Review: MicroSHIFT's New $125 Advent Drivetrain

Feb 18, 2019
by Daniel Sapp  
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SRAM and Shimano currently rule the drivetrain world, but we're starting to see more and more viable options from other manufacturers hit the market. Taiwanese brand, MicroSHIFT, have entered into the ring with their Advent 9-speed derailleur, shifter, and cassette combo. In the past, MicroSHIFT has been more focused on making OEM spec components. Creating specific products to cater to the exact needs of a brand is a good niche to be in and while it may not be the most glamorous, it seems to have done pretty well for them.

MicroSHIFT's Advent drivetrain marks the first time the brand has truly approached a product from the development standpoint. Advent was developed to be functional, durable, and inexpensive. According to the team at MicroSHIFT, the goal with Advent was to give consumers an option that worked well enough you don't think about it while riding while still being pricepoint conscious.
Advent Details
• 9-speed
• 11-42t cassette
• 11-13-15-18-21-24-28-34-42
• Clutch rear derailleur - medium cage
• Trigger style shifter
• Weight: Derailleur - 379g, Cassette - 450g, Shifter - 114g
• MSRP: Derailleur: $59.99, Cassette: $39.99, Shifter: $24.99 USD
www.microshift.com

The Advent derailleur, shifter, and 9-speed, 11-42 tooth cassette all together will run you about $125 USD.

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The trigger shifter is basic but it feels solid and performs well.
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The rear derailleur has a clutch that is easily switched off for wheel removal.

Construction

Advent is composed of a shifter, cassette, and derailleur. There currently isn't a crank or chain, and it is chain agnostic - meaning it will work with any 9-speed chain. One challenge with drivetrains, in general, is that the big Red and Blue S's have a lot of patents that must be navigated around, especially when it comes to the rear derailleur.

The Advent rear derailleur doesn't look all that different than any other standard unit at a glance, but its internals are what set it apart. There's a clutch system that can be disengaged for removing the wheel by a switch on the body of the derailleur. It uses a ratchet and pawl system, just like most hubs, but it's different from other major clutch systems which use a friction sleeve. The tension of the Advent's clutch is managed by a friction washer stack that is tightened by a single torx bolt. It's quick to adjust and it's also simple to take apart if it ever needs to be cleaned or repaired.

The shifter is no frills. It's a thumb shift to get into an easier gear and then the trigger shifts into a higher gear. There are sealed bearings in the mechanism to make the shifting smoother and to help ensure shifting with the clutch rear derailleur is easy.

The cassette has an 11-42 range and mates to a standard HG style freehub body. The mass of the gearing is forged steel and the large 42 tooth cog is alloy to help save weight. This cassette is a few teeth shy of the gearing we're seeing from Shimano and SRAM in their high-end systems, but the team at MicroSHIFT claim that they tested out a variety of different options, and while it could be done, the jumps in gear ranges were too big and the quality of shifting with those jumps was compromised once they got above 42-teeth.

The system works with any standard 9-speed chain, something that will run you $15-25 at the most at the local bike shop or online. It's also compatible with any chainring that works with 9-speed chains which is almost everything that's out there right now, bringing your total price in, sans cranks, comfortably under $150 USD.

For sake of comparison, you can find a SRAM X5 9-speed system, which is nowhere near as robust and doesn't have a clutch on the derailleur, for about $115 depending on where you look... pretty comparable in price, not so much in performance. If you were to buy SRAM's 11-speed NX? It's more modern and made for a 1x set up and would run you $196. Shimano's most comparable system, SLX, would be closer at about $170, but it's still a percentage higher.

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The 9-speed cassette has a range of 11-42 with the largest cog being alloy to save weight.
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If I had paid to replace the X01 derailleur and cassette I trashed, I would have spent $225 on a derailleur and $385 on a cassette, plus a $60 chain...$670.

Performance

I would say there's no better way to get some contrast than bolting on the drivetrain to the fanciest test bike I had on hand, so that's exactly what I did. I put the 9-speed Advent on the SB130, complete with those new I9 wheels.

Installing the drivetrain was as straightforward as it could have possibly been. If anything, it was easier to dial in than high-end 11- or 12-speed gearing. One thing worth noting is that the shifter clamp is as basic as it gets. There's no Matchmaker-style compatibility, so I did have to do a bit of finagling and swapping things around to get brakes and shifting where I wanted. Not a big deal, just worth noting. Also worth keeping in mind is that if you have to run a standard HG freehub body.

The first time I went on a ride with the Advent drivetrain, I wasn't sure what to expect. After all, it's a $125 9-speed drivetrain, a far cry from the $670 worth of 12-speed SRAM X01 that I had just taken off the bike but then again, I had tweaked that derailleur and somehow broken a few teeth on the cassette in a bit of a violent and unplanned dismount a few weeks back and it wasn't shifting all that well itself.

I also had some trepidation on running a smaller range in the cassette. I wasn't as much concerned about the jumps between teeth as I was going from the 50 to 42-tooth at the low end of the cassette. I kept in mind that 10 years back we were running what now would be janky 1x set-ups with 34 tooth cassettes and thought nothing of it.

On the trail, I was surprised and impressed with how solid and precise the shifting on the system was. It didn't feel cheap, in fact, each shift felt rock solid. The shifting was smooth and crisp. The trigger shifter took a bit of getting used to, as dropping into a more difficult gear takes a trigger pull - it can't be pushed with the thumb as a Shimano or SRAM shifter can be. I found that the jumps in the 9-speed cassette, larger than we're used to with 11 and 12-speed, were barely noticeable and while there were a couple of times having an easier gear than the 42t would have been nice, it was quite alright.

Descending, there was minimal chain slap or noise. No more than any top dollar drivetrain out there. The clutch seems to do a good job of keeping things quiet. I also didn't experience any dropped chains, and even with the 9-speed chain on the 12-speed Eagle chainring, things were smooth as could be. I'd wager that someone at an S-brand would likely claim this wouldn't be advised/compatible/recommended in staying "brand compliant" but hey, I'm here to tell you that it works fine and doesn't matter.

I've been riding the system for a couple of months now and really haven't taken care of it. I can count on one hand how many times I've lubed the chain and I know that I've done double that many rides in wet conditions. There are minimal signs of wear and everything works just as well as it did when I first installed it.

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Shifting, even with a dry chain covered in filth is pretty darn smooth. Volume up for that I9 hub sound that's been asked for.


Is It For You?

The Advent drivetrain fills a previously open spot and meets a need that I think a lot of people have; it's affordable and functional. It is a few dollar tiers below either of the main competitors' most functional entry-level drivetrains, the closest of which I would compare it to is SRAM's 11-speed NX or Shimano's SLX systems. Both of those are a bit more expensive, and while they do have more gearing, I wouldn't say they perform any better when it comes to the smoothness of shifting. The Advent system also seems more robust and capable of handling a little more abuse than either of those systems as well.

If you're a racer or aficionado looking for the lightest set-up, 12 gears, or the crispest shifting you can get, this isn't for you. However, if you're on a budget and are having to debate between new tires and a new drivetrain, you blew all of your money on a fancy bike then ripped the derailleur off on your first ride, or you'd rather go on a trip and have a drivetrain than have to choose one or the other, Advent could be your fix. It's not the lightest setup, and it doesn't have as many gears as some other systems, but it works. It will get you out on your bike and it isn't just a band-aid you'll want to replace when you get a bit more money saved up.


