IMPORTANT Microshift Sword Update 

Microshift and DiaCompe should be sending you a Quarterly care package.

They would do well to have a minimalist silver themed set - heck it is "sword" at that, denoting some polished metal. This could fill the need for a neo-retro groupset for the 90' mtb revival scene.

Can't wait for this!! About to do a build on a Surly Midnight Special and was AGONIZING over the cost of Shimano and SRAM gravel kit, yay for accessibility

I call the downshift paddle actuator the *flush lever*. "Hit the big hill, lost my momentum, quick hit the flush lever, hide the evidence! "

I live in California, and completely understand your reasoning about wildfire season

Literally never been excited for a group set until now can’t wait to try it 😊

3:56. “you’re all brilliant humans”

I saw today that there is going to be a 2x10 as well. 46/29 to an 11/38 as an option. This Chanel and trying out a 1x gravel rig has me believing in the 2x now.

actually a great unusual look. I like em! The big 3 has been uncontested for too long.

Terrific informational video. Lots of specific info based on hands on use especially with the crank and chainrings. You're keeping them honest and focused. I love it

Good on you Russ for checking out the backwards compatibility with the Advent derailleur. And good on Microshift for the nut it takes to make a move into shark infested waters.

Your enthusiasm coming through loud and clear 💪💪💪

Why not show the shifting? I found a massive difference between GRX with Deore cassette vs GRX with 1175 (1175 is much much faster). Nice to see it in action for those interested.

Very helpful info regarding swapping AdventX shifters for the new sword ones, the AdventX shifting cable poking out the top is super annoying for bikepacking 😅

Want to put this on my Poseidon Redwood so the shifter isnt sticking out the side anymore.

It would be interesting to know if these shifters are compatible with the "old" 10 speed Shimano components (RD-5701, RD-6700). Shimano shifters compatible with these derailleurs are no longer available 😢

They're gonna sell tons of these built on new bikes. It's also good to have more options for tinkering and experimenting. However, I don't think many people will buy the groupset as an upgrade to their existing bikes.

really interesting and promising drivetrain set, looking forward to it, keep em coming Russ with these content

"you're all brilliant humans"

The shifting ergo's sounds exactly like the AdventX shifter ergos. So as for updating it would be for aesthetics only ( for 1x10 ). For a 2x option this is the way to go!

Always nice to have options. Whenever you try something new there's always going to be an adjustment period. It's like when you get new prescription glasses and they seem wonky, but a day or so later they feel perfect.

That shifter makes sense! E shifters and brake lever shifters are ok but just not what budget minded folks need. Thanks! Take care!

I really hope MS is a reliable option, Shimano, Campy and SRAM just handed them pretty much a billion dollar market share for free by abandoning mechanical groupsets!

Can't wait for it to be released!

My problem with Advent-X is the longer gear combo tops out too soon (small cog/larger chainring). It NEEDS another gear. I want for it every ride on my 650B graveler.

Thank you for the follow up video on sword! Finding time to test everything during wildfire season is rough. I hope the wildfires stay calm for y’all this summer.

Picking a set up as soon as I can for my old Pacer gravel bike!

Handlebar bags. My experience is that long movement of shifters can often come up against a bar bag. Obvious solutions are to get a smaller bag and/or wider bars but it would be nice if you could make fuller use of the space between the shifters.

now i wonder if it will work with shimano rear derailleur

I would appreciate the distinct difference in feel, and placement of the two lever buttons. I tend to get lost in them as rider that rarely rides drop bar bikes.

Great work - both reviews. This group will be an improvement to Advent on all of the OEM bikes were it'll be spec'd

The two buttons look like they may be difficult to use with winter gloves on.

When is it available to buy? Why can’t in find this info??! Lol

Definitely gonna upgrade my advent x set up to these brifters

You have me and a few buddies really looking forward to Sword. I'm going be thinking about it today while I swap out some SRAM doubletap shifters for the Falcon fiction shifters off VeloOrange

Baller as always, thankyou for answering a question i had in the last video about compatibility with last gen. soo stoked to pick up a pair of this when the release.

The levers look pretty low profile too. Nice when the “hoods” don’t remind one of the devil’s tower😉

Love my advent x 1x9 and when it comes to update would try sword - thanks for the review and update

For the button distance, maybe they either wanted to make the two buttons very distinct, or ran into patent issues somehow?

I love these technical videos and found this one especially useful. This why I watch your channel. Thanks for all the hard work you put into it.

Nice, thanks for the update. Was really wondering about this or a sensah group set for a bike.

Hey Russ would you say the brifters are a big improvement over Advent X? Thanks.

I'm really hype on this groupset. It's too bad/ maybe in the future the levers actions could just be swapped so the lower arm pulls and vice versa.

So… GCN is your nemesis, eh? Understood. FYI: I don’t _ever_ watch that competing channel. Yours is vastly superior. Thanks. And good luck - fire season and all.

I’m going to really enjoy saying “I gave that steep climb The Finger” (tm that, Microshift)

Sounds pretty much like their Alfine 11 shifter that works brilliantly.

If it cost less than £1000 GCN wont show it 😂

Awesome info and review dude.. :) Pete

I feel your wildfire concerns Russ, down here in the AZs White Mtns we've been through that rodeo way too many times.

My concern would be how the paddles would work with heavy gloves for winter riding.

