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Shimano Acera

Average Rating 3.76/5
# of Reviews 41
MSRP $ 30.00
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Description:Shimano Acera
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    Submitted by AA a Weekend Warrior from Manila, Philippines
    Date Reviewed: May 21, 2008
    Favoriate Trail:all
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Purchased At:Ross Bike Shop Cartimar
    Strengths:nice design, cool black color & easy to read indicators. Easy to shift
    Weaknesses:paint easily scratches, brake lever on right side reaches my 2 outer fingers when hard braking, need to adjust it...
    Similar Products Used:none (yet!)
    Bike Setup:stock 2008 Jamis X trail 3.0 24s disc with Cat Eye Velo 8 computer
    Bottom Line:It is an afforable component group for a starter bike, which suits my needs. As I gain more experience, will upgrade to 9 speed, possibly with Deore group & Cane Creek brake levers (all black)
    Value Rating:2Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by AA a Weekend Warrior from Manila, Philippines
    Date Reviewed: May 21, 2008
    Favoriate Trail:all
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Purchased At:Dan's Bike Shop Cartimar
    Strengths:nice design, cool black color & easy to read indicators. Easy to shift
    Weaknesses:paint easily scratches, brake lever on right side reaches my 2 outer fingers when hard braking
    Similar Products Used:none (yet!)
    Bike Setup:stock 2008 Jamis X trail 3.0 24s disc with Cat Eye Velo 8 computer
    Bottom Line:It is an afforable component group for a starter bike, which suits my needs. As I gain more experience, will upgrade to 9 speed, possibly with Deore group & Cane Creek brake levers (all black)
    Value Rating:2Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by Tommi a from Canada
    Date Reviewed: April 12, 2008
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Price Paid: $23.00
    Purchased At:Georges Cycle
    Strengths:The Acera rear shifter on my Norco Bushpilot finally snapped in half, after 8 years of trail/ street/abusive riding.
    I plan on getting another one and repair the bike. I found it easy to adjust,with seamless shifting if properly done.
    As I've read, it's not the best for the exreme riders, but for what I do- streets, some trails and occasionally cross country- it worked out pretty well.
    Bike Setup:2000 Norco Bushpilot
    Bottom Line:The bottom line: 8 years of riding everywhere, and a lot of abuse. Pretty good value, I'd say.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Joel C a Weekend Warrior from Sydney, NSW, Australia
    Date Reviewed: April 7, 2008
    Favoriate Trail:Yo' Mama
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Strengths:Bulletproof, strong
    Weaknesses:Heavy, front crank rings cannot be tightened nor disassembled
    Similar Products Used:Alivio fitted as OEM
    Bike Setup:98 Giant sedona (the black "anniversary" edition)
    Bottom Line:My comments are on the front crankset and rear cassette only.

    A certain bike shop changed my worn alivio gear for this series a few years back and I didn't think much of it (I wasn't all that fussed about materials and so forth back then). Though I probably paid too much as I actually thought it was better than the original ware.

    This is probably because they are made of steel and not aluminium, which explains why they have lasted longer and haven't gotten all bent and worn out like the aluminium ones did. Works well with the original STX equipment.

    They've mainly been used for commuting but have held up well to the occasional bashing on kerbs and ramps etc.

    The only reason I would replace them is that dirt has gotten between the rings on the front and I cannot actually pull them apart to clean them nor can I tighten them. Oh, and they're heavy.

