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Shimano lightest action 12 speed shifter?

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Discussion starter · #21 ·
SB Trails said:
Have you reached out to sram yet? Id try them to see what they might say. Have you hooked up the sram app on your phone yet? Maybe there is a firmware update that is needed for either the shifter pod or the derailleur. Or both...
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Firmware update didn't help. Made it worse actually.

Look, I already said in my post I don't want anyone to convince to me to run SRAM. I'm done with their crap.
 
#22 ·
stripes said:
I have a 12 speed setup, and I've tried AXS T-type and non-T AXS access, and I really hate the feel of it because it cannot shift at all in some of the gears, no matter what.

So I'm looking to go back to Shimano. What I'm looking for is the lightest action Shimano 12 speed shifter. I'll be pairing it with an SLX rear derailleur, but that shouldn't matter.

My understanding is the XTR shifter is the most customizable, so I'm thinking that might be my best bet for lighter action. I'm pretty sure that I can't make it feel as light as the AXS, so I'm looking into going back to Shimano. Please do not try to convince me that SRAM is the answer, because it's not what I'm looking for. Thanks for your help!
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I'm running a X01 AXS shifter and derailleur with XT 12spd cassette, chain and chain ring. Shifting doesn't get much lighter than that, but it is $$$$

Shifts perfectly.
 
#26 ·
stripes said:
Firmware update didn't help. Made it worse actually.
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Just out of curiosity, what was the problem with the AXS stuff?
And which cassette did you run, the 10-51 or the smaller 10-45?

Not trying to convince you to go back to that stuff, but I'm planning to change one of my bikes from Di2 to GX AXS with shimano 10-45 cassette + chain, question mark is mainly that how should I set the B-tension properly and/or if there might be some other hiccups with the smaller version of the cassette. Apparently many have had such combo working well with the bigger cassette at least...
 
#27 ·
For SHmeagle, Sramano, whatever, I use the spacing that Shimano recommends:
How to get perfect shifting on a Shimano 12-speed drivetrain (youtube.com)

For SRAM, I use the spacing technique using the white plastic tool.
I've used the GX-AXS since it came out. First with SRAM and then with Shimano. Both worked extremely well. The Shimano was very close to flawless. Just recently, I put the SRAM cassette back on and it was absolutely flawless. I have kept the rear-D and pod up to date on firmware updates with no issues. If you get it and you can't get it set up satisfactorily, I would suspect that there's something wrong with the specific derailleur and I would return it. I have no experience with the newest AXS and have only used it with 12 speed (I guess there's a workaround with 11 speed) cassettes.
 
#28 ·
stripes said:
Thanks, I ended up going with XT shifter and derailleur and SLX cassette (since that's what my LBS had in stock). I'll let you know how it goes.
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interesting. I rode SLX for about two years before moving to XT (and put SLX on another bike) and I wasn't sure it was an upgrade at first. Now i'm used to XT and doing just fine. I agree with several other posters who said that SLX shifter is lighter vs. XT, XT has more deliberate clicks.

remember to rebuild the clutch every once and a while.
 
Discussion starter · #29 ·
Verttii said:
Just out of curiosity, what was the problem with the AXS stuff?
And which cassette did you run, the 10-51 or the smaller 10-45?

Not trying to convince you to go back to that stuff, but I'm planning to change one of my bikes from Di2 to GX AXS with shimano 10-45 cassette + chain, question mark is mainly that how should I set the B-tension properly and/or if there might be some other hiccups with the smaller version of the cassette. Apparently many have had such combo working well with the bigger cassette at least...
Click to expand...
Regular AXS on the analog bike is great. On the eeb, completely different story. T-type couldn't get it work and it felt so clunky. At least two people I know of have had their T-type derailleurs fall apart and have existential crisis.

Gone to linkglide on both my bikes now. It works seemlessly. Sticking with that for now.
 
#30 ·
I'm a fan of the XT shifter. But I'm flirting with SS full time, so that's moot. I haven't been a fan of Sram since pre-Avid purchase days. We've had 2 Sram drivetrains. Out of dozens of bikes. The second came on a complete bike i got used off Craigslist. Got passed around on a pass around bike.

I think you should stick with Sram, OP. Perhaps you just haven't tried [already tried] thing yet.
 
#32 ·
stripes said:
If you guys wanna keep the convo going, go for it. But I'm done and have everything fixed.

My resolution: install Linkglide. Everything shifts so nice now.
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I'm LG curious. So please report back with thoughts. Either this thread or another is shrug.

