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | Carbon Fully with XT, Hope, Thompson, Roox | | Bottom Line: | Fixed my ongoing shifting problem. I had a kink in my cablehousing I found out when I installed the Rollamajig.
Buy shortening the housing to install the Manjig, it probably offsets some of the (minimal) weight gain. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
vince Raj
a Weekend Warrior
from Las Vegas, NV
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Mohawk | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$8.00 | | Purchased At: | Jensonusa | | Strengths: | - neet little device...I love Avid products!
- VERY fast, smooth shifting
- NO noise
- Not too hard to setup: instructions say to shift to middle chainring in front, and smallest chainring in rear, and make sure the Rollamajig is aligned with rear derailleur with correct housing length. And as long as you know how to adjust the gears, it shouldn't be too hard. | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Bike Setup: | '02 DaBomb boombox Dual slalom 16" frame/ shim deore disc wheel fr/ Easton EA50 riser/ Avid Juicy 7 hydr disc/ Avid sd7 rear/ Weyless B-27 pedals, cnc dh stem/ ODI lock-on grips/ deore shifter--lever/ Ritchey stem/ Performancebike saddle/ lx rear and front derailleur, 02 Rockshox Psylo xc fork/ Cane creek headset/ Shimano UN73 BB/ Truvativ 5D Crankset/ Avid rollamajig/ Panaracer Fire XC tires/ Hyper derailleur kit/ Jagwire brake kit. | | Bottom Line: | I recommend this product for those looking to improve their shifting. Match this product with Hyper premium derailleur cable/housing kit (compressionless) and you got a pretty good setup. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Hampton
a Cross Country Rider
from Concord, NC
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Easy to install and set up. Quiter and accurate shifting. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | none out there | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Kikapu Deluxe, Specialized Rockhopper, 2 Mongoose IBOC's | | Bottom Line: | Have used versions of this product for years. They used to be matal. Both versions work great. If you don't like the grey you can dye it with rit dye. just take it apart and dye the plastic parts. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shawn
a
from Stuttgart
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | price point | | Strengths: | Not sure yet | | Weaknesses: | Bike shop installed my rollamajig and had it SNUG, like the installation picture shows. Long story short, I had to bring it back to the bike shop and they had to put on a new cable to add a small loop going into the rollamajig. I will ride today and hope that all my shifting woes are gone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Karl
a
from York UK
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Smoother shifting. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | None! | | Bottom Line: | Great little gadget- definitely makes shifting faster and quieter. Requires 'bedding down' for say 5 hrs, as the cable and derraileur acquaint with the little fella.
Someone below states that you need a little slack cable to allow the rollamajig to freely move between high and low gears- completely agree. Mine is set so that it freely twists: it doesn't look tidy as it is not aligned flush with the bike (but instead angled outwards), but it definitely works in that fashion. Quieter and quicker shifting then mates bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gerod Byrd
a Weekend Warrior
from Tacoma
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | any road any trail any where | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$9.00 | | Strengths: | Love it, put it om my recumbent Black Bent, solved a lot of shifting problems I was having. Shift faster and it is very crisp now. I rode in the rain and snow of Iceland and had no problems. Not sure how it will perform on a mountain bike in mud, will let you know in the future. | | Weaknesses: | NONE | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing out there like it | | Bike Setup: | Black Bent I, Shimano Deore, RX100, ultegra rear wheel, shimano trigger. | | Bottom Line: | It works well on my recumbent, I think with the length of cable and the loops underseat steering can create this helped my shifting issue. It cut down on the friction making it a dream to ride. I suggest any road bike or recumbent rider that likes performance shoud get one. GREAT LITTLE THINGAMAJIG. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Midwest
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$9.00 | | Purchased At: | performance bike | | Strengths: | Improves shifting speed and ease. | | Weaknesses: | PITA to setup | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | SC Blur, xt, truvativ | | Bottom Line: | It made a noticeable difference for me. The first 4-5 rides I had to readjust my derailleur, I'm not sure why but once it got out of whack I wasn't able to adjust the ghost shifting out with the barrel adjusters. After a week of riding it "settled" in.
I would definately recommend one of these.
Oh, I've got the newer plastic one.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Geoffrey Seaborn
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Gatineau Loop | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | Beyond Bikes | | Strengths: | Makes shifting somewhat faster. Makes for more of a precision feel to shifts. | | Weaknesses: | None...yet. I'm pretty sure it will hold up though. Seems good so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Eggbeaters | | Bike Setup: | 2004 Rockhopper Pro with shimano XT.
| | Bottom Line: | Although it is worth it, you will most likely not notice a huge difference. If you don't know where else to spend $10, you had might as well do it here.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Grumpy
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | Phantom Cycles | | Strengths: | Cheap, easy to install, effective. | | Weaknesses: | Have had one come apart. | | Bike Setup: | Superlight, full XT. | | Bottom Line: | The cable route to Shimano derailleurs results in a loop which adds friction. SRAM derailleurs aboid this loop. The cable loop can be problematic especially on bikes with chainstay mounted cable routing. The Rollamajig alleviates this problem.
I was having success with the plastic ones, until the bolt came loose and the whole shebang came apart. I recommend checking them and hitting them with a bit of Loctite. I now use the older style alloy ones, which (unlike the plastic ones) require you to refit the barrel adjuster above the Rollamajig. It works just as well as the plastic ones, and probably more durable.
It works so well (for me) that I forget it's there, and frankly, when it comes to drivetrains, it's nice to have things work that well. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chas
a Cross Country Rider
from Nashville
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | web | | Strengths: | Faster,Crisper,easier shifting.Can shift with more power applyed to the pedals. | | Weaknesses: | Exposed wire may not be a good in mud. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Fuel,XT | | Bottom Line: | This is for the old Aluminum model.Don`t know about the new plastic type.Was going to upgrade to XTR rear Der.This works so well no need to now.Great upgrade,cheap. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
remora
a Weekend Warrior
from Laguna Niguel, CA
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | any OC trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | It WORKS! Easy to install. | | Weaknesses: | Plastic cover? Not sure how it'll hold up to dirt, expose the index adjuster bolt. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 GF Surgar 2 | | Bottom Line: | After 2+ years of hard riding, drive train showing sign of wear, shifters' not consistent, rear XTR derailleur showing sign of wear and abuse. Replacing cables and housing helped but still not 100%. Thought I stick in the Rollermajik and what a surprise! Brought consistency back to my right shifters, didn't take a lot of adjustment either.