Pinkbike's Take
bigquotesThe most value-oriented drivetrains tend to get overlooked, but they do something well – they get you out and riding. I thought that I would be eager to pull this off of my bike and get back to 12-speed, but two months later I've proved myself wrong. Advent works better than it should given its price. It's functional, inexpensive, and bombproof. It's the best option I've ridden for a drivetrain on a budget. Daniel Sapp






Author Info:
danielsapp avatar

Member since Jan 18, 2007
476 articles

296 Comments
  • 201 17
 Drivetrains have gone backwards ever since 10 speed. Instead of short cage derralier, lighter weight, and beefier chains and cassette spacing we have: long cage derraliers, more unsprung weight, and more susceptible to breakage because the tolerances in derralier adjustment, cassette and chain spacing must be so tight... But hey, its gold so it must be better lol
  • 92 12
 I just want a 11-46 7 speed groupset. Way less weight in the back, no ultra long cages, no tacos on your wheel. I really dont need the extra gears inbetween if the 7 speed is nicely geared. Please.
  • 39 19
 @NotNamed: Sram has had 8 speed 11-48 drivetrain for over 2 years. Fits on standard shimano freehub.

www.sram.com/sram/mountain/products/xg-899-e-block-cassette
  • 10 4
 It's very robust . Perfect for Electric bikes.
  • 111 0
 @lognar: That cassette is $380.
  • 27 42
flag WAKIdesigns (Feb 18, 2019 at 11:25) (Below Threshold)
 @lognar: if they only made a 100g lighter version... I am not a weight weenie but this is yuge
  • 32 4
 @WAKIdesigns: your a gram troll
  • 15 0
 @NotNamed: Box component has a wide range 9spd. Box two-E 9s
  • 2 0
 @lognar: holy buscuits! Who knew. A shame they don’t make good derailleur for that speed. I’m sticking with 11 speed but this is good to know.
  • 33 30
 They've only gone backwards for people embracing 1x12. Now before you get out the pitchforks, consider that all ibishreddin's complaints don't exist for Shimano 2x11. I use a medium cage derailleur and a light, cheap 11-34 cassette. oh crap he said 2x, better downvote!
  • 2 1
 @JohanG: 3 x e drive or die
  • 5 0
 @NotNamed: I want a wide range 5 speed cassette. I may even build one myself and run it with a 30t front ring to keep it small and light.
  • 7 0
 @lognar: but its €450... I can buy a lot of 10 speed drive trains for that
  • 9 2
 @danielsapp: great article! I notice you talk about taking a tooth out on your x01. What a pain, I have done this twice with x01 and have ended up having to buy yet another overpriced cassette. Back in the day I used to run a "winter" bike when I was pretending to be a racer. I could see buying this groupo for that reason.

I hate the price of the sram stuff; I go through a drivetrain in entirety per year. Before you comment on how your's has lasted 25 years-I don't care! I am a 6'2" , 200lb former grass roots racer who puts big miles on from rides on the steeps of BC year round.
  • 7 0
 @lognar: I know this one Smile but its seriously overpriced... Im not willing to spend more than 60€ for a cassette... Really the prices are just insane for a stupid piece of metal.
  • 11 0
 @fartymarty: Im with you. I need about 5-6 Gears.
For the following: Steep ascend, normal ascend, flat trail, downhill, downhill fast.

I never use the other 5 or more gears normally.
  • 1 3
 @NotNamed: quit asking go buy it, ex1
  • 5 0
 @lognar: OMG the price!
  • 20 0
 @NotNamed: Cage length is just a function of the difference between your highest and lowest gear as well as chain growth when suspension is compressed. A 11-46 7 speed would have the same chain length and cage length as an 11-46 12 speed. Weight is a different story. I'm not a fan of 12 speeds for that reason.
  • 6 0
 @NotNamed: Check out the 7spd group from Box! You can use their 11spd derailleur with the 7spd shifter and you can fit 7 11spd cogs on an Onyx singlespeed hub. Been dying to try this.
  • 14 1
 @lognar: And the cassette is $500, because SRAM hates you and me and everyone else.
  • 6 6
 @Fix-the-Spade: no one is forcing you to run the newest most expensive gear, you'll still have a good time without an expensive cassette that's machined from one piece of metal. if you want the newest raddest shit its gonna cost you no matter what sport you're in.
  • 6 1
 @NotNamed: You won't have a short cage with that setup either. Derailleur length is necessitated by the overall range. Could definitely get a mid cage on there but the only way to definitely get short cages up and running is going to a 3x. Personally I'll take the extra length on the derailleur and more unsprung weight to not deal with a front derailleur. That being said, the 3x XTR on my old 2001 GT i-drive is still the smoothest shift I have ever encountered.
  • 4 0
 @lognar: You had me excited until I looked at the price.
  • 4 2
 @heffernw: ebike shits expensive
  • 5 3
 @NotNamed: I'm currently on single speed and it has made me realise how little you need gears. Also they weigh a lot.
  • 1 1
 @JohanG:11 sp 11-34 cassette? So ultegra or 105? Rocking a 2x with a road cassette doesn't sound like my kind of party but I won't judge
  • 11 1
 @oldtech: 1x12 is old school everyone should start riding 12x1 its the way of the future!
  • 4 0
 @NotNamed: wouldn't the derailleur be almost the same length on a 11speed 11-46 than on a 7 speed 11-46? i mean min and max teeth of the cassette are the same only the (idk what this is really called) cassette stack increases on the 11speed. I'm not sure if there would be so much difference
  • 2 0
 @K1maxX: cage length will be the same as it depends on largest and smallest cogs.
  • 2 1
 @fartymarty: yes sure, but also the movement from left to right (lowest to highest gear while shifting) would not make such a difference in the total derailleur length when comparing 11speed to 7speed with the same min. and max. gear
  • 2 0
 @taquitos: good to know- but the weight difference between a NX/GX cassette and an 11-36 or 42 cassette makes a big difference
  • 3 0
 @NotNamed: The cage will be long with a 46t
  • 2 0
 @lognar: 390$
  • 2 0
 @emptybe-er: Yes, HG800 11-34. On a 26-36, the low gear is plenty small. I'm an aggressive rider who prefers to pedal and this setup is tits.
  • 3 0
 @NotNamed: haha oh definitely. I don't run 12 speed because I don't want that extra weight or price. I run an 11 speed gx derailleur with xg-1195 cassette. That's a full 182 g (0.4 lbs!) lighter than the gx 12 speed cassette. That way when the derailleur gets smashed it doesn't break the bank while the nice cassette keeps weight down.
  • 3 0
 @taquitos: If youve ever ridden single speed backt to back to normal cassete and der. you notice such a huge difference...the bike feels way more nimble and easier to manouvre the back wheel.
  • 3 0
 @NotNamed: and SS is really efficient. You really feel the increase in power transfer.
  • 3 0
 @NotNamed: I'm not sure that has to do with the derailleur. Any hard tail is going to be way more nimble than full squish. I'm not arguing on weight though. The GX and especially NX 12 speed cassette are stupidly heavy.

@fartymarty: Once you're in gear the efficiency difference between single speed and anything else is negligible. That's one of the beauties of a chain drive that gearboxes will never be able to mimic.

I think you two are confusing performance differences between hard tails and full suspensions with drive train differences maybe.
  • 2 0
 Can’t upvote hard enough
  • 2 0
 I run shimano 8 speed 11-42 with a 360g cassette using an expander cog. $25 claris shifter, $25 altus derailleur (found two more for free in kerbside chuckout), $15 chain, $25 cassette plus $40 expander. Paired with a 30tooth narrow wide eBay threaded 104 BCD chainring for $30.
This is in $AUD. The microshift has a clutch but my bike's suspension wasn't designed for a clutch derailleur. So add $25 eBay minimal chain guide and ghetto chain tensioner.
  • 1 5
flag Jimbo876 (Feb 22, 2019 at 10:13) (Below Threshold)
 Wow,I would like to try this drive train.I am running the 1299 cassette Eagle XX1 drive train.I am in the process of building a Santa Cruz V-10 and if you guys would send me a free drive train to put on my V-10 I would give it the review?But does any one out there Tried this drive train?I don’t know how it would do on a down hill bike.I was going to put the Sram 7 speed on it But don’t want to buy it with out trying it first.
  • 5 0
 @Jimbo876: its an 11-42 range thats way more range than you would ever need on a v-10 and im pretty sure you're not qualified to write a reveiw being that you can hardly write a comment so good luck
  • 1 0
 A bit of truth to what you're saying. 3x9 11-34 with 24-32-40 and 2x10 11-36 with 38/24 had good range and durability and usually cost less than a 1x
  • 1 0
 I have a xc bike with 2x 10 speed sram top quality casette = X-Glide 11- 36 / 22/36 crank
i rode 7500km, with this config... perfect!! Climb and dh
  • 1 0
 @JohanG: slx 2x10 works like a dream! I do like the 11-36 cassette however
  • 1 0
 @lognar: at $429, just for the cassette - lol
  • 76 0
 I don’t know why I get so excited about these value oriented product reviews. But I do.
  • 12 1
 For me it's because I'm broke AF, but still want to ride my bike. It really is that simple!
  • 10 0
 I’m not broke but I don’t have a budget to go bananas. So I like to find areas I can save money and maintain performance. There is also a diminishing return the more we spend on bike products. @kupper4470:
  • 3 2
 I run 12 speed GX with XX1 cranks which isn't the top of the top, but I always enjoy looking these value products so much anyway. I always think that if I had a second project bike and slapped something like that on it, it would be perfect and I would not miss my 12 speed. I prefer the 10 speed SLX setup I have on my second bike to be honest.
  • 7 0
 This is awesome. My old Kona four is now my son's bike. It's running the dated 3x 11-36. This will be a nice cheap upgrade to get it to 1x benefit and wide enough range. What a treat! Might even get it under 30 lbs...
  • 63 1
 #9speedaintdead
  • 15 1
 im still rocking nine speed good old sram x0 shifter on a slx ten speed clutch mech!
  • 15 1
 should have tested on a 26" wheel bike too @danielsapp
  • 6 0
 @markbe: same here. 4.5mm spacer on top of the mech lever makes it shift like butter
  • 4 1
 mate.. Im running a 9spd deore lx drivetrain setup as an 8spd.. as the 9th cog wouldnt fit the 7spd driver! love it.. works great.. just limited out the 9th gear at the derailleur
  • 2 0
 @MrDiamondDave: Indeed. And we need bigger front rings to account for smaller wheels. Does anyone make anything suitable? I'll need to replace my front ones soon.
  • 1 0
 @MrZ32: 8 of 9 on a 7!

