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SRAM
2000 ESP 9.0sl Halfpipe
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Submitted by
smokey strodtman
a Cross Country Rider
from gilliam MO USA
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | lots of 'em | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | bikesource.com | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow-up to my earlier review of August, 2002. I've had my half-pipes about 2 1/2 years now and have not had any problems whatsoever with them. Maintenance consists of an occasional cable lube and yearly shot of Jonnisnot. They are still a bit stiff on upshifts and make a little noise, but it doesn't bother me. I much prefer that to a shifter that jumps between gears and ghost-shifts.
I'll run them till they wear out, then plan on trying SRAM's new thumbshifters. Nothing wrong with twisties, I just like trying new things and they are getting great reviews here. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brad
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Easy to use. Good looking. Very light and well made. | | Weaknesses: | Hard to come by in my neck of the woods. | | Similar Products Used: | None. Only used xt, xtr rapid fires. | | Bike Setup: | Switched over a cyclocross bike (trek X01) to flat bar. | | Bottom Line: | Outstanding product. Local bike shop is not to keen on them but have been brainwashed by Shimano. Only used 1 week and the bike got stolen. Positive shifting and you can fine tune the front der. for no chain rub which is a big bonus. I would recommend these shifters to anybody out there and I found they had no unwanted shifting in all conditions that I rode in. Numero Uno product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
smokey strodtman
a Cross Country Rider
from gilliam, MO USA
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | lots of good ones here in missouri | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | bikesource.com | | Strengths: | ability to shift instantly up or down in any situation. comfortable grip. can drop several gears in an instant if terrain requires it. appearance. durability (several crashes have not damaged them, including a couple of BIG endoes). simple design. good value compared to XTR. | | Weaknesses: | a little noisy when upshifting. also, upshifts were a little stiff when i got them; a little jonnisnot cured it. | | Similar Products Used: | other SRAM shifters, all with shorty grips, shimano rapidfires. | | Bike Setup: | fisher marlin with lots of mods, all SRAM drivetrain except for front derailleur; shimano LX. oury grips cut so that i can have only 2 fingers on shifter when in real technical situations. performance cycle pro-stix bar ends (cane creek clones). | | Bottom Line: | i've seen a lot of complaints in here about unwanted shifts when in technical terrain and doing things like lofting the front wheel. this has never happened to me, don't know if it's dumb luck or the way i have them set up.
i use oury grips and cut them so the section that is left has enough room for two fingers (or three, if i crowd them a bit). makes it a little tight with bar ends and brake levers on a 580mm flat bar, but it will work. i always liked gripshifters, but these are on a whole new level. they shift VERY quickly, and you can drop several gears on the cassette in a second, if need be. downshifts are so quiet, you sometimes only feel the difference in pedaling, there is no noise. upshifts are another story, they started out very loud, but have quieted down somewhat as they have broken in. still louder than the old style gripshifts and rapidfires, however. having the shifter right in your hand at all times will make you shift more often and take advantage of your gears. in rolling hills, you can gear up going down, then shift back and not have a deadspot of freewheeling when you begin pedaling on the ascent. gripshifts have always been very durable for me, probably because they are tucked in to the bar so well. the only maintenance i do is an occasional cable lubing and a light application of jonnisnot every 6 months or so. i got a fabulous buy on these, they were leftover '01 models. i had originally ordered 7.0 halfpipes, but they were out of stock so bikesource gave me the 9.0 SLs at the same price. thanks, guys! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
shane
a Racer
from philadelphia PA