    Giving them a high value rating because they are really cheap for what they do (and how long they last). Otherwise, they are pretty average.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by Alfredo Flores a Cross Country Rider from Saltillo, Coahuila, MEXICO
    Date Reviewed: April 30, 2007
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Strengths:Shifts fast, I've used in the past cheapo bikes that I got fed up, then I decided to get a Giant Boulder SE 2007 Model, bought 1 month ago. I've ridden the bike almost 400km to this moment and this rear derailleur works great. You should fine tune as in every bike to get the most out of this component. I have used the bike offroad and have put a decent amount of stress on the bike, but no problems at all.
    Weaknesses:None ATM, makes a little noise when using the 34T Mega-Range sprocket though.
    Similar Products Used:Shimano Tourney, came in a cheap bike I bought last year, heavy frame.
    Bike Setup:Giant Boulder SE 2007: Shimano 7-Speed Mega-Range, Shimano C101 front derailleur, Shimano EF-50 Shifters. I wish I had a 8-speed drivetrain.
    Bottom Line:If you're looking for entry-level performance get these. However, I did at first wanted a Yukon 07, but didn't have the budget, so, you better get a Deore, but if you don't have the budget go for the Acera, much much better the Tourney I used.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by muddy fox a Cross Country Rider from Palawan, Philippines
    Date Reviewed: April 22, 2007
    Favoriate Trail:El Nido Trails
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Price Paid: $15.00
    Purchased At:Came in w/y first bike
    Strengths:Affordable, can do the job of higer ends shifter.
    Weaknesses:being an "Acera model" only.
    Similar Products Used:Deore, Sram, and SunRace
    Bike Setup:MOB Frame with Acera Gruppo ( Japan not Malaysia-old model )
    Bottom Line:This product will last if used on "normal" use only and very minimal abuse on trails. But by nature, I guess acera is not designed for extreme rides, maybe for city cycling only. If you are planning to bike seriously do not use this product but if you are a city commuter, this is enough to do the job.
    Value Rating:3Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by blade ofdeath a Downhiller from chico, CA, United States
    Date Reviewed: November 27, 2006
    Favoriate Trail:olympus mons
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Purchased At:with bike
    Strengths:it lasted for a while doing ok, not great. yeah, i said it... oooooh!?
    Weaknesses:thing sheared right off. its weak, too weak for any serious kind of downhill. definitely not cut out for drops and jumping.
    Bottom Line:whatever, im broke.
    Value Rating:2Overall Rating:2

    Submitted by Justin M a Cross Country Rider from MD
    Date Reviewed: September 12, 2006
    Favoriate Trail:just gimme trail or gimme deth!
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Purchased At:with bike
    Strengths:LOOK AT THIS REVIEW@@@@@@@@@@######################!