Your comment gets me feeling nostalgic about those good old days reading sheldonbrown.com Wink
  • 40 1
 Yes please! Where I want to spend money on a bike: suspension, frame/suspension design, and brakes.

Everything else can be some level of compromise.
  • 35 1
 Finally a drivetrain to make pinkbikers happy: Cheap, cheap, and cheap
  • 18 1
 @Tr011 if it performs equal or better then the current offers from Shimano or SRAM then I am on board.........imagine that there are options to inflated drive train component costs. Smile I say bring it on! Wink
  • 3 16
flag Tr011 (Feb 18, 2019 at 12:21) (Below Threshold)
 @rivercitycycles: judging by the review it doesnt, it gives up too much to get the "wide spread". In much the same way that the shimano 11-46 cassettes fall short the shifting performance gets worse the higher up the cassette you go
  • 23 0
 We al know there’s no such think as a happy pinkbiker.
  • 4 2
 @Altabird: 26" session for $1200 would make the hordes happy
  • 7 1
 @Tr011: Only if it has a waterbottle cage
  • 2 1
 @tom666: judging by my props not even a cheap 26" session with a water bottle mount would make them happy
  • 31 1
 finally a 9spd derailleur with a clutch! compatible with wider range cassettes, perfect for a touring bike!
  • 37 11
 I dunno. A little searching and you can get a Shimano Deore 11-42 10spd groupset for a similar price.
  • 115 1
 Yeah, we saw Deore for that price on eBay, but not from "legitimate" sources.

You can get an ADVENT group from your local bike shop for this price, and you get our 4 year warranty to boot.
  • 68 0
 Yeah but does Deore have Bearings Inside it?
  • 2 18
flag scott-townes (Feb 18, 2019 at 11:01) (Below Threshold)
 Yeah but 10 speed is easier than 9 speed.
  • 19 5
 Today, 11sp SLX can be bought from Jenson USA for $42 for the cassette, $50 for the derailleur, and $28 for the shifter (and that's in line with pricing that's been available for a long time). If my math doesn't betray me, that's $8 less for the trio than the MSRP on the Microshift, and you get an 11sp drivetrain that's known to be reliable and smooth-shifting. Even if you can get the Microshift for a little less - I'm not sure this sounds like such a great value. Oh, and the Shimano stuff sold by Jenson is legitimately packaged for sale to consumers (not bulk gray imported OEM parts as you'd get when ordering from Europe), and they process Shimano warranties.
  • 2 0
 @g-42: Yes SLX is a good bet if your on a budget but are you saying OEM parts are not the same quality as original parts ?
  • 4 0
 @konacyril: not at all - but if we (here in the US) buy OEM parts from the big European online sellers, there's no real warranty coverage.
  • 4 0
 @konacyril: He's saying that it originates in legitimate distribution channels. Whether IBDs are happy about it is another issue. His math is perfectly competent.
  • 5 1
 Or SunRace which I run which is cheaper by far.
  • 2 2
 @g-42: Well that's a poor show .A warranty should be valid no matter where you buy it from . CRC have often posted me shimano components that are not in original packaging ,I just assumed that it was to keep postage costs down
  • 4 1
 @landscapeben: Sunrace cassettes aren't as good as Shimano tho. I'm running both on 10sp and Shimano is smoother.
  • 7 2
 I bought a Shimano XT M8000 Shadow+, 11spd derailleur for $55.79, a Shimano SLX M7000, 11spd shifter for $27.99, a Sunrace MX8 11-50T, 11spd for $84.99 all from Chain Reaction Cycles in November. Total $168.77 and I have damn near the SRAM eagle spread that is more reliable and far cheaper (I had a terrible time with my brand new Eagle GX drivetrain mis-shifting, and yes I set the B-limit and all of the adjustments correctly).
  • 1 1
 @g-42: BOOM
  • 5 2
 I don't really care where my Shimano parts come from to be honest, as long as they come out of the Shimano factory and end up on my bike. Anywhere they happen to be in between is money out of my pocket and into someone else's. Maybe I've been lucky in that I have never had a Shimano part need to be replaced under warranty. The only thing I've broken is rear mechs, and they don't class as warranty claims anyway.

New Saint is going to be DH/eBike dual duty I've heard. Nine speed, two cassettes, one wide spread with a medium cage and one narrow spread with a short cage.

Bringing back the nine speed chains for mountain bikers is the way to go. Going through the comments it's pretty clear a lot of people care more about reliability than the size of the jumps between gears. 9 speed 10-50 would be sweet. I don't know about you guys but I've been using eleven speed since XT M8000 came out and last year I broke two chains - one on the MTB and one on the road bike. That's never happened to me with 7, 8, 9 or 10 speed.
  • 3 0
 @g-42: there are some benifits to a nine speed over 11speed like having a more durable chain and cassette. As well as being able to buy it in a bike shop which would mean no shipping. When the shop I worked at started carrying their derailures and shifters back in 2011ish we joked about them until a couple of us bought them threw them on for kicks and giggles and were surprised not much of a difference in the mid level Shimano. I think the rear der was like 35$ worked pretty well.
  • 3 0
 @Naturel: 'tis true. Shifter be the brains of the whole operation.
  • 5 1
 @loganflores: yeah and remember in the olden days when shimano and Sachs used the same pull ratio for seven, eight and nine speed? Everything worked with everything and you could upgrade bit by bit, even using a short cage road derailleur if you wanted.
Then ten speed came out and messed it all up. And now look at the fine mess we're in!
Jokes aside I think eleven speed is pretty reliable, except for the chains. I wonder if we will get to answeet spot in terms of number of gears and then work backwards. Will Eagle be ten speed in 2030?
  • 8 0
 @sunday06: The eagle GX is just bullshit! but I love the XO 11 speed, my derailleur and shifter are 5 years old and run super. But I never experienced anything good with Srams GX groups or any aluminium derailleur. I rather go for Shimano or the new advent than buying a alu sram bullshit part
  • 1 0
 @g-42: Shimano also do a 10 speed deore 11-42 cassette, running with a 10 speed SLX derailleur I bet you could sort it out even cheaper.
  • 1 0
 @fartymarty: Maybe true but I haven't had any issues with mine and after a year of riding it still changes without any hitches.
  • 1 0
 @landscapeben: they still change fine and the only reason I noticed was I have 2 wheel sets for the same bike with a Shimano on one and Sunrace on the other. Also the Shimano was cheaper and similar weight IIRC.
  • 3 0
 @sunday06: That was november...today...you couldn't do that. As of Jan 1 2019, CRC is no longer permitted to ship shimano parts to north america.
  • 4 0
 @Gus-At-microSHIFT: almost all "Shimano" on eBay is just counterfeit too. I learned the hard way with some "Zee" brakes. Nothing like the real thing.

