Submitted by
Cason Grover
a Cross Country Rider
from Huntington Beach, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2005
Strengths: Light weight, simple to use, ESP (1:1) much better than Shimano.
Weaknesses: None noted in a year of use
Bottom Line:
These have been fantastic shifters. I got these on Ebay in late summer/early fall 2004 new in box with a derraileur for less than the price of just one such new model component. These are the 1998-1999-ish models. I didn't plan it this way, but they are exactly the same ones used by DBR on other models in 1998.
For a while, I didn't appreciate the 1:1 ratio's benefits, but more time with my wife's SRAM Rockets (twist, but Shimano ratio) made me realize I like the more positive shifting with longer travel. Worry not - these still give you the ability to shift several gears at once.
What a great product! Like another reviewer (three years ago), I'm staying 8-speed as long as possible...
Similar Products Used: SRAM Rockets, LX, Deore and STX thumb/finger rapidfires, old DX thumb/thumb rapidfire, Suntour and Shimano thumbies
Bike Setup: 1998 DBR V-Link with lots of goodies. http://www.geocities.com/cegrover/DBR
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
jmoh
a Weekend Warrior
from Knoxville, IA
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2002
Strengths: Simple, light, reliable, easy to use
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
This set of shifters has never let me down. I have transfered them to my second FS bike and will stay 8 speed as long as I can. I don't know why anyone would not appreciate being able to trim the front derailleur. I know a lot of people like to shift while braking and prefer the rapidfire, but I think the reliability of these shifters will keep me using grip shift for a long time.
Similar Products Used: Grip Shift 600, 400, LX rapid fire
Bike Setup: Ellsworth Isis with XT and ESP 9.0
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Stephen Smith
a Cross Country Rider
from Georgetown, IL, U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2002
Strengths: weight/maintenance(or lack of!) NO mis-shifts!
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
I have used these shifters for a few years now and have yet to find a reason to replace them!! Cable replacement is easy, set-up is easy...life with these shifters is easy! I just don't know what else you could want.
Bike Setup: Fully Rigid Trek 850, fully upgraded, Avid/Easton/Truvativ/SRAM/Mavic
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
jonesin
a Downhiller
from calgary, alberta
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2002
Strengths: ease of use slow to wear fast shifts easy to repair
Weaknesses: snapped both barrel adjusters due to crashes. Fixed with fiberglass and epoxy! this sole reason makes SRAM the way to go!
Bottom Line:
SRAM shifting is natural and very quick. the ability to repair broken shifters due to their being plastic is spectacular. never a missshift due to holding on to the grips(as some think).
Strengths: quick shifts extremely simple lightweight accurate
Weaknesses: can't brake and shift at the same time
Bottom Line:
this shifter kiks ass. Way simpler than shimano and way lighter. I love it. Especially the precise shifting even in mud. the front shifter can adjust the der to eliminate chain rub unlike shimano's barrel adjusters. Thanks to sram for making cable entry and removal easier. I can cross the whole cassette with about 1 1/2 twist and same for goin down too. Takes time to get used to not braking and shifting at the same time.
Bike Setup: 2000 rm6, 01 Jr. t, shimano xt discs, maxxis/irc tires, xt disc hubs, lx f/sram r
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Aspen, CO
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2000
Strengths: One twist at the top of a hill and you're ready to crank on a downhill.
Weaknesses: Barrel adjuster is difficult to spin making on bike adjustment trickier, especially when on singletrack.
Bottom Line:
It's good but nothing exceptional. Changing a cable is extremely easy--kudos to SRAM for the design. Barrel adjuster is difficult to spin and sometimes the shifter is stiff,too. People with weak wrists may have some difficulty. LOVE the adjustability of the front; I never have to hear the chain rubbing against a derailleur guide as I've had to with Shimano's indexed system.
Submitted by
Joe D.
a Cross Country Rider
from West Virginia
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2000
Strengths: downshifting on rear cassette (!!sweet!!) works better than G/S with Shimano derailleur (i.e. Attack)
Weaknesses: none if you like grip shift....
Bottom Line:
Bought this in a combo with SRAM 9.0 rear derailleur for upgrading a new bikewith pod shifters. Had for 2 years used a SRAM 8 speed Plasma (same basic shifter but with travel for Shimano derailleur) with a Shimano XT on my old XC bike, so this is really a comparison of the ESP shifter system between SRAM and Shimano derailleurs. The ESP system wins, hands down! Boy is the downshifting on the rear cassette silky, sweet, way different feel than with the Plasma/XT (with which I was not displeased) -- also the front shift is slightly less in angular travel and easier to turn than the Plasma -- the long twist on the front was my only real gripe with the Plasma, and I had considered leaving the click-shifter on the front....but gawd I hate click shift! I can live with this....
In comparison to the SRAM half-pipe (which I tried once on a long technical ride), I really like the older "narrow" style much better. The left (chainring) shifter on the half pipe, especially, was so sensitive that I found myself shifting inadvertently on lifts and technical moves. The narrow shifter (thumb and forefinger action) is much better for technical riding. Hope SRAM keeps it...
