11 SPEED FOR £45! Can these mystery shifters rival Shimano?

How do these dirt cheap 2x11 speed shifters from AliExpress perform, and can they rival similar offerings from Shimano?

Let’s face it, 11 speed groupsets from Shimano like 105, Ultegra, or Dura-Ace, are still pretty premium offerings, so I have always been on the lookout for a decent budget option for my carbon road bike. In early 2020 I tested out the Sensah Empire 2x11 groupset, and for only £80 I really wanted it to succeed, but after 500 miles the left shifter broke while I was out on a ride. Not particularly impressive. However, soon after I found an 11-speed shifter by a ‘brand’ called MicroNew on AliExpress.

They look identical to shifter produced by a Taiwanese brand called MicroShift, but MicroShift do not produce an 11 speed version in this particular design, so the lineage of these shifters is a bit of a mystery. However, I’ve been testing them for the last 4 or 5 months, and they have honestly exceeded all my initial expectations.

They are not quite up to the same standards as 105 R7000 shifters, but they are super cheap, lightweight, shift nicely, and feel great on the bike. I think they could be a great budget option for those looking to upgrade from an older Claris, Sora, or even Tiagra groupset.

So in this video, I go into detail about these shifters, show you the pro’s and con’s, and give you my overall opinion. Spoiler alert, they are pretty flippin’ decent!!

Got any questions or comments, stick them in the comments 👇 and I'll try and get back to as many of you as I can!

Timestamps:
00:00 – Start
01:09 – Intro
02:55 – Shifter Reveal
04:56 – Closeup
06:37 – Function
07:35 – Performance
13:20 – Considerations
14:50 – Compatibility
18:16 – Conclusion

Intro roll:
Created by Dev Joshi - http://www.go2dev.co.uk

Music:
Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)
Fresh Healthy Perspectives
Lakey Inspired (  / lakeyinspired  )
In My Dreams, The Process
Noir Et Blanc Vie (   / billyocean2185  )
Still Not Rite, MydNyte

About Trace Velo:
I love cycling, and I love getting pro cycling kit for less. If it’s cheap, from China, and made of carbon fibre, I’m interested!

Instagram:
  / tracevelo  

Email:
[email protected]

Please note:
All products demonstrated in this video have been purchased by me, and I have no affiliation to any of the sellers or vendors shown.

In addition, I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.
In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!