This drivetrain though, the loaner bike will always be good to go now AND I can help friends new to riding keep cost down when they smack rocks with their derailleurs. Super sick that this option exists.
  • 1 0
 @jaame: good times i dropped the front der about 05 never looked back used to have it set up with a short cage and small road cassette for in the city ad a med cage with a 11-36 for the mountains that setup was sweet. Do you remember ever keeping the small front ring and manually dropping when needing more range?
  • 1 0
 @loganflores: I never did that myself but I know people who did. I stopped mountain biking for almost ten years from 2000-2010. I rediscovered it when I was about 30. The danger of motorbikes had started to become more apparent by that age! I remember the glory days of seven and eight speed very well though. I kind of missed out on the whole freeride movement.
  • 1 0
 @deeeight: Bummer !!!
  • 2 0
 @patrickbatemanworldtour89: this is the first time I've ever heard of counterfeit Zee brakes, care to elaborate more?

@jaame: ah, those good old days when your short cage Saint broke and you can slap Sora from your trainer road bike
  • 1 0
 The microshift parts are now showing up on ebay from USA dealers. With the shipping and import charges to canada prepaid via ebay's "global shipping program" it was just under $151 USD total for the complete Microshift Advent 9sp cassete+derailleur+shifter. I'm going to use it for a bike project.
  • 21 1
 So happy to see this
  • 18 1
 Nice! 9sp has always been the sweet spot, they last, and last! But the manufacturers got greedy!
  • 16 0
 We need a review comparing:

Box Two-E 9s $280
Sunrace M9
Microshif Advent $125

2019 is the year of 9 speed!
  • 3 2
 2020 will be the year of coasting!
  • 4 0
 i got excited about the box two-E drivetrain at first, but the cassette alone is 650g Frown
  • 14 0
 Can't really argue with this at all. I mean, the brand snobs will laugh and insist their much more expensive systems are infinitely better still.
  • 14 3
 So it seems there’s more than a few of us here who are constantly double and triple shifting all the time to get to the right gear. I think it’s high time we moved away from Roadie gearing. We don’t need tightly spaced gearing. I could easily get away with half the gears on a 12 speed cassette. I love the range of Eagle but I literally use half the gears. I did the same on 10&11spd as well.
So I’d like to introduce the “BroDuro SIX” speed group! Less is more people! We are finally freeing our selves from roadie geometry and the improvement is undeniable. Let’s free our selves from roadie gearing as well.
Just think of the benifits. We take a 12 speed cassette and remove half the cogs. It’s half as wide. The chain line will be much more consistent. The derailleur could stay tucked in closer to the wheel. Less weight and rotational mass. A simpler smaller shifter. Super boost will make even less sense than it already does.
Down sides? Roadie wantabe mtn bikers will cry about the gear spacing. I personally see that as a plus. Selling less is more to the masses can be complicated. This Is easily solved by marketing it as a group for (HardCore) riders only. This will alienate most sheeple and they will buy it anyway. This is the group that every real mtn biker needs. No it’s not going to be for everyone but for those of us who ride more than we do anything else it will be the best thing since the front derailleur died.
Who wants BroDuro?
  • 11 1
 More power to MicroShift! Seem to be quality parts at fair price.
You can't help but feel that the exponential rise in the cost of decent bikes has been fulled by Sram and Shimano's strangle hold on the original equipment market (Fox and Rockshox too, actually). It's nice to see smaller companies come up with products that are reasonably priced and perform well. Good job MicroShift! I look froward to trying this setup. I hope some bike builders start putting these on their base models.4000$ bikes with Sram NX and Rock shock Yari? no thanks.
  • 10 2
 Of course 9 speed is easier to set up than eagle. The chain width on 12 speed drivetrains gives you no room for error in cable tension. Not to mention sram's b screws are ridiculously finicky and prone to backing themselves out over time
  • 8 0
 This is perfect to convert my SS! And will allow me to keep total build cost right where I wanted it to be. I want so badly to be one of those singlespeed guys who praise the simplicity and pass geared guys on climbs but I just don't have the legs for it! I am constantly telling myself what a little B I am on the climbs when I get tired and start pushing.
  • 10 14
flag WAKIdesigns (Feb 18, 2019 at 11:32) (Below Threshold)
 I am a hard gear guy and can push some local short climbs on 32/18 SS on my DJ but only as a form of exotic experience. 1.5h ride with careful selection of climbing routes and that’s it. I don’t know how folks do it. I know some do, I know BMX racers have put aome serious chain breaking power down but at the end of the day, For every day riding, no way. Must depend greatly on kind of terrain and grades one is tackling. And if you get some easier gearing like 22-16 you will not pedal down the hills, you will be riding virtually chainless. May be fun, teach pumping terrain and nailing corners, I am not the one to judge.
  • 2 0
 @WAKIdesigns: I ride ss for everything now and yes, very much dictated by terrain. Pretty flat where I am and would definitely go back to gears if regularly riding bigger hills. That said, even when I did used to, I never really felt the need for more than 10 speed.
  • 3 2
 @tremeer023: I hear you. Rode 11-42 cassette in 10sp didn’t feel the need for more. It is on the edge of too much. I do have 11sp and it is too many geqrs to go through. I will however call bullshit on shifting precision. My 10sp Sram X9 and 11sp XTR shift way better than any 9sp stuff I tried. I had Saint 9sp meanwhile I had 11sp XTR and shifting wise it felt worse. I rmmber readjusting my 9sp XT quite often. i readjust 10sp X9 no more than 3 times a year and XTR like twice a year. Maybe 12sp Eagle sucks in that department, dunno. But I would definitely not buy anthing 12sp unless forced to by lack of other options.
  • 2 0
 @mca896 I put the GX DH setup on my SS. On the low end I have a good trials gear and reasonable climbing gear, and I don't spin out (that much) on the DH. It's a nice weight-conscious alternative with a much shorter cage.
  • 7 0
 @WAKIdesigns: our stuff is pretty smooth . . . try it and report back!
  • 1 0
 Just get the right gearing and SS is fine. I'm currently on 32/20 on my 29 and can get up most climbs as long as they aren't too long.
  • 9 1
 @Gus-At-microSHIFT: considering it got a better review than Box, I may try it in the future. 9sp at this range, I say amazeballs!
  • 1 0
 @Gus-At-microSHIFT: is it available direct through you guys or in stores now?
  • 7 1
 @WAKIdesigns: I think this is where you ask them to send you one and start a YouTube channel and review shit. #WAKIreviewz
  • 2 0
 @mca896: it's in stock at our US distributor, and you should be able to have your local shop order it. The online folks haven't picked it up yet but we hope they do soon because we don't sell direct.
  • 21 0
 @leviatanouroboro: I'm not sure if a positive WAKI review would help us or hurt us on here - it might get down voted into oblivion before anyone could read it.
  • 1 0
 @WAKIdesigns: Same here . I had 9spd XTR and Saint both needed adjustment regularly . I never touch my 11spd XT/XTR with substantially more miles on it. Just got a 12spd eagle bike, it's either good or not , it's only got about 30 miles on I so it's probably still settling in.
  • 3 1
 @leviatanouroboro: that's quite a lot of work and waste of money. I calculated it once. If I took the same time it takes to test stuff and review it on youtube channel, and put in over hours at my work, I would afford all that and much more. If it was more or less the same, I could consider that, but the disparity between being a social media whore and a professional is just too big.

