Description:We’ve finally done it. They’ve been asking for years and we’ve finally crated a Trigger shifter. And with SRAM’s new Impulse Technology, this isn’t like anything you’ve ever tried. SRAM’s patented technology allows the operation of the trigger levers to follow the finger’s natural movement. The release trigger moves upwards for an ergonomically superior motion. The shifter’s maximized compatibility integrates with many levers, while its superior gear indication offers easy reading. It’s no wonder everyone is psyched about these triggers.
Submitted by
Pritch
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol, UK Date Reviewed: June 5, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Purchased At:
n/a
Strengths:
Cheap (they are now anyway)
Weaknesses:
Just about everything else.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano - which actually works for the most part.
Bike Setup:
Various models I built and sold a work.
Bottom Line:
I worked on these loads when I was a mechanic for a large UK retailer. One actually snapped apart when I was fitting it, which just made us all laugh. They would come back in their droves on customer's bikes, nearly always the cable had just sheered straight through the plastic pulleys inside and the thumb trigger was just shifting air. They weren't cost-effective to re-build as they took about twice as long as Shimano shifters owing to the awkward design. I tested bikes with these loads - they flexed when shifting and felt horrible. They set-up OK but soon came out of adjustment, even on little-used cycles.
If you're going to buy Sram stick to the top of the line stuff, anything below at least 5.0 plus these is simply horrible. You're better off with a cheap Acera grouppo than this bag of cr*p.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Neil M
a Weekend Warrior
from Winnipeg Date Reviewed: December 26, 2002
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
pricepoint
Strengths:
more reliable than my right hand and left foot in the firebird
Weaknesses:
cable changing
Similar Products Used:
shimano
Bike Setup:
9.0 triggers, 9.0 rear, sram chain, sram cassette, lx front
Bottom Line:
These are the best shifting components made hands down. All you bashers need to get a grip...and I don't mean grip shift. They aren't designed to be set up like old school shimano crap, they have to be dialed in. Most importantly the placement of the shifter on the bar. Try them so the bottom of the housing is facing backward 80-85 degrees from the ground and they're a few mm's inward from old school placement. As for being plastic, with my triple clamp fork it doesn't matter how the bike lays down or gets thrown, the shifters don't touch the ground so they could be made of aluminum foil and still rock lol. These things haven't missed a shift since day 1 and the impulse technology just plain smokes anything out there for smoothness and accurate shifting.
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Submitted by
toby friend
a Weekend Warrior
from kansas city k.s. Date Reviewed: September 4, 2002
Favorite Trail:
stadium
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
pricpoint.com
Strengths:
i you find one let me know
Weaknesses:
very brittle breaks at the slightest bump against it i like the techcnology but not the quality of the product my frontshifter striped out after 2 months and the back busted
Similar Products Used:
nothin that crapy
Bike Setup:
xt components and an sxr
Bottom Line:
this product is not worth the mony go get some shimano shifters.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
J Bell
a Cross Country Rider
from Eastern VA, USA Date Reviewed: February 23, 2002
Favorite Trail:
the next one
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Jenson
Strengths:
Push the lever, and the chain moves to the next gear...
Weaknesses:
All the bad reviews are scaring me!!
Similar Products Used:
many Shimano types
Bottom Line:
Wow, I must have picked up the only good set of Gemini 8spd shifters (I only use the right side, grip shift on the left). No complaints do far. If they stop working, I'll submit another review.
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Submitted by
Stankmo
a Weekend Warrior
from Massachusetts Date Reviewed: February 4, 2002
Favorite Trail:
The Stinky Pinky (really, at northfiled mountain)
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$33.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA.com
Strengths:
Not shimano, I guess the color is ok. 8-speed is cool.
Old Shimano Deores...used for two years...I broke the casing in a fall and they still worked
Bike Setup:
Iron Horse w/Fatty Components soon to be Gary Fisher X-Caliber (hell yah)
Bottom Line:
trash trash trash...my first bike ever had gripshift, and it was cool. But then I got triggers on my next bike, and I just liked the feel better. Then, when I started building up the Iron Horse, I decided to replace the busted yet functional shimanos with the cool new SRAM stuff, remembering how I liked the grip shifting action. These were also the only 8 speeds I could find. Big mistake. The triggers are totally in the wrong spots, the angle is wrong for shifting...the thumb push is so long that you have to take your hand off the bar to use it. there is no reassuring click when you shift, and sometimes it just plain doesnt work. SRAM is a good company. If you dig gripshift, then by all means check them out. But if you like trigger style stay the shimano course.
ya heard
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Redshift
a Cross Country Rider
from Lansing, MI Date Reviewed: January 3, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Burchfield
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
speedgoat
Strengths:
8 speed!