Worked almost like majik, actually it takes care of the problem faced by the really twisted cable housing in the rear. The pulley system provides for the smooth cable movement. Be nice if Shimano makes it standard drive train component.
Got it for 10 bucks! Worth trying out if you're on old worn out drivetrain. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
HC
a Weekend Warrior
from AR
Date Reviewed: May 31, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$5.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | cheap | | Weaknesses: | Looks cheap, all plastic, hope it does not break | | Similar Products Used: | N/A | | Bike Setup: | SantaCruz all XT | | Bottom Line: | Only had it on for a few rides now. I have the new very cheap plastic one. Looks like junk but, shifting with the XT rapidfire seem to be quicker and slightly smoother. I am not sure because I made two changes at once. Added the rollamajig and shortened the cable housing between the frame and rear triangle. I have not had any problems with the device. If installed correctly, it works. I can't figure out why people are posting to put the adjuster on the back and not on the derailer where it goes. I set mine up per the directions and it works. Make sure you leave enough cable off the frame into the bake/top of the rollamajig. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
YR
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Barbara, CA
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint | | Strengths: | cheap, looks good | | Weaknesses: | doesn't do anything, expensive (for not doing anything) | | Bike Setup: | NRS | | Bottom Line: | I can't tell the difference. It didn't add anything to the ease of shifting and also didn't harm it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol CT USA
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Strengths: | Didn't cause any problems while it worked. | | Weaknesses: | It self destructed on a very rattling downhill trail. I think the axle in the small pulley came out, as the bike suddenly went into 9th gear when I started pedaling again. | | Similar Products Used: | Regular old Shimano SIS shifter housing. | | Bike Setup: | GIANT NRS1 | | Bottom Line: | I am going to stick with plain old derailluer housing from now on. Fortunate for me, I know how to make trailside repairs, and just shortened the cable enough so I could shift into some lower gears to finish the ride.
I still don't know how it work itself apart, I never had any problems before that point. I also never had problems with regular shifter housing either, the Rollamajig was just one of those things I thought would be neat to try.
But I prefer a reliable bike over gadgetry.
Also I should note that this version was plastic. I have seen some on older bikes which were aluminum. they probably hold up better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
PJ
a Weekend Warrior
from Wellington, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$11.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Improved shifting performance when new or recently overhauled | | Weaknesses: | Worsened shifting performance after exposure to water and crud | | Similar Products Used: | V-Brake pipe ('noodle') | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Big Sur with LX/XT/Avid mix | | Bottom Line: | Worked OK for the first couple of weeks until the exposed inner cable gums up and drags filth through the cable housing.
Replaced with a V-Brake pipe ('noodle') which worked just as well, kept the crud out and was a fraction of the cost.
The Rollamajig has since been relegated to our road tandem, where it works very well in clean conditions. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Biopacebob
a Cross Country Rider
from Modesto Ca
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Forest History Trail,Mendicino | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$9.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint ? | | Strengths: | A Simple little widget that works.Takes the bend in the rear derailer cable housing out where the cable housing can clog with dirt.Any shifter will work like an expensive upgrade.I had the LBS install it so it works.They changed cables too,also on the brakes.Altogether the best $40 I HAVE SPENT ON THE BIKE | | Weaknesses: | NONE AT ALL | | Similar Products Used: | AINT NO OTHER SUCH ANIMAL | | Bike Setup: | 2000 SCHWINN MOAB 3 WITH ORGAN DONATED PARTS FROM BROTHER IN LAWS DECEASED ROCKET 88;"IT'S LIKE..BLAZ'EN" | | Bottom Line: | GET ONE OF THESE LITTLE HOOCHIE-COOS BEFORE THE TALIBAN TAKE OVER AND DECLARE A DEATH SENTENCE FOR ANYONE SOOO DECADANT TO OWN ONE | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Weebs
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Mailorder | | Strengths: | Low cost. Install and forget. | | Weaknesses: | Cant think of any. | | Similar Products Used: | Shifter cable with a big bend in it. | | Bike Setup: | Litespeed Unicoi. XTR, Titec, yadi yadi... | | Bottom Line: | Product works as advertised if installed correctly. When comparing a new cable to a rollamajig, no performance difference. It’s when the regular cable installation starts to wear and junk up that the rollamajig starts to perform. I just don’t have to screw around with my rear derailer with this thing. I have never had the cable come off the pulley either. A number of friends have started using this with same results. One thing I noticed is that you want to make sure you leave a little extra cable housing in the run between the rollermajig and the frame. Dont cut it to the exact length you need. The pulley needs to twist slightly as you go through the gears and if you have no slack it will affect the shifting. For me the bottom line is rollamajig = less maintenance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Racer
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | on-line | | Strengths: | Let me start by saying I'm a HUGE Avid fan. I have had nothing but trouble with the Rollamajig. | | Weaknesses: | Made it impossible to climb without jumping gears or getting chain suck. Gets caught on sticks and stuff. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS Air...Bought frame built from ground up. Best of everything. | | Bottom Line: | I was having serious gear jumping problems while doing steep climbs. I tried everything to fix it. Bought a new chain, new cassette, checked my hub & adjusted the derailer many different ways. Today I took the rollamajig off and bang!!! Problem solved! I think one of the only reasons I left the darned thing on for sooooo long was all these good reviews I've read here. If your having problems...take the rollamajig off first!!! Remember...Avid is one of my favorite companys...no axe to grind here. Sorry Avid. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Dreimanis
a Weekend Warrior
from Adelaide, SA, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Narrow Neck - Blue Mountains | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$5.00 | | Purchased At: | Phantom Cycles | | Strengths: | - Works, doesn't break, SWEET shifting | | Weaknesses: | Can't find any yet | | Bike Setup: | XT rear derailleur. | | Bottom Line: | It makes my bike shift that much more effortlessly that you literally can't fault it for the price. I think Steve is right on the pace here, saying there are no weaknesses. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charlie Devine
a Cross Country Rider
from Oak Ridge TN, 37830
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Haw Ridge | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Improves shifting no matter what. Gripshift, Shimano, and Rode bikes all can benifit. | | Weaknesses: | New plastic model looks terribly ugly compared to old aluminum model. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | mtn bike: '95 shimano xt integrated controls, mozocchi Z4 flylight air, alluminum frame rear derailer is original STX-RC
Road bike: RX 100 STI integrated controls 105 rear derailer | | Bottom Line: | My mountain bike came with gripeshifters. I tried everything. I first put a Powerspring in my rear deraileer. You see, I could completely disconect the shift cable and turn the crank and the thing would only make it to the third smallest cog on its own. That was thanks to Shimano's new Light Action Spring. Junk. Somewhere along the line a shop tried to sell me a Bassworm. They said, "everyone with gripshift uses these." Well in my case what was that going to do, push the cable at the rear derailer and acuate a shift? I don't think so. Gripshift still didn't work.
