SHIFTING

Grip Shift Vs Smartshift

The grip shift vs trigger shift debate has always been lively, with people presenting strong positions on either side. And rightly so! There are merits for both systems, and there's no right or wrong answer when it comes to personal preference.

twist and shout

Grip shift has become a dirty word for some since the 90s, so it's understandable the surprise that some may have when they see the Zerode equipped with a grip shift system. What may also surprise many, is that the grip shift system is an excellent fit and works seamlessly with the Pinion internal gearbox, and adheres to the principles of simple, rapid and efficient shifting. As opposed to a derailleur system, which must always move up and down the sprockets in a cassette,  the Pinion gearbox allows you to shift through full range gears all at once, shift part-way, or one at a time – while stationary or while riding. Using the grip shift means you can load up or dump down gears in a split second without having to click through them individually.

The incoming smartshift development by Pinion meets the demand of those who prefer the trigger shift and want to stick with it. There are some differences though, so here they are....

Grip shift

Features:

- Multiple gear shifting. You can easily shift lots of gears with one VERY quick movement.

- Lighter

- Cheaper

- Simplicity (no electronics that can fail)

Smart shift with electronic trigger shifter

Features:

- Enables shifting under full load, thanks to smart electronics and sensors

- Has the more common trigger shifter which more people are used to.

“At first, I thought it would take a bit of adjusting to the grip shift. But after a first ride I found it really intuitive to use and made sense - especially when I needed to dump a whole bunch of gears super quickly!''

Miles Tudor
Vancouver, BC