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Shimano
XT Top Mounts (yes, the old ones)
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Submitted by
yellowknifebiker
a Cross Country Rider
from Yellowknife
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Cyclepath Oakville | | Strengths: | These are bomb proof and flixible 6speed, 7speed, 8 speed could probably do 9 speed in friction. | | Weaknesses: | Nothing they are perfect | | Similar Products Used: | grip shift, rapid fire etc | | Bike Setup: | lots | | Bottom Line: | These are without a doubt the best shifters ever made. Don't be fooled that they say 7 speed they are 8 speed shifters in the M732. If you look at the m730 6 speed thumbies they are actually 7 speed, both have an aditional click. I have used rapid fire and although they may be more ergonomic I belive durability beets ergonomics. I had some XT 8speed rapids. Thought I would try them on a winter beater. two rides in -20 weather a bling it broke. Thumbies hundreds of rides in temperatures down to -40 where the bearings on the wheels siezed but the shifters kept on shifting (although little stiff below -30). I will use nothing else!!!!!!!!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jo Curtis
a Weekend Warrior
from Edinburgh
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Glentress | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | £55.00 new | | Strengths: | Look Deece, work well, rarely seen, XT init!! | | Weaknesses: | Not sold anymore, rare | | Similar Products Used: | None - Theres only one thumbie
| | Bike Setup: | Orange P7 with Pace RC40, XT throughout, Mavic Crossrides (Wheels are Crap) | | Bottom Line: | These shifters are wicked, I'm currently trying to source another set cause I broke mine when I was adjusting the ratchet the other day - Gutted!! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg H
a Cross Country Rider
from Phx, AZ
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | San Tan's | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$59.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambriabikes.com | | Strengths: | 8spd baby! solid, proven. Old school, you bet! Screw that 9 spd horsesh*t. Adjust once, ride many. | | Weaknesses: | Nothing. Bullet proof. | | Similar Products Used: | OEM POS Deore | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6500 - Marzocchi Comp ETA, XT der. front & rear, SRAM chain & cassette, DH pig pro headset, Avid BB7 mech's, Avid SD7 brake levers, LX crank, WTB motoraptor's, Shimano SPD m-647 pedals, Cane Creak thudbuster, Brooks B17 saddle, yes! :-) ODI Grips. | | Bottom Line: | you can find em, buy em! can't go wrong. seriously, a bullet proof setup. I'm considering 8spd for my recently purchased Titus SwitchBlade.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Smokee Dog
a Cross Country Rider
from Somewhere, Mass
Date Reviewed: December 13, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | OE | | Strengths: | Simple & indestructable! | | Weaknesses: | No longer in production | | Similar Products Used: | Various rapid fire and twist shifters | | Bottom Line: | Simply the best MTB shifter design ever! The fact that they last forever and can withstand a beating is probably why they stopped making them - no profit in a product that you can use forever! I have destroyed so many sets of rapid fire shifters on my other bikes in the 10+ years that I have had these babies on my "retro" ride, that I can't even remember. BRING THEM BACK SHIMANO!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Yung
a Weekend Warrior
from McKinleyville
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS in 1992 | | Strengths: | Bombproof. You can switch between Index or friction. The rapid shifter on my new mountain bike wore out and Iinstalled this babies, which continue to work flawlessly. | | Weaknesses: | The price. $50.00 in 1992 | | Similar Products Used: | You name it I tried. Even the air shifters by Shimano. | | Bike Setup: | Too many to list. | | Bottom Line: | You can't go wrong with this shifters. It is simple, well made( the best Japanese engineering) and serviceable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Schmidt
a Weekend Warrior
from Spokane, WA
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Montlake Cyclery | | Strengths: | Simple and they never fail. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | Rapid Fire. | | Bike Setup: | 91 Bridgestone MBI. | | Bottom Line: | I have about 20,000 mostly touring miles on these and they work like they did when I purchased the bike over 10 years ago. Shimano should read these reviews and start making them again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Mesa, AZ
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Simple. | | Weaknesses: | Too simple | | Similar Products Used: | Everything | | Bottom Line: | When the index shifters first came out, I bought a set. I broke the right shifter on my 2nd ride (crash). I bought a new one and never had a broblem in the years, miles, and crashes that followed. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Owen
a Cross Country Rider
from Yeppoon, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | somewhere green and shady | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | simple yet effective | | Weaknesses: | can't get parts anymore | | Bike Setup: | Morati Ti frame mixture of older running gear Judy forks and also still run old XT cantilevers on front which are great | | Bottom Line: | These shifters are bombproof though sometimes with dirty cables things need double shifting a bit (mind you I've done tens of thousands of K's in 15 years on these babies)
Easily runs 8speed on the 7p shifter and there is still another space.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Byron
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | All of Them | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | bike shop in Missouri | | Strengths: | simple, light, responsive, the best | | Weaknesses: | not produced anymore | | Similar Products Used: | Everything else breaks, these don't. | | Bike Setup: | 7-speed Rockhopper | | Bottom Line: | A Collector's Item. If you ever run across a pair of these in your local bike shop graveyard grab them. But they most likely will have already been nabbed by your favorite mechanic because he knows their value: priceless. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nethead Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Charleston, WV, 25309
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Black Bear - Kanawha State Forest | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Keeps working. Cool retro factor. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | All | | Bottom Line: | OEM on my 1990 Cannondale. This was before they started making suspension forks. 14 years later and I am still using the same pair. They have been hammered on and wrecked several times but still shift flawlessly. I love them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
prod
a Cross Country Rider
from toronto ON CA
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | don,rouge,hardwood | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | bulletproof,they are easy to use,quick shifting,easy to see or feel what gear youre in | | Weaknesses: | Looking for another bike now, and I cant find thumbies :_( | | Similar Products Used: | gripshift,rapidfire | | Bike Setup: | bianchi supergrizzly (1990) all XT | | Bottom Line: | I look at other shift systems on new bikes and dont even want to touch them.
Been using these for 14yrs, never had a problem and they work great. What else is there to say? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
angus henry
a Weekend Warrior
from ottawa
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Gatineau | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Bike cellar | | Strengths: | the most reliable, easiest to use system ever. I didn't even use my thumb More the side of my palm, they rocked and lasted. Simplicity and ease of use are paramount in all aspects of design blilliance and they were a stroke of genius. Shimano only discontinued them because they never wore out. The guy from London is dead wrong on all counts. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | gripshift-sucked, rapidfire-ok but finnicky | | Bike Setup: | Cindercone cro-mo, with the upgrade | | Bottom Line: | Truly one of the best components ever built. If shimano was smart they would do an anniversary release with some cool retro marketing and make a $%@%5load of cash. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Barney Gumball
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Junction, CO USA
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Vail Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Gart Sports (I think) | | Strengths: | Simple, Reliable, Light | | Weaknesses: | Can no longer buy them, 7 speed | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano rapid-fire, grip shift | | Bike Setup: | Gaint AC frame | | Bottom Line: | These shifters came with the fist mountain bike I ever purchased. Since then my bike has morfed through four different framesets, and countless components. The only constant are the XT top mount shifters. These shifters have lasted over 14 years of active riding all over the country. You can still find them from time to time on ebay. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel Farrington
a Downhiller
from UK
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Port Talbort | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Amazing!! Best gear shifters ever made. Had my set for 10 years and never failed!! The bracket on one broke the other day in temp -4oC..sob. Have tried several other shimano shifters since and all broke in under 9 months. Not impressed. Furtunatly have managed to find some deore ones on ebay to rob for parts. Should keep me going a lifetime.... | | Bottom Line: | Dont use anything else. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pablo Estevez
a Cross Country Rider
from BA, Argentina
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Ruta 40, Patagonia, Argentina. | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$36.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Best shifter for touring. Always works. Very simple, precise, durable. | | Weaknesses: | Difficult to find. | | Similar Products Used: | NO. just RF.....ok for racers. | | Bike Setup: | GT CroMo frame, touring setup, XT hubs, DX brake levers, Mavic-Rigida rims. ACI spokes, Acera derailleurs, SunTour Cranks, front and rear racks and the XT thumbies ;-) | | Bottom Line: | I've been looking for this thumbies for 8 years and finally found it ;-), I think XT thumbies are perfect for Touring, easy shifting, always work, everytime, everywhere. Excellent for long trips.
Hey!!! Shimano!!! why dont you start making XT thumb shifters again???? what are you waiting for????...I will need another set for my wife's bike, and a few more sets....just in case ;-)) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a
from Portland, OR
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | The best shifter ever made! | | Weaknesses: | hard to get | | Bike Setup: | 03 S-Works M5 Hardtail | | Bottom Line: | That's right, I am building up a new S-Works M5 hardtail with 7 Speed thumb shifters. Aren't 21 gears enough? If you can find these on ebay, buy them along with a 7 speed rear hub and you are set for life. I had a wheelset built up and even bought an extra new 7 speed rear hub incase my rear wheel ever gets ripped off! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ridge Master
a Cross Country Rider
from walnut creek
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Wall Point Road - Mt. Diablo | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Is this the greatest shifter ever made? Quite possibly - simple design, lite and strong, no plastic parts to break, easy to maintain/repair, no-doubts-shifting...the list goes on. | | Weaknesses: | Shimano had to market more techy/gimmicky shifters to keep the capital flowing - thus a flawless design is cast aside. | | Similar Products Used: | rapid-fire, grip-shift - both much cooler designs for show | | Bottom Line: | SOmeone should re-market this design as an american-made product: dress up the looks to make it hot, and keep that flawless, simple design that can't fail. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Big Daddy Blue
a Cross Country Rider
from Somewhere
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | All of them | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Will withstand a nuclear bomb blast, uglier than sin, young bucks don't know what they are, bike shop guys make fun of you for riding them, always work no matter how dumb I am, can't be easily found. | | Weaknesses: | Not quite as snappy as Suntour XC pro's, not as svelte as XC Pro's, not as exclusive as XC Pro's, not easy to come across anymore. | | Similar Products Used: | Gripshift (Yeah, right. Gimme something that WORKS!!!)
