Microshift -- any good?

[moonlite]

Trawling around for parts I can use for a restomod project, I've come across this brand which looks like a cost-effective alternative to Shimano and SRAM for some parts. It seems to be compatible with other brands' components as well. Does anyone have experience/opinions/advice on whether it's worth a serious look?

 

[was8v]

I have some microshift STi on a road bike, work great, Feel a little cheaper than shimano or sram but no problems at all.

 

[jimo746]

Re:

For the money, Microshift is good. Their Advent group is sold out everywhere just now I think.
I’ve Sensah Empire group on a road bike, their 9-speed Ignite brifters on my gravel bike, and LTWoo 9- speed group an a mtb, and honestly I like it. Perhaps not quite as well made and slick as Shimano/SRAM, but 90% of the way there, and a lot cheaper.

 

[d8mok]

Re:

I initially thought it was good stuff but my wife has already had a rear mech warrantied and I think the replacement is developing the same issue.

 

[klunkrider]

Re:

Wouldn't touch anything made by them after having a Genesis Day One with one of their barend Nexus/Alfine 8 speed shifters fitted. The indexing was way out which caused the hub to jump and skip - usually just as you were trying to pedal out into traffic! Made the bike virtually unrideable and I had to change to flat bars and a genuine Shimano rapidfire shifter.

I know a few other people that had Day Ones with the bar end shifter and all had skipping problems while using the shifter, all remedied by changing to a different shifter.

 

[tintin40]

I've had no problems with the thumb shifters. But that's the only parts I've used. Good to see they still make them.

 

[moonlite]

Thanks for all the feedback chaps. I'd like to look into it further due to the price but seems there may be a bit of a compromise in terms of performance -- at least with some of the components.

 

[MartinYorkshire]

Just to add another opinion. My sons new bike has Microshift Advent fitted.

My intial reaction was to bin the lot and just put XT on there but it's a 24" bike and he's going to grow out of it, so I did have that to consider.

In truth, after (only) 100km, I can't say theres been any problem with it. It's his first geared bike and he's certainly not complained about shifting performance and he's been quite brutal with it, as you can imagine. Longevity wise, time will tell.

It's not BSO grade gear, definitely not. I'd say it sat around Deore or just below in terms how it feels in the hand. Weight wise, however, is another story. I believe the rear cassette, for example, is lighter than XT, even though I'd doubt it would last as long.

I don't think Microshift is fully interchangeable with Shimano, but I am open to being corrected on that?

 

[e66y]

Re:

Wouldn't touch anything made by them after having a Genesis Day One with one of their barend Nexus/Alfine 8 speed shifters fitted. The indexing was way out which caused the hub to jump and skip - usually just as you were trying to pedal out into traffic! Made the bike virtually unrideable and I had to change to flat bars and a genuine Shimano rapidfire shifter.

I know a few other people that had Day Ones with the bar end shifter and all had skipping problems while using the shifter, all remedied by changing to a different shifter.

Had the same experience of Microshift skipping and going out of sync. Had to throughly degrease the components and readjust before they worked correctly again.
I was mechanically sympathetic on the drivetrain, was'nt dropped or damaged, so it was a bit odd.
In comparison, the Shimano Deore system with rapid shifters on another bike worked flawlessly even though the components were never maintained or serviced.

 

[frkl]

Just quickly to add this in case anyone searches for info on Microshift, I have had good experience with their bar end shifters. build quality and shifting was very good.

I put a 10 speed unit on a friend's bike, and when i unpacked it, i saw that it has a friction setting! Really cool to see that they recognize that this is an option sime people still want.

On the other hand, the derailleur I ordered from them at the same time did not have the capacity that was advertised and it felt a bit cheap. Can't remember what model. It was one of their Shimano compatible units, an older model I think.