    quick shifting, doesnt giv u any blisters... very nice ad comfortable on long rides.
    Weaknesses:plastic shell looks cheap, although it does protect from breakage on the internals, and doesnt work well with acera derailleurs, i recomend xt derailleur with it
    Similar Products Used:xtr, xt, and a few other shimano's
    Bike Setup:gary fisher wahoo xt equipped with the nixon platinum fork
    Bottom Line:If u dont wana spend a cupl hundred on shifters that will work just as well as any other and want comfortable shifters without busted hands and blisters, i highly highly recomend these for any1,
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Ben Briant a Cross Country Rider from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
    Date Reviewed: May 28, 2006
    Favoriate Trail:Lysterfield trails/ Mt Dandenong trails
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Strengths:Has reliable shifting and is easy to read digits. Looks good as well.
    Weaknesses:None
    Bike Setup:05 Giant Yukon
    Bottom Line:These are OEM shifters and are brilliant 8 speed shifters. I've had them nearly for 2 years now and they have never let me down, they do the job well. I will though, need to replace shifting cables as they are rusted and do not shift as well.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Nick a Cross Country Rider from Ithaca, NY
    Date Reviewed: April 25, 2006
    Favoriate Trail:Shindagan Hollow
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Purchased At:Bert's Bikes
    Strengths:These came with my bike and have lasted through several years of mud and abuse with little maintenance. The trigger/thumb shifters are the most comfortable shifting setup I have tried. Other than the ocassional adjustment they were great. I am forced to repace them after one too many NY winters, but I liked them so much I may just get the same thing again.
    Weaknesses:Need adjustment on a regular basis.
    Similar Products Used:Something else...I don't know what they were
    Bike Setup:late 90's GT Timberline
    Bottom Line:A great value! Super rugged, comfortable, and affordable.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by chris oxard a Downhiller from england
    Date Reviewed: November 26, 2005
    Favoriate Trail:nevis range downhill track (scotland)
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $15.00
    Purchased At:iv no idea how much it cost it came with the bike (saracen dtox)
    Strengths:it dose what its supost to (usualy)
    Weaknesses:scraches and bends easyly
    Bottom Line:why the hell they put this shifter on my xc bike i dont know they dont even fit properly. if your looking for fast gear changing and no chain sliping dont buy these!!!
    Value Rating:2Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Nick a Weekend Warrior from Sydney
    Date Reviewed: November 5, 2005
    Favoriate Trail:The Great North Walk
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Purchased At:OEM
    Strengths:Does what its ment to.
    Weaknesses:Chunky, breaks easily (I broke it from riding with my legs on my handlebars and I took a leg off and the shifter casing went with it). Also it cracks and scrapes really easily. I had to replace to casing of it.
    Similar Products Used:Shimano Deore Rapid fire shifters
    Bike Setup:Giant Rincon 05
    Bottom Line:It does what is ment to, its obiously not ment to be on a dirt jumping bike more of a recreational bike. It scratches easily and the casing breaks easily.
    Value Rating:2Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by Emmanuel Hugo a Cross Country Rider from Digos City, Philippines
    Date Reviewed: November 5, 2005
    Favoriate Trail:cross country
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Price Paid: $70.00
    Purchased At:local bike shop
    Strengths:maneuverable and easy to use and good for my golden age to go on a regular week-end 100-km-cross-country-biking fun
    Weaknesses:none so far
    Similar Products Used:Shimano Altus
    Bike Setup:BigCat Jaguar-framed MTB
    Bottom Line:On frame mounted superbly by a good bike mechanic following the product instruction it functions flawlessly in the open field. This product is appropriate for bikers with golden ages.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Gilbert Cunanan a Cross Country Rider from Paranaque City, Philippines
    Date Reviewed: September 6, 2005
    Favoriate Trail:roads in the Montalban area (Philippines).
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $20.00
    Purchased At:a local bike shop
    Strengths:Priced fairly. Reliable shifting. Easy to read digits. Controls easy to find. Lives up to the "EZ Fire" name.
    Weaknesses:Looks betray its price. Scratches easily and the location (above the handlebar) doesn't help. Can't upgrade to 9-speed.
    Similar Products Used:Cheaper no-name thumb shifters.
    Bike Setup:Typical high-tensile steel mall bike with upgraded parts.
    Bottom Line:I am currently building a newer, lighter bike with my own choice components and would likely use this same model shifter, partly since I'm already used to this and will still be using it on my other bike but also because I like the assurance it gives me. I don't race nor do serious downhill runs so I need "EZ Fire" shifting more than "Rapid Fire" shifting.

    However, I say "likely use this" because the plasticky look really turns me off and I might just decide it will make my new bike look cheap. Yet to decide.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Muz a from Sydney, Oz
    Date Reviewed: March 5, 2005
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $50.00
    Purchased At:out-of-business sale
    Strengths:Works well! Fitted them as a minor upgrade to a bargain basement alu. bike for comfort's sake - I'm an old, out-of-shape guy who uses the bike for transport. They replaced a pair of SRAM twist-shifters that sucked so badly; hard to rotate, imprecise, total rubbish! The Acera used a slightly different index range to the FIS derailleurs, it took a small cable-pull-point extension lever to synch them. I've got the Acera derailleurs if I need them, but the FIS ones work well with the shifters. So much less strain on my wrists and hands with them. Smooth and reliable in use.
    Weaknesses:None that have interfered with my riding.
    Similar Products Used:Twist-grip and thumb index shifters only 'til now, which is why I decided to try these.
    Bike Setup:alu. frame, cheapy but strong. Riser bars to take weight off my wrists, sprung seat for comfort (middle age concession, I'm not competing for anything, just doing around three-and-a half hours daily - work and back)
    Bottom Line:They work for me! They're almost solely responsible for a 4kmh increase along my daily commute, which demonstrated to me how entirely woeful twist-grip shifters are. I've got no regrets about choosing this model, which I didn't research before I bought, being ignorant. I bought them because they were commonly fitted to models up the range from mine, so I went with the flow. A good move in hindsight.
    Value Rating:3Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Tim a Weekend Warrior from Deephaven, MN
    Date Reviewed: May 24, 2004
    Favoriate Trail:Hoo Koo e Koo
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Price Paid: $350.00
    Purchased At:Penn Cycle, Mps
    Strengths:price, durability, easy to adjust, looks
    Weaknesses:not good for racing
    Similar Products Used:Deore, older over bar (the cool old ones)
    Bike Setup:Lower end Gary Fisher w/rock shocks. medium to aggressive.
    Bottom Line:I laugh at guys who say these need to be upgraded, and then just parade their stuff around on cement. These things have been pounded through the mud and rocks, and take abuse. I liked the older over/bar shifters better than any of the rapid fires...but these'll do just fine for way less than the higher end stuff. And, will get me through until I can get on the road on my ultegras where you really get what you pay for. I'd never go higher than Acera unless I were paid to race. Nice product! Higher is a waste on an MTB, and if you disagree, then you're just parading your money on your bike.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by Chris a Weekend Warrior from Edmonton,Alberta,Canada
    Date Reviewed: April 2, 2004
    Favoriate Trail:anything
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $20.00
    Purchased At:united cycle
    Strengths:None they suck
    Weaknesses:everything they just dont shift.The day i bought my bike they started crapping out on me. they wouldnt shift up.
    Similar Products Used:shimano alivio and deore
    Bike Setup:trek 4300 rock shock judy
    Bottom Line:these shifters suck. there cheap pieces of junk. I brought them in to get fixed when i got my bike back and started climbing a hill they wouldnt shift up agian.
    Value Rating:3Overall Rating:2

