[Closed] X-Shifter - wireless shifting with standard mechs

That ace electric motor sound when shifting!

There is that. Although you can make those noises yourself, I find.

Primary selling point...'It's fun to use!'

The fact that on a list of 6 benefits, the top in is

"?It’s really really fun to use."

says it all for me really, then

Attach to any bike frame. As do existing regular and electronic gears
Use with any derailleur. As does a cable.
Minimize chain rubbing and drop. Not a problem with 1x systems is it?
Less weight. Really? Lighter than a cable, (assuming the shifters weigh about the same)
Fast, accurate shifting. Yeah, because Shimano and SRAM cable systems really don't have this sorted do they?

Granted, I really like products engineered with KISS (Keep it simple stupid) principals applied and this really doesn't meet that goal for me.

I know I shouldn't judge but when someone tries to pitch an 'amazing product' using a crap example (is that an 8 speed bike!) then I just assume its not actually viable.

X-shitter looks a bit crap because it involves a large box zip-tied to the frame attached to the mech with a significant length of cable. If it was small enough to attach to the mech then it might be viable.

I'm intrigued by the concept. I like its simplicity and the universal fit idea. Seems simple to install from the video. Also promises very accurate shifting and (possibly) sequential shifting in two derailleur system (for those antedeluvians like myself who run such systems).

I'm assuming there will be a weight saving making it lighter than the discarded traditional cable gubbins and shifters - one lightweight electronic shifter can control two derailleurs. They imply this but I would like to know more.

However....

- no price given at the moment (crucial!),
- reliability - small outfit which won't be able to test like big firms
- how weatherproof and robust it will be in real world conditions
- no idea how long the battery will last/take to charge

...and I have a loathing of expensive things that use cable ties

Unless it does single-trigger shifting for 2x and 3x like Di can, and will handle trimming on the front, then this is entirely pointless.

I'll tell you where it would really woork....kids bikes.

No, seriously 🙂

Light shifters would solve a lot of problems for kids. If these were cheap enough.....they could be taken from bike to bike.

If they made a drive-sided drop-bar shifter version- I'd like this an awful lot.

I like the idea but the guy needs to up his presentation of the product and the press / videos

I don't know about that ^, I'm kind of sick of snazzy music and hired talent presenting vaporware on Kickstarter.

The idea is great and something that should work for a lot of folk, providing it's going to be cost effective and far less than a DI2 setup.

The idea of being able to setup the gears via an app is nice (hopefully android app also available). There's no way around having a cable attahed to a normal mech to actuate it really. I suppose there could be a rod and gear setup engineered in there, but a short bit of cable is easier.
however, re-learning what buttin does what on a shifter is not something a 'halfway house to e-gears' should do. either use the existing shifter, in a similar setup-stub of cable to monitor shifts, or have something ergonomically similar to shimano/sram triggers.

I like it.

Still attaches to the mech via a cable, but it's a much shorter run of cable so should give better shifting.

Be nice if it works with a front mech and does the automatic trimming. Be interesting to see what they have in mind for drop bar bikes.

It's still a prototype so I'd assume they'd tidy up the packaging.

I want a version of this that will work with a pinion gearbox. If they can pull one cable it wouldn't be a great leap to push/pull two

I know a guy who has (independently) developed a very similar system which apparently works very well. I've just sent him an email telling him to pull his finger out before this guy beats him to market!!

Rubber_Buccaneer - Member
I want a version of this that will work with a pinion gearbox. If they can pull one cable it wouldn't be a great leap to push/pull two

This in spades

Looking at the videos he has front and rear shifting coordinated and front derailleur trim sorted too. I don't see why a pair can't be programmed to work a pinion gearbox so long a they can pull enough cable. I think I'm going to start harassing the guy about this.... or maybe I will wait to see the cost on kickstarter before I get too excited

It's a product searching for a point.

The kids bike idea is a good one, shifting is a faff at times.

It's a product searching for a point.

So is Di2, when you think about it.

rossburton - Member
Unless it does single-trigger shifting for 2x and 3x like Di can, and will handle trimming on the front, then this is entirely pointless.

They do suggest it replaces two shifters, so I was taking that as the main USP for it.

codybrennan - Member
I'll tell you where it would really woork....kids bikes.

No, seriously

Light shifters would solve a lot of problems for kids. If these were cheap enough.....they could be taken from bike to bike.

Yeah - I think that's very clever

Depends on price point, but I'd buy if I was in the market for broken shifters.

Just the fact that you don't need to put any force through your thumb to shift the front mech would be enough of a selling point for me compared to the SRAM X5 shifters I've got at the moment.

Probably a market to replace the grip shift on a Rohloff as well.

An XTR DI2 shifter is £120, if they can produce this for under £90 then I'd certainly consider buying one. I'd imagine it would almost remove the need to ever change the cable or atleast extend the service life dramatically plus I like the novelty value.

I see this is now live on Kickstarter, I like the idea but feel the second generation might be much better as this one looks a bit clunky.

[url= https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1598276649/xshifter-worlds-first-universal-wireless-smart-shi ]https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1598276649/xshifter-worlds-first-universal-wireless-smart-shi[/url]

I see it'll do dropper posts too. One shifter for everything. I'll need to see as real-world review first.

I'm thinking it'd be more use (for me) on the road bike being that I still have a front mech but there seems to be nothing other than a fleeting glance of a road shifter pic.

Also 250$ + 45% for a front & rear system is pretty expensive when it hits the main market. Would have liked to have seen it cheaper but I suppose that's true of everything.

I'd like that for my rohloff

I'm no techno-wizz but it mentions updates via an app, please tell me I don't need my phone running just for my bike to work.

[quote=thepodge ]I'm no techno-wizz but it mentions updates via an app, please tell me I don't need my phone running just for my bike to work.

hey siri, change gear...

I can definitely see the benefit - 1x very short cable (the closer you mount the box, the shorter the cable), which will make for very precise shifts an probably never having to replace the cable.

Never routing internal cables again - what a ball ache!

1 remote can be used for a 1x system (hopefully upto 12speed, it would make sense, as it uses a stock mech) and at the same time, operate your dropper post.

As above, it has potential for a LOT of applications. Battery life is one of the biggest questions for me. Is it 'set up and forget'?

demo bike still has the plastic spoke guard so I'm out.

PJM1974 - Member

It's a product searching for a point.

And therefore will probably sell millions.

papercutout - Battery life is one of the biggest questions for me. Is it 'set up and forget'?

So will one box do front and rear?
Looks simple, but not sure about cost.

1 box has 4 buttons so you could have up and down using the sequence shifter (or whatever it was called where it moves both as needed) and still have 2 left over for open and close on your fork or something.

Lots of potential but I dont think its quite there yet.