Shimano Dual Control - good or bad?

easyg

Subject line says it all really... I'm seriously thinking of buying these for an new Hardtail project, so please as much proper advice as possible... riding XC and light AM.

Thanks again chaps.

ddoogie

I love mine. Super easy shifting, much lighter than any trigger shifters.

easyg

Cheers mate. I wasn't expecting that actually as they don't seem to have taken off really.

So in your eyes they are worthy? and durable?

clanton

Have had mine on my Scott for 2 years and really like them.

ddoogie

The amount of times I've gone over the bars and my DCs have taken the brunt of the falling bike is quite remarkable. Still work as well as day one.

fabienno1

My friends got them on his freeride hardtail, well he uses it for freeride and understandably has come off pretty hard a fair few times and the back one is still going strong. Something has happened to the other that means he has no power at all. Shouldn't put you off though.

I'm guessing you've outweighed the fact that if, in a few years time you wanted to swap to a different brake company or gears for that matter you need to replace the whole system, (brake and shifters).

Anonymous

i run them on the stumpy and love them. i also run shimano thumb shifters and sram thumb shfters but prefer the dual controls by far.

benneally

my mate has them on his scott, very nice! They are really easy to use and just unclutter the handlebars, and look wicked too pure bling if u ask me lol but i want to get some, if only the would work with my juicy 5's

Steve_b77

Is this what you're on about?

I was having a look round decathalon the other day and quite alot of their bikes have them on.

Look kinda kool if you ask me

fabienno1

Yeah that's them.

Blundell

I've got a pair on DCL's on my blue bike. That's probably one of the reasons why I ride that bike more than any others. DCL's are cool and by far more intuative than normal triggers or even the old grip shift dubries.

The Spiderman

Love mine.Great to be able to shift and brake together when cornering.I use mine with a rapid rise rear mech.Good for getting a low gear in a hurry.

Bugly

I replaced my (really) old hardtail with a full sus XC bike all XTR equivelent equipment and purchased a set of XTR dual control levers for the disks. First few rides it was a little awkward but now couldnt think of changing to anything else. Does not interfere with braking at all. Like the spiderman my deraileur is rapid rise and the combo is super sweet.

Bugly

supersonic

I've gotta say, do try them first. I hate the buggers! But I can see why many love them. Really is a marmite thing ;-)

nicklouse

have to agree with that Sonic.

really liked the idea when it first came out. but i did not get on with them and the way they worked..

now then the sram triggers i love them but others hate them.

alfablue

I like the idea but having combined levers (not these dual control ones though) on my bike from new, it was rather upsetting having to replace the whole lot when one shifter went unreliable. I replaced them with seperate xtr shifter and brake levers, a big expense but next time I will only have to replace one part if one fails. Also cheaper if I should decide to go for hydraulic discs at some point.

Anonymous

i like the shfting action of sram, if i get it right, but invariably, i always shift too many gears at once and it pisses me off.

DC and rapid rise mech is my favourite set up, but the xt brakes arent as good as the oros on the willow, wish there was a way to have my cake and eat it

jayson

I really like the idea of DCL especially the new 08 XT levers but i dont want to change my hope brakes to inferior shimano stoppers.

Rapid fire pods are really very good but it would be nice if we could adjust the position of each lever on the pod, maybe thats something shimano will give us next year.

easyg

So... good then. Its my Rocky Ridge project to remind anyone thats just caught up with this post. Weight is something I am keen to keep as low as possible, especially as the Rocky isn't the lightest frame. So light weight wheel sets, cranks and brakes will all make the difference. For the recorsd, the finishing kit will be Bontrager XXX Race Lite, fact.

So guys the next part of the discussion comes in now as we have to assess the implications of having dual levers against the brakes (which naturally have to be shimano) and also the hubs which need to be compatible?

What do you all think? do I hook my Rocky Ridge frame up with XTR everything or do I go for Hope Pro II hubs with Avid 5s for the ultimate agressive XC?

ddoogie

XTRs are nicer than Avids IMO. And you can use Shimano brakes with any hub, you just have to use 6bolt rotors, not centerlock.

Saying that, a lot of people prefer XTR hubs to Pro IIs as well.

easyg

Why mate?

I want all components on this beast to be as light as possible? so put this into the equation...

nicklouse

i saw my first Pro 2 on thursday. what a disapointment, not a patch on the bulbs. they were just poor.

easyg

What do you mean Nicklouse? you have never seen a Hope Pro II hub in your c. 25k posts???

XTR is beginning to make sense... no?

nicklouse

as i said i had in my hands the first set of pro 2's.

the ractet mechanism seal is interesting. the pawls look poor. the machining was not as good as the bulbs. and dont forget XT or above cassette is required.

easyg

XTR it is then.

Cheers boys.

nicklouse

and XTR come with Qr's.

another option would be Tune hubs but.....

for wheel builds check out wheelpro .