    Submitted by mark b. a Weekend Warrior from midwest
    Date Reviewed: February 28, 2004
    Favoriate Trail:the one in front of me
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Purchased At:secondhand
    Strengths:reliable shifting, due to the 8-SPEED!!! Good value, and 8-SPEED!!!
    Weaknesses:EZ-Fire a little different feel than rapidfire (Alivio & up)
    Similar Products Used:Alivio, Deore
    Bike Setup:Motobecane (KHS) FS, 24-speed converted, xt crank, Hayes Mech., Black fork, RaceFace stem, carbon bar
    Bottom Line:Acera works! My old set from my last bike are still going strong on my brother's bike, and I have a set on my new bike. I will switch up to Alivio next season, simply because the true Rapidfire works just that little bit better. Most people don't remember that the XT they say doesn't work as well is 9-SPEED (SUUUUUCK!!). Thanks for nothing, Shimano -- should have stopped at 8.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by Jacob O'Neall a Downhiller from Eubank, Ky
    Date Reviewed: January 25, 2004
    Favoriate Trail:any that's good
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Purchased At:came on bike
    Strengths:um.......
    Weaknesses:went through two complete sets, plus a third right side shifter withind one year, not due to crashing, just the internals failing. The first right-side shifter failed before I got the bike out of the store parking lot. they ARE that bad.
    Similar Products Used:none this bad.
    Bike Setup:2000 Mongoose XR-850 DH/FR frame with 6 inches of travel, RST Sigma XL 8 inch inverted fork, Bombshell DH front wheel, Jayco rear wheel, WTB Mutanoraptor 2.4 lazer f & r, WTB Power V DH saddle, Promax disks, Shimano acera shifters & front derailler/ deore rear derailler, Truvativ Firex cranks, Raceface bb
    Bottom Line:Don't buy these. I'm tired of them and am replacing them as soon as my time permits. I thought my first set was just a bad pair, but any decent shifter should at least survive a test spin around the parking lot. My sram mrx's and 7.0 twisters are much more reliable and perform better. Get some Sram shifter, not these from shimano. Okay, I'll be fair, I've had good experience with deore &lx, so if you are going to get shimano buy deore or better. Hint: Sram has new triggers.
    Value Rating:2Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by j jh a Cross Country Rider from Canberra
    Date Reviewed: December 17, 2003
    Favoriate Trail:Majura
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Price Paid: $50.00
    Purchased At:Bike Culture
    Strengths:Never missed a shift, don't seem to go out of tune like other shifters.
    Weaknesses:Looks a bit dodgey - has no street cred. because they are so cheap.
    Similar Products Used:LX deore
    Bike Setup:Merida Dakar 670
    Bottom Line:These shifters were gold compared to all other ons I've ridden - all my friends with their expensive XT and LX gear always had problems but me on my cheapass piece of crap had no trouble shifting gears through mud up hills and down.