Weaknesses:
They're crap
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XT (96,97,98,00 - all still working)
Bike Setup:
Fully tricked Proflex 957
Bottom Line:
Boy I really wanted these to work out. Continuing 8 speed support is really welcome and desired.
Unfortunately I have to echo what others have said.
The left pod stripped out after just a couple weeks of riding and probably no more than 30 shifts. A minor endo caused the right pod to literally disintegrate - a crash that my Shimano shifters have survived many times. Plus these things are just way too bulky.
These are without a doubt the worst designed and manufactured components I've ever used. I just hope that SRAM can make it right.
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Submitted by
Rob
a Racer
from NS, Canada Date Reviewed: November 16, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
jensonUSA
Strengths:
Nice shifting
Weaknesses:
Nice shifting for a VERY short time Cheap Internals.....terribly durability Big and ugly
Similar Products Used:
Shimano LX, XT
Bike Setup:
Devinci Chilli Pepper, 8 speed
Bottom Line:
This review is of the Gemini, 8 speed shifter.
The throw on the front shifter is very long...long thumbs or extra effort are required. The front shifter failed after one week. I put on an old SHimano becasue returing both shifters would have meant downtime on my bike...cant have that.
The rear shifter is nice and smooth, going up or down. It's a push-push type shifter, like early Rapidfires. The rear shifter failed after 2 months.
These shifters are not able to stand up to any sort of intense riding. After riding Shimano Rapid Fire for the past 8 years I decided to give these a try, just for yucks...they're garbage, plain and simple.
Nice try SRAM, but your reputation will take a big hit if you keep putting products like this on the market.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Johnathan Boreas
a Racer
from Macroft, CA Date Reviewed: September 2, 2001
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
The 9.0 ESP system rocks
Weaknesses:
Sounds like the Gemni shifter doesn't.
Similar Products Used:
SRAM 9.0 Shorty
Bottom Line:
Ok, why is everyone here reviewing the crappy Gemini shifter when the picture is of the 9.0 shifter? The ESP system rocks, it always has, Shimano deraileurs are trash. If you are going to buy SRAM don't chicken out, go to ESP and don't look back. 1:1 ratio is the way to go. If you want a $150 XTR deraileur that breaks off the first time you hit a log, by all means stick with Shimano.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a
from Crystal Lake IL USA Date Reviewed: August 7, 2001
Favorite Trail:
John Muir WI
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
Speedgoat
Bottom Line:
I originally said I would submit a follow up review at the end of the season (when ever that is), but I can`t. I sent these back to Speedgoat and asked for an exchange. If the average Joe Schmoe can`t replace the cables himself then that`s trouble. I also noticed the shifting losing its smoothness only after a short while. I contacted Sram and they said that they are retooling for next years models to make cable replacement more human. I really wanted these things to work. I like trigger shifters and I like to buy US products whenever I can. Lets hope that Sram will come out with durable,user friendly trigger shifter in the near future. As of now I`m waiting for a set of XT`s from Speedgoat, who by the way treated this exchange wonderfully. I think everyone should buy from Speedgoat. How many of the big closeout online dealers would do an exchange like I did with a product that was actually working, but was going to cost me money everytime I wanted to change cables. I think none. I`m a speedgoat customer for life becouse of this. BUY FROM SPEEDGOAT.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Crash Lee
a
from Los Alamos NM USA Date Reviewed: August 6, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Adrenalin bikes
Bottom Line:
This product is much to fragile for real trail use. I started out with the gemini shifter( yes I submited the abovve review.) which boke on the first ride out after a very gentile upset. Waiting for about a month for a warrenty part it arrives it is the pro model while installing it I test it and it wil not shift properly Looking closer i notice the the shift indicator has separated from the housing save your money If you must buy SRAM stick with their Grip shift line if you want triggers STAY with SHIMANO.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Aaron
a
from Golden, CO Date Reviewed: July 18, 2001
When installed worked great, except a long throw in the front, until 3 trail rides, then the rear would get held up down shifting, only way to keep in correct gear is to up shift, then down shift. Then 5 rides later shifting in the rear held up in the middle gears, had to tap the unit a couple times, then it would release to lower gears. Will try and grease the unit and adjust the tension in rear derail. and see if it helps.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jarred
a Racer
from boston, ma, usa Date Reviewed: July 4, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
cambria
Strengths:
none
Weaknesses:
front shifter seized after 10 shifts, the rear shifter refuses to shift down properly
I'd like to first point out my qualifications before slamming this product. I worked as a bike mechanic for 4 years, eventually managing the service end of a shop at my university. I now have an M.S. in mechanical engineering and work intimately with the design, management, and production of consumer products.