When I first say the rollamajig I thought, "what a wonderful idea." Although it didn't make the gripeshifters work, it did wonders for my shifting when I put the XT shifters on. That was the cool-looking alluminum mode (black). It worked so well that when I go a road bike I imediately ordered another one. This time red plastic. Although it looks like junk compared to the old model, It does compliment the thick red alluminum frame. Being twice as wide as the old one, It somehow goes better with the look of the wide rear hub and ultra skinny rear tire.
Get one even if your bike shifts perfectly (has Shimano shifters.) It can shift even better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steven
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | 6 Foot Track, Blue Mountains | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$5.00 | | Purchased At: | Phantom Cycles | | Strengths: | Cheap, works, looks good | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | '02 Giant NRS, '02 Psylo XC, everything upgraded (XTR/XT/Titec/Sun Rhyno Lite, etc) | | Bottom Line: | Continually having trouble getting my XT derailleur to change into the 9th (smallest) cog - since installing the thingimabob, all works fine. What can you say - cheap, works, what more do you want? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig Bromley
a Downhiller
from England
Date Reviewed: December 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Avalanch WC | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$9.00 | | Purchased At: | Chainreaction Cycles | | Strengths: | Excellent shifting | | Weaknesses: | Cable expeosed to crud | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | UZZI SLX, XT groupset | | Bottom Line: | The Intense Uzzi DH & SLX all have a very steep curve for the cable housing to enter the mech at a reasonable angle. I was a bit weary at first using it for downhills but I have to say it's absolutely brilliant. Very smooth changing and no huge loop to catch onto branches. Looks pretty cool too. I haven't had any crud problems but feel the the roller could do with a cover over it to keep crud from being dragged back up the housing, however I still haven't suffered any problems with crud as yet. Considering my damning report on the Avid Flack Jackets it's nice to be able to say something good about Avid in return, well done great idea and good price too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Cross Country Rider
from Finland
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Localshop | | Strengths: | Simple
Improves shifting | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Cdale SV700, Sachs Quartz shifter and shimano XTR rear derailleur. | | Bottom Line: | I have spend my whole summer searching correct setup for rear derailleur with no luck no matter what i do (Typical for used SuperV i have heard). I tried severals settings and derailleurs and shifting was never consistent - i tried to lube the cablings and it didn't help either! I already decided change cable housings and buy the trigger shifters. I didn't have money right now but wanted ride so i took the rollamajig option... So far i haven't regret that for a minute: easy to setup and so much easier shifting and what is most important shifting is now consistent again! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | Improves shifting with twist shifters, or with tight-angled cable routes. Saves weight from reduced cable housing. Less to snag on trail hazards. | | Similar Products Used: | XTR ripoff version | | Bottom Line: | Rollamajigs work well if you have twist shifters, or need to tune the cable-housing issue on your rig. On hardtails with cables running on the chainstay, you can dramatically reduce cable drag and eliminate the huge loop of housing that likes to snag things. With a seatstay cable-routing, you still reduce total housing and smooth out the shifting.
I put them on twist and trigger shifting bikes.
To mount them, pull out the adjuster barrel from your derailleur and mount the Rollamajig directly to the derailleur body. Take the adjuster barrel and mount that on the back of the rollamajig. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike S
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything dirty | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Dramaticaly improves GripShift performance. Makes GripShifters usable with Shim XT der without any problems with shifting into high gear. | | Weaknesses: | Not as usefull for Rapidfire systems, although it doesn't hurt performance either. | | Similar Products Used: | Bassworm (crap) | | Bike Setup: | TREK 930, Shim XT rear Der, GripShift shifters | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the older Alum type. Installing the Rollamajig was the only way I got my Gripshifters working reliably during long rides. It was pretty easy to put on, just cut the housing and cable, slip the cable through, and re-tighten the bolt.
Without the Jig, I'd have to keep the drivetrain extremely clean to get the shifting to work well. My GripShifting improved greatly after it was installed. No problems with the Shim XT spring not being able to pull back the cable. I also tried a couple Bassworms, but they aren't durable and actually increase resistance during shifting.
My new bike has Rapidfire shifting and I haven't had a chance to try the Rollamajig out on it, but I don't see a reason to use it because Rapidfire shifting is quite reliable. GET A ROLLAMAJIG IF YOU USE GRIPSHIFT!! You wont be sorry. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Randy
a Cross Country Rider
from Louisville, KY
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | internet | | Strengths: | Available in cool colors, dresses up a dull appearing bike.
Nice design and easy to install. | | Weaknesses: | I dont really know if this product improves shifting or not.