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | shifts as good as anything | | Weaknesses: | well you gots to have a sram derailleur, and they picked out the grip for you | | Similar Products Used: | sram attack, xt, xtr | | Bike Setup: | cove hummer | | Bottom Line: | these things really shift at least as well as xtr. they may shift better. they're better than the past grip shifters. you can get either two or three fingers on the stationary grip. i think they are overall the most comfortable grip shifter. no accidental shifts on the uphill. no accidental shifts when yer goin fast and flowing. maybe, once in a while, yer going slow in a long rock garden and you stop suddenly while youse got a death grip on the bars you'll have an accidental shift. ...but they shift so good and you never have to think about moving your hand to shift, so you probably won't mind. NOTE: GET SOME FREAKING SUPERGLUE FOR THE STATIONARY PART. it will never come loose. these things are impervious to mud and you don't have to take it off to change the cable. so super glue that thing on. the grip works suprisingly well in the mud and rain, though you need to be wearing gloves. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Racer
from Texas
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$53.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | Strengths: | Light, looks good, Crisp shifting, half pipe rocks, and.. doesn't say Shimano | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Acera up to LX Rapid Fire | | Bike Setup: | Custom Gary Fisher Sugar 1 | | Bottom Line: | I just got these shifters in today adn went on one ride. I was a bit weary of Grip shift cuz Rapid fire is second nature to me. I just got the "upgrade" bug and didn't want to spend 125 bucks for XTR shifters when i can get the SRAM shifters and rear der. for the same price. I put them on and fell in love with them. I love the "Popping" feeling when they release tot eh higher gears and the 1:1 ratio DEFINATLY beats Shimano's 2:1. I had no mis shift at any time. with my LX pod and XTR Der. it worked for one day after cleaning the cables and the next if I wanted to go from 7-4 I had to go to 3 and then click one down to 4. Yes I don't knwo how well this system works long term but the ease of shifting, the smooth actuation is VERY nice, just need to ride it more to be come second nature. and the half pipe is nice. Some people have a "Death grip" ont eh bar which was what turned me from grip shift at first cuz it could miss shift when i didn't want it to, but if you have a "strong, LIGHT" grip on the bar, hard to explain, but they work great, no miss shifts perfect shifts everytime. and with the half pipe you get to shift from more positions ont he bar, BUT some may not like this setupa nd want the "Shorty version" which would work best for you? you choose, you won't be disappointed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marcel Frenk
a Cross Country Rider
from Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Cristalp & Rijk van Nijmegen | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Fietssport Vincent Ede | | Strengths: | Works great, light action, grip feels OK | | Weaknesses: | Don`t like the white colour too much, changing the cable is a bit of a hassle. | | Similar Products Used: | Older gripshifts and Sachs Plasma shifters, XT rapidfire shifters | | Bike Setup: | Specialized FSR-XC S-works 2001, ESP-9.0SL | | Bottom Line: | I like their light action, the SRS system helps to prevent unwanted shifts. Because of the large grip-surface, they really feel like they much less force to shift. With the older models I usually rode with my hands already upon the shifter, so I was already used to not twist my hands whilst riding, unless I wanted a gearchange off course. The tapered form the grip feels good in my hands, no worrying if your grips will slide.
Since juli 2000 I only sufferd one unwanted downshift, but that was on the mega-bumpy final descent off the Cristalp Marathon in Switzerland, I believe the locals call this section "The Roman Stairs".
Any other problems with shifting were caused by things like a bent derailleur hanger or a faulty cable. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a Cross Country Rider
from Philadelphia
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | the pee shoot | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Wissahickon Cyclery | | Strengths: | Cool Name. | | Weaknesses: | thick grips, unpredictable shifting. | | Similar Products Used: | other iterations of gripshift | | Bike Setup: | full esp 9.0 | | Bottom Line: | Ive always loved gripshift and never had a problem moving my hand that extra inch to reach the shifter, so I dont know why I opted for the Halfpipe. What a mistake! The shifting was unpredictable on any sections that involved torquing on the bars(pretty much any kind of mountain biking). Ive never had these kinds of problems with a product before. The good news is that my LBS swapped me a pair of shorties for the half pipes and ive been super happy ever since. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Puzman
a Cross Country Rider
from Wallingford, CT
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Bottom Line: | For all of you who've had problems with mis-shifts and/or poor grip, try the following:
-cut 30mm or so off of the end of the shifter. The grip cover will easily slide off the rest of the mechanism, so...
-lock it in place by installing ODI lock on grips (in grip shift size).
