8-speed Shifter options..?

[Devon_Steven]

Hi, first post!

My children are getting more active on their bikes and I need to do some work to make my Giant Super Sierra nicer to ride again.

I bought this bike in 1994 and it is still in great condition (replaced the front chainrings and rear cassette years ago and a new headstock and saddle recently) - the Shimano Deore XT brakes and gear mechs still work perfectly.

Right now I want to replace the gear and brake cables/housing (the originals lasted 26 years and still work!) and I’ve found a Jagwire cable set (https://jagwire.com/products/diy-cable- ... -shift-kit) with the required 5mm housing to replace my Shimano SP-51 stuff.

I also want to replace the grip shift shifters, but when searching last night I discovered that the options for 8-speed grip shifters are a bit limited, and all are at the cheaper end of the scale.

This is where all my questions start:

(1) are there any good quality 8-speed gripshifters out there?

(2) is it okay to mix brands of shifter and derailleurs (e.g. SRMA shifter and Shimano derailleurs)? I can’t see why not but I think I might read something about that last night.

(3) can I simply buy a 9-, 10- or 11-speed cassette to match a nice gripshifter and expect that the cassette will (a) fit into the space between my rear hub and frame and (b) work with the 1994 Shimano Deore XT derailleur?


Finally, what is this? https://www.sram.com/en/sram/models/ts-x0-a1

The item page above and service page (https://www.sram.com/en/service/models/ts-x0-a1) variously say this is 10-speed, 9-speed and 8-speed.

Description
Its time has come. Introducing the all-new Grip Shift by SRAM. 10-speed. Three rows of ball bearings for smooth shifting action. Full-metal shift indexing. Integrated lock-on grip design. Unrivaled.

Compat - Derailleur/Hub (SL) FD: Micro index, RD: 9s, Set: FD: 3s/RD: 9s

Then, on the service page at https://www.sram.com/en/service/models/ts-x0-a1
Compat - Derailleur/Hub (SL) FD: 3s, FD: Micro index, RD: 8s, RD: 9s, Set: FD: 3s/RD: 9s

Maybe there are different models with the various speeds.

==========

I’m open to rapid-fire shifters, had them on a previous bike (Scott Windriver - stolen!). But as I look around 8-speed shifters of any type are thin on the ground and at the cheaper end of the scale.


I think the answer is that I’m going to need to increase the number of cogs on the rear cassette - the question then is, is this possible / what considerations do I need to think of?

Any insights are welcome.


Sorry for such a long post, I didn’t have time to write a shorter one.


Best wishes
Steven

 

[CassidyAce]

Re:

Hi
Your basic issue is that 24 speed was high end in the 90s and now it's low end, so you can get low end new or high end old. The same applies to both new Gripshift and new trigger shifters. I tried some new 24 speed Gripshift and left a little review here: http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... =Gripshift. Summary verdict: don't waste you time.

Sunrace also make some 24 speed Gripshift, and there is Shimano Revoshift, but I haven't tried either. If I were you, I would buy either these - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SRAM-SRT-600 ... Sw5VVe9hIK - or these - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SRAM-Gripshi ... SwHOtcmKFZ - both of which index well and shift nicely.

Mixing brands: be careful. Shimano and SRAM tend to use different pull ratios. SRAM produce some Gripshift that work with Shimano derailleurs (all the ones mentioned above, for instance) but most of the current ones use their own 'Exact actuation' (as if the Shimano ones are 'inexact' :roll.

Finally, what is this? https://www.sram.com/en/sram/models/ts-x0-a1

Good question. It's actually one of SRAM's shifters although it might look like a sex toy and has ten speeds. :facepalm:

 

[marc two tone]

Re:

Your shifting, yes 8sp gripshift for shimano mechs are around.

Make sure they are SRT, that's the same pull ratio for shimano.

See below...

Suddenly got rare on ebay though.

 

[Devon_Steven]

Thanks for the advice.

Guru, you confirm what was becoming apparent to me. Your ebay find https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SRAM-Gripshi ... SwHOtcmKFZ is spot on.

These look like an upgraded version (more sturdy, less plasticy) of what the bike came with 26 years ago.

Pics below. And they are SRT, which retrobike notes I should stick to! Brilliant!

 

[Devon_Steven]

Okay, I don't know how to work the forum.

Couldn't upload the pics and my links to Shutterfly didn't work either.

What about this...


https://link.shutterfly.com/im6Nxvdw68

https://link.shutterfly.com/YkyTy9ew68


https://link.shutterfly.com/P2BnFPhN78

 

[marc two tone]

Re:

Ok, yes, those versions got a bit shonky and stopped holding cable pressure after a while. Most gripshift I've used for the last 5 years have been ok.
I mean I run the ones above on my best marin, that's a real accolade as any would be addition to that bike has to prove itself, like blind date kinda thing.

But despite how tardy they get, gripshift just keep going unlike rapid fire that either explode or become subject to a debate on this site on how to resurrect them.