May Her Imperial Majesty's light guide you through the coming days.
 
Discussion starter · #33 ·
ilmfat said:
I'm LG curious. So please report back with thoughts. Either this thread or another is shrug.

May Her Imperial Majesty's light guide you through the coming days.
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I've been running it for over 6 months. Nothing but joy. I switched off AXS from my HD6 to Linkglide because it's just that good.
 
#34 ·
stripes said:
XT felt really like it needed a ton of force, so I'm looking for something lighter than that.
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XT and XTR with it's instant release will always feel firmer at the lever. Just the nature of the instant release beast. SLX gets my vote but I've only tried 11 speed Deore not the 12 speed so I can't comment on how it compares.

Been a while since I've been on a SRAM mechanical bike but I recall those XX1/XO1 feeling quite light at the lever as well.
 
#35 ·
stripes said:
Regular AXS on the analog bike is great. On the eeb, completely different story. T-type couldn't get it work and it felt so clunky. At least two people I know of have had their T-type derailleurs fall apart and have existential crisis.

Gone to linkglide on both my bikes now. It works seemlessly. Sticking with that for now.
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Yea, it is actually Canyon Neuron:ON ebike I'm planning to switch to AXS, and the older non-T-type version of AXS. LG would be attractive option, but I'm not going back to mechanical shifters and I think this motor I have (EP800) does not support the new XT Di2 stuff that would work with LG, so that is not an option. So the aim is to go with regular GS AXS with Shimano chain and 10-45t cassette.
 
#36 ·
stripes said:
If you guys wanna keep the convo going, go for it. But I'm done and have everything fixed.

My resolution: install Linkglide. Everything shifts so nice now.
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Wow, I have the eaxac opposite experience. I had deore shifter and derailleur… saw a good deal on a XT LinkGlide KIT ( Shitter, derailleur, cassette) and man that‘s an awful experience… VERY hardshifting up’ and down… I‘lol definitely put it out back the Deore, so much better… I gave it a try again this morning, man shifting are horrible… big bang… anyhow. My experience with LonkGlide is not good at all.
 
#37 ·
guitar.rene said:
Wow, I have the eaxac opposite experience. I had deore shifter and derailleur… saw a good deal on a XT LinkGlide KIT ( Shitter, derailleur, cassette) and man that‘s an awful experience… VERY hardshifting up’ and down… I‘lol definitely put it out back the Deore, so much better… I gave it a try again this morning, man shifting are horrible… big bang… anyhow. My experience with LonkGlide is not good at all.
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Bummer to hear. If I were troubleshooting that I would start with new housing and cable, strip and wax the chain, try again. I have only used 12 speed shimano, i've not tried linkglide yet.
 
#38 ·
postmillenniumrenaissance said:
Bummer to hear. If I were troubleshooting that I would start with new housing and cable, strip and wax the chain, try again. I have only used 12 speed shimano, i've not tried linkglide yet.
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Cable housing and cable are sliding like butter (I checked that before the install). I clean and lube before any ride I do. It’s definitively a bad upgrade. I went to a bike shop to double check my install. The tech told me everything is fine... except the hard shifter And yes I opened it up to put more lube in there… slight improvement, but still a bummer to shift.
 
#39 ·
XT 12-speed shifters are notorious for harsh upshifts. I've done everything possible on mine to ensure the lightest possible action - new cables and housing without any sharp bends, less clutch tension, etc - but the upshifts still feel really stiff.

That said, they do wear in and get a little lighter. I've thought about switching to SLX, but I would miss the double upshifts.
 
#40 · (Edited)
bayposter said:
XT 12-speed shifters are notorious for harsh upshifts. I've done everything possible on mine to ensure the lightest possible action - new cables and housing without any sharp bends, less clutch tension, etc - but the upshifts still feel really stiff.

That said, they do wear in and get a little lighter. I've thought about switching to SLX, but I would miss the double upshifts.
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Would any of that, especially clutch tension, matter at all for upshifts though? Because when you upshift, you are letting out the cable and rotating the derailleur cage clockwise, which is not the direction that engages the clutch. If the clutch is tight, that shows up in downshifts. And if there is friction between the cable and housing, sure it may not shift well, but that certainly doesn't make it feel heavier. You can always disconnect the cable from the derailleur, hold the cable and housing together to create a ton of friction, and then upshift and see if it feels any heavier...it won't.
 
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