That said, I have one word for these shifters: LEMONS. I bought these along with a brand new 9.0 rear derailure, new xtr front derailure, and new cables and housing all cut to the proper lengths. The front shifter seized after 10 shifts on the road, and the rear shifter refuses to downshift consistently. The rear shifter will work correctly only if the thumb/upshift is pulled all the way back to its rest position; a position it often refuses to return to on its own. This seems to be consistent with other reviews regarding wimpy internal parts. If SRAM ever built and tested prototypes that worked, they certainly are not testing what comes off of their product lines.
I have not contacted SRAM yet with these issues, judging by other reviews I expect that SRAM will be resposive to my complaints. This was my first attempt at purging my bike of Shimano shifting components and I sincerely hope that SRAM's trigger shifters will become a viable alternative after the kinks are worked out. After all, these are the first shifters they've designed which utilize more than three moving parts.
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Submitted by
jim
a
from grand rapids Date Reviewed: July 3, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
great idea works with most brake levers
Weaknesses:
NOT COMPATIBLE WITH ANY SRAM BRAKE LEVERS!!! Sram is aware of this and is working to remedy the situation.
Similar Products Used:
XTR 9.0SL
Bike Setup:
2001 Santa Cruz Heckler 1998 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo (steel is real, baby)
Bottom Line:
i just got off the phone with a Sram rep from Chicago. He was following up on my complaint that my 9.0 composite levers and new shifters were not compatible - the lever's clamp bolt limits the travel of the triggers to the point of inoperability - at all. He admitted that this was a huge oversight and he is sending a set of Rocket shorty's (for an XTR der.) out right away to help make things right. The compatibility issues stem from having design teams in more than one place and he says that they are working to coordinate things better in the future.
Zero chilis for the issues. Five chilis for the service.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Broke
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder Date Reviewed: July 1, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$85.00
Purchased At:
bike shop
Strengths:
comes in 8 speed for the old farts.
Weaknesses:
immediately broke. note: was installed correctly... actually shifter is very large and bulky, takes up to much cockpit room.
Similar Products Used:
lx, xt, & xtr pods, esp9.0
Bike Setup:
steel rig w/ it all.
Bottom Line:
2001 Trigger Pro:
I wish I had more time on these to make a better judgement, but I didn't even get of the driveway before they croaked. Thankfully the lbs has good service and we'll see how the second pair comes out. Till they get ALL the kinks worked out stay away from these, you might get stranded in the middle of nowhere.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mtbmark
a Cross Country Rider
from Crystal Lake IL USA Date Reviewed: June 27, 2001
Favorite Trail:
The one I`m on
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
Price Point
Strengths:
Shifting is smooth and clean.The price is right on.
Weaknesses:
Changing a cable was difficult to do.Front shifter would`nt shift to the small ring a couple of times.
The jury is still out on these. One month is not a fair amount of time to test Sram`s Gemeni shifters. My first reaction when I used these was crisp, clean, and smooth.Like a fine brew.The front shifter works flawlessly with a definite click, and on to the next gear. The front shifter is a step above my old LX shifters in smoothness but I`m a bit concerned about the couple of times they refused to shift into the small ring. I`ll recheck the set up. You have to be carefull how you set the shifter pod up in relation to your brake levers. So far I like these shifters. I do believe that their home will be on the XC trails.If these hold up they will give Shimano a run for their money. Also give yourself some time to get used to the thumbs only shifting.I`ll resubmit a follow up at the end of the season.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Crash Lee
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Alamos, NM, USA Date Reviewed: June 19, 2001
Favorite Trail:
backyard single track
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$39.00
Purchased At:
adrenaline bikes over the PH
Strengths:
gemini shifter were working well to start shifting as descent
Weaknesses:
while climbing lower quemazon had a very minor upset which caused the rear pod to bust
Similar Products Used:
shimano XT BL and shifter combo
Bike Setup:
fisher hoo koo e koo mix of compnets
Bottom Line:
I am waiting on warrenty parts from sram fortunatly I have a second bike to cruise on. I am toasting these with one chile over all. the price is good if they can make them more durable.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mb
a
from pa. Date Reviewed: June 14, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
somewhere i wll never buy from again
Strengths:
8 speed compatable,light,rear shifting works great accurate & smooth,fairly inexpensive.
Weaknesses:
reliability ? front shifter broke in one ride, wont shift up to big ring - internals broke. cheap plastic parts.extremely difficult to install gore gable upgrade(tip- bend small radidus hook at gore cable end then try fishing through) - made it much easier. product needs some improvement and refinements to rate a 5.
Similar Products Used:
xt/xtr
Bike Setup:
fullsuss
Bottom Line:
needs to be tweaked by the manufacturer for servicability reliability beef up the guts of these things ! and they will rock ! i am glad to see people sticking with 8 speed. 8 speed rules -who needs 9 speed anyways ? whats - next 12 speed with a 2 mm chain! give me a break.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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