I havent noticed a difference using it, but it hasnt hurt my shifting either. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Trek OCLV | | Bottom Line: | The rollamajig looks nice and for all practical purposes appears to be a benefit to shifting although I cant tell a difference. If you want to dress up your bike then buy a bright colored one. If you really want to improve your shifting, try a good set of cables. This is a cool little item, but to me its more for looks than performance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Mountain View CA
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Henry Coe | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | Simple and easy to install | | Weaknesses: | Leaves exposed Cable | | Similar Products Used: | Gore Cables | | Bike Setup: | Specialized M2 | | Bottom Line: | The directions for the thingamajig are quite good - it sized up quickly and easily. I didn't notice a much of a difference with the rapidfire on my M2, but it made a noticeable difference when I used it in conjunction with the gripshift on my wife's Fisher. Still, I wouldn't buy another thingamajig - I would put the money toward a set of Gore cables instead. The results are more dramatic and the system ends up completely weather sealed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill Le
a Weekend Warrior
from Snow Lake, MB, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Brandon Hills | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | Speedy bike store | | Strengths: | Smooth, Cool looking & light weight | | Weaknesses: | Price, hard to install good | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Trek 7000 from store | | Bottom Line: | The Rollamajig works great. I don't miss any shift even when climping up hill. If the price can be a bit lower, that will be good. Upon installion, I use sand paper to round up all the edges that the cable pass through. e.g. the holds in the ball and the little nut provided. Use a softer brake cable housing instead of hard shifter cable. It shift simply very smoothly and chrisply. Worth to give it a try. Great stuff.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Albus Dumbledore
a Downhiller
from London, England
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Tour du Hogwarts | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | England Bike Shoppee | | Strengths: | My bike looks really cool, and as an added plus, it even shifts greater! | | Weaknesses: | The cost was pretty high and I had a difficult time installing this device. | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bike Setup: | Trek 8000 with all Shimano XT components. | | Bottom Line: | I really like this, and it is rather difficult to install, but paitence, my friends, for it is worth your trouble! I really like this because it comes in various hues of color to match my bike! Hint: Use Shimano shifter cable for optimum shifting for if the cable is too stiff, the devise DOES NOT WORK. Also, lubricate with White Lightning for better preformance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Luke
a Cross Country Rider
from Knoxville,TN,USA
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | lock4 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Gift | | Strengths: | Works well, improves feel and speed of shift, makes bike prettier | | Weaknesses: | Pricey for a tiny little part. Wont work with new shimano der. booties. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | 99Jamis dragon. | | Bottom Line: | I am reviewing the original aluminum version of this product.
The pin used to freeze up with dirt, prompting Avid to construct them out of plastic, those of you who have the aluminum ones need to use White lightning or a similar wax lube on it and the problem stops forever.
Shifting on my bike diddn't improve dramatically, for it was already very very good (shimano XTR), but I did notice a little less resistance at the rapidfire lever and the shifts felt faster as a result.
I am switching to XTR mega 9 on my new bike and i intend to use this 2 year old part on it as well, ditching the shimano XTR bootie (the housing is sealed at least).
I reccomend this part to anyone who thinks they need a little, repeat LITTLE, more smoothness in their shifting. This product is not magic and will not make a crappy der perform like XTR.
For those of you who think it is, or those of you who have limited cash to spend on upgrades, then don't bother, there are HUNDREDS of better performance products to be had for twenty dollars. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matty F
a Downhiller
from North Bay
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Ultra smooth shifting, looks cool, shorter housing | | Weaknesses: | Must be put on with absolute precision | | Bike Setup: | XT der with Deore shifters | | Bottom Line: | Very good shifting, it doesn't stop your gears from slipping but makes the chain switch cogs as soon as you pull the trigger (or twist the shifter). I recommend having a shop put it on for you so you don't cut the housing to short. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dougie Richardson
a Cross Country Rider
from Edinburgh, Scotland
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Once you get it set up right it does make a big difference to shifting, at least it did on my Deore/LX setup. | | Weaknesses: | Can be hard to set up. I had too long an outer cable run initially which caused really bad shifting, but I went back and read the instructions again, shortened the cable outer to the right lenght and away it went, superb. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Stock 99 Fisher Aquila with Shimano Alivio/Deore/LX transmission. | | Bottom Line: | If you have low range shifting gear, or even mid/high range I guess, then buy this. It has to be set up properly, but once you get it going it's well worth the money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack Kirkpatrick
a Cross Country Rider
from Michigan
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | looks like iot would work...IT DOES NOT | | Weaknesses: | umm... It does not do what it should... mine fell into two parts I thought it had cracked but it looks to be made that way | | Bike Setup: | FS RM Spice lx derailer rapid fire 8 and shimano sprickets sachs chain | | Bottom Line: | This review is a reaction to all that jive below (which I read before purchase) about how good it works,...NO WAY MAN.
I tried the various lengths of housing and all that stuff, finally got it so it was almost as good as the original cable and have been using it for this season's riding. Yesterday I finally made it to a trail I've been hearing about Lawless Park MI(*****) and it broke in half...bummer rigged the bike and rode anyway.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS P.O.S. IS ON ITS WAY BACK!!!!!! I should have ripped it off long ago but it was almost as good as the original and I wanted to give it a fair chance.
So many people seem to like it... NOT ME... DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY. ITS NOT WORTH 10 CENTS.
Sincerely, Jack (sorry to raise my voice) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pooter
a Cross Country Rider
from san antonio, tx
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | looks cool | | Weaknesses: | doesn't work well with derailleur cables run along the chainstay;
housing lenght has to be exactly right | | Similar Products Used: | housing & cable | | Bike Setup: | '99 c-dale f1000 | | Bottom Line: | the rear derailleur has to follow a natural movement to shift properly. with a rollamajig installed, if the housing is too short, this hinders the derailleurs ability to move correctly thus preventing some shifts. too long, and some positions will cause slack between the rollamajig and the derailleur, also preventing some shifts.
my bike's rear derailleur cable runs along the chainstay. the rollamajig might work better for bikes with the cable running down the seat stay.
anyways, i'm sticking with good ol' fashioned cable & housing. it's cheaper! (i saw an article in one of the bike mags where they used a v-brake noodle in the place of a rollamajig. even that is cheaper!) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dennis
a Weekend Warrior
from Honolulu, HI, USA
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | cuts down on the shifter cable/less chance of it getting caught onto something... | | Bike Setup: | '99 moab 2 | | Bottom Line: | i don't feel a difference in faster shifting either downshifting or upshifting (has the standard LX derailleur).
I really thought it would make a noticeable difference, but that has not been the case for me---and I set it up well.
Still feels the same as if I did not have the rollamajig.