Rapidfire, RF+, Quantum underbar shifters (remember those?) | | Bike Setup: | Does it really matter?
| | Bottom Line: | I got mine while working in a shop here in SLC when a lady brought her demolished KHS. Apparently she flipped her car with the bike on the roof and rolled it about 7 times. She got a new bike and I got the old stuff off her destroyed bike. One of the perks of working in bike shops. Anyway, I've never ever ever ever had problems with them. I'd like to see any other shifter survive a crash like that. Endoe'd and cracked your XTR housing? Hit a tree and shattered your GS housing/cable tension adjuster? Gotten sand in either of them and had them ever shift again? If you can find some good ole thumbies either Suntour or Shimano and you don't buy them, well, you deserve the life of hell you've brought on yourself. I got mine and I'm never getting rid of em. 5 flaming turds fer exclusivity, 5 flaming turds because I got some and you don't. Plus, the kiddies are flabbergasted to see such archaic(?) stuff on the trail. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Racer
from USA
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere there's dirt | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | I've been riding topmounts since back in the day and guess what,I'm still using one set of 1988 SIS thumb shifters on my new 2003 rig.Both Suntour XC Expert and Pro and Shimano's Deore and XT can go up to 8 speeds.Index to friction mode in an instant when you tweak the derailluer.Bullit proof and durable. | | Weaknesses: | Hard to find,command a high price.Someone should start making them again so we can have a choice other than rapid fires and grip shifts. | | Similar Products Used: | Suntour XC Pro and XC Expert,Shimano Deore XT and Deore. | | Bike Setup: | 3 bikes all XT, 1 bike all Suntour, XC racing. | | Bottom Line: | Still don't know why Shimano dropped the topmounts.I haven't had any problems with shifting or durability for for 17 years and they are still in high demand from people looking for something bullit proof.
I busted one tiny part on my Rapid fires and I was told I needed to buy a whole new shift/brakeset.What the hell!
I like my stuff to last and I don't like being forced to buy something I don't need.I'm not being a retro-grouch.I just want tough parts.
Bring back the topmounts. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy Wilson
a Cross Country Rider
from Castle Douglas , Scotland, UK
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Big water of fleet viaduct | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$42.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay USA (try finding them on ebay UK) | | Strengths: | Cast from a solid piece of Cryptonite, these are Allied forces proof, (shame about the iraqi's).Definate precise, solid feel to every "click click click ".
They outlive the average human being | | Weaknesses: | Shimano cottoned on to the fact they are long living, then found nobody was buying replacements because of this, then they pulled the plug and promoted xtr crapid fire to the top slot!! | | Similar Products Used: | Deore top mounts, Suntour xc pro cra*id fire(1st gen), suntour xc comp cra*id fire. | | Bike Setup: | 91 stumpjumper, xtr 1st gen mechs, xt crank arms with onza buzzsaw small, biopace middle and campagnolo big rings (i dont know how it indexes so well either, but it does)
Plus loads of mixed matched retro/new stuff. | | Bottom Line: | If you have a problem, and no-one else can help, call the XT Thumbie team (if you can find them)
Do us all a favour shimano, blow the dust of the old machine press and start production again, before someone else does and makes an equally good job. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Monce
a Cross Country Rider
from Marietta, GA
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Mountain Town Creek | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$56.00 | | Purchased At: | E-bay | | Strengths: | Simple design. Short, quick, and easy shifts. Why do all the shifter companies have to make everything so complicated? I believe no other shifter can compare with the quality of the shift of this product. | | Weaknesses: | No one makes them anymore. Difficult to find. | | Similar Products Used: | Gripshift - yuk. Rapid-fire, various models. | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Hoo Koo e Koo. | | Bottom Line: | If you can find these, and have a seven or eight speed cassette, do not hesitate to purchase. Read the other reviews, these shifters do what shifters were made to do "Shift without any hassle, delay and slack". | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sebastian
a Cross Country Rider
from Karlsruhe, Germany
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Blackforest | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | Simple function, almost unbreakable, will keep on working with all dearranged equipement. | | Weaknesses: | Not longer available. | | Similar Products Used: | Deore (2/DX) top shifters, Exage Trail top shifters, Gripshift, Rapidfire | | Bike Setup: | several ;) | | Bottom Line: | When I was a boy I used to dream of having Deore equipement. I thought I would never be able to afford it. When I became older and started to earn money the first thing to buy were Deore XT topshifters. I love them. I can't imagine to have anything else. It's simply a passion. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nigel saunders
a Racer
from swansea, wales, uk
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | when the mud is so bad and your hands are numb because of extreme conditions, you can still get these to shift when your grip shifts or other types would struggle. They last for years and are solid. | | Weaknesses: | a bit heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | grip shifts & some others. | | Bike Setup: | klein Pulse, SID forks. | | Bottom Line: | For reliability in extreme race conditions plus long lasting, these are the biz. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rick
a Cross Country Rider
from NY
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Misery Mtn | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | several places | | Strengths: | They work every time and will last forever. The oldest set I have is now 9 years old and works even better than new. Seven/eight speed limitation is IMO not a limitation, the wider cogspacing and more robust chains on the 7/8 speeds are much more durable | | Weaknesses: | Sh*tmano no longer makes them | | Similar Products Used: | Why would use anything else? | | Bike Setup: | 1 Tandem, 2 MTB's all have XT thumbshifters. | | Bottom Line: | These are heavy doody, rapidfire and it's decendents are Howdy doody. For a trick setup swap the shifters left to right and they will be under the bar, much more ergonomic. you can shift with Thumb and fore finger. I'm seeing these sell for as much as 60 bucks on Ebay.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Hawaii
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | the one I'm on | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | which pair? | | Strengths: | They last forever. They are so old new riders ask what kind of high tech device they are. You can run any brake lever you want. Friction on those really smoooth days. Easy to use from barends or other assorted funky hand positions. Able to trim ft deraileur. The original optical gear display. Just bloody good stuff. | | Weaknesses: | Not nine speed compatible.
Not made any longer.
That's all! | | Similar Products Used: | Grip Shift
Shimano RF&RF+, and STI
Suntour Accushift thumb shifters | | Bike Setup: | a whole heck of a lot of parts no longer made. | | Bottom Line: | I recently took my thumbies off as I thought they were causing my thumb to hurt. Ran Grip Shift for two weeks (silly boy). Decided that carpel tunnel syndrome was preferable to junk Grip Shift. Put thumbies back on, and ache in thumb went away.
Been running thumbshifters for a while. Have also spent time on all the other systems (GS x-rays I liked, newer GS I don't. RP+ can't get thru lots of gears at once. Bang them with my knees. Too many small parts. Cable replacement isn't easy.), and still like the thumbshifters the best. Comfy, clean, smooth, flexible.
One of my friends rode my bike and remarked how he had forgotten how nice thumb shifters shifted.
Next bike I build up, be it urban HT or XC D/S, it's going to have a set on them.
Not going to be a good day when I have to go to 9 speed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a Weekend Warrior
from Earth
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | mtbr classifieds | | Strengths: | See review | | Weaknesses: | Discontinued. Nice going, Shimano... | | Similar Products Used: | Rapidfires
Grip Shift | | Bike Setup: | Yeti A.R.C. | | Bottom Line: | What can I say that hasn't already been said? I've cycle toured across 33 countries the past 10 years on XT thumbshifters, covering thousands of miles without a single problem. And they perform as flawless as when I first purchased them. I've also crashed and bent the rear derailleur on a trip and still was able to shift. Try doing that with Rapidfires or Gripshift! Now I see why Shimano discountinued these - these things last forever! BTW, these shifters would've received the highest rating of ANY product on this entire review site (based on at least 50 reviews) if it weren't for that fellow in London who gave it 2 chillies (and double-posted, I might add). In summary, the finest bicycle I've ever used. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from NY
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Mine | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | ? | | Strengths: | They always work perfectly. | | Weaknesses: | Only 8 speed | | Similar Products Used: | Grip shift | | Bike Setup: | Which one? | | Bottom Line: | I have been using these shifters for at least 12 years, and never had a malfunction! I have been fiddling with an extra set lately and may have a way to make them index 9 speeds. I would like to gauge interest here if anyone would be willing to pay for a 9 speed upgrade to their shifters.