@Gus-At-microSHIFT - yes it would hurt you. World is full of nicer folks who will post the crap out of behind bars photos and tag you into oblivion for getting 30% off your product while those who don't have to wait until October sales to get the discount on CRC. You'll be just fine Big Grin
  • 3 0
 @blk91: XT/XTR 11 is going to be an immortal groupset that gets talked about for decades to come, in the same way the roadies still praise the Dura Ace 7800 shifting from 12 years ago.
  • 9 0
 My dream is a (very) durable 10 speed 9-34 cassette. It's perfect for short cage derailleurs (zee) , and it has almost the same ratio as 11-42.
The smaller cassette will save those stupid things you name "grams"
  • 7 0
 Bout time. My old 9 speed stuff lasted till doomsday and beyond with bugger all maintenence. All it need was a bigger range without the 2x. The weight and cost of these 11 and 12 spd cassettes is getting stupid. Find on my 11spd I'm constantly having to do multiple gear changes at once as the gaps are to small. Just a waste of time and more wear on the shifter.
  • 7 1
 "the jumps in gear ranges were too big and the quality of shifting with those jumps was compromised once they got above 42-teeth."
*cough cough ex1 cough*
no but for real this sounds really nice. I just spent like 200$ on a gx 1x10 with a 42t cassette and the only reason I went for 10 speeds was the clutch, I'm glad to see more systems hitting the market with less focus on the number of gears. kinda wishing I'd waited now...
  • 1 0
 Ex1 was designed for ebikes
  • 1 1
 How did you spend 200 dollars on a 1x10 ??
I don't mean to judge or anything, but with a little bit of research I found a 1x11 GX for the same price (It was like 210)
Another option is SLX 1x11 for only 175$ ??? It also has the bigger casette which has 11-46 range. (HG body tough)
Both of these have a clutch and lets be honest if you can get a 10 speed or 11 speed for the same price or even less, its no brainer because both of the sram driveterrains will have the exact same range (10-42), but the jumps in teeth numbers will be much smaller, therefore smoother shifting, better lifespan and less time needing to adjust it.
  • 3 1
 @dzembi:

Online prices are subject to online availability limitations. Thomas is in the USA... and thus is limited to sources that will ship to the USA, or perhaps he needed things QUICKLY and thus was limited to what was available from retail shops near him. If you're using CRC as your reference, be aware they are NO LONGER ALLOWED to ship Shimano components to North America.
  • 1 0
 @deeeight: You are just throwing random thoughts at me. I just gave a proper backed up answer. There is so much online shops I'm sure he could even find it for cheaper than I have, it is a no brainer to look and I was looking at AMERICAN sites when telling the ACTUALL prices. I don't think rushing to buy something is a reason at all and a stupid one at that. Would you comprimise the spec of your bike because you had to wait 3 days for shipping ? Please.
  • 1 0
 @dzembi: I bought all my stuff on amazon so that may have contributed to the price, also looking at the receipt I might have included a set of chesters in the price. As to the 1x11 being a better value, I considered that, hell for under 300 I could've had a decent nx /gx eagle drivetrain. the reason I didn't go that way is I really don't care about number of speeds or jumps in teeth, and the main thing being that it's going on a 26er dh bike (freeride wannabe) with an 83mm bb and a 150mm hub. I didn't think it'd be an issue, but my local bikeshop told be it was a bad idea to mess with chainlines that sharp, plus with that much range it was pretty hard to deal with the chain stretching when the suspension compresses. I agree there's much better options for the price, and if I could I'd absolutely have gone 11 or even 12 speed. as for the maintenance, I'll probably break it before it wears out, and I need something to work on in the meantime.
  • 1 0
 @dzembi: I did spend way too much on a shitty chain guide/ bash guard once with 2 day shipping since I was going on a trip and I really needed one before I left, back before i got a clutch derailleur.
  • 1 0
 @dzembi:

If I need something IMMEDIATELY for my bike to be rideable, damn right I'll go with the faster shipping options. I don't order anything from amazon unless it qualifies for the free next-day delivery that being an Amazon Prime member gets me. It also is going to help me and others in this area in the future as Amazon is building one of their supply/distribution centers about 25 mins drive east of me. The buildng itself is complete last I drove past it and now they're in the process of filling it with goods and training up staff.
  • 9 0
 THEY DO BRIFTERS FOR IT! Hot damn. Hot damn. Hot damn. Clutch equipped drop bar monster incoming.
  • 11 0
 Thank you Microshift!
  • 8 0
 This is exactly what I have always wanted. Cheap, solid, lots of range, and the biggest steps in the climbing gears instead of further down the cassette.
  • 8 0
 Just placed my order through my LBS. $125 isn't much to gamble to find out if I like it or not.
  • 6 0
 @pacificnorthwet: high five! You're part of the official microSHIFT street team now, make sure you represent the brand well!
  • 6 0
 If you check there website, there’s a 10speed drivetrain and hold on to your hats 11speed as well.

I have fond memories of the 9s X0 drivetrain. Tough and reliable. Like Daniel here, I also like to remember how pedaling up on the ol‘ SX Trail and 1x9s worked out quite well!
  • 6 0
 In the past Microshift shifters/derailleurs have been compatible with Shimano. Is that still the case here? This could really help out a lot of people with nice older bikes if so.
  • 31 0
 Sadly, ADVENT isn't compatible with Shimano 9-speed stuff. Those shifters don't pull enough cable to get the rear derailleur up an 11-42 cassette. We tried it and the shifting effort was way too high. Long story short, ADVENT has its own proprietary cable pull. We still think it's cool though!
  • 1 1
 @Gus-At-microSHIFT: is cassette spacing the same as Shimano 9 spd?
  • 8 0
 Absolutely, the market definitely needed a proper 9s clutch groupo. I'm glad to see this out there. If you don't mind my asking, I'd love to know the cable pull per shift and the derailleur ratio if you're able to post or PM that information.
  • 8 0
 @woofer2609: Yep, it works with any 9-speed Shimano/SRAM compatible chain on the market.
  • 4 0
 @crs-one: the overall throw is in the same ballpark as other systems that work with 42-51T cassettes. That's about as specific as I can get.
  • 1 0
 @Gus-At-microSHIFT: so it will work with an otherwise Shimano based system (shifter and derailleur)?
  • 2 0
 ^nevermind, just read your previous point about no worky with 42t and Shimano 9spd
  • 3 2
 @Gus-At-microSHIFT: guess this will come wireless soon?
  • 33 0
 @thestraightline: I mean, you can take the wires off if you want . . .
  • 3 1
 @Gus-At-microSHIFT: Sounds perfect for a UK winter bike riding in grinding paste mud.
  • 2 1
 @StevieJB: that's the idea for sure!
  • 2 2
 @Gus-At-microSHIFT:

I happen to like your actual shimano 10/11 speed dyna sys compatible shifters, could you not have at least used the same cable-pull geometry as the 10 speed Dyna Sys for this 9 speed setup ? Because the "don't pull enough" cable bit doesn't really hold water. Sunrace offers a wide range 9 speed cassette and it works fine with shimano 9 speed shifters and derailleurs. The tooth size of the cog in the granny position has nothing to do with the cable pull of the shifter and whether its compatible or not. Its the upper pulley clearance to the cog that determines the max cog size. A low end shimano Altus rear derailleur works just fine with a 40T cog for example, with no modifications to the derailleur at all.
  • 10 0
 @deeeight: I think our definitions of "works fine" might be different Wink

When you use Altus with the SunRace 11-40 cassette, the guide pulley does not stay that close to the smallest cogs in the range, because it's designed to follow the angles of an 11-32 or 11-36 cassette. In my testing that setup doesn't shift very well under load in the smaller cogs.

If you look closely at how our parallelogram moves versus Altus, you'll notice that ours moves more vertical distance -- that keeps the guide pulley close to the cogs through the whole gear range. To do that smoothly, we need a longer overall cable pull than existing Shimano 9-speed shifters and derailleurs are designed for.

Our goal for this group wasn't to match the shifting quality of Altus -- we wanted it to work a lot better than that. I think we succeeded, but I'm also very biased.
  • 1 0
 @Gus-At-microSHIFT: Do any of the bar end shifters in the Microshift catalog work with this derailleur? I'd love to toss this thing on my winter bike/commuter.
  • 2 0
 @crs-one: we're planning to release one, but it's not available yet. Timeframe is probably 6-12 months, honestly. In the meantime we've got 10- and 11-speed bar ends that are compatible with our XCD and XLE mountain groups.
  • 1 5
flag deeeight (Feb 19, 2019 at 16:32) (Below Threshold)
 @Gus-At-microSHIFT:

Yes, my definition is that of someone actually using it on customer bikes and my own. Its also apparently the definition of many brands who are also using that exact same setup on several of their 2019 models. Rocky Mountain has the 11-40 sunrace cassette with shimano altus rear derailleur combo on more than a half dozen models this year.

Your definition is that of a company employee trying to convince people to buy an entirely new derailleur and shifter arrangement just to have a clutch with 9 speeds.
  • 5 0
 @deeeight: Like I said, I'm biased. But it's not like microSHIFT is some kind of slick-talking, hyped-out brand, either. We just try to make good shifting components.