However, it looks trick, and since it shortens the cable housing line, I give it a positive rating. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
GammaDriver
a Cross Country Rider
from Pennsylvania
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Price
Simplicity | | Similar Products Used: | cable housing? | | Bike Setup: | Grip Shift
XTR rear der.
C'dale hardtail
8 speed | | Bottom Line: | Ok, Ok, I agree with just about all of the good posts here.
Word of advice for the ill-informed - LBS's and even individuals might set it up wrong. Pay close attetnion to cutting down the shifter housing to the right length when using a RMJG. I've seen bikes come from LBS's with the amout of cable a bike would need if it had no RMJG. This causes poor and ghost shifting.
If you don't have the tools to work with cable housing the right way (you don't just cut it like a wire or cable) then have it done for you - unfinished cable housing ends can mess up shifting.
I've seen bikes that, by their very poor cable-routing design, required RMJG's from the get-go. Most LBS's and some riders refuse to acknowledge this (especially for road bikes), but look around and you'll see the lunacy in the cable-rounting and derailleur designs out there.
I argue that Grip-Shift / Rapid Fire doesn't matter here - what matters on every bike is the brains behind the cable routing design and what you can improve.
Properly set up it will become a use it and forget it part (and I'm even using the older model (w/out any problems)). The only time I had the cable come off of it was when the bike needed a little more cable tension (2 years ago). I had ghost shifting when I last let an LBS (who's mechanic 'hates' RMJG's I learned) put new cables on my bike - they left too much housing between it and the cable stop.
Don't trust other people to work on your bike, kiddies.
Here's an idea - they should think about making two RMJG desings. One left the way it is, and one that lets the cable out at an even sharper angle for bikes with really, really bad cable problems (saw this on a Giordina road bike with Campy Athena rear der.). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
philip olinger
a Downhiller
from loma linda, ca
Date Reviewed: December 30, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
amino acid | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
none this thing sucks its the biggest piece of crap | | Weaknesses: |
makes gears shift suprer smooth, the only problem is i dont push the shifter | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bike Setup: |
specialized fsr elite with xtr derailler | | Bottom Line: | do not purchase if I could give it negative chilies I would this thing sucks | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard
a Weekend Warrior
from RSM, CA
Date Reviewed: December 5, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Still Searching | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Fixed my Gripshift problems. | | Weaknesses: |
A little steeper cable exit angle would be nice | | Similar Products Used: |
Bassworm | | Bike Setup: |
'97 Steel Rockhopper FS with STX der and SRT-400 shifters | | Bottom Line: | My 97 came with the old style GripShift shifters (high friction). This bike had phantom shifting problems right off the showroom floor. The bike was assembled and adjusted correctly. The bassworm fixed the problem but made it impossible to slide the last section of housing down the cable for cleaning (which was eventually needed).I switched to the newer, toothed version of the Rollamajig and all is well. Shifting is perfect now. I don't clean my cables, I just ride! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Luke
a Weekend Warrior
from Alberta
Date Reviewed: August 18, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
THis thing works great | | Weaknesses: |
they don't make them in blue | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bike Setup: |
1998 Muni mula, with XT rear DR. | | Bottom Line: | Buy this, the best $22 (cdn funds) i ever spent! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from Coloardo
Date Reviewed: July 16, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
It is worth it if you buy it onsale for 14 or less but i wouldn't pay 20 for it. I noticed an imediant change in shifting at high speeds. | | Weaknesses: |
I couldnt feel anything diferent on slow speed shifts. If you have a very active full supsension that has lots of travel, don't get it. The cable can get flexed out of the proper route on big fast compresions of your rear suspension. But that only happaened once to me in just over 2 years of use | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bike Setup: |
857 ProFlex with NR-2 rear shock | | Bottom Line: | great for hardtails or fulls with less than 3.5 in of travel, espacialy if it is on sale | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Reynoldson
a Weekend Warrior
from Whitby, North Yorkshire, UK
Date Reviewed: June 25, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Dalby Forest | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Make the rear shifter work. | | Weaknesses: |
None. | | Similar Products Used: |
None | | Bike Setup: |
Gripshift SRT600 and 8spd Alivio mech. | | Bottom Line: | When I put gripshifters on instead of rapidfires I suddenly found that there was too much friction in the cable set up on my full susser. Putting the Rollamjig on reduced this to a point where the shifts are sweet again. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
PRC
a Cross-Country Rider
from Lisbon, Portugal
Date Reviewed: June 8, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
cheap,works wxactly as they said it would | | Weaknesses: |
None | | Bike Setup: |
Full 98 XT drivetrain with the latest version of the rollamajig | | Bottom Line: | This roduct actually works! it reduces friction making shifting easier (not that I was having problems anyway). If you don't have one, then get it. It's well worth the $14 I paid for it. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rico
a Cross-Country Rider
from Fort walton Beach
Date Reviewed: May 15, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Works EXACTLEY as advertised | | Weaknesses: |
None | | Bike Setup: |
Schwinn S {9 five}.2
Roch Shox | | Bottom Line: | This product works exactley the way its supposed to. It DEFINETLEY reduces cable friction, witch results in easier shifting. the old stye Rollamajig with the metal wheel and housing would occasionally jump off. But the new composite Toothed version has solved that problem completly.. Very LOW maint.....I reccomend one to all who don't yet have one..... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Bartell
a Weekend Warrior
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: April 24, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Bike Setup: |
The Rollamajig is being used with an XT rear derailer and XT index shifting. | | Bottom Line: | I decided to try out a Rollamajig since I was getting tired of cleaning and greasing the cable loop at the rear derailer every few weeks. After putting on the Avid the shifting friction went down significantly and STAYED that way. Other reviews here complain about the cable jumping off and the bearings getting sticky. I've had neither of these problems. I did find there was some grit between the wheel and the housing but putting some slack in the cable and excersizing the wheel with my finger got things running smoothly again.I'll give the Rollamajig five chillies for working well with nearly zero maintainance after one year. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Trick
a Cross-Country Rider
from Huntsville, AL
Date Reviewed: March 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Montesano | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
cheap
works, even in mud | | Weaknesses: |
none yet | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bike Setup: |
I've got it on a 3-year old alivio derailleur | | Bottom Line: | I used to have to kick my derailleur to shift, I got tired of that. I put the rolli thing on, and it hasn't hesitated or skipped a once. Awesome upgrade for crappy, old derailleurs. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Randy Lovell
a cross-country rider
from NY
Date Reviewed: March 9, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