You would have to provide the shifters and send them to me for the upgrade. It will probably cost about $30.00 with return shipping. I am still working on the first prototype, so we will see how it goes. Anyone who might be interested please E-mail me and let me know. The more people I can find, the cheaper the parts will be. My E-mail is MLUDL@LUDL.COM. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Frank
a Cross Country Rider
from Las Vegas NV
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Strengths: | The shifters that will last forever | | Weaknesses: | Not available in 9 speed | | Bike Setup: | 94 Specialized Stumpjumper | | Bottom Line: | I've had these on my bike since buying the bike. It's the only thing that is still working like brand new. In '97 I found a pair in a mail order catalog and bought a set just in case. They are still in the box in my cabinet. Never had to put them on and don't think I ever will since I am building up a new bike. Anyone need a set? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lunite
a
from Santa Clara, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Indestructible, light, fastest shift in the west or anywhere, precise shift everytime | | Weaknesses: | Obsolete, 7-speed SIS index mode, 8-speed SIS index mode for newer model only (but you can use Friction mode for 9-speed bike) | | Similar Products Used: | Suntour XC Pro top shifter (great), Shimano XT Rapid Fire (crappy), and Grip Shift (good) | | Bottom Line: | Weight without cable:
Left shifter: 90 grams, right shifter: 95 grams
Although listed as a 7-speed SIS on newer model, there is an extra "click" in SIS mode for 8-speed.
Using the top thumb shifter, I could shift from largest gear to smallest gear or vice versa in one (1) second. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich Matthews
a Cross Country Rider
from London UK
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Dorset Coast Path | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Cool...urm, works well, and kicks STI into the dirt | | Weaknesses: | No longer made | | Similar Products Used: | Everything and anything | | Bike Setup: | Kona Hei Hei, blah, blah, blah | | Bottom Line: | I was lucky enough to find these on Ebay from the States...put in a high bid to stop anyone else getting their paws on them.
Simply said, I had money enough to buy XTR shifters, but when you want something that doesn't break easily, you go for something you trust, and love.
Mine were brand new out of a box and still have the protective plastic over the shifters...like Yeti lover said below...you'll be prying them outta my dead hands...seems to say it for me! :)
Check out http://richmatthews.homestead.com/photos.html for photos of the Kona and the XT shifters | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | Simple, light, accurate and bullet-proof. | | Weaknesses: | Only 7 Speeds. (I add a spacer on my 8spd. hubs to accomodate a 7 speed cassette)
| | Similar Products Used: | Gripshift, XTR rapid fire, XT rapid fire. | | Bike Setup: | Litespeed Pisgah, Rockshox Duke XC forks, Crossmax wheelset, RaceFace Turbine Cranks, RaceFace bar and stem, almost full XTR (other than shifters ha!) | | Bottom Line: | Sure, these shifters look as if you are stuck in the early 1990s, but who cares. We don't ride because of the way it looks, we do it for the way it feels. These things just feel right.
I've owned and used other kinds of shifters, but in all honesty these are by far the best. (In fact I traded a pair of XTR rapid fire for these) They perform amazing in every environment, and just keep on working. I have them on both my bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carl
a Cross Country Rider
from the Netherlands
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Hermans tweewielers Hapert | | Strengths: | Simple, timeless, compatible, retro-look | | Weaknesses: | Suntour's XC-pro are better | | Similar Products Used: | XC-pro's | | Bike Setup: | Koga miyata trail runner carbolite '92
mix LX, XT | | Bottom Line: | I love these, friction shifting is all about feeling.
Okay, I know those modern things shift like a knife through butter, and maybe I'm just stubborn, but I don't want anything else! ( well, maybe one day I will change to a Rohloff Speedhub..) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeff oats
a
from boulder
Date Reviewed: February 1, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | olywa | | Strengths: | Simple, smooth, unbreakable. | | Similar Products Used: | Others | | Bike Setup: | Miss piggy horn, straws on spokes, dice caps on tire nozzlies. | | Bottom Line: | Wow, wish they still made these, but mine have been absolutely trouble free for 7 years or so. Heee Hawwww!1 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Racer
from Santa Cruz, Ca
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | east and west of twin gates | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Armadillo Cyclery | | Strengths: | works with the 9 speed without a single problem, and they are so smooth. | | Weaknesses: | I dont have anymore and they stoped making them. | | Similar Products Used: | 9 speed xt pod shifter | | Bike Setup: | frame, wheels, and handle bars | | Bottom Line: | IF YOU CAN FIND THEM GET THEM.These thing shift just as good if not better them my NEW 9sp xt shifter. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jonathan
a
from somerville, ma
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | They're thumbshifters. | | Weaknesses: | They eventually can get a bit sticky.
Kinda ugly | | Similar Products Used: | XC-Pro 8 spd Top Mounts | | Bike Setup: | S-Works hardtail, suntour shifters, mmmmm | | Bottom Line: | The shimano top mounts, if you can find them in decent shape, are good. They may even be better than most of the other stuff that's out there now. However, first off, they're harder to come by than the Suntours, and secondly, in my opinion they aren't in the same league.
If you're interested in top mounts (you probably wouldn't be looking here if you weren't...) check out the suntours. It used to be they were a great choice simply becaus e they weren't shimano. These days, they win over the big S because they are better designed. The rubber lever covers don't come off, and the suntours action stays smooth after years. Moreover, they're simply prettier. They actually look and perform like a high end component; the shimanos look cheap with that plastic topcap that gets scratched to hell and/or falls off.
To me they're just not good enough to merit using them over the modern stuff. Sorry to piss anyone off, this is my opinion.
If you do find some, you should still grab them though. At least they're rare!
Lastly if you wanna be hip and still run Shimano thumbies, find some of the REALLY old ones that aren't even indexed!
Bottom line on all this silliness, is that shifters won't really affect your ride unless you're a hardcore racer... or they break. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Austin Cyclist
a
from Austin
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar I think | | Strengths: | 9 speed indexing. Dura-ace perfection. Friction option. | | Weaknesses: | funny looks and having to explain what I did.. | | Similar Products Used: | XT | | Bike Setup: | 2 wheels, handlebar, stem, seatpost, frame, and seat.. with tires. | | Bottom Line: | ohhhhh yeah.. check this out:
http://www.insanecyclist.com/klein.jpg
Its a hack, a last ditch effort to finally get what I've been missing for so so long.. What I did was take 2 sets of old bar-ends and cut them down.. note how the one is parallel with the handlebar, the dura-ace bar-con shifters (9 speed indexing!!) fit inside perfectly. About 50-60 bucks at Nashbar.. $$ but worth the dream.. its so perfect.. I had to use the Titec titanium (150g version) handlebar, since it is the same diameter all the way next to where the stem clamps onto the titec shim.. which is how the bar end is able to slide this far in.. the dual bar-end setup has the added bonus of being infinitely adjustable in terms of angle, reach, etc.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ti Gars
a Racer
from Quebec , Canada
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Green Hell | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycles Royales | | Strengths: | Light , Durable , Good shifting , Really nice...
These shifters are toooooo nice .. My friend have XTR shifters and ... not really nice.. My beautifull old shifters own .. | | Weaknesses: | WhAT ????!!!!??? | | Similar Products Used: | Old Suntour Thumbies | | Bike Setup: | Norco Nitro , Bomber z3 light , XT/LX , XT THUMBIES !!! | | Bottom Line: | Woah... I never see that ... THESE SHIFTERS RULZ!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill Petersen
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, Colorado, USA
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Rim Trail, Moab | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | didn't | | Strengths: | Simplicity, simplicity,simplicity. They can be field repaired and maintenance is practically free. | | Weaknesses: | Shimano doesn't make 'em | | Bike Setup: | amp b-2, lx crank, lx rear and front deraileurs, diacompe brake levers, mavic wheelset | | Bottom Line: | These thumbies are bar none the best. Every successive bike build I've done I take these with me. These do work on 8spd setups, I've got one. The compatiblity comes from the front, rear and cassette issues. I've had friends on backcountry rides have to use limited gears because their rapidfires tank and those are NOT field fixable! If you're looking for thumbies go to an old used bike store or garage sales and you'll find some. I'm building a new bike and I'll be putting thumbs on that with a 9spd setup. As for losing control of steering when shifting that's crap! I've never crashed because of shifting with these and never will and I don't get that annoying clickclickclick when I shift. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Austin Cyclist
a
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | Figured out a way for anyone to get 9 speed thumbies. | | Weaknesses: | time and effort | | Similar Products Used: | XT thumbies | | Bike Setup: | XTR, Klein, Dura-Ace. | | Bottom Line: | If you "really" need to have thumbies, in 9 speed, compatible with XTR/XT/LX etc., this is what you do. (unless you have access to a nice machining facility, then do this: http://www.geocities.com/bultillo/)
My method isn't as pretty, but anybody can do it.. Get some old bar ends (must be handbar diameter, straight, aluminum works best), 2 sets. Cut them down with pipe cutters. You handlebar must be a very wide bar, riser probably. Mount the Dura-Ace Bar con shifters inside one of the bar-ends you cut down.. attach that bar end to the short stub of another.. and then place that on your handlebar.. allows for infinite positioning, basically places one bar end parallel with you bike's handlebar.. I had to slide it all the way past the curve of my riser, but it works well, and I can mount my computer on that bar end.. (lights too).. the shifters are exactly the same spot as my old XT.. Flawless shifting.. don't be scared if you read "only use with Dura-ace derailleurs" for the dura-ace shifters, this is incorrect and the spacing is exactly matched to the throw of XTR 9 speed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
le poisson
a
from fishpond,TX,USA
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | effin bad A$$ | | Weaknesses: | what???????? | | Similar Products Used: | suntour topshifters,low garbage end of the spectrum shimano top shifters | | Bike Setup: | 15" 2000 Moab 3 , 5'11" tall, 400mm USE xcr alien, platform pedals, blah blah blah | | Bottom Line: | this product is the end all be all of shifting reliability and control. they are the simplest, most beautiful, referring to the ancient DEORE shifters, that i have ever used, i am not currently using them, but if they were available for the drive systems that are out today, i would consider it an upgrade for my bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chase
a Racer
from Eugene ,OR
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | mckenzie river / the power lines | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | freinds garage sale | | Strengths: | bomb proof reliable and accurate | | Weaknesses: | no 8 or 9 speed | | Similar Products Used: | everything | | Bike Setup: | 95 moab 3, 21sp. lx/xt | | Bottom Line: | i agree with everyone. these things rock! shimano is stupid to have stopped production of these baby's
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Yeti Lover
a Cross Country Rider
from Utah
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | No maintenance!!Have stayed as good as gold for over 8 years!Great action,no missed shifts,8-speed indexed OR 9-speed friction.Don't need no stinkin' gear indicators--you can tell where they are by the feel in your hand.An item no aspiring retrogrouch can do without. | | Weaknesses: | NONE,except for the fact that they are no longer being made.Shimano,you have lost a customer for life. | | Similar Products Used: | LX and XT Rapidfire and Gripshift X-Ray(bah humbug) | | Bike Setup: | Old-school Yeti ARC,rigid,8 years old and still better than you will ever be,and my steel Yeti Pro-Fro from 1990,also rigid--ALL YETI,ALL THE TIME | | Bottom Line: | The guy from London doesn't know what the hell he's talking about.Newbies like him will never appreciate what wonders the XT thumbies are.Good luck to you buddy on fixing your cheap plastic Gripshifters and Rapidfires that'll bust in 6 months and cost another 60 clams.I don't envy you.
