Home | Reviews | Shifter | SRAM

SRAM 1999 DI.R.T. Centera Shifter

3.91/5 (11 Reviews)

Write a review

Weight : 147 g MSRP : $39.00


Product Description

  • 7 & 8 speed compatible
  • index and micro-adjust front shifter options


    • Review Options:  Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating

    Reviews 1 - 11 (11 Reviews Total)

    User Reviews

    Overall Rating:1
    Value Rating:1
    Submitted by Chris a Cross Country Rider from East Coast, NE

    Date Reviewed: July 28, 2003

    Strengths:    Cheap, looks like it works, comes in eight speed, strengthens wrists

    Weaknesses:    cheap, poor shifting no matter how well maintained,may lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, due to the excessive force needed to shift

    Bottom Line:   
    Had one good set of GripShifts(maybe before Sram bought them) Stayed loyal to the brand and was sorely dissappointed. Tried Sram X-ray (shattered into pieces like glass) then centara.....wrong move. I had them on for a month of pure agony due to the lousy shifting. I feel like the company owes me that time back. I've worked as a mechanic and have built up numerous bikes of my own and others and will never go back to gripshifters.

    Even the cheapest trigger shifters Alivio, work better than any gripshifts. Don't waste you cash or time on these.

    Expand full review >>

    Favorite Trail:   BigRiver,Arcadia,RI

    Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

    Price Paid:    $40.00

    Purchased At:   online

    Similar Products Used:   trigger shifters, LX and alivio, sram X-ram(just say NO)

    Bike Setup:   Three bikes, three setups
    Overall Rating:3
    Value Rating:5
    Submitted by Steve a Downhiller from Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Date Reviewed: June 6, 2002

    Strengths:    Shifts pretty damn good.
    Fairly precise.
    Cheap as dirt (no pun intended).
    Strong.

    Weaknesses:    I hate twisting to shift.
    The shifter is WAY too long, I had to cut it, and it's still too long.
    Parts beginning to seperate (actual twist part moving away from the body of the shifter).

    Bottom Line:   
    A good shifter, if you like twist shifting. I thought since they were 8 speed, and cheap, I'd give them a shot. SRAM is great for giving support to 8 speed users, but I hate twisting.

    Basically, if you're thinking of trying these because your Shimano triggers broke, go ahead if you think you can stand twisting. I can't, so I'm going back to Shimano triggers. Alivio to be precise. I need something I can smash to sh*t and not worry about, so XT 8 spd pods are out of the question.

    Shimano, WAKE UP. We need quality 8 speed pods! WHY did all you rejects say "we need an extra gear!," oh hey look! now you're all b*tching.

    SRAM, you make great stuff, I just wish you made a worthwhile, cheap, and strong trigger shifter.

    5 for value, awesome performance at a lower price than they should be.

    3 overall, because I HATE twisting something to shift. It sucks.

    Expand full review >>

    Favorite Trail:   Woodlot Gold

    Duration Product Used:   3 months

    Price Paid:    $15.00

    Similar Products Used:   Various Shimano Triggers, SRAM 9.0SL.

    Bike Setup:   Purpose built Shore hardtail.
    Overall Rating:4
    Value Rating:5
    Submitted by ward parker a Cross Country Rider from vernon

    Date Reviewed: June 4, 2001

    Strengths:    Accurate,fast shifting, good for multiple shifts

    Weaknesses:    front shifter is a little harder to change cables on then the rear one.

    Bottom Line:   
    Don,t let the old school elitist's that swear by rapid fires fool you. These gripshifts were just as accurate, fast, and were acculally better at multi-gear shifts then any rapid fire i've ever tried, plus the front shifter could be micro adjusted to the front derailer. Great improvement in the shifter grip design as well. Rapid fire is a dinosaur waiting for the astroid.

    Expand full review >>

    Favorite Trail:   spanky's

    Duration Product Used:   3 months

    Price Paid:    $35.00

    Purchased At:   olympia cycle

    Similar Products Used:   old deore xt, rapid fire dx, rapid fire plus, grip shift 400

    Bike Setup:   custom frame with lx and deore components (full suspension).
    Overall Rating:5
    Value Rating:5
    Submitted by jason a Weekend Warrior from halifax

    Date Reviewed: June 5, 2000

    Strengths:    good shifting, cheap ($30 canadian),comfortable grip

    Weaknesses:    front shifter is a little noisey, but it just needs adjustment i think

    Bottom Line:   
    BUY THESE NOW ! if you need a shifter upgrade and like gripshift the these are for you. would be nice if they came in 9 speed sence the industry is going that way, but for the price i can't complain

    Expand full review >>

    Duration Product Used:   6 months

    Similar Products Used:   MRX shifters, stx rc rapidfire (both had issues)

    Bike Setup:   1998 raleigh serengeti sx, z-5, LX/STX-RC drive train
    Overall Rating:4
    Value Rating:4
    Submitted by Bubba a Weekend Warrior from Valpo

    Date Reviewed: May 23, 2000

    Strengths:    The fact that you can tweak the front shifter

    Weaknesses:    Kind of hard to change cables

    Bottom Line:   
    Great shifting! I used to be a Rapidfire guy, but got sick of having too many missed front shifts. Thanks to SRAM for making these in 7&8 speed models. I have a D.I.R.T. front derailleur and a Shamano XT rear and the shifters work great with either. Thanks to Dexter for recommending them.

