[Closed] That "X-Shifter" jobbie in Fresh goods

Yes! Wish I had the cash for it. Bad luck on not taking your idea forward.

I like the idea, especially as it can be expanded to control posts and front mechs. But the execution? that shifter looks like a pound shop rear light.

The shifter looks crap but the idea seems good. I know they want you to control multiple things but a simple up down with two buttons neatly wrapped around the bar can't be that hard. Or paddles to active micro switches (hold for multi-shift)

brilliant idea because it neatly sidesteps all compatibility issues - I assume they've covered cable pull ratios and different numbers of gears in the set-up. Only thing that is a slight downer is the size of the battery pack but I'd imagine this will slim down with subsequent versions

yeah the shifter is kinda overdesigned but the kickstarter target audience are the nerdier end who want max functionality (and you need the fewest number of manufacturing options for your first run so you start with one shifter that does all), I'd imagine a simpler one is planned for future iterations

Oooh I bet this would be perfect for a tandem to solve the issue of cable run length

So, it’s wireless shifting, in the same way that 7 speed Altus is wireless shifting? I don’t understand the advantage, beyond a shorter gear cable. Let’s not spend any longer than absolutely neceesary thinking about, or looking at, that ‘shifter’, and it’s ergonomics, too eh?

I’ll wait for eagle etap, thanks.

Self trimming I guess

Further research done, kinda cool you can work both mechs from one pod (assuming you run 2) but aren’t you still going to have all the ‘features’ of cable mechs? Even the less desirable ones?

As a committed singlespeeder (or singlespeeder who should be committed) I think all gears are just solutions looking for problems, e-tap is just a very expensive solution.

On a road bike electric shifting kinda makes sense in that its lighter and makes it even more perfect. Off road in the UK when you can taken a chain and cassette past .75% wear in 30miles during the winter it's just very expensive turd polish (eagle being a very expensive turd in this analogy) because in the kind of conditions where a cable might get muddy, your chain and cassette will suffer even worse.

Can't see the appeal myself and it's hardly cheap, but this thread suggests there's a niche for it.

Seems to me it's much more likely to fail than a cable operated mech, no?

I'm with TINAS and Cha****ng on this, and also mainly a single speed bike rider. Can't see the point when a cable is simple, cheap and reliable, (if you really must run gears).

Now you're introducing, electronics and sealing of them, batteries, servo motors, for very limited benefits I can see.

Interesting but not for me I think.

I did wonder whether a pair could be used to shift my Pinion gearbox (or a Rohloff for that matter)  I think the answer is mechanically yes but the software probably doesn't cover that option

Doesn’t the mechanism work in conjunction with the mech spring (like a, um, shifter) and a single cable? Are pinions not dual cable? (I might be getting mixed up with rohloff here...)

Yes, two cables just like a Rohloff.  The twist shifter pulls one whilst releasing the other then the other way around to shift back again.

So if the X-Shifter can coordinate front and rear mechs from one button why can't it coordinate the two cables of a Pinion or Rohloff in the same way?  Pull one at the same time as releasing the other by Xmm to perform a gear shift or two, three....

I can't open the FGF link, I just get the title picture?

Despite not being able to see it, I have been following the x shifter.
What is most interesting is that it is brand agnostic. You can program it to run any mech. So if you break your mech whilst away you can replace it with any other brand of mech, as you are no longer tied to your shifter.
They also say you can run a 9 speed mech on an 11 speed cassette/chain. Although I am not sure about this.

If it can be made to work with a Rohloff I'd take the crappy shifter. Got to be better than a twist!

Sure I read an article that said Rohloff were working on electric shifting...

I don't think it will work with a Rohloff.

According to  https://www.rohloff.de/en/experience/technology-in-detail/specifications/ 96.2mm cable pull is needed.

According to  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1598276649/xshifter-worlds-first-universal-wireless-smart-shi/faqs ...

What is the maximum cable length the XSHIFTER can move ?
Cable length is currently about 40mm, but we will increase it if there is enough demand.

Looks like they’d have to redesign the shifter to be able to press 2 of the buttons simultaneously at least. And, I guess, send two opposing signals to the two boxes at the same time.

And, I guess, send two opposing signals to the two boxes at the same time.

I don't think that would be a problem - it can do front and rear mech shifting from a single button press (i.e. a single click to change up shifts up the front ring and down a few cogs at the cassette).

And it would only be one box - they've a dual actuator box (intended to do front and rear mechs).

If it can be made to work with a Rohloff

Rohloff already have electronic shifting.

Yes, exactly that sl2000. Or something similar to that^ Rohloff one.  Thing is, I don't have a problem with the manual shifter and it does mean I can have a little mechanical  sympathy if something doesn't feel right so it's going to be hard to sell me one. Interesting idea though

And isn't that Rohloff one ebike only? Linked to the motor quickshifter style?

I don't see the point.

Be nice if it forces SRAM and Shimano to push e-gear changes to a lower price point...

It's not new... I first saw something similar in 2015. These guys make something very similar:

https://www.archercomponents.com

I too am in the can't see the point camp. Looks fugly attached to the stay and crude with zip tie attachment. Seems like a case of just because you can, it doesn't make it a good idea.