In these shifter reviews, it generally comes down to rider preference between grip shift and pod shifters, so the average scores don't tend to mean a lot. I'm a Grip Shift rider, for sure,and would tend to favor it in reviews. But among the 3 different grip shifts I have ridden (Plasma/Shimano, ESP with half pipe, ESP narrow), this is by far the sweetest. A clear upgrade from the Grip Shift/Shimano setup, and great for intense XC and freeride.
Buy this shifter (with the ESP 9.0 derailleur) if you know you like Grip Shift and want to optimize performance. Price is also excellent, good value. Don't worry about leaving the XT derailleur behind, the ESP works way better. You can sell the XT...
Bike Setup: Giant,00'9.0 shift setup,king,crosslink,this and that
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Pat Gleason
a Weekend Warrior
from Columbus Ohio, USA
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2000
Strengths: Cheap, light, easy to tune
Weaknesses: finicky in wet/muddy conditions sometimes
Bottom Line:
My new Coda disk brake levers would not let me mount optical Shimano type shifters. So in a fit of rage I went to the LBS and purchased an ESP9.0 Shifter/Der. combo. Now in the past I've been kinda pleased with GripShift, but Shimano had the edge and reliability. These new Gripshift 9.0's work extremely well, and in my opinion blow even the XTR's away. Very, very easy to setup, my only complaint is that the rear der. does not have an adjuster barrell like Shimano. He it's cheaper than XT or XTR and honestly works as good or slightly better. Skip the older style 800-900 series, they aren't near as good.
Weaknesses: Needs lots of attention to cables. Stops working when conditions get very muddy.
Bottom Line:
These shifters rock! They came as standard on the Giant I bought here in Taiwan and they are really good. The shifting is quick and precise. I used to use Shimano Rapid Fire but kept breaking the front shift units. Three later and the twist shift was suggested. My back home has the Sachs Power Grip Extreme married to an XTR deraileur but I think the Sram set up is superior. One problem I've had is that after very wet rides the gears seem to seize up. I'm sure the damp climate here doesn't help but you have to look after your cables. That's pretty minor really and I'd reccomend these to anyone.
incredible product! i can't understand why anyone would use rapid fire knowing that this is available. to me this is the only way to go, twist baby, twist! it's lighter, stronger, more reliable, better-cleaner design, than shimano, i cant understand why anyone would want all those levers hanging out from the bottom of their bars!
Submitted by
The Old Crank
a Weekend Warrior
from Atlanta
Date Reviewed: April 29, 1999
Strengths: Easy shifting, especially with winter gloves.
Weaknesses: After 2 years, doesn't like to shift to small cog.
Bottom Line:
I was glad to see that several other people installed the shifters in reverse. I felt like a dunce when I did the same and finally went to a bike shop, only to have the mechanic tell me I had the shifters reversed. It still seems to me the ESP decals are upside down. After 2 years they are still shifting well, but I find I have to pay more attention to keeping the drive train clean, because it hesitates when shifting to the little cog.
Weaknesses: Scratched the top of the shifters already by turning the bike upside down.
Bottom Line:
This product is awesome, super light(lighter than XTR) cheaper than XTR, great shifting. In extreme mud it goes slightly out of ajustmen, but a slight turn of the barrel ajuster fixes everything(maybe I dont got em set up quite right yet?) The action is great, no ghost shifting, precise, the non-1:1 front shifter is actually pretty good, I can ajust for chain rub now. Bottom line: Shifts as good or better than XTR, but cheaper, and lighter!
Bike Setup: ESP 9.0 on DBR Vlink 3.0, Sachs chain, XT cassette, Sugino 700 crankset.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Guido Kerssens
a cross-country rider
from the Netherlands
Date Reviewed: January 20, 1999
Bottom Line:
ESP 900 shifts smooth and very precise. Cosumer service is really great: one phonecall to the Dutch helpdesk and the lost/broken parts are replaced without a hassle (this happened to me twice). I fitted out both my bikes with ESP and I love it. It is a pitty the Shimano dictates the market....a 9 speed cassette with a 34 cog, who needs that? So don't ask for a lightweight 11-28, 8 speed cassette in a few weeks, cause they don't want it anymore! We want more affortdable alternatives for the S-compagny! Five stars for the reliability and services from SRAM
Submitted by
Sherman
a weekend warrior
from British Columbia, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 24, 1998
Bottom Line:
I got this shift system on my Specialized FSR. I think they are pretty good for gripshifters. I have always been a big fan of rapid fire but I find that these shifters are pretty nice. They don't accidentally shift like I thought that they would and the setup is pretty simple. Cable changes are a snap with the easy access hole. I have also broken a shifter arm on rapid fires and banged my knees numerous times on them and the design if gripshifters are greatly appreiciated. It is always great to have an alternative shift system rather then always using Shimano. I am glad that SRAM has provided that alternative.