ADVENT will start showing up on OE bikes at some point -- when it does, just give it a ride and see what you think. Worst case scenario is you still think I'm an idiot!
  • 1 0
 @Gus-At-microSHIFT: OK, so that's all you can say...

So what is it? What is the actual pull ratio? If Gus isn't allowed to say, who has one and can measure? Are we talking 1:1? Because if so, it's compatible with 8 and 9 speed SRAM shifters as well as 10-speed Shimano Dyna-Sys shifters and 11-speed SRAM X-Actuation shifters. Which would be freaking awesome. That's why my SRAMano setup (10 speed Zee shifter with 9-speed SRAM RD) works.
  • 1 0
 @pocky:

When I get around to trying the set I ordered, I shall use the advent derailleur with a shimano 10 speed dyna sys shifter (and 10 speed wide range cassette) as well as a SRAM 9 speed 1:1 shifter with the advent cassette and see how they go.
  • 1 0
 @pocky: Revisiting this topic several months later. I can report with confidence that a Suntour barcon doesn't pull enough cable to make it all the way through a 9s cassette with this derailleur - clamping the cable on the other side of the bolt gets closer but it still can't do it. I would have thought that a friction shifter would be a safe bet but I guess not.

I really wish buddy had just told me the cable pull/derailleur ratio. One lightly used Advent derailleur for sale.
  • 5 0
 12sp is too many and too particular to set up. I have been running a 12sp GX that came on my Giant last year (and pretty much everything else in 201Cool and it has been crap since day 1. It's been well set up and maintained, but always seems to need a tweak and or has a "tick" while riding. Plus, when you reach the top of a climb, you have to change about 8+ gears to descend....not to mention the insane cost. $300AUD for a GX cassette? You can get an entire XT set up for that.
I am currently binning the entire thing and "downgrading" to shimano XT 11sp - stuff that doesn't cost a fortune and just works.
Thinking now, I almost wish I'd gone the 10 speed route..... I ran 1x9 a few years ago with a 34 cassette and managed just fine! A good 1x 9 or 10 with an even spread of 11-42 ish would meet 95% of peoples needs?
  • 3 0
 12sp seems to be very sensitive to any cable tension change, lots of people are complaining about its reliability.
  • 7 0
 Why not a cassette that can use xd driver, so we don't have to buy a $200-500 eagle cassette
  • 5 1
 Pinkbike needs to review those cassettes:

www.aliexpress.com/item/ZTTO-MTB-Mountain-Bike-9-Speed-Freewheel-11-42T-Wide-Ratio-Cassette-Sprockets-Derailleur-For-M430/32839912919.html

I installed mine to upgrade from a 36t on a 2014 Commencal Meta HT witha Sram X5.

I also went to a bike show in Kortrijk in January, where I talked to the dutch importer of Sunrace, he was saying their cassettes were being "cloned" (whatever that means) by a chinese company, Sunshine.

I also for 9sp, some 50T starts to show up:

www.aliexpress.com/item/SUNSHINE-SZ-9-Speed-Cassette-11-50T-Mountain-Bike-Wide-Ratio-MTB-Bicycle-9S-Freewheel-Compatible/32908926266.html
  • 2 0
 ohhh
11/50 9speed @25usd?
a 34/32up front and I've found my new tranny, that won't need to be double or triple shift to move forward!!!
  • 2 0
 logged in to post this. 9 speed 11-50 is INSANE. Next step is having more rear mech options to work with these, because this hanger extensions are very fragile and ankward.
  • 1 0
 Do we have any idea whether the Advent derailleur can shift all the way through one of these 11-50's without needing a derailleur hanger extender?

If not, I imagine it probably can do an 11-46?
  • 4 0
 @JohanG: I'm still on 2x10 ... I bought an XT 1x setup, installed it rode it a while and gave it to my son & went back to my old X0 stuff ~ It works for me, but then again I'm still riding a 26" wheeled bike (Yeti SB66).
  • 7 0
 Advent or AXS - which will make me a better rider?
  • 1 0
 Live valve
  • 7 0
 This is awesome! I love functional budget friendly option!
  • 8 0
 Yes. So much Yes.
  • 4 1
 Nice, if my frame is done I will sell my XX1 Eagle and get this for the new frame. Eagle was the worst drivetrain, I never ever had to replace that much mechs and try to get them running again. I did kill 6 in 14 months and in the same time this would be only 1 xx1 1x11 and in 24 months only one XT 1x10.
  • 3 1
 Shimano and SRAM have been printing money. It’s time someone stepped and showed us what it costs to make a product, and see that they can still make money at a much lower price.
These guys will probably be bought ASAP and shut down before the ink dries on the deal. Gotta kill the competition one way or another.
  • 3 0
 Seriously thinking about this for my kids 24” bike. It has the range of the Shimano 1x10 he’s got on there now, and hopefully won’t have the BS phantom shifts that Shimano does when you coast or back pedal.
  • 2 0
 This is pretty cool, I've been using a fancy e-thirteen 10sp cassette with mid-cage shimano derailleur and microshift shifter. The shifter has been crisp since day 1.. It actually all works pretty well together, but I would have certainly just gone this way if it existed a few months ago.
  • 2 0
 I whole heartedly welcome a new player to the Drive chain market, the current two party system has plenty of room for more parties. I've got a LOT of love for 9speed too. If I was doing a cut budget, super reliable build I would be specing Deore. Not XT or SLX, jus basic common garden Deore. be interesting to see how this gear stacks up
  • 2 0
 That's pretty impressive. I'd consider it for my knock around 100%. Something tough that you can just thrash and not give a shit about. I bet it's not terribly heavy too. I didn't see the numbers on it. Or i did and just ignored them. Regardless a great budget option.
  • 2 0
 With a light weight version of the cassette this could easily go from being a low end group to a high end group at little expense. Think most people agree no one needs the close ratios and a wide 9 is more than enough. If the cassette was offered in a light weight version people would go for it on high end bikes.
  • 2 0
 The Microshift Advent setup I ordered off ebay ended up being $151USD including shipping and import taxes to Canada. The
ACTUAL weights are 130 grams for shifter including gear cable, 385 grams for the derailleur and 474 grams for the cassette. The fit and finish on the cassette and shifter are acceptable for the price but the derailleur seems a lot cheaper looking/feeling than a Shimano Deore 10speed shadow+, which as others have pointed out, can generally be bought cheaper. I can get an entire Deore M6000 derailleur, chain, cassette and shifter setup shipped to Canada for $18USD less than this Microshift Advent did (without a chain).
  • 1 0
 Anybody Familiar with what the pull ratio on a Microshift derailleur is? Something in the back of my head from my road bike days is telling me its the same as Shimano... If so, this derailleur paired with a Saint or XTR shifter could make for a very good drivetrain.
  • 1 0
 My thought immediately. Also- 9sp clutched drive with no mods. Priceless...
  • 1 0
 People are saying that 11-46 is the answer to having less gears with a wide range, but a 10-42 cassette offers the same range (maybe more) in a smaller package. Beyond that the best offerings would be some pretty expensive cassettes like the Garbaruk or e-thirteen 9-46 if you didn't want to go 2x or Eagle.
  • 7 2
 Ooooh 9 speed? The 26 for life crowd must be losing their minds right now
  • 5 0
 Damn right I am @rip8569 ????
  • 5 1
 Brand should rename themselves big shift. The isn’t anything micro about 9speed.
  • 5 0
 This is the type of article I need to see more often.
  • 1 0
 This a great idea and would happily run this if there was a two way pull shifter. The only reason I'm on shimano 11 speed is for the extra range and cost - because they've deprecated the crap out of ten, 11 is what you can get. A more robust 9 speed is better for what I ride, but I think I'm just too used to shimano siding ergonomics now.
  • 1 0
 great, honestly even with the possibility of running 11 or 12 cassette with those pizza sized cogs, I am staying on 10sp zee.
Reason? It´s cheap, cheap to replace, it works, it has pretty short cage which means shorter chain. I hate long chains rattling all around, long chain brings pain. Yep I don´t need to climb a wall on my bike
  • 3 0
 This is relevant innovation that consumers benefit from. Perfect for a kids bike or adults on a budget. My road bike is still 9 speed and goes like a boeing.
  • 2 0
 I thought the exact same thing that it is perfect for kids bikes since kids bikes are usually dad's bike with what used to be a truly epic drivetrain that dad gave up on and passed down.

