Which is the best of all shifters ? For road bikes?

Question

Grip shift

Shimano Rapid fire shifter

Classic Toggle shifer

Answer 1

Shimano because it shifts quickly and reliably.

Answer 2

hafta agree w/ tucan on rapidfire. especially for road. i prefer gripshift for xc riding but shifting is less precise, requires more tuning.

Answer 3

That's a tough one will come down to personal preference.  Shimano Rapid Fire is good, reliable.  The STI paddles work equally as well, although one some steeper-***-behind-the-seat decents they can move.

I've used the newer SRAM shifters, both under the bar, thumb for up and down.  They are quick, take a little getting use to but work as well.  Remember though that the pull ratio for SRAM shifters is 1:1 whereas Shimano is 1:2 and therefore not interchangeable.  GripShift has it's place, but I don't think on higher end bikes.

As for road shifters, Shimano was the first with the STI, and the Ultegra and DA work great, 9 and 10 speeds.  The lower models have a thumb lever to shift down, which works well, and are just as comforable.

Haven't used the SRAM Red, and been a while since I've used Campy.  Campy did just introduce the new 11-speed Super Record, taking that model line out of hibernation after some 20 years or so.

Answer 4

For Road I vote Shimano Dura Ace.... I love em!

Switched to SRAM this year ( I was curious), but I'm going back to Dura Ace next year.