Result: smooth, crisp, precise shifting, with no mis-shifts and rock-solid grip on the bars. An awesome set-up, and cheaper than the 9.0 shorty's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Puzman
a Cross Country Rider
from wallingford, ct
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | rocky road | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | shifts through multiple gears easily w/ very little effort
it works
light weight
can dial in front derailleur position | | Weaknesses: | mis-shifts
grip feels insecure on really technical stuff | | Similar Products Used: | older x-ray shifters, rapidfire | | Bike Setup: | Titus locomoto | | Bottom Line: | I'm definitely a fan of twist shifting, and these are a huge improvement over the older x-ray style shifters. The shifting feel is very light and crisp. You can rip through five or six gears without much thought. And therein lies the problem- you occasionally get mis-shifts in technical terrain, and the grip sometimes feels insecure. I haven't tried the Shorty's, but I'd imagine that they really kick a$$. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marty
a Cross Country Rider
from Cleveland, OH
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | buckeye | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | independent dealer | | Strengths: | Smooth as butter shifting with full 9sl drivetrain. | | Weaknesses: | accidental shifting | | Similar Products Used: | Rapidfire STX, XTR | | Bike Setup: | Ibis Alibi, superfly | | Bottom Line: | These shifters have been a real hinderance to many technical and non-technical riders, due to the fact that they will shift when they are not supposed to. when you are going up steep hills over logs and ruts the twisting you do on your grips to get over/around things causes the halfpipes to shift. this can be a real problem. I switched to the shortys. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Damon
a Weekend Warrior
from North Bethesda, MD, USA
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Bike Doctor with bike | | Strengths: | They shift to the ring and cog you think you are shifting to. | | Weaknesses: | They came with the bike and I don't like the color of the housing with my yellow frame. It is possible to make accidental shifts with the half pipe. Haven't tried the "shorty." | | Similar Products Used: | Antiquated Shimano contraption on my other bike (replaced with SRAMS). | | Bike Setup: | Haro MX-3, aluminum swingarm, Manitou SX-R shock, Kona stem, salsa headset, race fase low-riser, truvativ 4D crankset, SRAM ESP rear derailer, Shimano XT front derailer, rock shox Super deluxe (sucks), GEAX Beaumont tires | | Bottom Line: | No reason to bother with anything else. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Altoona,PA
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | priceline.com | | Strengths: | Fast, smooth shifting. Not Shimano-made. | | Weaknesses: | More mis-shifts with the half pipe than the old SRT400's I had. | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM SRT400, '99 SRAM 7.0, '00 SRAM 9.0, alot of Shimano junk | | Bike Setup: | '00 C-dale SV500, air lockout on 80mm Fatty, Avid mech discs with Speed dial levers, Mavic 223 discs, SRAM 9.0 rear with 9.0SL shifters....... | | Bottom Line: | Well, when I went to upgrade my old C-dale to SRAM 9 speed, I got a deal on the 9.0 derailler and 9.0SL shifters in a package. Being that I ride the SuperV alot more, I pulled the 9.0 shifters off of it and threw the SL's on. When I bought the 9.0s, the SL's were $5 more, but I didn't get them. It's not worth it unless you're a weight weiney and I couldn't even tell the difference to hold them.
They shift exactly like the plain 9.0s. Fast, smooth, and accurate. The only problem is getting onto the 11 toother from the one before it. Sometimes it goes, sometimes it doesn't. Oh well, I don't use it that much anyway-an 8 speed would be fine.
The only problems I've had are mis-shifting when jumping because of the half pipe size, and the little grips used to slide off. A set of Coda Paquita bar ends fixed the grips sliding off as well as gave me another place to put my hands.
Bottom line, not a good upgrade from regular 9.0s, but if you can get them for the same price as the 9.0's and want to upgrade, pick the color that goes best with your bike :-) Four chillies for value since they cost more than the 9.0 and work exactly the same. 5 chillies for overall because it's another quality SRAM product that works great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chad
a Cross Country Rider
from Mass
Date Reviewed: October 28, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Vietnam in Mass | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Landry's | | Strengths: | I found that this product performs beautifully in almost any situation as well as being easy to adjust on or off the trail. I was using XTR before and loved that, but the sram is always right on and very quick and smooth. | | Weaknesses: | I have not found a weekness yet, but will keep you pasted | | Similar Products Used: | Used XTR with Grip Shift. Used Xt with Xt rapid fire. | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Specialized Enduro Expert. Sram 9.0 with Sram rocket Shift levers. Hayes Discs, Race Face Cranks and front chainring. Protaper handle bars, with ODI lock grips. | | Bottom Line: | I Love the Sram 9.0 shifter with the Rocket shifter. I think XTR is one thing and The 9.0 ESP is quicker and smoother!