    I've finally upgraded to deore on a new bike and I wish these new shifters were as good as my old dodgey ones.

    They probably aren't all as good as the ones I got - I think mine were freaks, kind of like Herby the magic VW that was in that 80s disney movie but they served me well and never missed a beat.

    If you're thinking about buying these then I'd say you can't go wrong, they're just as likely to work reliably as more expensive stuff. Maybe they weigh a few grams more is all.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Konte a Cross Country Rider from Greece
    Date Reviewed: September 13, 2003
    Favoriate Trail:St. Marinos
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Price Paid: $35.00
    Purchased At:Papanikolaou
    Strengths:Easy and quick shifting,no maintainance needed all these years and they don't have problems with mud or water.
    Weaknesses:These plastic cups...get scrathed easily.
    Similar Products Used:Shimano Altus, Shimano LX, SRAM 7.0
    Bottom Line:These shifters are great for cross country riding and won't create problems even when they are operating in a hard way!They have everything you expect from quality and performance shifters in a reasonable price!
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Dave Janovetz a Cross Country Rider from Wausau WI, U.S.A.
    Date Reviewed: July 13, 2003
    Favoriate Trail:Nine Mile Park
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Purchased At:Rib Mountain Cycle
    Strengths:they work well, you can see what gear you in well.
    Weaknesses:the feed back kind of sucks
    Similar Products Used:grip shift, xt
    Bike Setup:specialized hardrock comp
    Bottom Line:im satisfied. theyre not great but they work and are comfortabe to use.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by mike n a Cross Country Rider from crestview
    Date Reviewed: January 9, 2003
    Favoriate Trail:University of West Florida
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Purchased At:came on bike (Jamis Cross Country)
    Strengths:Fairly durable. A couple of head-ons into trees and no damage to them yet. Easy to use.
    Weaknesses:Not as fluid feeling as alot of higher end shifters. These skin my knuckles.
    Similar Products Used:low end SRAM shifters
    Bike Setup:2002 Jamis Cross Country SX, clipless pedals, Acera derailers, etc.
    Bottom Line:These are great entry level shifters. They are durable enough to handle my trail riding and a couple of spills. My biggest problem however, is that they skin the top of my pointer finger knuckles. There is a sharp plastic molding joint somewhere that really eats up my skin when I'm riding hard and attempt to shift. I'll probably upgrade soon.
    Value Rating:3Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by Gerald a Weekend Warrior from San Mateo, Rizal, Philippines
    Date Reviewed: December 9, 2002
    Favoriate Trail:San Mateo to Cogeo Trail
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $120.00
    Purchased At:John Wilke's
    Strengths:Low Price
    Precise Shifting
    No Gear Drifting
    Similar Products Used:Shimano Altus
    Bike Setup:Schwinn Moab.
    Bottom Line:I prefer buying shimano deore component group but my budget allowed me to buy only the next best thing. So far, my bike performs as expected though.
    For recreational bikers, this is the product to buy.
    For serious racers, better go for at least Deore.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by Aaron a from Austin, TX
    Date Reviewed: August 15, 2002
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $1.00
    Purchased At:oem
    Strengths:Good reliable shifting when used for what it was designed for
    Weaknesses:Not very ergonomic for my hands. The thumb levers were much to high and far back to easily get to.
    Similar Products Used:Alivio rapidfire, Deore thumb SIS, gripshift
    Bike Setup:well I can tell you that it doesnt have Acera on it anymore
    Bottom Line:These shifter/brake levers came stock on my bike. I liked them ok, but it was a little uncomfortable for me to shift with my thumb since I had the brake levers turned so far down (which is one problem with having a unified shifter/brake levers, you can adjust the position independently.) The main reason I upgraded to the Alivio rapidfire shifters was because the shifter levers were positioned different, but mostly I was upgrading just for the sake of upgrading. I didnt want to have anything from the Acera line on my bike. That said, I have nothing against it, I just wanted better stuff. Taking my bike and other similarly priced bikes for examples, I think these shifters offer excellent performance in the price range they are offered. But dont expect them to keep up with any of the LX or higher components. The important thing is not the price of your bike or its components, but the fact that these shifters are getting all dirty because you are out on the trails having a blast.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Baube a Weekend Warrior from Baie-Comeau
