We at SimWorks have recently begun handling and distributing these 10 and 11-speed bar-end controllers and thumb shifters for MTBs made by microSHIFT here in Japan.
Being able to use bar-end controllers and thumb shifters with current Shimano mountain bike drivetrains really gets the imagination going. It adds a new level of variety to a landscape that previously felt limited to just the Rapidfire system.
Bar-End Shifters
・BS-M10 Rear 10speed Bar End Shifter For MTB ¥14,000 (excl. tax)
・BS-M11 Rear 11speed Bar End Shifter For MTB ¥14,500 (excl. tax)
Bar-end shifters with full compatibility for Shimano 10 and 11-speed mountain bike derailleurs.
・BS-A11 Rear 11speed Bar End Shifter For Road ¥13,000 (excl. tax)
Bar-end shifters compatible with Shimano 11-speed road drivetrains.
Thumb Shifters
・SL-M10 Rear 10speed MTB Shifting Lever ¥15,000 (excl. tax)
・SL-M11 Rear 11speed MTB Shifting Lever ¥15,500 (excl. tax)
Thumb shifter levers for flat handlebars, offering an alternative to Shimano's Rapidfire shifters.
For example, imagine you want to build a touring bike using a mountain bike frame, but you really want drop handlebars!
In the past, the only option was to switch the entire drivetrain to road components and use dual-control levers. But now, by using microSHIFT’s MTB bar-end controllers, you can even use Shimano MTB components with rear sprockets as large as 42T. We have effectively torn down the wall of incompatibility that stood in our way!
With a 42T, you might even be able to go with a single chainring up front.
That would clean up your handlebar area and might even make room for a handlebar bag.
If you can mount a handlebar bag, you reduce the load on your back.
Those are the kinds of benefits you can enjoy.
Or maybe you want to turn the MTB you have at home into a more relaxed commuter bike. Using microSHIFT thumb shifters allows for a laid-back configuration where you can shift with a single lever. Also, unlike Rapidfire shifters, these are mounted on top of the handlebar, leaving the space below the bar open. If you have that space below the bar, it’s often easier to mount a front basket or handlebar bag without obstruction.
I use thumb shifters on my own touring bike.
My drivetrain is a single-ring setup with a Shimano SLX 42T rear, which means there’s no hill I can’t climb. Even when I hit the off-road trails, the stabilizer-equipped rear derailleur does a great job of preventing the chain from dropping.
Now, it’s your turn to let your imagination run wild.
Let’s build your ultimate ride.