EXCLUSIVE First Look at Microshift SWORD! - The Real Drivetrain of the People

[@mapgeek6]

Microshift has apparently seen the "small utility truck" opening in the market. It's something that a lot of people will want, but isn't currently well served in the market due to distraction by the bigger, flashier, more expensive offerings being pushed by other manufacturers. I love that there are options like this!

[@SecwetGwiwer]

This is the groupset most people need. Low gears, simple maintenance, love it!

[@funkdrummer]

Further compatibility hacking, YES!! I value all of what you put out in videos and especially the compatibility aspect. It has been amazing to see the inner workings of your brain in terms of “can we make this work?”

[@johnbaca8692]

I've been filing tabs down for years - works great! You can also add a washer if you don't want to grind off tabs.

[@AdmiralBosch19]

I have finally gotten my hands on the 2x to do a long-awaited refresh on my old Soma canti brake frame. In short, i love it, but i had to order the crankset from Germany. Install was easy and straightforward, shifts good, brakes good, feels good. Can't wait to go for some long rides.

[@SR-fm1ft]

I’m not a bike backer, commuter or gravel rider. I race road competitively and love watching your videos. Sharing to drive the algorithm and also note this content is relatable and relevant to all types of cyclists.

[@johnnydoe66]

Microshift seems to be taking over the market like SRAM did at the beginning. Hopefully they remain the affordable option and not move into the more expensive and elite realm like SRAM has. Everyone that runs Microshift raves about it, so it will be my next groupset on my mtb. I know a guy who went with Advent X for his roadbike due to supply issues for older 10 speed stuff and he is loving it.

[@malcontent_1]

Keep it rolling, Russ. I appreciate your perspective & content, as usual.

[@OutUnderStars]

So darn excited about this group!

[@ApplemanBicycles]

Thanks for the hot take Russ! The industry needs more real talk like yours.

[@jimbrittain402]

Another "yes" to the bikehacking, Russ. Thanks for the lookout. Those of us who are interested in keeping bikes affordable (and hack-friendly) are grateful for your content. (Even though I'll never take a bike off-road...)

[@robbiefranklin8093]

Microshift is great! I'm glad they're getting some love!

[@byc1013]

I love the low rent bar wrap because you're testing parts.

[@jeffandersen6233]

Super informative review on usable and affordable products . I always learn more than anticipated as with lower brake lever pivot points work better. You also mentioned this with Nolan the other day which was a nice session to listen to And all your fiddling with the cranks to show us what we see isn't what actually will work you saved a lot of folks a lot of wanted time.

[@komoonkh]

I am pretty sure guys from MS will see this video and maybe react to it. Their customer support and reactions to customers are on point. Also maybe they would listen and make some product if the demand is there.

[@a1white]

I’d be interested in the shifting performance on those shifters. Those paddles look a little small and plasticky. This is one of the areas they need to get right to complete with Shimano. Most people aren’t hacking friction shifters onto it

[@icas80]

The Advent X I have on my Honzo is amazing.

[@marksondag2085]

Yep, sure would be nice to have a smaller front ring. With a 48 back I would want a 36 front for climbing while old. I'll keep rocking my Sensah SRX 1x11 with a 38 on the front and a 11-52 on the back. Super Climby!

[@Krakonospivo]

Would you recommend Sensah in this setup? I just came back from a bikepacking trip and decided that 36t front chainring paired with 11-46 cassette is not enough for Polish mountains. Is Sensah reliable?

[@SeriousLeisure]

Same drivetrain here. Some big climbs where I live. I don't event understand how people riding 1x10 with 48 on the back and a big chainring can manage.

[@KoenMiseur]

29x38 is the same as 38x50 (so 38x52 is only a 7cm difference), and you have a harder gear if you need to.

[@marksondag2085]

That would be assuming I would be willing to go double chainring, which I am not. I love the simplicity of a single.@@KoenMiseur

[@KoenMiseur]

@@marksondag2085 I get what you are saying but it isn't that much "Super Climby", it's very comparable and you have gears for when you have a long shallow downhill where you can still pedal. Also Sensah, really, Microshift is so much more reliable even if you have a 2x instead of a 1x Sensah.