Recycling bikes as kids grow out of them, the drivetrain is always the part that hurts the most to upgrade. Being able to toss this on that perfectly good 26" hardtail mom or dad no longer rides...freaking turns it into a modern, clutch derailleur pinner & climber.
  • 3 1
 I'm running 11-42 with a 36t ring. That gives more than enough low range and I avoid the lowest gears as much as possible since pedalling at less than 1:1 is pretty depressing!
  • 1 0
 This is great, while I’m not directly motivated by this little group we NEED a real third 4th and 5th option for drivetrains. Shimano has had their chance and SRAM remains Uber complacent, their stuff is so overrated and only receives high marks because it has no competition. Someone needs to challenge the high end groups. I love that this is 9 speed for some reason, bring on the 12 speed killer...
  • 1 0
 Good on MicroSHIFT for putting this together. Seems like a super solid group. I’m just wondering if there’s a plan to make this an OEM group because I’m not sure there’ll be a huge aftermarket demand for this. I’m kinda skeptical that even the hard core PB “the decline of civilization began with 11-speed” crowd won’t buy this but I hope I’m wrong.
  • 1 0
 I'm still running a 2x10 with 11-36T XTR or XT cassette (the 10-spd XTR cassette sucks - the rivet creaking drives me nuts!!!) and 24-36T XT chainrings with XTR Shifters and Rear Derailleur. The XTR chain I had before was super awesome - probably the lightest, smoothest, and strongest chain ever made. It's too bad Shimano discontinued that chain and you can't buy it anywhere nowadays. KMC comes close, but that Shimano XTR chain was the best! That gearing combo I have will match any 11/12 speed 1x drivetrain on any steep hill. I also have a hardtail with the good old XT index 7-spd thumb shifters with an 8-spd 10-34T XT cassette, XT derailleur, and an XTR 3x crankset. With the middle ring at 34T, I get a 1:1 gear ratio that can pretty much go up most of the steep hills back 5 or 6 years when I have the legs and lungs to do it. Looking back now, the Shimano 7-8-9 speed group were so versatile and so interchangeable, I really don't see the point of 11 and 12 speeds. Sure, they give you almost seamless transition from one gear to the next. However, if you're using a wide range up and down like most people do during shifting (not one gear at a time), you probably won't notice a heck of a lot of difference. Shimano's patented push/pull release shifting with multiple gears down doesn't match the old XT index thumb shifter, but it's way better than the SRAM's one-click thumb push. However, one technological advancement that really makes the rear drivetrain work even better is the clutch on the rear derailleur. Once you ride with one, you'll hate riding an older derailleur without a clutch. So, good on MicroShift to put on a clutch for their 9-spd derailleur.
  • 3 0
 I run a 11-40 sunrace kassette with a Zee derailleur. 10 Speed with all i Need.
  • 1 0
 With me currently being on that clunky, loud drive-train with the highest gear on my cassette being a 34, this will definitely be an option for me in the future. Great article!
  • 1 0
 I'd like to see if this can replace my broken 3x drivetrain on my Scott Aspect. What size of chainring could I buy for this to make the bottom end feel like a 32t front * 46t rear?
  • 2 2
 If the spacing on the 9 speed cassette will work with a current Shimano 9 spd shifter, I could maybe just get a longer B screw, switch to 1x9, and continue to use my Dual Control levers until they wear out. Which will probably be sometime around 2040.
  • 5 2
 For the rider in your life that spends all their money on a $4k Yeti frame, can only afford $125 Advent drivetrain!
  • 5 1
 Dunno about that hub noise. Sounds like a bloody siren.
  • 6 2
 Dunno why people like noisy hubs. My hopes are about as loud as I can take and when I had 240s which are the least noisy I rode I thought it was heaven. Only convenient point is you can coast to make hikers and slower bikers aware of your presence. Not worth it for me.
  • 6 1
 I would prefer silent hubs, but hub noise can be good if you ride a lot at night in mtn lion country. That trail runner in the news who was attacked and had to kill a young lion, that’s where I live and ride. I see deer every night, and they’re lion prey. A Hope freehub plus lights equals at least some night safety. Also helps alert hikers.
  • 1 0
 @Sontator: Silent hubs are nice, but I hope that my Hopes wake people up as I go by, I have 11spd SLX hubs on my other wheels that I go back to. A nice change sometimes.
  • 4 0
 @t0mislav: I'll fight a lion ever once in a while for quiet hubs thank you.
  • 4 0
 Competition is good, affordable drivetrains are good.
  • 1 1
 Interesting, I've been waiting for microshift to release a complete drivetrain for years now. If they could bump it up to 10 or 11sp I'd definitely be interested. for now I'd probably still rather spend a bit more and have 11sp SLX
  • 1 1
 Advent, Advent,

ein Lichtlein brennt.

Erst ein, dann zwei,

dann drei, dann vier,

dann steht das Christkind vor der Tür.



Einige Kinder ergänzen:

Und wenn die fünfte Kerze brennt,

dann hast du Weihnachten verpennt!
  • 1 0
 Just slapped this on my department store hard tail. MicroSHIFT Advent - good value for money. Riding faster than all the kooks on their boutique bikes - priceless. Thank you MicroSHIFT...!
  • 2 0
 Soo... You just happened to have a spare I9 hg freehub body lying around? Nice
  • 4 0
 They're right down the road from me so when I needed one for experimenting with this, it was the fastest available option.
  • 4 0
 Haha I thought of that too. Just looked and the hg free hub body for those i9's costs 2/3 the price of the whole rest of the drivetrain.
  • 2 0
 My next setup will be Box or X9. I stand up to pedal, I hate long derailleurs and I don't need a ton of gears.
  • 5 3
 Everyone help me get this comment below threshold! #26isdead #shortlivechainsaw
  • 1 0
 I love this! Still rocking my 9 speed SLX group that I bought 9 years ago! It just works... And that's what I want, something that will last.
  • 2 1
 So what I hear at night is a crying Yeti.. good to know lol