Yesterday i switched my gravel bike from shimano claris mechanical disc to 11 speed ultegra with rx810 levers and my live has been changed i can actually stop my bike now its way overpriced but hydraulic disc brakes for drop bars are amazing so i would rather go with the ltwoo option or tiagra instead of this

I think since it's mechanical if you had to top button closer to the bottom that you might accidentally catch it when you throw the paddle in. Especially, because the top button is basically a click to release the tension on the derailleur, it would be easy to shift it back. Thus the gap in between. That's probably why Campy had the thumb shifter instead, better design. Designwise, that whole lever looks like a series of afterthoughts.

Seems like a decent groupset, but pricewise it does not really hooks me. I would probably rather get an all mechanical groupset from L-Twoo or go straight to 1x10 GRX (if hydraulic setup is possible).

Cool groupset for a cheaper just pedal around bike.

Bloody hell! A brown B17 spotted on one of Russ's bikes!

If the shifters are backwards compatible with Advent X, then that must meant that you can use the Advent X MTB/flat bar shifters with the Sword derailleur..... 🤔

Hope you can test how it feesl with canti and even v-brakes. Read that the lever pull is able to accomodate.

Quick comment: I wouldn't call these "brifters", because the brake lever only brakes, and the shift levers only shift; nothing in this contraption is pulling double duty (unlike on Shimano or SRAM brifters, where the brake lever also shifts). Microshift simply have a brake lever with shift buttons (or levers) behind it.

Russ, thank you for the video. It's great, as always. One question, in the future will you discuss or road test the 2x10? I am very interested in it due to the very low gearing of the 46-29, 11-38. Thanks very much, you do a great job!

I wold use the rsx pro there is a new 12s model rn

Thanks.

What about that bar bag carrier on front of the bike?

I saw on the previous video that the 1x Sword didn't work with a 2x chainring. It would be awesome if the Advent X rear derailleur would work with the Sword's 2x version.

❤

Great insight! Thanks so much for the details and non press release. How are the ergonomics of the hoods just joking on to them and braking?

And if you use a flat bar Advent X shifter (or a friction shifter...) you could still pair it with hydraulic brakes.

Thanks for the update! I didn't see it asked in any of the comments: is it possible to shift up while activating the brakes or is there a lockout of the shifter when the brake lever is out of the default position? Thanks in advance.

Hmm liked the look of these until you showed the shifter buttons, will have to stick with my sensah system for now.

Hey! So could you run these brifters with Shimano deores? My understanding is that you can use advent x with deore derailleur

My only concern is with mechanical rotor brakes, I'd prefer hydraulic.

Stoked

With GCN they will not even mention anything other than Sram or Shimano

when and where will the sword components be available?

very interested to see this show up on poseidon x ambition

Sounds like it behaves exactly like my shimano sora but without pushing the whole brake lever? The throw of the longer shifter lever seems similar to the throw of the shimano brake/shift lever, just not integrated.

Dziękuję za ten filmik

Russ will you be testing the 2X crank?

Please test sunrace Cassette 10s Model Ms2 11/51 (Cogs: 11-13-15-18-23-28-33-39-45-51t) with Advent X

Can you let us know the q-factor of the crankset?

Now I have to ask: do you prefer clicky or thocky mechanical keyboards?

They should have copied Campagnolo thumb shifter

Does anyone know if and if so which Microshift bar end shifter could work with Sword?

Thanks for the video. Where to buy it in the US? Can't find it anywhere. (looking for the shifters only)

Very interesting. Keep safe>

Is there a front derailleur shifting option available with SWORD? I didn’t see it on your bike.

I'm swold.

Currently have 2x9 sora with a weird 46/30T prowheel crankset that I never liked. Been searching for a 2x10 GRX 46/30T (170mm arms) crankset to replace the prowheel but can't get one anywhere, shimano say there'll be no stock till Jan/Feb 2024 in Europe... seems crazy! Reason for going this route is that down the line I'd have the option to go 10 speed in the rear with some lower gearing options, a clutch and maintain mechanical braking by using tiagra 4700 shifters. I'm happy with my current mechanical brake set-up and don't want to have to lay the bucks down for hydro GRX... enter MS Sword! Perhaps there's a reason I couldn't find the GRX crankset after all. I'll wait to see what price tag this Sword groupset has on it when the 2x10 becomes available. In the meantime anyone aware of an alternative "budget" 2x10 46/30 crankset plus front derailleur that is compatible with 2x9 Sora?

Where can you buy this group set? I have done some light googling and it seems like it does not exist.

❤❤

Well, you've successfully converted me to a friction believer, so these videos feel like blasphemy :D

This is just SRAM double tap, but broken up into separate paddles. SRAM Tap+Tap LOL. Does it downshift multiple gears with longer throws?

What handlebar is on this bike? I might like one like that. Also, at some point, Microshift had a shifter that could be converted from 9- to 10-speed etc. Does this have that feature?

Sounds like it's more comparable to Shimano Deore...can it really compete with a groupset from Shimano that is about 300 bucks for the newest generation? How much is this groupset?

I can see having Sword in the future. Btw, do you prefer mechanical or batter powered watches. Just curious.

What material is the lever made of? It looks like it's rubberized and that would mean it's gonna look bad in a few years.

Can it be set up 2x? What is the tooth capacity?

One word… Friction.😅

Are these shifters compatible with Shimano GRX RDs?

This Microsoft Sword logo oddly resembles the logo of ustashas, Croatian fascist movement from first half of 20th century. Contemporary Croatian ultranationalists also use stylized 'U' with a cross above it, that looks almost exactly like the MS Sword logo. I am sure that Taiwanese budget bike components company dos not have any secret agenda, but it's weird for me to see it around the internet

Hate to say it, but hydraulic brakes are going to become Microshift's Achilles heel if they don't start doing them at some point soon.