No one but the true diehard MTB'ers and old salts will appreciate the control and reliability of these little gems anyway.All I have to say is "Lucky us!!"Let the kids and Euros go for the hi-tech,sh!ttily-made,multi-trigger,lightweight doohickeys with the lifespan of your average condom and shifting rougher than a wrench being thrown into a large electric fan.But not me--only way you'll get ahold of my thumbies is to pry them from my cold,dead fingers.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chales Darwin
a Cross Country Rider
from London
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Seems to have a devoted following of crotchety old men. | | Weaknesses: | Reverses evolution. | | Similar Products Used: | flint axe, wooden club, thick forehead. | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is that when you move your thumb above the bar to make a shift, you are giving up the benefits of having an opposable thumb, and loosing massive amounts of grip strength and therefore control. The shifters may have been mechanically well made, but they are practically dangerous. thats why they are gone. move on guys.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chales Darwin
a Cross Country Rider
from London
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Seems to have a devoted following of crotchety old men. | | Weaknesses: | Reverses evolution. | | Similar Products Used: | flint axe, wooden club, thick forehead. | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is that when you move your thumb above the bar to make a shift, you are giving up the benefits of having an opposable thumb, and loosing massive amounts of grip strength and therefore control. The shifters may have been mechanically well made, but they are practically dangerous. thats why they are gone. move on guys.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rocky Chrysler
a Cross Country Rider
from Flagstaff, AZ, USA
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The Truffula Tree Trail | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS, usenet, ebay trades with pals | | Strengths: | there is no other shifter. well that's not really true, a few other old-school shifting systems come pretty close to matching the xt's performance (see below). but as over-rated as indexing is, it's really the durability of these simple devices that keep them as standard equipment on so many of my bikes. | | Weaknesses: | can't think of any, really. the fact good top mounts are all but unavailable anywhere but the black market and that shimano makes only cheap-o top mounts anymore is really the only draw back to falling in love with them. | | Similar Products Used: | old suntour xc-pro top mounts, and the really, really old silver suntour xc shifters, are similar, as are the old, old deerhead shimano shifters, otherwise, i dunno. | | Bike Setup: | i've got xt or deore top-mounts installed on eight bikes that i ride on a regular basis. i own one bike that indexes, a road bike. otherwise, they either don't shift at all (single or fixed) or they're sporting top mounts. | | Bottom Line: | there is NO other shifter.*
*limited exceptions apply | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich Matthews
a Cross Country Rider
from London, England
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Dorset Coast Path | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Off my mate | | Strengths: | Just excellently made, friction option, and retro cool | | Weaknesses: | stripped the bolt out of mine...absolutely gutted | | Similar Products Used: | Original Gripshift | | Bike Setup: | Ye Olde, Deore XT 2 kit..but upgrading to XTR now...well, it's about time! | | Bottom Line: | I wish Shimano would bring these shifters back again, they've obviously got a hard core of followers..come on guys...please!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Danny Vanbroekhoven
a Weekend Warrior
from Belgium
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | So long ago I can't remember | | Strengths: | Simplicity, solidness. You can shift with your knucles, without leaving the handlebar grips. One can allways see which gear you're in, without those flimsy gear-indicators. I did never understand why Shimano moved the levers to the bottom of the handlebar and switched to 2-levers... Having rebuild it 4 times, needlessly actually, put the cover off and just flush it with brake cleaner and put some high quality grease in it. Stays working for ages.... | | Weaknesses: | The product is simply too good, that's why Shimano took it out of production... | | Similar Products Used: | Why should I??!! | | Bike Setup: | Scott USA (actually it is an European brand) Super America 1991: Full Shimano XT, Fi'zik Nisene saddle, Answer Hyperlite handlebar, Onza bar-ends, Mavic 221 rims with Sapim Competition spokes, Bontrager Revolt SS tires, Avid V-Brakes | | Bottom Line: | Please Shimano, make a 9-speed version. So I've finally have an excuse to upgrade my bike....!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Walter
a Cross Country Rider
from Netherlands
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | They keep working, even after all these years, now mounted them on the next bike. | | Weaknesses: | Out of production, only 8 speed (although the printing says 7 speed) | | Similar Products Used: | sti, rapid-fire, sram gripshift | | Bike Setup: | cannondale M900
XT/LX the coda stuff fell off a long time ago. | | Bottom Line: | I mounted them on my cannondale when the original gripshift (x-ray800) started to fall apart. They still work like new.
Why doesn't Shimano make these anymore, or maybe even in 9 speed ?
These are simple and everlasting (or was that the problem mr. Shimano ?).
I simply hate STI and rapidfire shifters.
Sram's gripshift works fine, not forever though....
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Corey Stone
a Weekend Warrior
from Beaverton Or USA
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | City Bikes | | Strengths: | Tough as ten Klingon warriors. "Analog" for the front RULES for that no rubba da chain silence. | | Weaknesses: | They are no longer produced | | Similar Products Used: | Suntour top thumb shifters, First Gen Shimano SIS thumb shifters, Various Suntour | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Gary Fisher F4 with other mods. I ditched the brand new front index shifter for a god knows how old top of the line Suntour analog thumb unit. | | Bottom Line: | Whatever genius came up with the idea that three positions are enough up front is an idiot. Nothing beats the bullet proof thumb shifter. I do use an index shifter for the rear, but the front thumb shifter will be pried from my cold dead hand. If I wreck the bike I will strip the part and pass it on to my children. Thank all that is holy for a used bike parts store! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Karl
a Cross Country Rider
from Sparks, NV USA
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Came with the Bike | | Strengths: | These things are 12+ years young, and still work like new. I've gone through three derailleurs in that time. Much better than the XTR 9speed on my new bike (Spec Stumpjumper Comp)which require constant fiddling. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Original non-index XT, Original Mystery Fire shi*ters, current XTR 9spd | | Bike Setup: | 1988 Ritchey Ascent Comp, XT drive train, brakes, Phil Wood Hubs - Ritchey Vantage Comp rims, | | Bottom Line: | Durable, bombproof, always a clean shift. If Shi&mano still made these, I would buy them in 8-speed, as I am re-building the wheels around the old but like new Phil Wood Hubs with 8-spd freewheel (Phil didn't make a cassette hub in 1990). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Piers Newland
a Cross Country Rider
from Wakefield W. Yorkshire, UK
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Warncliffe Crags & the Black Route | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Various | | Strengths: | Simple, reliable, easy to maintain & adjust, friction shifting option if you bend the gear hanger. No-one else rides them any more. | | Weaknesses: | Shifting to bigger rings can be a little problematic on really rough stuff - you don't have your thumb locked around the bar | | Similar Products Used: | First generation Grip Shift, Sachs Wavy shifters, first generation XT Rapid Fire and various other XT Rapid Fire systems. | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Heckler, Pace Pro 36 forks, XT drive and Avid Tri-Align II stoppers. Wheels etc. | | Bottom Line: | I've thumbies for years and despite the latest offerings from the big 'S' and others I keep coming back to them. They never seem to wear out and they are a doddle to strip, adjust and reassemble. The up shift on REALLY rough stuff is a little precarious, but it's all part of the fun and you are usually climbing any way.
