Grip shift vs rapid fire

TopDrawer

Note that I'm not saying they shift on their own, or that they are poorly made. My point is that in times of fast riding over rough, undulating terrain when I want maximum control, I would need to relinquish some of that control in order to twist the shifter.

On the other hand if all I'm drifting along on a smooth as a baby's behind pine covered trail like in Marin , Grip Shift may be fine, then again I would ride a hard-tail there too.

In AZ where the trails are rough, I can go faster and longer on my dualie than my friends on their hardtails. My preference is for a rapidfire. If someone else comes up with a better pardigm I'll switch, Grip-Shift isn't the one for me.


If you've never neeeded to quickly shift into a lower gear as you're coming into the bottom of a ravine but need to hang on so your wheel stays pointed in the right direction, you haven't been going fast enough to notice the difference

Peace

izzodesh

break ur wrist or shift fast?
rapid fire for me!

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closesupport

maybe it is just you, i use bar end shifters, ergo levers on my training bike,
DEORE rapid fire on my Mtb, i have never experienced thumb pain.

i have however had grip shifts on my mtb that i thought where sh**, i wouldnt give them to a stranger they are poo! not only did i find myself changing gear when going over bumps, or changing gear after jumps. personally i think rapid fire are alot better smoother and easier to use.

UMbiker06

I run XTRs and they are a dream. Maybe we should post some gripshift reviews of the SRAM X.0 I heard they are good.

But rapidfire is sooo much easier.

rudebalz

Switching to rapid fire was the best thing I ever did. I seem to have alot more control

SGSeries2

It depends. For me, I use a rapid fire for my front derailleur, a grip shift for my rear derailleur, and a thumb shift for my internal hub. A grip shift on the front derailleur always seemed kind of clunky to me because I always had to turn it a lot more just to shift gears. A rapid fire for the front always gave me a quicker shift. 'course, that could be partially because the only grip shifts I've ever used were made in the mid nineties!

So, I'd say, if it's for the front, a rapid fire. If it's for the rear, grip shift for space and style or rapid fire for symmetry. (Preferably style for me.)

Does that mean I can't vote, or I get to vote twice?

DiscGolfer

Your parents buy it and you are pissed off? Jeez. Get a job or something.

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yukon_08

As of right now I'm ridin a single speed (untill X-Mas anyway), but I've had my friend's bike for a week now, and I must say I like the rapid fire much better than the grip shift. My dad's old bike had the grip shift, up hills I always managed to accidently shift . Plus I just didn't like having to twist to shift.

Steve420

Here is a vote for gripshift (sort of). I have been on gripshift for several years now and really like them. I have also been with rapid fire for a while before that. I really don't have an extreme preference, but found that the grip shift (higher end product) can shift extremely fast....sudden uphill around the corner?? One twist of the wrist and !!! your in low gear....OR vice versa....sudden down hill....slight twist and your 9 gears lower...HOWEVER, if you are standing up...it is hard to move your hands to shift, which can cause you to have to sit down to grab hold of the grip shift. Sooo, to put an end to the chatter...they both have pros and cons...best bet may be to try both on a ride.

HNS

Demo. Try the grip shifter you would replace yours with and try the rapidfire you would replace your gripshift with and see which one you like better.

Even if one was better than the other, if it isn't better for you, then it isn't better.

Derek
Think

Lonnie Utah

Bob,

My wife has the same problems. Considering a grip shifter for her....

L

fattires

I've used rapidfire for 10yrs ,love it!

King Fisher

From my small ammount of wrenching exp, I'd say definately go with the rapidfire and give the new guy at your Lbikeshop a break!!!

gclark8

Upgraded my 7 speed to 8, so I have a set of EF-29 Shimano 3/7 speed Rapid Fire shifters/levers to sell... Aus only, $50.

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