how can these be 2006 surely there 2005 brought foward ???

Nope - originally they'd be 2006 model year available in 2005. But now they'll be 2005 model year available in 2004. Model years never align with calendar years ;-)

Clever eh?

Nah - makes me feel older. I want the 1982 model year again.

how much difference is there with the redesigned lever?

I've had a go on some of the current shifters recently, and really liked the action, and so want to get some when my shimanos die.

I presume that the front mech uses "Shimano" or conventional type amounts of cable pull rather than being a lower leverage ratio like their rear mechs?

I read it will work with Shimano shifters. Going to stock tem at On-One?

Mike, the URL for the picture of the front mech has an unwanted space in it...

When I had a go on a bike with SRAM trigger shifters on it I kept on knocking the upshift lever with my thumb. Where I rest my thumb while gripping the bars lies very close to the upshift trigger. If the new design of shifter moves that trigger a bit out of knocking range I may be interested in SRAM's shifters again.

The mech looks fairly industrial, I like the look of the X.9 but I'm not so sure about the front mech. Nice to see it's conventional rather than top swing but won't this mean it'll have trouble fitting some full suspension designs?

Do the rear mechs pivot around the frame bolt or not?

I've heard that they're fixed but i'm sure the X-7 I saw in the shop pivoted?

Thinking it could be a good way to stop damaging my frame...

Hopefully sram will sell a full gorupset as a package deal likie shimano do.

Haven't seen a redesigned lever in the flesh, so this is all a bit guesswork really. It looks a bit smaller than the existing one, though.

AFAIK front cable pull is standard. As mentioned, the front mech in the picture is some way off a finished product - I wouldn't take it as any reliable indication of the industrialness or otherwise of the production item.

And I fixed the link, sorry 'bout that ;-)

Oh, and the rear does pivot around the bolt but only for B-adjust purposes and so you can get the wheel out - there's no spring there as with a Shimano one. So it should be less prone to clattering off bits of frame.

They'd have to do all new shifters if they did do some weird cable ratio on their front mechs as their current front shifters are Shimano compatible, even the ESP models.

Anyhoo, Hoo-bloody-ray for SRAM finally getting a front mech again. I can stop moving my 4 year old Centera mech between bikes now. ;-)

I tell you what I do know. I've been running a SRAM X0, SRAM cassette and X9 shifters on my bike for the past 6 months and they are absolutely SUPERB.

The shifting is super slick with a sharp, short reasuring click - especially under load. I've had XTR/XT in the past and thought they were great but the SRAM stuff is simply in a different league. The rear cable routing is very clever and means they shift just aswell in mud and dirt...I haven't had to adjust them or clean out the cables since I got them.

If you have to, sell your gran, because they are easily worth the upgrade. Oh and the SRAM X0 is light as a feather.

Nice.

There'd be no reason to fiddle with the front mech ratio either.

SRAM stuff I have works great. Hardly ever needs adjusting it seems.

Given Shimano's marketing drive to make riders change their way of riding to suit their products, it's gonna take something special to make me revert back to the big S. To my mind a company should be responding to what riders want...not dictating to them. Yes, Shimano are pushing forward the level of technology but at what cost? I don't want Rapid Rise rear mechs....neither do all my mates...and they are also shifting to SRAM products. Given the response of people i've met on the trail, the vast majority hates Rapid Rise. It's this arrogance to plough ahead with an obviously bad idea that annoys me. But anyway...

Back to the point, SRAM has provided a product that functions superbly. No drama, no messing, just great engineering.

At last, SRAM as a serious contender to the Shimano dominance. As someone who resents being dictated to by corporate greed, its good to see that there is an alternative worth buying into. As a recent convert to SRAM components (X-7's) I have to say that Shimano are in trouble when the word gets out.

A sweet lever action and a resounding click have converted me for good. My only concern is the availabilty of spares - more dealers need to be convinced. The only way this will happen is if more people buy. Bottom line - if you're a SRAM convert then tell your mates and convince them to do the same. They won't regret it.

a new upgraded shifter already. i wonder why. As a user of Sram and Shimano I can't see what all the fuss over SRAM triggers is. Their ergonomics does not suit everyone and you can't use their components with Shimano. Their Rocket and Attack shifter are pants!!

although the derailleurs work well, overall the shifters let the rest down. I've moved my hardtail back to Gripshift and they can keep their front mech. last one they made was constructed from a devonshire cheese.

what's wrong with rapid rise? i havent tried it so im not defending/slating it just curious as to why people dont like it? is it simply a matter of getting used to it or is there something actually wrong with it?