I've a spare pair for when these finally expire, so I'm happy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Karkus
a Weekend Warrior
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Enchanted Forest | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Light
Durable
The only component from a bike I bought 8 years ago that still works. | | Weaknesses: | Not as good or as light as the Suntour XC Pro thumbshifters | | Similar Products Used: | XC Pros, STI shifters | | Bike Setup: | Used them with a couple of bikes, on 7 and 8 speed | | Bottom Line: | These are great, but I got some XC Pros and they are even ligher and shift better with 8 speed. Therefore I can only give them 4 chillis. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Berkeley, CA
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Blue Ridge, OR | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | durability, convenience | | Weaknesses: | eventually top caps fall off | | Similar Products Used: | '94 STX-SE RapidFire crap, '99 LX RapidFire | | Bottom Line: | The first mountain bike I ever bought, '88 Diamondback Topanga (18 gears), had a pair of Shimano's bottom-end thumbies, called simply "SIS" to distinguish them from friction shifters. They were great. I had that bike for five years and, other than losing a decorative top cap, nothing ever went wrong with them.
Last week I bought a pair of Deore 7-speed thumbshifters on eBay for less than $20, including shipping. They're incredible. Because of the extra click at the end I can use them on my 8-speed with indexing, or even 9-speed in friction (non-SIS) mode. I'm going to run them underneath the bar, reversed, so that I shift chainrings with the right hand and cassette with the left. You always know what gear your in by where the end of the shifter rests against the hand. Trust me; it's the way to go. I love these things. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard
a Racer
from Montréal, Québec
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Mont-Sainte-Anne and Bromont | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Maxi Vélo | | Strengths: | Dependability (even in deep mud), ease of maintenance, gets lots of looks on the starting line! | | Weaknesses: | Hard to find now. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano regular shifters, SRAM stuff | | Bike Setup: | Kona HeiHei titanium, RaceFace crank and Headset, XTR derailleurs and V-brakes, Thomson seatpost, Kore stem, Ti handlebar, SRAM 9.0 brake levers, Shimano WH-535 wheelsets (also Mavic Crosslinks), RockShox SID XC fork. | | Bottom Line: | Initially set for 7 speeds (when put in click-click mode), they are incredible for 8 or even 9 speeds in friction mode. We get a lot of mud here in Québec, so shifter reliability is critical. When I race on the Québec Cup, these shifters do the best job. I can shift even with my hands on the bar ends. Can SRAM users say the same???
I'd recommend everyone try them again. Hey Shimano, get off your rocking chair and start making them again! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Travelinman
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Junction,Colo
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Flagstaff,Arizona(all of 'em) | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | many different bike shops since '93 | | Strengths: | Better than smokin' singletrack/dual slalom/downhill/gold medals combined.. | | Weaknesses: | no known ones for THIS Product | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM/GripShift..Shimano 8/9peed new shifters | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Cannondale Raven 800//1999 Cannondale Super V500// 1997 Proflex Beast//1995 Cannondale Super V900(carbonfiber swingarm//1994 Iron Horse Mountain Tandem//1993 Cannondale Delta v700(it has Shimano "new" shifters.I use it as a road bike(slicks,etc..)See my order of priority in my bikes??? | | Bottom Line: | I am one sick puppy..I still own all of these bikes(6)..5 of them run the DEORE thumbshifters..I was fortunate enough to realize what crap Shimano's "new generation" shifters were when they first came out and bought all these sets that are currently on my bikes shortly thereafter..Probaly the main reason that I still drag ALL of these bikes around with me is due to the fact that when I start popping off those shifts it just feels so RIGHT..Thumbshifters are truly the ultimate and when some company figures out a way to start duplicating these babies they will make many wonderful $$$$$$..By the way these work great with 8 speed set-up's..Shimano engineered in the extra (8th) setting when they first started making these wonderful long-lived puppies..TRY 'EM..YOU WILL LOVE 'em..Oops..sorry..they are but a memory for those who don't already own them.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Seth O
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Can't say | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Freewheel Cycle, Jasper AB | | Strengths: | Like adding a rave review to this column will sway anybody over to using these thumbshifters (good, they're hard enough to get as it is). It's like preaching to the converted.
I've been riding for 10 years, and just bought my second bike last year. In that time, I've had only two sets of XT thumbies. I take em apart once in a while, clean them, and keep the cables and housing in sweet condition. Along with my frame, they are the rock at the center of my bike. Say no more...... | | Weaknesses: | Some people's thumbs don't like to release their death grip on the bar. | | Similar Products Used: | Have tried Gripshift | | Bike Setup: | 853 custom hardtail (Whiley), xt drivetrain (xtr cassette), RF cranks & bb, time pedals, xt/537 ceramic wheels, xt shifters, xtr brakes, Michelin Hot S f/r, ringle post and stem, monkeylite bar | | Bottom Line: | For each set of shifters I will go through 4-5 drivetrains and 2-3 derailleurs. I've probably cranked out around 8-9 thousand trail kilometres over the years and commuted another few. One of my geek fantasies is that Shimano would make a one-off re-issue and put these superstars back on the scene for a reunion tour. Maybe even an 8spd with the extra... I should stop.
These babies work, and work for a long time. I probably won't switch over to 9spd until the shifting/longevity situation improves - which won't be for a while. Label me functional. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gebhard
a Cross Country Rider
from Austria
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | They last for ever!I think Shimano stopped making them because they work too long! Light, simple, no nonsense product. | | Weaknesses: | No longer available! | | Similar Products Used: | XT STI | | Bike Setup: | XT 7sp, steel frame | | Bottom Line: | Incredibly long lasting product. I've worn out several sets of Casettes, Chainrings, Chains, bottom brackets but the old XT shifting still works great after approx. 20000 km's and 6 years. Why don't they make them for 8 speed???
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neil Cain
a Cross Country Rider
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Gareth's Mum | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Friend | | Strengths: | Work with 7 and 8 speed, simple as a simple thing, friction shifting if you bugger up your gears... | | Weaknesses: | Not made anymore (sob) | | Similar Products Used: | Gripshift Mk.1 - whatever we're up to now including ESP 9.0sl, STI Rapidfire Mk.1 - wherever we are now (Mk.11?) | | Bike Setup: | '89 Rockhopper - hack bike - XT thumbies, XT mechs, DX hubs with Specialized BX23 rims. Soon to be a single speed. | | Bottom Line: | These have serious retro value, especially if you're an old-school freak like me (I'm running Tomac Attacks on my Fisher and want to get some more!) and are incredibly flexible for a piece of Shimano kit. Very simple and the friction option is a godsend if your indexing goes to pot. Mine are currently being ragged round London on my commuting bike, and will probably soon be retired because everything else on the bike is wearing out and I'm putting together a 9 speed... Love 'em. 10 flaming sh*ts out of 5 because they can't be beaten by any of this complicated modern rapidfire crap. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Annapolis, MD
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Patapsco | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Strengths: | Durable, simple, light, ergonomic, cheap, maintenance free, stand alone | | Weaknesses: | They aren't made anymore. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | 92 C-dale frame, Manitou FS, LX/XT, DX cranks, Ringle' Superbubba/Mavic, Old School | | Bottom Line: | These are the Deore SIS 7-speed.
Like the energizer bunny.......
I just can't let go of these. I converted from rapid fire to these 9 years ago and love them. Like the VW beetle, you either love 'em or hate 'em. If you've owned one you love it! Ditto for the top mounts. I get smack on the trail, but much envy too. 9-speed, kiss my a$$!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mad Cyclist
a Cross Country Rider
from SW Herts UK
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Dartmoor. Morocco | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Recycle Cycle, SE London, UK | | Strengths: | These shift virtually anything. 5,6,7,8,9, speed, no probs. All makes, bar ESP. Easy to service and easy to adjust. Very very reliable. | | Weaknesses: | Won't shift ESP, zero pose value! | | Similar Products Used: | Gripshift srt 600, Sachs Wavey, XT/LX STi underbar shifters, HiGear thumbies (very, very cheap, and good too!)
Roadiewise shimano 105 and Sora STi units | | Bike Setup: | DNA Ti frame, XT thumbies, 1995 XTR top swing front mech, Sachs DIRT Quarz rear mech. | | Bottom Line: | I can't understand why more people don't use these. OK, posewise they're zero rated but they're sooo reliable and shift virtually everything.
I got mine secondhand, as I'd thought about getting a pair for a while. When I saw this pair with their blue anodised mounts I had to have them. I've never regretted getting them.
I find them a lot more gentle on rear mechs than other types of shifter. I was going through Shimano rear mechs with alarming regularity. Even switching to Sachs/SRAM didn't improve their longevity much.
I've also bought a pair of DXs that were in a bargain bin recently and am storing them for use on a rainy day...