    Expand full review >>

    Favorite Trail:   Palos Heights, IL

    Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

    Similar Products Used:   Gripshift srt 400, rapidfire STX

    Bike Setup:   Trek 930, RST Mozo fork, XT rear der., SRAM Neos front der.
    Overall Rating:5
    Submitted by Kevin a Weekend Warrior from Abington, MA

    Date Reviewed: September 8, 1999

    Strengths:    
    Nice solid shifting
    reliable, when I shift, it goes
    No problems with this product

    Weaknesses:    
    None as of yet

    Bottom Line:   
    I like the Gripshifts, When I bought my GT it came stock with Rapidfires
    and told the shop to get those things off and put the SRAMs on there. I
    have never been more pleased. The click is sure and solid, so you know
    where you are at all times. Good Product. 5 Salamis

    Expand full review >>

    Favorite Trail:   
    F. Gilbert Hills State Forest

    Duration Product Used:   
    6 months

    Similar Products Used:   
    Shimano rapidfires
    Shimano LX shifters (oldies)
    Silly old 10 speed shifters ;-)

    Bike Setup:   
    99 'GT Karakoram
    RockShox Judy C
    Overall Rating:5
    Submitted by jefftallica a Cross-Country Rider from tempe

    Date Reviewed: September 2, 1999

    Strengths:    
    light, don't break, shift well
    trimmable front derailleur
    come with cables and housings
    love that shape

    Weaknesses:    
    easy to strip out right shifter clamp

    Bottom Line:   
    These things are great. the bike shop i got 'em from replaced the clamp, so all is well. i love the fast, positive feel of the shifts. they're a great deal crisper feeling than rapidfire. i also like the trimmable front shifter. gripshift really got the shape down right. it feels perfect to me, and i love the fact that you can grip and shift from the outer flange (more torque this way).

    Expand full review >>

    Favorite Trail:   
    corona loma

    Duration Product Used:   
    less than 1 month

    Similar Products Used:   
    stx rc shifters
    srt 400
    lx

    Bike Setup:   
    '98 rockhopper fs w/ indy c
    Overall Rating:4
    Submitted by Ann a Cross-Country Rider from San Diego

    Date Reviewed: July 12, 1999

    Strengths:    
    They work.

    Weaknesses:    
    Kinda Stiff.

    Bottom Line:   
    I picked these because I could get 7-speed, and put on separate canti brake levers. It's getting really hard to find 7-speed/canti combos now. They were easy enough to install, although I had to take a file to the inside of one to get it to slide over the handlebar properly. They shift a bit stiffly. I don't know if they'll loosen up over time, or if I need to lube them or something.

    Expand full review >>

    Duration Product Used:   
    less than 1 month

    Similar Products Used:   
    Acera, Alivio, etc.

    Bike Setup:   
    GT hybrid
    Overall Rating:3
    Submitted by doug a Weekend Warrior from martinez, CA

    Date Reviewed: May 30, 1999

    Strengths:    
    Works OK.

    Weaknesses:    
    Mounting bolt is 3mm. Try and find that socket for your torque wrench...

    Bottom Line:   
    Stock on Trek 7300 and 7500. Rear is easier and more decisive than front, which is a bit stiff.

    Expand full review >>

    Duration Product Used:   
    less than 1 month

    Bike Setup:   
    Trek 7500
    Overall Rating:4
    Submitted by SB a Cross-Country Rider from hmmm

    Date Reviewed: May 15, 1999

    Strengths:    
    do their job. Look kinda cool.

    Weaknesses:    
    seem to sort of seperate between grip/main body. Probably just messed up in a crash, also shift when you hit bumps sometimes, get bar ends, keep you hands against the bar end, so that they are off the shifters.

    Bottom Line:   
    not half bad really, very reliable, go for it! Also cool they still come in 8 spd.

    Expand full review >>

    Favorite Trail:   
    Steep, rough, fast, technical

    Duration Product Used:   
    6 months

    Similar Products Used:   
    ALivio rapidfire, SIS 18 spd. SIS 6 spd.

    Bike Setup:   
    F400, headshok, blalblab
    Overall Rating:5
    Submitted by Richard May a Weekend Warrior from Arlington Heights, IL

    Date Reviewed: March 21, 1999

    Strengths:    
    Improved over the old Gripshift designs

    Weaknesses:    
    Haven't found any yet.

    Bottom Line:   
    Retro grouches note: The shifters are still available in 7-speed!If you have a significant equipment investment in 7-speed stuff and are looking for new shifters, you may have noticed that there isn't much out there. SRAM/Sachs has these shifters and the next up model (Neos) still available in 7-speed.They work well. The clicks are more positive and the cable can be changed without removing the grip. I dig 'em.PS - You can get these from Performance.

    Expand full review >>

    Favorite Trail:   
    Computer to fridge

    Duration Product Used:   
    less than 1 month

    Similar Products Used:   
    Gripshift SRT-400

    Bike Setup:   
    97 Rockhopper w/ STX rear der.
    Reviews 1 - 11 (11 Reviews Total)

    Review Options:  Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating

    		 

    Contests





     

    Videos



     

    MTBR on Facebook