This is product is definatly worth the $14. If your shifting is starting to fade, and even if it isnt, it noticibly improved the shifting smoothness on
my grip shift 800/LX components. A great inexpensive hop up. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bruce
a weekend warrior
from fullerton
Date Reviewed: March 2, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I have noticed my shifting has improved slightly. Not dramatically but if you have old cables it might be very noticeable. My shifting is quicker and smoother. Get the new design with teeth. It put new life into my XT thumbshifters from 1989. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a cross-country rider
from Modesto CA
Date Reviewed: February 5, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I installed this little widget on my Stumpy M2 comp , with XTR and Gripshift
Xrays. I must say this little doodad did indeed help out shifting, by making
it slightly quicker, and most importantly it made shifts more consistent. Previously I would have a little bit of reluctance at times
with shifts (downshifting especially) and with this little guy the problem is more or less solved. I already was running teflon cables BTW. For the $15 it is worth it if you are running a simular setup to mine. If you have rapidfires forget the Avid probably is money wasted.But still I will give it 4 chilis, worth every penny! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sane
a cross-country rider
from Richmond Indiana
Date Reviewed: November 29, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
The rollamajig blows. For twenty bucks you can buy a new cable set and have the same result in shifting. PLUS with new cables, the cable doesn't pop of the roller and get jammed.If you still want to keep the stupid rolleramacrap you can rig quaility WALD
wheel retaining clip part #1420 to the back of the roller so that the lip acts like a top guide for the cable. THIS COMES STRAIGHT FROM BIKE SHOP MECHANICS.For an overall rating I want to give it a 1/2 chili.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nick
a cross-country rider
from vashon island, washington
Date Reviewed: November 29, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
It cost me 12 bucks. It barely speeds up my down shifts and it slowed my up shifts on to larger cogs. I work at a bike shop and have found that if you just run a large, gradually bending, loop of cable and housing to the derailer there is no problem with stiction | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bart
a weekend warrior
from Dallas
Date Reviewed: October 27, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have used several of these. As with any moving part they wear out with time. Every now and then remember to take it apart to clean and lube it. Any moving part that is ignored will eventually fail and this leads to the cable jumping off. The few minutes it takes to clean one has made for smooth shifting over the past two years. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BRETT BRADFORD
a cross-country rider
from COEUR D ALENE, IDAHO
Date Reviewed: October 13, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
AS A MECHANIC IN A LOCAL SHOP, I GET PEOPLE IN EVERYDAY WHO WANT ME TO WAVE SOME MAGIC WAND OVER THEIR BIKE AND MAKE IT PERFORM LIKE A PRO RIG. THIS PRODUCT IS A MUST, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE RUNNING LX OR STX LEVEL RD'S. HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT GOOD FROM THE TOOTHED VERSION, AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PRODUCTS THAT WILL GIVE YOU A BIG PERFORMANCE BOOST FOR LITTLE SPENDAGE. AND IF YOU RUN XTR?.......WELL, IT'S LIKE PETER NORTH ON VIAGRA, IF YA DIG. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a weekend warrior
from Tampa, FL
Date Reviewed: September 21, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
GREAT Product-installs easy, does what it says!! Made my XT rd allot smoother with my GripShift 6.0...no wrist fatigue at all. I'm not so happy with the Avid brakes (I had a defective pair of 1.0s OEMed on a Fisher Big Sur), but that's another review. These final words will allow me to meet this ridiculous minimum | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jerome
a cross-country rider
from Quebec City, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 12, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought the 98' Rollamajig on a friend's advice, and I was not disappointed. With the small teeths on each side of the pulley, the cable never gets off - a known problem with the old Rollamajig - and shifting is always between perfect and easily above normal... It is particularly appreciated here, where we sometimes ride in ugly conditions (mud, snow...) 5 chillies unquestionably ! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George Crawford
a weekend warrior
from Central California
Date Reviewed: July 21, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
It's a good product that works well. When I ran an STX der it improved the shifting and cleaned up the cable loop. I eventually upgraded to an XT but kept the rollamajig because I like the clean look. The '97 XTR derailer came with a smillar attachment so I guess Shimano like the idea too. The '98's don't have them so I don't know what happened. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mr. Peabody
a cross-country rider
from Wauconda, IL
Date Reviewed: July 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have to admit I just bought this thing because it just looks so neat and because Avid just rules the known universe. I have no idea if it improved my shifting (XT shifters/XT derailleur) But it was really quick and painless to install, and impresses your friends that have no clue what it is. As an added bonus, it eliminates that big loop of shifter cable that my one year old runt just loves to chew and pull on and generally screw up my shifting. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rdjerry
a cross-country rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: July 5, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
My shifting was good before but then I had this big loop of housing on the back of my bike which I made sure was clean and lubed. I've eliminated the brush grabing housing loop and reduced the amount of housing (friction). The bike shifts slightly better but the back end is much neater. I am a little bummed because I ended up with the grey one because Scotty bought the red one which would have looked better on my pimped out bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kev
a cross-country rider
from US
Date Reviewed: June 29, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I got the newer version with teeth. The cable has never been thrown off for me, probly cause the cable tension's pretty tight already with it on. This little job really helps, especially on a C'dale, C'dales have this stupid 180 degree bend in the cable to get to the deralleur, thats where it really helps, don't get this just for the fun of it(it's so cheap all my friends got one for fun) it only helps if your gonna ride hard, or if ya have a Cannondale (with the screwed up bend. Otherwise, 5 chilis. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David P
a weekend warrior
from Vancouver BC Canada
Date Reviewed: May 17, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I run a stock Gripshift X-Ray 800 with a XT rear derailleur. I have no problems with shifting on this particular setup, maybe because I set it up properly. Anyhow, the reason why I bought the Avid 1998 plastic version was because, I was constantly getting poor shifting performance with my XT derailleur when it was caked with mud and dirt. I needed something to increase the pull tension so I can still ride without missing a shift. Came the Avid. Installed it per instruction and tried it on a several technical trails. It never once failed me and it allowed me to ride longer and harder. So my advise to all is, if your shifter works great, don't get the Avid. But, if you ride hard and muddy, you may need the Avid to give your that extra punch to allow you to keep shifting smoothly until you've got the time to clean and re-lube your derailleur.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bryan to
a weekend warrior