I've given these 2 x 5 chillis as I reckon if you see a pair, buy 'em. If you're hard on your gears or if you're a tourer you'll not regret it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ralph McNall
a Cross Country Rider
from Claremont, CA
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Bottom Line: | These are the best damn thing I have ever own. I got them on my bike over 7 years ago and have replaced everything but my shifters and frame. I was kind of worried when I got new wheels and moved up to 8 speeds - but then I found the joy in friction shifting. Smooth and accurate. It took me a couple of weeks to get used to moving it the right distance so the chain wouldn't skip around, but now I just can't believe that it took me 6 years to start using it. So for all you out there that are still in SIS mode - SWITCH. Friction is where it is at. And if any of you work at Shimano - start making these again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Felipe Cavalcante
a Cross Country Rider
from Brazil
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | All | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Mazzaron | | Strengths: | All. Best shifter ever made. Very tough and precise. | | Weaknesses: | All that new school boys asking "what is that on your handlebar" and old school boys asking why I still use them. | | Similar Products Used: | All kinds of thumbshifters | | Bike Setup: | '95 Kona Kula,'96 Judy SL, double Judy DH aluminum cartridges, Speed Springs, full '95 XTR bike, Mavics 217 front and 121 rear (I wheight 260 pounds). | | Bottom Line: | I was searching for these beauties for many years since 1994 and then, 6 years later, I found a new, fresh on the box, Shimano DEORE thumbshifters. Just DEORE, not DEORE LX, DX or XT.
I just can't believe my eyes when I the pair of thumbshifters on the box. The guy on the bikeshop where I bought it just don't know the real worth of a pair of Shimano thumbies, so, I bought them for just 15 american dollars!!! What a bargain!!!
They are very accurate and really works. Like on old road bikes, you can shift form the largest cog to the smaller in a snap. And you can always know what gear you're using.
Very simple and efficient. The best shifter ever made. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JIMMY
a Weekend Warrior
from AUGUSTA, GA. USA
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | STEVENS CREEK | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | ANDY JORDANS | | Strengths: | SIMPLE, LIGHT, DURABLE. AND YOU CANN'T BANG YOUR KNEES ON THEM. | | Weaknesses: | CANN'T FIND IN 9 SPEED. WOULD CHANGE TOMORROW IF I COULD. | | Similar Products Used: | SUNTOUR, OLD '90 DEORE | | Bike Setup: | '92 CADEX ALL XT. | | Bottom Line: | I JUST BOUGHT A 2000 FULL SUSPENSION WITH RAPIDFIRE AND WOULD LOVE TO PUT THUMB SHIFTERS ON IT. MY CADEX SHIFTERS, I DON'T HAVE ANY TROUBLE WITH THEM AND I CAN FINE TUNE THE FRONT AND AS FAR AS SHIFTING SPEED I CAN TELL NO DIFFERANCE IN MY APPLICATION. BOTTOM LINE, I LOVE MY THUMB SHIFTERS, SIMPLE IS BETTER. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bike rulz
a Racer
from Longeuil , Québec , CAnada
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Can I have a favorite ? | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | EveryWhere | | Strengths: | Durable , simple , beautiful , light action , EVERYTHING IT'S GOOD | | Weaknesses: | What ? dont have any weakness ..
Hard to find ! | | Similar Products Used: | Suntour pro thumbies | | Bike Setup: | Specialized M4 2000 , marzocchi bomber z2 , full XTR except my beautiful thumbies , cross max wheels , easton carbon | | Bottom Line: | THERE ARE THE BEST SHIFTERS EVER MADE ! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Chamberland
a Cross Country Rider
from Beauport , Québec , Canada
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Green Hell | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | In my favorite shop ! | | Strengths: | Rapid Shifting , light action ,
This is the best shifters in the world !
I love that ! | | Weaknesses: | None ! | | Similar Products Used: | None ! Shimano XTR shifters it's not very good ... | | Bike Setup: | Norco nitro 97 , bomber z3 , xt-lx | | Bottom Line: | .... The XT thumb shifters rulz ! .... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Colin
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver Canada
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | LBS, can't remember price 'cos it musta been 7 or 8 years ago | | Strengths: | simple, reliable, long lasting. | | Weaknesses: | shimano discontinued them...
probably because they lasted too long and shimano couldn't continue their wallet-ectomy on their customers (shame on you shimano)...
and they weren't the newest gimmic so the riding public looked elsewhere to get their gear fix (shame on us) | | Similar Products Used: | rapidfire, gripshift (yes I've had both... what can I say other than sorry) | | Bike Setup: | whatever | | Bottom Line: | The elegance of these things is in their simplicity. The Timex catch phrase comes to mind, takes a licking and keeps on ticking.
If anyone out there works for shimano - the fact that a product that was discontinued over 5 years ago is still being talked about in such glowing terms ought to tell you something, hint,hint. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere where there are no cars | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Privately from bike mechanic(!) downgrading to RF+ 9-speed | | Strengths: | Reliability, versatility, simplicity, quality, workmanship, ergonomics, friction mode, etc | | Weaknesses: | Just lack of availability which is a result of it's reliability | | Similar Products Used: | Deore top shifters, RF+, Grip Shift - on a friend's bike ;-) | | Bike Setup: | '95 Bianchi MTB, mid level shimano drivetrain; | | Bottom Line: | I agree with every preceding review. I wish I was the only one who knew about these gems! BTW the Deore's are almost as good and are worth tracking down also.
I hacksawed the stock RF+ off my bike after one broke after only 1 month of use (I wanted to keep the brake levers) and I will never, ever use any other design of shifter. I will put up with a cheap six-speed shifter if I have to! - it can be made to work for a seven speed with so-so results
It is a sad commentary on the human race that the bottom line once again triumphs over human ingenuity and engineering. The engineer whose designed these marvels probably got fired for compromising Shi@mano's profits. The very fact that Shi@mano discontinued them is proof that they take forever to wear out!
So even if you don't care for these snatch them up if you can because they will be worth a fortune soon if they aren't already. Am planning to build many more bikes in my life so anyone in Ontario wishing to sell any e-mail me, even if this post is a little old... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rico
a Cross Country Rider
from Angwin, CA
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Palisades | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Can't remember | | Strengths: | They last forever!! You can tell what gear you are using even when riding at night without a light (Hey that's something I really miss on all the new stuff). The friction mode has bailed me out a couple times. Front friction mode means I never have to hear the grinding of a misaligned front derailleur rubbing on the chain. | | Weaknesses: | They really are not as "light" action as the new breeds of Shimano shifters. But they don't break either. | | Similar Products Used: | XTR Mega-9 shifters. Some Gripshift | | Bike Setup: | '92 Litespeed with Ti Components. | | Bottom Line: | I've had XT Thumbies on my Litespeed for the last 8 years!! and on my Klein for 2 years before that. A total of 10 years!! Wow. That is quality. I wish they would come back. I wish they would come back. Someone listening. There are a lot of us out here who appreciate the good old days and quality construction. I do have to say again that one of the neatest features is being able to tell what gear I am in simple by the location of the lever. Means I don't have to take my eyes off the trail and waste precious time looking down at my bars or worse yet, my cogs to see if I have another gear available. I'm glad I have an extra pair around whenever these might wear out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matt
a Racer
from charlotte, nc
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | pisgah | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | So long ago....not sure | | Strengths: | Simple. Accurate. Durable. Without question the best shifters ever made. | | Weaknesses: | The PRODUCT has no weaknesses. The MANUFACTURER is a pathetic group of feeble-minded morons for abandoning this design! | | Similar Products Used: | Crapidfire. Old Suntour thumbs (ugh) | | Bike Setup: | Beautifully. | | Bottom Line: | The old XT shifters are (were) the epitome of quality, minimalist design. "Less is more". Shimano shot themselves in the ass when they integrated the brake and shifter mechanism, alienating the masses as evidenced by the success of those quirky Gripshifters.
I have these shifters mounted on the bike I race on and they have worked beautifully for years. Almost every time I line up at the start line, the guy next to me looks down at my shifters and says "Holy Sh!t...you still have those!They were the best ever." I've had many people ask me to sell them.
What I'm trying to say here is: Shimano, or SOMEBODY, listen to us! These shifters are great and people want them. It would be very lucrative for you to bring back the thumbshifter! Can I get an "Amen Brother"?!? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chad
a Weekend Warrior
from WV
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | can't remember | | Strengths: | Last forever! I've adjusted them once since I installed them! Simple design. I could go on and on. | | Weaknesses: | Hard to find. Shame on Shimano for stopping production on these.
| | Similar Products Used: | GRIPEshift | | Bike Setup: | Bianchi w/xt | | Bottom Line: | These are absoluteley the best bike products I have ever bought. Worth their weight in gold! (well mabe that last statement is not entirely correct). However, I am convinced these shifters are the best shifters you can buy. That is you COULD buy them before those Shimano morons quit making them. If you can get your hands on a set of these squeeze em real tight and smile!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from New York
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Light, reliable, easy shifting, evrything! | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | Gripshift | | Bike Setup: | '97 Trek OCLV, Noleen carbon fork, RaceFace, XTR, & XT components | | Bottom Line: | These are the best shifter ever made, period. After 10 plus years of use, I have never had one manfunction. I still have the original set on my first bike (10 plus years old), which I use for commuting. I bought up a few extra sets when they were still available, and they are on my Trek, replacing the gripshifters which sucked. I am also building up a cyclocross bike with, you guessed it, thumbshifters! They will be mounted just under the brake levers to the inside, for easy reach from the drops. Much better than barend shifters. What more can I say, 3 bikes, 3 sets of thumbshifters, and 2 more spares just incase, though I doubt I will ever need them. Oh yeah, and they index 8 speed perfectly, and you could even use them for 9 speed in friction mode! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rail Rider
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | I have to have a favorite? | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Took off of wrecked customer's bike | | Strengths: | Light, efficient, extremely durable and forgiving of bent derailleurs | | Weaknesses: | Too plasticky | | Similar Products Used: | Suntour XC Pro Thumbies | | Bike Setup: | As much Suntour as possible | | Bottom Line: | Like them on my commuter bike, liked them on my mountain bike (until I tried XC Pro). I have the sweet alloy mount XT 2 shifters that came off a bike that was on the roof rack of a guy who rolled his car. The whole bike was mangled beyond recognition, but these little babies survived unscathed. They work great with all cogsets thanks to the friction option, last forever, and cost me nothing. Unfortunately, Suntour upstaged them eith XC Pro. If you get your hands on them never let them go, but they only get 4 chilies because of Suntour. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J Yates
a Weekend Warrior
from UK
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Mud | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Last years,
simple,
quick,
unbreakable,
smooth,
even index with an 8 speed,
serviceable,
No horrible plastic
retro,
comments like "where the hell did you get those", or from the yungans "what are they ?"
| | Weaknesses: | the steel bracket bends when you have a big off,
| | Similar Products Used: | Nothing will suffice | | Bike Setup: | FSR Enduro with thumbies, Spengles & Syncross bits
Klein Attitude Race with no thumbies cos its a single speed | | Bottom Line: | Can anyone beat my 6 year old pair?