    Date Reviewed: July 24, 2002
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Price Paid: $30.00
    Purchased At:spinsport www.spinsport.qc.ca
    Strengths:though, quick, ergonomic and precise
    Weaknesses:none
    Similar Products Used:altus, grip shift, sis thumbshifter, LX
    Bike Setup:front derailleur sis; rear derailleur tried a lot(stx-rc, lx, xt, acera, altus)
    Bottom Line:work great with all of the derailleur above and i recommand this products to all who search a good shifter and did'nt want to pay an xtr shifter
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Scott a from Austin, TX USA
    Date Reviewed: April 25, 2002
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Purchased At:Ride Away Bicycles
    Strengths:Great set up. Tough and durable. Works well with xtr derailers
    Weaknesses:None yet.
    Bike Setup:2001 GT Aggressor 2.0 Rock Shock Jett fork and seat post, xtr rear derailer and lx crankset and bb, Hutchison python treads
    Bottom Line:As I slowly up grade my bike I feel I can keep these. Smooth shifting, ultra compatible and durable.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Martin Drake a Weekend Warrior from Melbourne, VIC, Australia
    Date Reviewed: April 15, 2002
    Favoriate Trail:Capital City Trail
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Price Paid: $30.00
    Purchased At:Melbourne City Cycles
    Strengths:Good down shift, generally smooth change.
    Weaknesses:Does not handle a lot of vibration (my first set fell apart at 14mths - the bike spends a lot of time on the back of the car and often off-road). Hard to keep clean & lub'd. Needs regular tweaking to maintain tidy shifts.
    Similar Products Used:Early version of Acera.
    Bike Setup:Shogun Trailblazer II, updated seat/post, bars and cranks.
    Bottom Line:Would probably look at upgrading to a sturdier set next time (replaced the failed set with newer Acera - the bike has been costing me more than the car lately !).
    The first unit was good while I was doing mainly road/sealed track work.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by Ronald Aliwalas a Weekend Warrior from Bacoor,Cavite, Philippines
    Date Reviewed: February 12, 2002
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $12.00
    Purchased At:Cartimar
    Strengths:It's Cheap but performs well. Perfect for bikers on a low budget.
    Weaknesses:Not ideal for rough riding but it can be used for it if needed. After all it, was described by shimano as "City-MTB component group".
    Similar Products Used:Altus
    Bike Setup:CHEAP rigid setup (Got it from Makro and upgraded some of its components to Shimano.) Altus V-brakes. Acera Derailleurs.
    Bottom Line:It is definitely not a racer's first choice for components, but for cash-strapped bikers it is a good choice. It is cheap, yes , but it does what it was advertised to do - "For real mountain bike performance".
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Niels Joubert a from Stellenbosch, South Africa
    Date Reviewed: October 22, 2001
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Purchased At:Came with my bike
    Strengths:Tougher than it looks. VERY easy to use. Fast shifting down. Great price.
    Weaknesses:Difficult to clean quickly. Gets hurt first when you fal, because the "display" sits on top.
    Bike Setup:Diamondback Vectra 1999. Planning to buy Rockshox Judy C and MTB Seatpost shock.
    Bottom Line:This is a very good product for the beginner and middle-class rider. The shifting works well and, altough I have never cleaned it properly (as in take it apart and clean), it still works with no problems. With the systen to easy and quickly shift down 3 gers at once, you can easily navigate difficult sections where lots of gear-shifting is needed.

    I am not a very rough off-road driver, but after a few nasty falls, 300km on the back of a car though very dry semi-desert, lots of water and mud, it is still going strong. I have once sprayed a bit of Q20 inside just to keep it lubricated - don't do this! Some of the oil comes out again, and then it is very difficult to clean off any dust that gets is.

    Personally these shifters have never disappointed me, butif you are a professional or really goes for the roughest, toughest sections, then this is not the best product. For every other use, it is really the best.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by alex a from ENGLAND
    Date Reviewed: August 26, 2001
    Favoriate Trail:dead man's hill
    Duration Product Used:1 Year