from San Rafael, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: May 6, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
very good product Avid makes. I have both versions, the old metal and the new plastic, both work very well. Avoid geting this product if you have a basic rd,or a basic drivetrain because it will not make your shifting much better. You should at least have a alivio, stx or better for the thing to work a whole lot better. If you do have less then alivio I would advise you to spend your money on upgrading, otherwise they work great. 5 stars. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jimmy B
a cross-country rider
from WI
Date Reviewed: April 30, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I had one of these little deals for a while. In theory it is a good idea. But the cabe tends to fly off at the worst times. Never had it happen in a race, only did a few though. But a lot on the trail. So to fix the problem I put a bolt through the center of the pulley and some lock washers, then threw the whole thing in the lathe and cut the cable groove about a cable width deeper. I think that solved the problem. But not everyone has a lathe at their disposal. I crashed on the road and the cable still flew off, who the hell knows, I hve ESP. Sometimes the best laid plans..... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave G
a cross-country rider
from Anchorage, Alaska
Date Reviewed: April 7, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I thought XTR was good until I tried this little bugger!!! I have the older non-toothed version and it works great. I haven't had the cable come off once yet either. The colors are especially cool. The red one really makes my bike unique. Good product. 5 chillies. Three more words. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Manninen
a cross-country rider
from USA
Date Reviewed: March 29, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This little thing is magic!! The best/cheapest upgrade I've ever purchaesed!! I'm using XT rapid fire w/ XTR RD and the performance of the two was poor without the rollamijig. I was skepitcal also, but the thing made a world of difference. Also to date I haven't had any difficulties with the cable sliding off of the pulley, whic other bikers have seemed to have difficulties with. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
endo
a racer
from boise
Date Reviewed: March 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
The Rollamajig, when mixed in with XT and Sachs Power Grip Extreme shifters did not offer a higher quality of shifting. It has, however, allowed for fewer cable changes as a result of the cable loop. I've been shifting well with the same cable for almost a year. It has begun to throw the cable off the pulley after repeated big hits. I'm going to switch the cable to see if that will solve the problem. Other wise, I'll try to get Avid to upgrade me to the newer version with the teeth I hear all of you refering to. I'll subtract 1 chili for not improving my shifting and two for the cable popping off the pulley. Then I'll add a chili for the idea and it's effect on increasing the life expectancy of cables. Too bad I bought the first version. I should know better. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Riehle
a racer
from Greensburg, PA
Date Reviewed: March 18, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I don't have the Rollamajig yet, but after reading all these reviews, I
think I'm going to order on right now! It seems it works better with Grip
Shift (I run the X-Ray 800's) so I'll give it a shot. For all you people who
are having trouble with the cable slipping off the roller, try pulling the
cable a little tighter, I bet it works! I give it five just to see if I can
get it in the HALL OF FAME! If I don't like it I'll be back to change it! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
seth
a weekend warrior
from Lancaster CA
Date Reviewed: March 16, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Been using the original style above for the last two years. Excellent product, never failed. Just bought the new 98 model. It is redesigned and KOOL as hell. The pulley now has little teeth like the 98 XTR rear derailluer. It is extremely light and made out of some spacey plastic type stuff. Installation is a 10 minute affair max. I really bought it for style points. The red is a perfect match for Shimano downhill red. Really highlights those 636's and Titec Berserker downhill saddle. Five flaming dookies! A great product just got better... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Maple
a
from Canada
Date Reviewed: February 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Great product asome i cant say enough good thing about it it works on gripshift like rapidfire it great just
make sure you lube it once in a while
s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert
a cross-country rider
from New Mexico
Date Reviewed: January 27, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This thing is SWEET!!!!! A must buy for everyone. AVID really outdid themselves
when designing this product. Definitely buy the rollamajig (for 20 bucks you cant go wrong). Where I ride it is very dry, so when my derailler was being gummed up by loose dirt the shifting went haywire. I finally got put up with it and decided to buy a rollamajig. The shifting has improved ever since. One of the smartest (and cheapest) buys I ever made. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CharlieV
a racer
from houston
Date Reviewed: January 7, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
good when it works. In the Warda race (texans will know what I'm talkin about) the cable slipped off the roller got lodged between the roller and the brace, it caused ghost shifting and my chain broke hammering up a hill. Im not saying its abad product but I am saying this can happen. ride on. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dominic
a weekend warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: January 7, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Hey, this stuff really works -- no kidding! I am using XT thumbshifters and used to be not able to downshift from the 8th cog to the 7th cog, but with the jig in place and a new cable, voila! My shifting is now super slick and buttery smooth -- even in undesirable condition. Why do you think Shimano incorporated this jig into their '98 XTR Rapid Rise rear derailer.However, in my attempt to downshift across several cogs rapidly, i.e., from 8th to perhaps the 5th, the jig gets dislodged from the swivel that is attached to the rear derailer. This is the only problem I have encountered so far -- minus one hot chilli for this! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gonzetta Burcelli
a weekend warrior
from Redondo Beach, CA
Date Reviewed: January 6, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I give it a 5-chili rating as a bicycle chi-chi but my dog only gives it a 1 as a chew toy. :>). Mine is blue. I put it on my Uzzi SL (XT rear derailleur). I'd put one on all of my 5 bikes but the store only had one left. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BobC
a weekend warrior
from RI
Date Reviewed: December 24, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Got on on each bike from RSX, 105, LX, STX SE. In each case, these
things have helped a lot. Gonna put one on my new LX equipped bike.
Its worth it. It makes the shifting smoother. I've read that you
can use the noodle off the V brakes so I'm going to try that on an
old Tourney bike just for kicks. But the rollamagig really helps. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Explosif!
a cross-country rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: December 22, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
This is an excellent product if its set up right, if not - it could screw
it up. It really makes upshifting work well with xt shifters. A little costly, but I got a good deal on it: $20 Canadian, at www.physicalculture.bc.ca (the best Canadian mailorder I've found). Another good Avid product - matches my
levers! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a racer
from CA
Date Reviewed: December 11, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I agree with you Jeff. I've got XTR and tried a buddy's rollamajig.
