Microshift might not be the first brand you think about when it comes to drivetrains, but they’re continually launching products that may change that. After just launching their new 11-46t cassettes at Frostbike, now they have a rear derailleur to go with it. The new XCD RD-M785L is a clutched 11 speed derailleur with clearance for up to 47t cogs that as a bonus is also Shimano Dynasys 11 speed compatible.
That means if you break off a pricey Shimano unit, the XCD could be a potential replacement at just $80. Granted, you can find pricey Shimano derailleurs online for much less, but that’s another story…
Not only are the XCD derailleurs compatible with Dynasys, but they’re also compatible with Microshift’s trigger, bar end, and friction shifters for wide compatibility. Expect these to be available in early June.
Along the same lines, Microshift will have a new drop bar shifter set tentatively called the Trekking 11 which is also Shimano Dynasys 11 speed compatible. Like other Microshift levers, the large paddle shifts one way, and the small lever above shifts the opposite.
But on the left side, there is no small lever. That’s because this side is designed to work with mechanical dropper posts making it the first production shifter we know of specifically meant for the task. Expect the set to sell for around $190, and again available in early June.
Only because you can’t buy new 9 speed Dura-Ace bar-end shifters anymore, I bought the Microshift version for my touring bike and it turns out they shift better than the Dura-Ace shifter ever did! I am surprised and I will not overlook Microshift anymore.
My 2012 Surly Vaya came with Microshift bar ends, and they eventually just went bad and would not index properly. Complete garbage. Replaced with Dura-Ace bar ends – no problems, perfect indexing. I hope they have improved their quality since then!
Isn’t Vaya a Salsa bike? The microshift bar ends have a different setup procedure than Shimano’s.
Dura Ace 9 speed bar end shifters are still in production and are readily available.
> RD-M785L
hmm, that seems really confusing to name your 11spd product after the dominant manufacturer’s 10spd product.
Which Surly bike is that in the pics?
Karate Monkey
Looks like a Karate Monkey with a drop bar conversion (based on the color, dropouts, and VO Cigne stem)
…and VO Dajia FarBar
“Granted, you can find pricey Shimano derailleurs online for much less, but that’s another story…” How about you guys actually write about that story…..or will shimano black list you
So this is compatible with Shimano MTB shifters but I’d still need a Tanpan to run this with a 1x setup using Shimano R8000 road shifters? Assuming I didn’t want to wait for Microshift’s Trekking 11 dropbar shifters?
Seriously. Why is this still a thing exactly? I’m so tired of unnecessary chainslap. Like, sure, it’s for the sake of 1x that clutched deraileurs were invented, but still, there aren’t any out there with tension springs stiff enough.
I’ll also put in a good word for the Microshift levers. Much much better than Shimano equivalents. Kind of makes up for the mediocre drop bar levers.
Shimano recently announced a clutched Ultegra rear derailler, so there’s that…
I want those Trekking 11 shifters.
I’m surprised the Trekking 11 brifters went back to MicroShift’s old two-outboard-lever arrangement.
Their Centos and Arsis 11-speed brifters have a modified layout most similar to Campagnolo’s ErgoPower, but with a larger two-step inboard thumb lever. Any feedback on those? I thought that was an elegant way of improving the thumb lever for better use in the drops.
I have the Microshift Centos shifters with the new Campagnolo-like lever configuration. Smooth, quiet shifting – the thumb lever does take a bit of getting used to, initially it’s easy to upshift multiple gears at a time unintentionally. You just have to get used to how much pressure is needed to only shift one click/gear (similar to getting used to SRAM double-tap for the first time).
Nice. Thanks for the feedback!
I didn’t know MicroShift offered multiple-cog upshifts at all.