[@stuartpotter4923]

Nice to see this in more than just marketing pics form.... keen to hear how those shifters perform.

[@harrybarrett5085]

That 1x derailleur has an offset top pulley, you can see that it doesn’t rotate on the same axis the cage rotates, this means when you use it on a 2x, the change in chainring size moves that top pulley closer or further away from the cassette, and changing the effective b tension You’ll find most 2x derailleurs have that top pulley inline with the axis the cage rotates on to minimise the difference when shifting the front

[@Artemstorozhuk]

You didn't actually test the shifting, which is the core feature of any groupset.

[@maxmeier532]

it's a first impression, he'll do more on it eventually (I guess it's also part of the deal to get it in advance, so he cant do a full review right now).

[@DrewLevitt]

MicroShift are really risking a trademark infringement lawsuit from Microsoft Word with this one

[@Frostbiker]

This is very exciting, although I agree it would be nice if smaller chainrings were available.

[@RonGoote]

I'm going to put the shifters on my Poseidon X when they become available, thank you Russ for the video

[@jimmyzbike]

They look fantastic

[@YinzerHouse]

Russ - You make a good point about the over-gearing, but it makes me wonder now...at what point do you think a 1x system with a 40 or 42 (or even 44T) chainring would ever make sense equally compared to a 2x for heavy bikepacking AND substantial top-end (e.g Tour Divide)? Maybe it doesn't exist if 50T is the current cog max but I'm sure the newfound love of wide/low cassettes is begging manufacturers to at least think about turning those pie plates into frisbees. The world's worst chain line but hey...

[@sidspears3117]

advent x was perfect for its price, waiting for duals!

[@zekesbiken]

Heck yeah! I run the Sword 1x on my gravel bike. However I use a Shimano crank and a Wolf Tooth chain ring. Been pretty happy with it so far!

[@nicholaspetersen8579]

Man, this group looks pretty darn nice.

[@greenfoxdk]

Seems a nice alternative to the big brands, but I would really hope the make silver/gray version.

[@addons_]

I'd put these on my road bike on a heartbeat.

[@tonyjuliano1]

I think this groupset is awesome. Especially the 2X option - super wide double will get you anywhere! For those who prefer flat bar, this is also a spectacular option, as the sword groupset can be used with Microshifts excellent SL-M10 thumb shifters - or any of the Microshift Advent X shifters. I have a 2023 Trek Dual Sport that I'm going to mate with this. I wanted to build a flat bar bike with big tire capacity that will climb like a goat, without sacrificing top-end speed. Sweet!

[@derekhobbs1102]

I had to file those tabs for my Deore when replacing chainring with one out of a Shimano packet that was same part number as the one I was replacing.

[@justin4n6]

Definitely want to see some compatibility testing

[@jawjuk]

Thanks for this early look! Asymmetric chainring bolt patterns are the worst 'progress' in bikes since pressfit BBs, but it looks like at least we still get to file down chainring tabs like the old days!

[@nayankalita2068]

Love the bike very good road handling.

[@knife1406]

damn i wish this came out sooner i would of put it on my recent build

[@VeloObscura]

I'm running that same 48t cassette with a 34t chainring, so I don't think that crankset is for me! 😅 Aside from that, the brifters and derailleur look SO slick! I'd love to try this out!

[@petergibson7287]

Oh Russ! For the love of all things grand and holy, please put on a cable end!

[@coreyreeder3549]

Great content. Agree that 36 is right on up front. I have that gearing on my AdventX and love it. I would definitely love the upgrade to those cleaner brifters though

[@escgoogle3865]

I get it Russ, if your hands like the levers you just want to mount them everywhere. I use gen2 ergo levers on everything. Strangely, I learned about microshift when Lachlan Mortan won the tour of utah on their gear.