I recomed this setup for anyone who rides everyday and is willing to get the biggest bag for theor buck. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick Morgan
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Fat hand | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | wlarson297@aol.com | | Strengths: | easy shifting
reliability of shift
convenience
weight
| | Weaknesses: | seems to shifts just slightly slower than XTR,
but is *always* dead-on. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid, Shimano XTR, Shimano XT RF | | Bike Setup: | Rocoky Mountain Element Race. Race face cranks, BB, and stem, velocity synergy wheels on sram 9.0SL hunbs, moneky lite handlebars and Magura Louise Hydraulic Disk Brakes | | Bottom Line: | I weigh 205 and sometimes I ride like the broken hulk of a battleship ramming a coral reef. I have very little natural finesse, but I really enjoy riding my bike.
Under my mass, (and load) I tend to have trouble shifting well and get lots of ghost shifting due to tiny misalignments.
When I discovered SRAM 9.0SL Shifters I was pleased as Rosie O'Donnel when they announced a new flavor of Ice Cream. These are such a GREAT product. I love the fact that I can "micro-tune" each gear combo to completely eliminate chain noise in ANY gear. Also, thanks to the spring loaded shifting, I can even stop my bike completely still, shift a couples gears down, and just take off already in the new gear without even pedaling. I had concerns about braking while shifting, but now I cant imagine how I ever worried about that.
The half-pipe shifters are so natural that after a month I was no longer even conscious of them. Just a flick of the wrist and its shifting smooth as olive oil on a hot slab of marble. I was so impressed I bought sram hubs and a derailleurs as well.
In my opinion, a better product does not exist yet.
If something comes out I'll definitely buy it, but for now my clear choice is Sram 9.0SL
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | smooth shifts | | Bottom Line: | Can you say lawsuit? SRAM knows how to build a smooth shifter but they completely missed the boat on this one: the grip ends slide off the bar and the half pipe shifter makes steering on downhills a b*itch. The so-called half-pipe is actually more like a 3/4 pipe since the grips are only small enough for a child's hand. As for the grips sliding off the bar, I thought the diamater of my bars was too small and so I ducttaped the bar and then slide the grips on with some hairspray. This worked. But then I read the reviews on this site and discovered that I wasn't hallucinating; my bars are fine and the grips are terrible. Maybe SRAM will fixed these two serious product flaws and recall the ones out on the market before they get taken to the cleaners in court by an inexperienced rider who falls and seriously hurts themselves. RI-DICULOUS PRODUCT!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
peter
a Racer
from houston
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | rocky hill | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Fast, light and low maintenance. | | Weaknesses: | Grps won't stay put. | | Similar Products Used: | Sachs, plasma,attack | | Bike Setup: | Aeon Isis,zoke z2xfly, fox, king hubs and headset, raceface cranks, BB and bar, thomson post and stem. | | Bottom Line: | This is the first time in 6 years of twist shifting that I've had a problem. Can't get the grips to stay in place. Tried hairspray and 3M spray adhesive to no avail. Called sram and they said the finish on my raceface air alloy low riser was at fault. They promised to "see what they could do" about replaceing them and promptly did nothing (it's been over 2 months and no grips). Sram needs to supply a grip that will stay on a handle bar. If these require special installation (maybe safety wire?), then they should supply the needed supplies and instructions. Their customer service policies need improvement as badly as their grips. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Racer
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | shifts well | | Weaknesses: | ugly, halfpipe is too long to get firm control of the bike, too easy to ghost shift. Grips too fat | | Similar Products Used: | XT & XC Pro thumbies,LX,XT,XTR all 8&9 speeds, Xray | | Bottom Line: | First, I prefer a very thin grip. The Half Pipe is just too big around.
My biggest complaint, though, is that I just cant get a good feel on the bike on techincal downhills and uphills. If I was still in the midwest with smooth, fast trails, I'd have no problem with these shifters. However, where we ride, it is loose, steep and rocky. Riding requires precision steering going up and coming down. It is impossible to get any steering precision when the majority of each hand rests on a grip that is constantly turning one way or another. I've been racing for 9 years, so don't get me wrong, I know how to handle a bike. Just can't get used to those squirrely shifters. If they were shorter like the old Xray models, SRAM would have a good shifter on their hands. If I keep these, I'll cut them down. I'm going back to XTR. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
frog
a Cross Country Rider
from minneapolis
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Milaca | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Smooth, fast, reliable shifting.