Anyone wanting some e-mail me, my trusty local bikeshop has a stockpile of them.
1001 piping hot, rectum ripping chillis | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary
a Weekend Warrior
from Reno, Nevada
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | easy to switch to frction in case you can't adjust index on the road. Very few moving parts (unlike rapidfires) so unlikely to ever break | | Weaknesses: | product discontinued (shame on you, Shimano!) | | Similar Products Used: | rapidfires, gripshifts | | Bike Setup: | Kona | | Bottom Line: | Along with my ancient Brooks saddle, I refuse to upgrade my thumbshifters. These are quite simply my favorite piece of componentry. Took me over a month to find a brand new pair. Paid a pretty penny, but's worth a hell of alot more to me. When the tricked-out, high-maintenance, too-many-moving-parts of the other shifters come and go, the thumbshifters will always be THE standard. Too bad I can only give it 5 chilis!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pat Cryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Ct
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Over 7 years and not one damn problem. | | Weaknesses: | What weakness? | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Super V w/hydraulic brakes (disk and magura rim brakes) | | Bottom Line: | I bought my LX thumbshifters about 7 years ago and there still going stong. Ive never had a problem with my drivetrain being out of adjustment. Just put the things into friction and shift. The olny shifters i know of that you can shift from bar ends going up a steep hill and still hit the shifft dead on. Igave my brother my XT's and and they're still going stong after four years. My father's XT rapidfire shifters have had te be replaced twice in two years and im still using my thumb shifters . Also let you ride for months with a bent deraillur . What other shift system can do that? NONE. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mark gilmore
a Cross Country Rider
from missoula
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | anything with dirt | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Lightweight, Bombproof, No maintenance required, simplistic, index to friction if your out in the middle of nowhere, ageless, tested and proven, keeps going and going ...... | | Weaknesses: | not marketable to the fad consumers | | Similar Products Used: | why? | | Bike Setup: | richtey with xtr products, and richtey this and thats ( all haven been replaced except my shifters) avids brakes, | | Bottom Line: | for some reason - in the bike market if a manufacturer does not "keep changing" their products than they are consider "retro" "obselete" "not technologically advance" etc. despite that they have a proven product that has been placed on the classic list (i mean we are still talking about it after 7 years)they (the manufacturer) feel they must produce "newer" exciting stuff to keep their marketplace image despite the fact they have a proven product. Unfortunately it is the biker that suffers in the long run - | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed Miles
a Cross Country Rider
from New Braunfels, Texas, USA
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Government Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | little/no maintenance required, lightwieght, friction option, quick shifting from high to low and low to high | | Weaknesses: | none known | | Similar Products Used: | shimano deore top mounts | | Bike Setup: | 1993 bridgestone mb-1, 1999 marzocchi z2 atom bomb, xt top mount shifters, xtr front/rear derailleurs | | Bottom Line: | i have used these for 7 years and have never had a single problem with them. i've only had to make a minor adjustment once. these and suntour xc pro/experts are the quintessential top mount shifters. they are no longer in production... that's a shame. i think that everyone should buy these, they meet all of the criteria for an awesome shifter. search the world over until you find some, put them on your bike, and forget about shifting problems. i was able to pick up some spares on ebay just in case i ever need them. that's a relief as i was dreading having to start using rapid(mis)fire or gripshift someday. now i never have to. cool. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony Hilliard
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver, BC, Canaduh
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Seventh Secret | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Similar Products Used: | Gripe shift, Rapid Failure | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale '91 aluminum frame w/Marzocchi Z2 BAM's, Cheapass Shimano components | | Bottom Line: | I just posted this to try and inch the overall rating a little higher on these shifters - they are the best ever made, period. Fads may come and go, but these puppies will last you for years and years with zero maintenance. If you mess up your derailleurs on a rock you can fine-tune the positioning in friction mode (friction, baby), you can jump as many gears as you like in each direction with the flick of a knuckle, and you get retro styling to make you look like you've been around since the very start... 10 chilies. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Luciano
a Racer
from Beverwijk Holland
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | simple quick easy super | | Weaknesses: | not avalable why why | | Similar Products Used: | for one month gripshift | | Bike Setup: | cannondale xtr hope cook bros syncros | | Bottom Line: | if THE shifters on my bike breaks i quit with cycling. why
is a simple divice like THE shifter replaced for a shifter with so many parts inside. OK the business must go on
Guys of shimano start the engines and make for ones a few thousend pairs of this fantastic product.
(to expensive i guess) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sawin
a
from Bangkok, Thailand
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Easy to use, light on the weigh, fast on shifting. | | Weaknesses: | Can not find it any more. | | Similar Products Used: | Suntour. | | Bike Setup: | KHS Team with Ritchey Logic Design frame. It's kinda old model. All Group set with XT, except brake level. I use Dia-Comp. Campagnolo ATB rims. | | Bottom Line: | I like this system shifting, but I don't know why the company stop making them. When I was on the competition, I could shif up-down so fast. I don't have to push every click with every speed.
However, It just has only 7 speed. In the other hand, If you don't mind about SISsystem, you might set it up to 9 speeds in fiction system.
So, I would say this product is so cool in my mind, and I will give 5 chilies plus over rating. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
shortguy
a Cross-Country Rider
from LaMirada, CA
Date Reviewed: December 30, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
fullerton loop | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
best shifters ever made | | Weaknesses: |
lame manufacturer stopped making thumb shifters!! | | Similar Products Used: |
suntour thumb shifters | | Bike Setup: |
Cadex TCM Carbon, Z-1 alloy fork, XT w XTR rear der. | | Bottom Line: | Due to severe wrist and hand injury, I can only use top mount thumb shifters. Even if this was not the case, I would still use them. Shimano XT's last forever. I have been useing them from the first year they were introduced. I have one pair that has been through half a dozen frames and numerous components. They still shift great. While you can get the shifters to work with 8 speed cogsets, they work better with 7 speeds. The suntour shifters work better with the 8 speeds. I have two sets of XT's and two sets of the Suntour 8 speeds. I also stocked up on cogsets. No, I don't want to sell them . . . unless Shimano wants to start making 9 speed thumb shifters. I'd give them ten chillies if I could.PS. Do you know you can reach back with your right thumb and downshift while your hands are on your barends. This is a nice advantage while climbing. Try that with other shifters. And don't tell me about the worthless XTR Remote shifter that Shimano can't give away. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Barry
a Cross-Country Rider
from North Vancouver, BC
Date Reviewed: December 10, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
simple, light, take up so little space on the cut down bars | | Weaknesses: |
Shimano quit making 'em! | | Similar Products Used: |
Gripshift | | Bike Setup: |
Norco Java, Race Face'd and 7 speed Shimano XT | | Bottom Line: | How can you beat anything this simple and effective, I've used them for 10+ years and they're still going strong. I posted a request on the Equipment wanted section here at MTBR.COM and found people that still had them and lots of people that still use 7 speed thumbshifters (I bought a spare set). I have them on two bikes and they really rock. If I could select 6 flaming chilies I would. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
A Rider
a Cross-Country Rider
from Toronto, Ontario
Date Reviewed: November 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
twisty and narrow | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Simple, durable, front shifter works with any oddball assortment of chainrings I want to use. I think their lack of trendiness is a definite plus. | | Weaknesses: |
They don't make 'em like that anymore | | Similar Products Used: |
Grip shift, suntour, Rapid Fire, Rapid Fire Plus, cheap ass shimano bottom-end thumb shifters | | Bike Setup: |
89 Bridgestone MB-2, mostly LX and XT stuff, and a front shock, not that that matters . | | Bottom Line: | These work a lot better than the cheap thumbies I had on my first MTB, I bought em cause they were cheap and I like them more the more I use them. RF+ and even gripshift don't shift the front derailleur right, with these I have no shifting problems even if I want to use a non-standard chainrings (which I do, the Shimano stock low is too high and the high is too low). If I see another set I'll buy 'em too. Everything else I've used has broken sooner or later.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tim
a Weekend Warrior
from cinti, ohio
Date Reviewed: November 15, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
light, simple, easily maintained, smooth shifting, etc. | | Weaknesses: |
none, really | | Similar Products Used: |
xc pro thumbies | | Bike Setup: |
litespeed obed w/ halson pds | | Bottom Line: | kick-ass shifters. they'll last forever. i ride trials and the shifter is out of the way, but easy to reach when i do need to shift. ride on. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brendan
a Cross-Country Rider
from Auckland NZ