[@reinholdachleitner2069]

Super looking Microshift groupset especially the Brifters,I sure the price will be excellent to.💯👌🏻🚴‍♀️

[@mustardlightning13]

Wow! That actually looks way better than what is available from the big brands! Brifter and derailleur both! Choice of a name aside, from pure aesthetics they have won the game. Whether there will be smaller chainrings in the future, I don’t know, but 48 to 51 is not a high jump, so maybe the derailleur would jump the bigger cassette as well, if there is one to be found in the 10s flavour.

[@biosfearmag]

I love the microshift index shifters on my Shimano Alfine 8 speed hubs.

[@KoenMiseur]

I love the look of the crankset, during the covid lockdown I turned my old commuter a Triban 100 into a gravel/cx-bike mainly to test Microshift Advent (9-speed) and the crankset (that i could find during that time) was the most expensive thing from the build, even the fork was cheaper, a crankset like this would've been the answer. I also think you got Microshift totally wrong, they do a lot with big brands (like Decathlon), so no they don't need to make "weird stuff" they make stuff they can sell to those brands and if we get cheaper/better bikes because of it I'm totally for it. Also a 29x38 is lower than anything Shimano has for road/gravel.

[@sabergo1]

Would love to see some compatibility hacks/workarounds! When does it go on sale?

[@slowwerthensnot]

I continue to be impressed with MS! Yeah 😊

[@OutUnderStars]

How did you get your hands on it so early? Is it available for purchase anywhere?

[@tinatpasselepoivre]

He is press and has a non-insignificant number of subs. so with the right contacts he would pretty easely get his hand on press-review pre runs

[@keptinjack]

I've just gone 1x12 on my sram apex Salsa Fargo using a Ratio tech kit. It changes super slick with the replacement ratchet and hanger. 36 oval up front and 11-50 at the back. Need more use but super happy so far. For me, 1x12 is the sweet spot. YMMV

[@JoshKablack]

I'm almost surprised that Russ didn't also test the 1 by derailleur on a 3 by setup..😉

[@GHinWI]

I thought he would put it on a pennyfarthing…

[@escgoogle3865]

If the x2 uses ratchet action i'll give it a whirl. mmm 11 clicks of old campy goodness.

[@edwardcromarty891]

Agree, they overgeared. The 46/29 with an 11-42 or higher rear cassette would be interesting. I live in a mountainous region and do a lot of climbing. You don't need speed gears going up and down hills, you need climbing gears, a large enough chain ring not to spin out going downhill and to allowing some fun on hills and flats, and good brakes (I use Deore rim brakes.) How come the marketing departments can't figure this out?

[@ghight736]

I have the older, now discontinued 10 speed ARSIS 2-by system on an older road bike. I fricken LOVE it and am REALLY disappointed Microshift did away with it and left their blah mid-level CENTOS group as their flagship road offering. I can't imagine any mechanical system shifting better than the ARSIS system, literally never once missing a shift in 7 years. SWORD looks promising showing they can still create high quality gear, but PLEASE Microshift, give us a new road flagship road groupset!

[@KcarlMarXs]

you need to try traditional 110 bcd chainrings.... its the grx that's the issue, not the microshift. Secondly, the cranks have threaded taps to fit a smaller second chainring.....

[@josuem2853]

Excited about this! We need more options and the old advent brifters we’re just not doing it for me.

[@newoldsteel]

This is seriously hyping me up so much. This is EXACTLY what needs to happen to appeal to a broader audience for cycling that doesn't have ridiculous out of touch amounts of money to just casually toss around. Shimano really abandoned the "groupset of the people" and with no remorse. I'm happy Microshift is stepping up and offering something so incredible to us utilitarian riders.