Durable | | Weaknesses: | mishifted when I first got them because I was not used to the longer shifting surface. | | Similar Products Used: | Sach, Shimano | | Bike Setup: | 1997 cdale m900, 1999 rs judy xc, race face turbine, avid ar-50, 517/king, 9.0 sl rear, lx front | | Bottom Line: | After some intial getting used to, these are the finest shifters ever. They shift soooo nice in all conditions.They are so crisp. They are kinda tricky when climbing on the rought stuff, but you will get used to it. I love these shifters. Buy them now. Throw away the Shimano stuff | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Lincoln
a Racer
from Pullman, WA
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | "the cabin trail" | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Shifts sooo smooth. Really like the half pipe design, when I was a little weary of it. No Ghost shifts so far, and i've gone single track'in in the mud twice with it so far. | | Weaknesses: | None as of so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Sram Plasma, extreme, plasma, shimono LX, XT, XTR | | Bike Setup: | Fisher competition frame,Race Face, Avid Mag, ESP 9.0, Bontrager | | Bottom Line: | No other shifters compare! You must get these to try for yourself | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Abel
a Racer
from Pasadena, Ca, US
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Very reliable, easy to use, light weight | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM (earlier models), Shimano XTR Rapid Fire | | Bike Setup: | Specialized M4 Hard tail, Easton components, Mavic Crossmax, Manitou Carbon fork | | Bottom Line: | These are probably the best shifters out there. The half pipe is very reliable (much better than previous SRAM model). Very light weight. These shifters ROCK, specially when racing. They have taken much abuse and they are still shifting perfectly. I hate rapid fire shifters and would strongly recommend the SRAM 9.0sl shifters. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Curtis
a Weekend Warrior
from Michigan
Date Reviewed: April 24, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Light action
Positive clicks
Large grip for large hands
Very simple from an engineering stand-point; far fewer moving parts than Shimano
Easy to set up | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | SRAM ESP 7.0 shifters
Older Shimano shifters (both levers thumb actuated)
| | Bike Setup: | 97 Pro Flex Beast
ESP 7.0 rear
LX front
LX cranks and rings
Risse Astro-5 rear shock
Chubby forks w/coil springs | | Bottom Line: | I was very hesitant about buying these because no one is fitting new bikes with them, so I wasn't able to try before I bought. I finally just sucked it up and ordered a set. I am so glad I did! These shifters are light and positive in action. The halfpipe design means I don't have to think about shifting and they require much less effort than the older, shorter design. I have large hands, so this is an extra bonus for me.
I don't ever see myself going back to Shimano. I will stick with SRAM off road and Campy on the road. The SRAM stuff is so much simpler in design and a real joy to use (cheaper, too!)
All you sheep are welcome to your Shimano stuff. I have seen the light.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from FL
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Looks, quick shifts, nice down shift action. | | Weaknesses: | Louder than an m-80 when upshifting. You won't sneek up on anyone with these! | | Similar Products Used: | 99 esp 9.0 | | Bike Setup: | Sugar 4 | | Bottom Line: | Overall nice shifter but, damn are they loud! Hopefully, as they where in they'll quiet down a little. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve Domahidy
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | strawberry peak | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Fastest shifting system on the market! The downshift detent, which actually pushes the cable out rather than just letting go of it and letting the deraillure spring tension take up the slack, works to really increase the downshift speed and smoothness, including overcoming friction within the cable housing system. | | Weaknesses: | The barrell adjusters are a bit too harsh on the fingertips. The only time I mis-shift with these shifters is on extreme up-hill climbs where you almost have to trials ride up rocks and roots. Otherwise, they had flawless shifting performance. | | Similar Products Used: | Every Sram shifter, XT and XTR rapidfire. | | Bike Setup: | Cross country full suspension bike with '00 9.0 rear deraillure. | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line? This is the best product SRAM has ever put out. And that's saying alot since I've always liked there shifting systems. There might be some confusion, however, to SRAMS model years. These are the true 2000, they are white and vastly improved over last years mid-season half pipe release (which was black with a red grip). I rode on that half-pipe shifter for about seven months before switching to these, and have been incredibly impressed with the improvement. It is a huge jump in performance and feel. The grip is more ergonomic, the windows to see what gear you're in are actually useable, and the shifting is an A+. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vince
a Weekend Warrior
from Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Backbone | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Very precise shifting. Fantastic for DH or relatively flat terrain. | | Weaknesses: | Extremely difficult to avoid mis-shifts on technical climbs. I'm talking rocky shelves, loose, rutted, rooted, etc. that require a lot of torque on the handlebars. Not just the typical steep climb. | | Similar Products Used: | ESP 9.0SL, SACHS Extreme and SACHS Wavy shifters, Shimano Rapidfire. | | Bike Setup: | CHUCK CR-FS; Marzocchi CR-Z1; RCR T1 rear shock; Hope hydro Discs; Race Face crank/rings/stem; SRAM drivetrain | | Bottom Line: | I'm going to try trimming 20mm off the shifter as suggested below before ordering a new regular SRAM shifter. It's perfect for DH and ALMOST perfect for all around trail riding. The shifter would probably be infallible if it only covered the index finger rather than two full fingers.