And my favorite shifting so far is still XTR 980 10-speed 11-36 cassette Smile
  • 1 0
 They kept saying it works with any 9 speed chain. Yes but will it work with any 9 speed cassette that is pretty important info if you ask me.
  • 1 0
 @Gus-At-microSHIFT, I was also
curious about compatibility with other cassettes like 11/28 or 11/32
  • 1 0
 How come you compared this to SLX and not Deore? Wouldn't the latter be a better comparison price-wise? And 10-speed would (arguably) be less finicky than 11-speed...
  • 5 1
 Good stuff.
  • 7 4
 Proof that big S companies are ripping us off!
  • 4 2
 There's one big downside. I'm too fat for a 42T ring. It'll never work for this guy.
  • 4 11
flag thesharkman (Feb 18, 2019 at 12:27) (Below Threshold)
 Wow, what an aggravating thing to read. That's absolutely not an excuse. Wtf? Ok you're fat, so push harder and make it hurt until your body is forced to adapt. Your body will find some combination, depending on your exact genetics, of fat loss and muscle growth. Riding will become more fun and youll start attacking more rather than pouting that you're fat. When the day comes that it doesn't hurt anymore then go up another chairing size. Really, what's the point in riding if you just want to live at a comfy baseline? Go walk in a park then, it costs less. If you're not sweating and sucking in air while your body feels like it's emptied of all life from pushing hard then you haven't even scratched the surface of what trail biking can do for your body and mind.
  • 20 0
 @thesharkman: Dude, his name is ThunderChunk, I'm pretty sure he's riding way harder than either of us.
  • 3 0
 @Gus-At-microSHIFT: ran 26 tooth with 11-36 for 4 years, now i spend my life trying to keep eagle in tune. Wishing for 10speed 9, 10, or 11-46 and these little direct mount rings, even in steel to last forever
  • 1 0
 @thesharkman: TLDR: come on bro, just lose weight! It's so easy!
  • 6 0
 @thesharkman: haha calm down, it was a joke. I work out 4 days/week plus ride every weekend. I used to run 11-42 but just switched to an eagle drivetrain with an oval 30T ring because some of the climbs here in BC are STEEP. The 50T allows me to climb sections I used to walk. I tried running a smaller ring but then I lost too much range.
  • 8 0
 @Bwoltz: You know I'm biased, but the fact that ADVENT is 9-speed does allow it to stay in tune a lot longer. The tolerances are just so much wider, so everything doesn't have perfect to the tenth of a millimeter. It's also more tolerant of mud because of that. I've been riding it offroad and commuting on it since March and it just doesn't need to be fussed with.
  • 2 0
 @Gus-At-microSHIFT: That 24t narrow-wide is smaller than the little ring on my 2x11 setup! You ought to be able to climb with that.
  • 2 0
 @Bwoltz: I gave garbaruk my money. 10 speed 11-45t cassette. Can run a medium cage derralier and 80g lighter than xx1 eagle
  • 2 0
 Could they make this a 10 or 11 spd setup without its price increasing to be in line with the big S brands?
  • 5 2
 I keep reading it as "Microsoft"
  • 2 0
 When is this product available for sale? Doesn’t seem like you can buy anything from the microshift website.
  • 1 0
 My older deore 10 spd does not play nice with my og karate monkey frame. I wonder if this would do better? I like the idea of running 9spd chains!
  • 1 0
 I just remembered I have a stack of old stainless surly chain rings I could bring out of retirement.
  • 1 1
 Or you can have 10 speeds mixing SunRace cassette (available in 11/46, and that works with a SGS Shimano derailleur), Shimano Deore derailleur and shifter for the same price, or less. And with proven products.
  • 1 0
 In reality, the cost online will be sold a lot lower than the MSRP, cassette bulletproof with steel gears, touring bikes, all sorts of applications, pretty cool
  • 1 0
 Nice and affordable but I'd really miss the 2-way thumb shifting: I usually keep my index finger on the brakes out on the trails while shifting. This would be a deal breaker.
  • 1 0
 Anyone have a Shimano free hub for dt 240 laying around? I want to support this race back down from stupid higher gears
  • 2 1
 What about people who bikepack? Or do multi-day trail rides. The almigtly eagle for sure comes in handy..
  • 1 0
 What next? Some marketing department is going to introduce us to 26" wheels?
  • 2 0
 Anyone know how much cable pull?
  • 1 0
 Saint all the way for me, mech is small and hides nicely out of harms way and is robust and dependable
  • 1 0
 Any idea on cable pull ratio? Would another 9spd shifter work? Still liking the grip shift...
  • 1 0
 I'm sticking with my wireless single speed. So awesomely quiet and simplicity is unmatched.
  • 1 0
 @danielsapp , dd you change the freehub to use the 9 speed cassette on the I9 wheels?
  • 1 0
 It’s just a standard HG freehub. You can get the wheels with either that or the XD. It’s nothing special.
  • 1 0
 You compared it to SRAM X5, then Shimano SLX. Wouldn't Shimano Deore have been a better comparison? SLX isn't entry-level.
  • 1 0
 @danielsapp: you made mention of hiw infrequently you lubed your chain. Do the smaller chains require less lubing?
  • 10 0
 I was mentioning that to reinforce how well it performed even when it wasn't properly maintained. I would recommend taking care of your bike. That stuff is all relative to where, how much, and how you ride.
  • 2 0
 My first 9 speed group was shimano XT, that I bought in 1999, yes, 1999.
  • 2 0
 Brilliant move to slap this on a blinged out Yeti! ????????????
  • 1 0
 Hm. Those ????? were meant to be emojis / Thumbs up icons...
  • 1 0
 "Shimano's most comparable system, SLX" Would Shimano's 11-42 10 speed Deore be the most comparable?
  • 1 0
 I have a DT free hub with a shimano 9t cassette[ never made production] just need to convert from 150mm to148mm
  • 1 0
 Yes please, Do you guys make a thumb shifter that is compatible? Will it work with a 9sp Gripshift?
  • 3 2
 " 9 Speed in 2019? Come on Marty, get into the car, something went wrong, we have to go back in the past!"
  • 1 1
 That cable got twisted a lot. I remember older Shimanos rubbing the cable like that at the exit port, resulting to snapping cables every month.
  • 1 0
 Good on ya for making affordable, well functioning stuff, MicroSHIFT. Keep up the good work.
  • 2 1
 Shimano Deore costs about the same and has 1 extra cog to boot
  • 2 0
 pointless to bring facts to pink bike, the knuckle draggers here don't want logic. SLX is actually cheaper in Canada given how the margins are at most distributors than Deore is, and has 2 more cogs.
  • 2 0
 Perfect for FATBIKE!!!!
  • 1 0
 Not kust me hoping for a 10spd 10-45 setup for the next XT version then?
  • 1 0
 This is EXACTLY what I need for the gravel bike!! Going to buy now.
  • 1 1
 you could also get a slx upgrade kit including chain, shifter, cassette and derailleur for ~140€
  • 1 0
 where to buy ? i looked on there site and was unable to order
  • 2 0
 how much.....mint
  • 1 0
 34 to 42 cog is a big jump. My legs would strongly protest that cassette.
  • 1 0
 More money to spend on brakes and suspension, I like it
  • 1 0
 Forget all the BS ... single speed is king Smile
  • 1 1
 But can you pair it with old bulletproof x7 trigger?
  • 3 0
 Nope, it has a different amount of cable pull.
  • 1 0
 @danielsapp: Are we sure? What is the cable pull on this, really? Can't seem to find any measurements on the internet. All I can tell from @Gus-At-microSHIFT 's posts is is that it's a different amount of pull than Shimano 9 speed (which is 1.7). Could very well be in the SRAM 1:1 or X-Actuation compatibility ballpark.
  • 1 1
 This is good, total opposite of all the electro chit chat , good move.
  • 1 1
 Wait am i on bicycleretailer.com right now?
  • 1 1
 GX 11sp works fine, no issues, not expensive, nice range. Done ✅
  • 1 0
 No thanks.
  • 1 0
 best review ever
  • 1 2
 So it worked ok on your shitbike, but how does it work on a Doctahawk?
  • 1 4
 Why would you buy this when you could buy a used Shimano SLX/XT 11 speed system with one of those off brand eBay cassettes for the same or less money?
  • 3 5
 Weight comparison vs the other budget systems described would be great. . .
  • 5 0
 @zeedre if you're worried about weight then why bother looking at budget products? lol leave the wieght weenies to the top tier stuff. 99.9% of the riders that arw g9nna buy this won't give a shit if its a couple grams more or less then the competition.
  • 1 4
 9 speeds looks like too much gap between gears... those mt7 though, best brakes I've tried...
  • 1 0
 So what? If I'm not racing, I don't care about some big gear hops. I'd rather have the longer cog and chain life and compatibility with some of my older stuff, not to mention cheap price.
  • 6 9
 Why not 10 speed? Hell, even 11 speed is pretty cheap nowadays
  • 8 0
 My guess is that they wanted to make something that wasn't already on the market. 10 speed might be cheap, but 9 speed is cheaper and stronger, plus there isn't anything quite like this on the market. You can get 8 speed E-bike drivetrains with wide range, and 10 speed SLX, but I don't know of anything in 9 speed, or this cheap with this wide of a range.
  • 5 0
 @pacificnorthwet: Not take anything away from what MicroSHIFT has done, and bravo by the way, but Sunrace has made an 11-40 9 Speed cassette in 2 versions for quite a while now. With a 22/34 low gear on my XC bike, I've never needed anything lower. I still like the 2x9 setup. I have a 3x9 on my adventure bike. I'm old. I like to spin. ;-)
  • 3 2
 Why not 10speed
  • 1 0
 @speed10: For me, it's the strength of the chain, and for most stock drivetrain setups, 3x9 has the most range with a nice, even spread between the rear cogs on 11-34 cassettes. I do loaded tours and like to spin up climbs. I hate pushing my bike and rarely, if ever, have to do so. The wife and I do loaded touring on our tandem and I put a 3x9 setup there as well. I don't have to change the front rings that often, and we're on the big ring the most, but it's nice to have the low end when we need it.
  • 1 0
 9 speeds are more dependable and require less tinkering, that’s why. And they are also much better running in the mud. I have been kicking the crap out of my Advent set and its so impressive that I am converting my XT set to Advent..‘nuff said. Set it up once, forget about it and just go ride. The low cost is a nice bonus but its the dependable performance that’s the real advantage.
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