[@gertverseput6016]

But maybe Shimano Tiagra 4700 is the groupset of (for) the people, not 105. After all, it's also 10 speed, mechanical, affordable and available. You may be put off by the name for perceived lower quality or sounding a lot like a certain blue pill (but then Sword can also be off-putting), but performance-wise it's excellent. Still, it's nice to have choices, so kudo's for Microshift for making this. I'm curious if this will be mainly OEM-stuff or that it will be available as a groupset or parts. Over here, in Europe, it's been hard to get Microshift parts like Advent and Advent X, at least the last couple of years, probably in part due to covid-related suppliechain-issues.

[@christopherrobinson7715]

cant wait to see the compatibility stuff!

[@charlesblithfield6182]

What an awesome looking bike!

[@briank4134]

I just don't like being forced to buy electronic by Shimano and Sram. Any alternative sounds good to me.

[@glennoc8585]

This isn't anywhere in the leaugue

[@gertverseput6016]

You're not forced to buy electronic. At least Shimano still make mechanical groupsets up to 105. But sure, if you really want the latest superhigh-end, then electronic is the only way. But that's your choice, nobody forces you.

[@malcolmjcullen]

"Good front derailleurs are in short supply" - Lol! I have a drawer full of them sitting right next to me!

[@JesusSaves454]

I hope they do a road group like this. Mainly because I’m currently building a road bike.

[@MAGAIVER]

You can use Sensah on your road bike. I have 2x8 Sensah Reflex shifters on a road bike with Claris e everything else and it works really well.

[@RideShagbark]

I'd already loved the AdventX line. No more shift cable out the side? I'm sold. How quickly can I purchase these to upgrade some bikes? Also a great excuse to re-warp some bars with fun new tape.

[@michaelhayward7572]

Common on SRAM and some Shimano cranksets to have to file the tabs when converting a 3 x to 2 x. IE, fitting an outer crankring in the middle on a triple. No biggie.

[@gffriedman]

Yes to compatibility hacking

[@Jacob99174]

Really great review

[@Tancrad]

Russ, i have a grappler with the stock Advent X brifters , and for all the points you've mentioned they were the first thing i have wanted to upgrade. i don't dislike the rest of the drive train though. are the sword shifters backwards compatible with the existing Advent X group set 1x10 do you think? or am i in to replace the whole thing? (ive thought about going 2x on the grappler also)

[@jonbingham7525]

Shimano still make mechanical 105 11 speed groupset I have just upgraded my bike to 105 R7000 groupset but with a difference - Rear cassette is 11-40T SLX and crankset is a low range double made using an Ultegra triple crankset with 30-46T chainrings (outer position has chainguard) 40T cassette works just fine with the standard 105 derailleur and front mech fine with 46T chainring I guess if you want a clutch on your rear mech you could use a GRX rear mech instead of the 105

[@dyadyaBOB]

What I’m interested is can you push 2x setup to have larger than 38t cassette. This groupset sounds like a good alternative to grx400 or new mechanical Apex. However, with GRX400 you can have mullet with 11-42 m4100 cassette with 46/30 crank with just b-screw adjustments. SRAM supports mullets by default. That was the only downside of Advent X, you can’t really go beyond the cassettes they have.

[@rahukaalam1]

Ever since I upgraded to 11 speed, long ago, I knew deep inside that 10 by 2 was all the gearing that a non race, bicycle needed. Looks like Microshift got that... Instead of the n+1 gear wars, i wish someone would keep the number of gears the same,decrease the width and instead increase flange to center distance on the drive side of the hub. Make that hub/spoke/rim combo stronger, Anyone?

[@lesand5484]

If you get the 2-by version, I would be so interested to know whether it works with the large cassette when also the longer cage is attached. Also, I would wonder whether you can simply use the 1-by derailleur with a 2-by crankset.

[@manu.yt25]

Microshift is just great, had some Microshift on my cheap road bike years ago, it was working just fine, now I upgraded my bike to some middle range Shimano and honestly I don't see much difference.... so yeah fine products but too bad the brand is still suffering from Shimano fanboys everywhere...

[@glennoc8585]

The brand suffers because it's mostly heavy junk.

[@mrvwbug4423]

IMHO a hydrualic version of this that has compatibility with Tektro or Shimano flat mount calipers would be amazing for those that want to go hydraulic without a super expensive groupset.