4 1/2 Chilis for having to modify a brand new product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike T.
a Cross-Country Rider
from Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: August 18, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
Every one I ever rode. | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Beauty idea. Company backup. Shifter under my hand all the time. | | Weaknesses: |
Can't think of any.
Maybe the grip feels fatter than what I'm used to. | | Similar Products Used: |
XT thummies. GripShift X-Ray. XTR rapidfire. | | Bike Setup: |
Seven Sola. Rond-Magura Air65 fork. Magura Louise disc brakes. | | Bottom Line: | This product flat out works. I've had it for 10 rides now and there have been no miss-shifts. I can shift one or two gears even while braking and the whole cassette with one motion while not braking.
The indexing is perfectly spot on and the action is quite light and quick.
I've got a lot of peace of mind knowing that SRAM and their tech rep Edmund Nasjleti is behind this product. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darrem
a Cross-Country Rider
from Lutherville, MD
Date Reviewed: August 17, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
Avalon | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Easy, Precise Shifting
Looks Cool
Easy to shift in rough spots | | Weaknesses: |
Accidental Shifting In Rough Spots | | Similar Products Used: |
9.0 SL
Shimano XT and XTR
Shimano Thumbshifters | | Bike Setup: |
Bontrager Race/Sid XC/
Race Face Cranks/Race Wheels | | Bottom Line: | Half Pipe is a great idea...I never have to take my hand off the shifter, even in sketchy downhill sections. It does tend to shift accidentally when the bike bounces around...I may take the advice below and cut 20 mm off the shifter. Overall, I'm glad I built my bike with these shifters...try 'em. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Slide
a Racer
from Milwaukee,WI
Date Reviewed: June 21, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
ease of shifting. faster shifting | | Weaknesses: |
hmm...colour? | | Similar Products Used: |
all of the 9.9/SL setups | | Bike Setup: |
'99 Trek 8900, Manitou SX ti | | Bottom Line: | To me this is one of the best things Sram could have done. I find that I can shift and ride at the same time more confidently. With the regular size shifter it was always a matter if the trail was too rough I would have to debate about moving my hand...now when I want to shift..I do. I race XC and I find the length to be just fine. A great upgrade to any 9.0 setup. As usual...nice work SRAM! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Racer
from CT, USA
Date Reviewed: May 26, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
Vietnam | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Fast Breaking, Shifting
No slippage. Cool looking.Perfect as Is for Downhill. | | Weaknesses: |
20mm too long for XC use. | | Similar Products Used: |
8.0 Attack, ESP 9.0sl | | Bike Setup: |
Tomac 00 Buckshot
Manitou, ESP 9.0sl | | Bottom Line: | Well, this thing is the bomb. You will love it for DH and XC. However, as I thought, it is 20mm too long for XC. For DH the full length is perfect. No mis-shifts or accidental shifts, Maily due to the long travel on DH bikes. For XC use, cut it right at the P ins griPshift when you read it correctly. This will stop the accdental shifting during XC racing/riding. The accidental shifts are caused at full length because the short travel of the bike jolts your hand already on the shifter, causing a shift. Once cut, only one knuckle is on the shifter. This makes breaking easy and shifting fast. You can also ride on the shifter while climbing because it is still longer than a normal 9.0sl shifter. Also, the part of the shifter towards the middle of the bar is slimmed down. This is the next thing in shifters. But it is a preferance. Some will stay with the old style ESP shifters. But if you do get these, full length for DH and 20mm shorter for XC. Also props to SRAM for still making 8 speed. I feel 9 is a waste and SRAM doesn't force the upgrade like shimao. GO SRAM!! just say shimaNO! | | Overall Rating: |
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