Date Reviewed: November 9, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Keeps going & going | | Weaknesses: |
Buggers stopped making them | | Similar Products Used: |
XT Rapid Failure | | Bike Setup: |
XT 8speed SIS | | Bottom Line: | Amazing shifter after 7yrs still smooth & still on same cables freakin unbelivable. Get some you no you want them. Reliable Reliable Reliable | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ken
a Cross-Country Rider
from richmond,va
Date Reviewed: November 6, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Whatever I'm riding | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
simple,set-up easy
reliable,index option,
works w/ 8 speed, looks
good w/ riser bars | | Weaknesses: |
front shifting is a bit
harder to get use to,but once you do it
works great | | Similar Products Used: |
grip shift, rapid-fire | | Bike Setup: |
mongoose pro(chromo) w/
Atom-bomb Xt mavic 517 | | Bottom Line: | They work very good,easy to adjust.I was not as impressed w/ x-rays( pain to cange cables).I bought these slightly used for 20 bucks. Well worth it. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Old School
a Weekend Warrior
from Atlanta,GA
Date Reviewed: November 1, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
They Work all the time | | Weaknesses: |
Politicaly Incorrect to use something out of the spotlight even if it works | | Similar Products Used: |
Shimano clickity clacks, Suntour | | Bike Setup: |
'88 Yeti Chromo. Yeti fork(no springies) Bullseye cranks, Canti brakes, Tioga stem, told ya I was Old School. | | Bottom Line: | After reading these posts I dug up my old XT thumb shifters. They were not even dirty! I raced with them in the late 80's -early 90's. I put back on the Yeti switched it to friction and Yehaaa. I love 'em. I can Jump several cogs in one movement if I like. I like being able to fine tune the deraillure to compensate for extreme an extreme chain line. Wonder if they will work with an 8 speed rear if in the Friction mode. I think I will stay ols school for a little longer. Thanks for the tip off.. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Karl
a Cross-Country Rider
from Redwood City, CA
Date Reviewed: October 10, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Skegs | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
simple, reliable, friction mode for a bad shift day | | Weaknesses: |
Shimano stopped evolving them | | Bike Setup: |
Performance Titanium with Mantiou II and 7 speeds is plenty for now | | Bottom Line: | I like the simplicity of a duable product, but I would like to know how much they weigh. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Canuck 1
a Cross-Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: October 4, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Devils Punchbowl | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Weight 118 gm
Simplicity
You know what gear you are in. | | Weaknesses: |
Very low cool factor, untill you shred their asses. | | Similar Products Used: |
Rapid fire plus, early sram efforts, current Sram products. | | Bike Setup: |
Bonty Race lite, Pace, Middleburn.... | | Bottom Line: | The simple light design seems imposable to beat. Bought them when they first came out.....eight?..ten years ago? I have ridden the depths of North Van, the mud of North Wales, the sand and scrub of Arizona...these are classics. If I can get to the top before you then I aint no retro grouch. If you beat me then ya can call me a retro boy..................but please not a grouch. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
lcunnion
a Weekend Warrior
from USA
Date Reviewed: September 13, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
*smoothest control (friction mode). | | Weaknesses: |
*not very trick looking. | | Similar Products Used: |
Rapidfire (LX)
Gripshift | | Bike Setup: |
Stumpjumper
Maguras | | Bottom Line: | i bought these because i wanted to upgrade my mushy old cantilevers for new brakes and decided to go with maguras. they make the best companion to the maguras at that. maggies modulate the brakes and the thumbies modulate the shifting (when in friction - put them in SIS and they are not quite as impressive). I swear by these shifters now. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Funkymonkey
a Cross-Country Rider
from Thunderbay, on
Date Reviewed: September 4, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
The bluffs | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
I love the friction mode, thinking of slicing off the knob that makes them click | | Weaknesses: |
can't get new ones | | Similar Products Used: |
Gripe shift, rapid failure, etc | | Bike Setup: |
Cadex CFM 1, Xt/Xtr drive train, Avid Brakes, Judy Sl long Travel | | Bottom Line: | I prefer friction shifting over the clickity clacks, it's just easier for me and these are the only shifters that can do it for me, 4 flamin' turd due to lack of availability Bring Back the Thumbies!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark MacNab
a Cross-Country Rider
from Ottawa
Date Reviewed: August 30, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
The gats | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
It's all been said, but bears repeating. Dependable, Simple, Light etc.. | | Weaknesses: |
the 'Gap' kiddies don't think they're cool...actually they don't even recognize them sometimes! | | Similar Products Used: |
loads of push, pull, twist, blah, blah, | | Bottom Line: | Reiterate the motion that a indi manufacturer should make a model for current cogsets | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
13ig13utt
a Cross-Country Rider
from zapopan, jalisco
Date Reviewed: August 9, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
reliable | | Weaknesses: |
not made anymore | | Similar Products Used: |
rapidfire
gripshift | | Bike Setup: |
xtr der.
8 sp. rear
race face cranks | | Bottom Line: | the absolute best.
and you can run eight speed on them also.
you can shift along the wholecluster with one movement and yor shifters are not part of the grip.
i just wish shimano gave shifter options...i remember when they offered rapidfire, rapidefire plus, and thumbshifters for their xt way back. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Johan M.
a Cross-Country Rider
from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Date Reviewed: August 1, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
any real singletrack | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Durable- bought mine in 1989. Along with my XT rear derailleur. I used to ride at least 3-4 times each week at least 20-30 miles, rain and mud (which I avoided as much as possible) Raced two seasons on two different frames. Never overhauled them...tightened them a bit in '94...
Uh oh- here it is 1999 and ...
THEY STILL WORK GREAT | | Weaknesses: |
Not made anymore...
Clamps can strip out if overtightened (did that to my first pair)
er..not made anymore... | | Similar Products Used: |
Really old gripshift - the orange original ones...
RapidExpire- er... Fire | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale CAAD3 Hard Tail Custom
Manitou 4 | | Bottom Line: | I mounted these shifters upside down in 1988 or 89...hehehe...
They RULE!!!
Although I have been looking at some XTR pods...or maybe Gripshift... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony_Demanuele
a Cross-Country Rider
from San Carlos
Date Reviewed: July 20, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Top mounts in friction mode are still the best !!! | | Bottom Line: | There is a new company making top mount shifters. Email me for more information. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kyron
a Weekend Warrior
from Pacifica Ca
Date Reviewed: July 19, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Everything everyone else said is true!!!! BUT I'm runnin 8spd and I know 9spd WILL WORK!! | | Weaknesses: |
I guess they could be better if they had a built in bottle opener?? | | Bottom Line: | they will always work | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
A. Retro Grouch
a Cross-Country Rider
from Edmonton, Alberta
Date Reviewed: July 13, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
20 Mile Loop, Jasper, Alberta | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Bike Setup: |
1988 Rocky Mountain Avalanche
1998 Rocky Mountain Blizzard | | Bottom Line: | I could only re-iterate what has already been said, but I just wanted to get my 5-flaming poop rating in here, too. They really are the best. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jochen Stadler
a Cross-Country Rider
from Austria
Date Reviewed: July 8, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
easy handling, reliable, durable, lightweight etc. - perfect | | Weaknesses: |
not available for 9 speed | | Similar Products Used: |
grip shift 500, 800, various STI shifters | | Bike Setup: |
i had 4 different bikes equipped with this shifters | | Bottom Line: | god, how i loved this shifters, is there anybody who can produce top shifters for 9-speed - I would pay a lot for it - anything else is not half as nice..... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Iyam Nobody
a Cross-Country Rider
from Vermont
Date Reviewed: July 6, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
reliable, light, reliable, easy to use, reliable, few moving parts, reliable, very easy to shift. | | Weaknesses: |
Shimano | | Similar Products Used: |
rapid fire, GripShifts, Suntour XC Expert Top-mounts | | Bike Setup: |
many bikes | | Bottom Line: | These things just keep going. I've had mine for 8 or 9 years. The indexing is starting to get mushy but I'm sure it could be fixed. I just replaced them with some Suntour top-mounts but I'm hanging onto the old shimano shifters in case I need a backup. Those XT thumbies always worked. Too bad shimano had to stop making them. Some small machine shop could make a killing making and selling new 8 or 9 speed top mounts (any takers? Please?) Can I give them 6 burning rodents? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Charlotte, NC
Date Reviewed: June 23, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Friction, ease of use, simplicity | | Weaknesses: |
Out of production | | Similar Products Used: |
LX push push, GripShift, XT RapidFailure | | Bike Setup: |
92 MB-1 w/ XT, old-school Marzocchi XC400 (with the drilled forks). | | Bottom Line: | Actually have the Deore DX shifters, but there's basically no difference. Love the friction option. 6 years old on a 6 year old MB-1, and they work the same as they did on their maiden voyage. I've located a shop which has several pairs of unopened XT thumbs in stock, a little pricey, but if anyone's interested LMK. | | Overall Rating: |
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