[@OutUnderStars]

I see Microshift teasing this on instagram

[@bmwofboganville456]

Yeh it's hard to give up hydraulic after you've had it. 95% of people won't be doing overnight bikepacking, hence the bulletproof nature of mechanical disc is less important. So I have Advent X 1x10 with Shimano hydraulic brakes, and this would be a downgrade on a potential dropbar project.

[@peterharrington8709]

@@bmwofboganville456 ah yes... also my current setup ☺

[@SecwetGwiwer]

Rim brakes ain’t dead!

[@timeorspace]

Micro shift products have been changing for the better (weirder). My 2012 Salsa Fargo came assembled new with awful bar end shifters by micro shift. Stolen, built a custom Fargo in 2019 with Microshift bar end shifters-and they rock! It’s great to know I can graduate to shifters on my brake levers as well! Yes, I agree that most bicycles are geared too high. It’s baffling why MTB’s have gone 1X, after clutch and side pull derailleurs solved many of the issues with 2X? I’ve been very happy with BB and compact wide-range gearing design of Origin8’s Thruster 2X crankset…..but I’m afraid I may not be able to replace the aluminum chainrings (I’m running 29x3 tires, boost 24/38 crankset, 11-36T cassette)…..Andybody out there making steel 2X 104/64 BCD chainrings with shift ramps?

[@GrigoryRechistov]

Paint me interested in this groupset! If only it was available in 2018, when I was building up my touring bike. Now I am rolling on a Microshift barend shifter paired with a Shimano Deore rear mech and single-speed hoods coupled with BB7s (MTB pull).

[@whateverthisis3954]

Is this basically Shimano Tiagra with a 1x10 option?

[@arifazhari7598]

U can actually bodge tiagra to 1x10. Just use chain catcher. And grx 400 rd.

[@a1white]

No, the chain rings aren’t really road bike size. No 50/34 option just 48 max. 48-11 will leave plenty of roadies spinning out

[@brettsmith2322]

If Russ sold a "keep bikes mechanical" sticker, I'd definitely buy a handful.

[@acebikemedia]

Those levers look really nice. I can't wait to try them. Also, Microshift has gotta do an 11 speed! They could really kill it

[@maxmeier532]

Skip 11, go to 12 directly.

[@MrQuestful]

Not gonna lie, I liked this before even watching it, the sword is a great name

[@asherbeal8357]

I would buy it just for the name!! 🤘🤫🤘

[@thecma3]

Interesting to hear the chain ring issues. The website claims that the BCD and pattern should fit aftermarket chain rings from other manufacturers on their crankset.

[@Likelybiking]

I’m excited for this! This is an appropriate gearing for a normal persons road bike haha My bikepacking/touring bike is still gonna be bar ends with a wide double and wide cassette.

[@b0jang]

What's the wide double setup?

[@Likelybiking]

@@b0jang 42/26 and and 11-42 cassette

[@komoonkh]

I mean…. The name itself is very good. “Dude, I use The Sword on my bike!” Sounds cool to be honest😂

[@corynardin]

It looks nice.

[@matthewshultz8762]

I wonder how the price will compare to GRX RX400. Shimano has committed hardcore to hydraulic discs, SRAM's doubletap is frustrating to use although they do seem to offer mechanical disc brifters for Apex. I'm at the point now where I've just accepted the maintenance cost of hydraulic vs. the cost of getting a good mech disc setup. BB7 works great, Paul too if you've got the budget, but when most new bikes with mid-tier OEM drivetrain come with hydraulic brakes you'd have to gut and rebuild to switch to a mech disc setup. IMO mech disc has been relegated to custom build or upgrade on lower-tier builds. It's good that MS Sword offers this product though, otherwise there really wouldn't BE an option for modern shifting and mech discs.