It kinda gummed things up in the shifting area. XTR is flawless on its own.
I guess if you've got an inferior shifting system, this product would fix it.
It worked for my friends PAUL, so I'm not hear to slam it.
I guess the moral of the story is,
if you get quality in the first place, you won't have to go back and
try to jerry-rig it. I'll give it a solid , respectable 3.5
which I gotta round to 4. This product screams My derailer sucks as is! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Rider
a cross-country rider
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: December 11, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I see I'm in the minority but I don't think this product is all that great. At least not for a Shimano shifting system. I have '97 XT shifters and derailers and because my bike was apart to fix something, and I had a Rollamajig sitting around that I had purchased for a previous bike, I decided to put it on even though my shifting had been working flawlessly. I figured it may help keep it working good longer by eliminating the big cable loop at the end (which can be a major cause of poor shifting if crud has built up in it over time). The Rollamajig worked poorly. The main problem area was gears 2, 3, and 4. Half the time it would try to skip 3rd. No matter how much I fine tuned the shifting adjustment I could not get crisp shifts in that range. So I bought another Shimano cable and section of cable housing (my originals were cut to install the Rollamajig)and put it back the way it was - and once again have perfect shifts! I spent about $25 (Rollamajig, new cable and housing)to learn what I already thought I knew - DON'T MIX AFTERMARKET CHI CHI'S WITH SHIMANO SYSTEMS!! You're asking for trouble. My recomendation: Keep the big cable loop clean and lubed with White Lightning. Replace the loop section of housing a couple times a year. By the way, I wonder how many people here noticed improved shifting due to the fact that they cleaned or added new housing at the same time that they installed their Rollamajig? If anyone wants mine (barely used) I'll sell it cheap (I hear it works good with Grip Shift). | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
micah
a cross-country rider
from pittsburgh
Date Reviewed: November 16, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I have noticed no difference in my shifting since I installed the rollamajig. It does look super trick, but that's all I can say in favor of this thing. Sometimes after a real big hit, this is mountain biking, the cable pops of off the pulley. This is just no good in the middle of a race. 2 for being trick. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mikey
a cross-country rider
from Peoples Rep. of So. California
Date Reviewed: November 14, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Just buy one of these already. You won't be sorry. Why do you think the '98 XTR Shimanos incorporated the same idea. I got mine for $15, so how can you go wrong. It really cleans up your shifting by taking the stress off the cable .... or something. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bikeguy
a racer
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 14, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Shifting was never so smooth and effortless! 5 for product, minus 1 for the sticker falling off! (I have to be objective!) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Buzz
a weekend warrior
from Palo Alto, CA
Date Reviewed: November 6, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
This thing on the back of an XTR equals shifting sweetness. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
big john
a cross-country rider
from sydney australia
Date Reviewed: September 23, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Hate to bore you
but I got one also, and haven't regretted it.Even with rapidfire, it's still worth it. (Thumb thanks me every day).
Got Gripshift? Mad if you don't! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rob
a cross-country rider
from bay area,ca.
Date Reviewed: September 22, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Good little invention. Gets the job done. I have a cheap Shimano SIS system
and this little thing made shifting feel like my buddie's Grip-Shift ! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dave
a weekend warrior
from pa
Date Reviewed: September 6, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Nice idea. Shame Avid didnt come up with it. The Cog Hog produced by Pete Tomkins (British) had already been around for 18 months when Avid came up with this startling innovation.4 chillies for effectiveness, minus 2 for originality......... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Max
a cross-country rider
from Maryland
Date Reviewed: September 6, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
dramatically reduced shifting effort, but I think that the cables and shifters also have a lot to do with how well a bike changes gears..
I got the rollama jig 4 months ago, at first the bike shifted much easier, but I think that it was in part due to the tune up it received in the shop where they put it on. I would recommend first getting new cables (gores rock!) and shifters (Sachs kicks!) if you want premo shifting... if you want cool trick looks, or avoid getting things snagged in back, or want to make your shifting even better, do the rollama-jig thing. please e-mail with your shifting woes/comments/concerns. Max | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a weekend warrior
from Orange County, CA
Date Reviewed: September 6, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Easy to install(all you need is a housing cutter), and for me, it did make shifting smoother and crisper. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick Simms
a cross-country rider
from Williamsburg,Va
Date Reviewed: September 4, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Occam's Law...the simplest explanation is almost invariably the best explanation applies to the Rollamajig. Brilliant, by its simplicity, alone! So simple, why didn't I think of it? Mediocre shifting with a used LX deraileur (all I could afford at the time) was turned into near perfection. No more tortuously bent cables off of the back...noticably reduced shifter effort...virtually every click a perfect transition up or down. As much a part of any new bike I build as as chain wax and wearing my helmet. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dean
a weekend warrior
from Kelowna, B.C.
Date Reviewed: August 1, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Excellent and also inexpensive upgrade. I added a teflon cable at the same time and it was like night and day. Very good investment. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Billy Lindler
a racer
from Salt Lake City, UT
Date Reviewed: July 28, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I installed this with my new derailluer (Sachs New Success) so my shifting improved dramatically. I can't give all of the credit to this device, but I have had a huge improvement shifting with my Grip Shifters. At a minimum a cheap additions to prevent snags when you intall new cables, derailluer, and/or shifters. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sherman
a weekend warrior
from British Columbia, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 28, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I like it. The shifting is pretty good. I still do get the few odd slow shifts and non shifts but that may be due to improper derailler adjustment. I think for the money it is a great bargain. You can get them as low as 14 bucks. It is a good upgrade if you have money kicking around. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Karnes
a racer
from Powell, TN
Date Reviewed: June 30, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
It didn't really improve my shifting any, and actually has caused a few problems. I'm not sure if it has to do with having rear suspension, but the cable has slipped off the pulley on several occasions, usually after big hits. I'll give them credit for style, and it does take out the big cable loop that tends to get hung on things. | | Overall Rating: |
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