My Raven is currently in build so will I get the new shifter or the old?
Hi Ads!
The decision as to which shifter to get can be a difficult one.
You could get the one most suited to your needs and preferences, use it as long as it functions, and if it somehow fails to meet expectations, then consider selling it on. Fortunately, the shifter is a separate part from the hub and you could always revert to the OEM Rohloff shifter if needed.
The downside of going with any aftermarket component with unique function is long-term serviceability and maintenance parts. Having gone this route in the past, I found such parts sometimes very ably addressed a need but at the cost of long-term repair and availability. I sometimes found parts were available for only a short time (if at all) and only in large, well-stocked shops with purchase contracts or direct from the manufacturer. I've seen enough of the CNC-billet aluminum craze in the late 1980s-1990s to be a bit cautious. A lot of businesses cropped up when CNC mills became inexpensively available, but sometimes the manufacturing method wasn't well-suited to the materials or designs and there was a greater incidence of failure than in forged parts available from larger, more well-established manufacturers.
I kept all this in mind when specifying which shifter to choose for my drop-'bar Nomad. I finally decided to go with the standard Rohloff shifter, reasoning it was well-shielded against weather and parts or a replacement would likely be available in some form as long as Rohloff remained in business. Rohloff has always been good about making any new products backward-compatible with older/existing products, so I reasoned this would work in my favor when it came to getting replacement rubber shifter grips, etc. The original works well for me, I'm happy, but did have to use some creativity in mounting it for use with my preferred drop handlebars.
Some questions to ask yourself about
any Rohloff-compatible shifter might include:
• What are the mounting options? Can it be freely repositioned if needed?
• Is it well sealed against weather?
• Does it use standard cables, housings, and end ferrules?
• Is the diameter a comfortable size for your hand?
• How will it work in the wet, hot, or cold? Is the surface slippery?
• Are gear positions well-marked or marked at all? Is this important to me?
• Are replacement parts available?
• Are the complete units widely available?
Hope this helps.
Best,
Dan.