[@dpgrenfree]

Thanks this was really interesting. I bike pack on my Cube Nuroad EX 1x - I was massively overgeared when using 40t 11-42t so switched out the rear cassette to 11-46t Microshift. Whilst this was 'just' within the actual (not claimed) tolerance of the GRX 812 RD, it still wasn't enough of a change for bikepacking. I also moved to the Wolftooth 36t chainring, which seems to be the smallest that fits the crankset, and also anything smaller than 36-11 might be a little annoying on the flat. Do you have any experience of trying 50 or 52t cassettes with an GRX 812? Maybe with a goatlink or similar? TIA.

[@DR_1_1]

I was told the difference between the shortest and longest combination must be 42 t or less...

[@fortunesk89]

I heard this would be compatible with advent x, that would be awesome if they’d just keep the same cable pull. As for hacks go I’m currently running 9 speed advent drop bar shifters with an acolyte derailleur with a 9 speed advent cassette. Also working on running the regular advent in a 10speed configuration

[@komoonkh]

If it works out, would you make a video about it? Makes me curious

[@petercheuk9019]

GRX chainrings are unique to GRX. The non-GRX Shimano chainrings might fit the Microshift crank arms. I was given a Wolftooth GRX chainring and it didn't fit my 105 crank set. Looking at their website you can see that they have Shimano chainrings and GRX chainrings.

[@jerzydabrowski4802]

Nice grupset

[@Sierramike524]

I keep hearing contradicting statements about the brake pivot moving. When cable pull amount is increased, it should decrease leverage and provide less power, since the force is exerted over a longer distance. To increase leverage the cable will need to travel a shorter distance for the same amount lever pull. If anything the pivot looks higher for the bottom of the lever which would result in bigger leverage at the cable end with the downside that the cable is closer to the pivot so it travels less.

[@AntonzBravo]

I want this on my next bike.

[@sheck4714]

compatability hacking pls. i really want to get my old friction shifted suntour alpha 5000 working with indexed levers but idk if it's possible at all. wish there was an indexed shifter that let u adjust the distance of each click

[@doriansebastian8065]

SRAM Wireless AXS for me on all my bikes ... once you go wireless you cant go back! Also Hydraulic brakes >>> mechanical

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

I've tried it. Its fine if you can live with their limited gearing options.

[@doriansebastian8065]

@PathLessPedaledTV but the smoothness!! You cannot deny the smoothness! Cannot go back to mechanical so spoiled now goodbye money

[@jrwnd99]

Russ, thanks! I would love to know your preferred medium reach cable brakes.

[@haroldcabrera7441]

I have 11 spd SRAM NX RD what grifters / shifter should I use on my dropbar? TIA

[@justdude8115]

can anyone explain what he is talking about at 4:22? I honestly fail to see any kind of problem with finding front derailleur, even latest 12sp Deore XT has front derailleur and I havent see a single Drop Bar groupset that wouldn't offer front derailleur as an option.

[@hkp9257]

Hopefully that is just a starting point. I really hope we will get Microshift chainrings for the cranksets. Its sad that its not compatible to other chainrings but as long as the price is right, I guess its okay. Its really cool to see Microshift SDS. But sadly, in 2023, I will not drive cable actuated breaks anymore. Hydraulic disc brakes are just too good.

[@Nicoya]

I run 42:10-50 on my gravel bike and it's fine for winching myself up hills with just me and the bike, but yeah it's probably too tall for bikepacking. What's the max cassette that'll work with the 2x derailleur cage? 29:48 would be a monster climbing gear.

[@jeremyyoshioka97]

Please try the brifters on a shimano RD! Thank you!

[@2ticky780]

definitely thinking of getting this, i just bought a cannondale topstone 4 with advent X and while it isnt bad i love the look of sword and im wondering what i can mix and match with it. like obviously the shifters but im wondering if i could maybe just get the new derailleur use my old 11-48 cassette and be done with it

[@MrWartser]

i wish this came in an 11speed variant. I"m currently on Sensah SRX, and I've found that 1x needs 11 cogs minimum for the right balance of range vs gear jumps.