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What does Shimano SIS mean?

Author

Emily Sparks

Published Jan 16, 2026

Every Shimano equipped multi-gear bicycle includes Shimano S.I.S - Shimano Indexed Shifting. It's the technology behind that "click" you hear and feel everytime you shift through your gears. That "click" captures the light, precise, and consistent shifting bikes equipped with Shimano deliver.

What is Shimano SIS Cable?

The Shimano shifter cable housing SIS-SP41 has been pre-greased over its entire length with a special silicone lubricant. This reduces cable resistance by 10% (compared to SP40) and guarantees fast, precise shifting. It is not necessary to grease the shifter cable when retracting it.

How do you use Shimano SIS gears?

How to Shift a Shimano SIS Bike

  1. Press the large right shift lever. It's mounted on the right handlebar and is the larger of the two levers. ...
  2. Press the small right shift lever once to shift the derailleur down one position on the cog set. ...
  3. Press the large left shift lever once.

How do you adjust Shimano SIS?

If you look at the barrel adjuster from the point of view of the cable housing (not the bare cable) running into it, turning the adjuster clockwise will slacken the cable and counter-clockwise will tighten it.

How do you adjust Shimano SIS front derailleur?

To adjust the height of the front derailleur, locate the positioning clamp that connects the derailleur to the frame of the bike. Turn the clamp bolt clockwise to loosen it and then adjust the height. Tighten the bolt once it's adjusted.

33 related questions found

Which derailleur do you adjust first?

In a nutshell, adjust the front derailleur first, then the rear. Show activity on this post. If the derailers just need minor tweaking (they are basically in adjustment but are "not quite right") then you adjust the one that is obviously wrong, check the overall adjustment again, then again adjust what needs adjusting.

Why is my front derailleur not shifting?

Common Front Derailleur Problems. Front derailleurs may cause sluggish or inaccurate shifting because (A) the derailleur body is not positioned properly, (B) the derailleur limit screws are not adjusted correctly, (C) the mechanism is dirty or (D) the cable is damaged or improperly tensioned.

Which Shimano gear is best?

Shimano 105 is considered Shimano's first performance groupset, and for many people it is the best option in combining performance, value and longevity. Ultegra is next and is very similar to Dura-Ace in terms of performance, though Dura-Ace is lighter.

What are sis gears?

Every Shimano equipped multi-gear bicycle includes Shimano S.I.S - Shimano Indexed Shifting. It's the technology behind that "click" you hear and feel everytime you shift through your gears. That "click" captures the light, precise, and consistent shifting bikes equipped with Shimano deliver.

What is friction shifting on a bike?

Friction shifting is shifting without the notches. The shifter moves linearly, like a ramp rather than stairs, and so, in theory, you can move the shifter in between gears and not quite be in the gear.

What does Index mean on a bike?

If the gears on your bike are properly indexed, each single click of the shifter will cause a single shift up or down the gears, front or rear. If you find you're skipping a gear or that your shifting is getting stuck, then there's a good chance you need to adjust your indexing.

What is trigger shifter?

Trigger shifters: Also known as 'rapidfire' shifters, these are located below the handlebar. Riders use a thumb button to shift to larger sprockets and a small index-finger operated 'trigger' to downshift.

Does Shimano shifter come with cable?

Shimano always come with inners and outers, unless they are OE. SRAM usually just have wires. the stuff I bought form Merlin last time (shifters + mechs) came with inners.

How do you adjust a Shimano 7 speed shifter?

Stop riding and locate the barrel adjustment on the edge of the shifter pod where the cable connects to the shifter. Turn the barrel one quarter-turn to the left to loosen the shifting on the seven-speed derailleur. Turn one quarter-turn to the right to tighten the shifting.

What is Shimano shifter?

Shimano Total Integration (STI) is a gearshift system designed by Shimano for racing bicycles. It combines the braking and gear shifting controls into the same component. This allows shifting gears without having to remove a hand from the bars, unlike previous down tube shifting systems.

What is Shimano gears?

Currently, Shimano is the most popular groupset choice among bike manufacturers. The component giants have a range of offerings, in ascending order of efficiency (and cost), mechanical groupsets include: Shimano Claris, Shimano Sora, Shimano Tiagra, Shimano 105, Shimano Ultegra, Shimano Dura Ace.

What is a rear derailleur?

The rear derailleur is the mechanism that shifts the chain at the rear sprockets. There are many different models but they all share the same basic design and functionality. Derailleurs are secured to the bike with a mounting bolt to the frame's derailleur hanger.

Is SRAM as good as Shimano?

In terms of overall performance, they're very similar. “Shimano's units feel a bit more powerful overall but the SRAM brakes (above) are a bit more progressive through their range of power, so it's swings and roundabouts,” said Dave Atkinson. “If I had to choose one or the other, the SRAM brakes would probably edge it.

Which gear is best for MTB?

Mountain Biking Gear Must Haves

  • Mountain Bike. Jordan Siemens / Getty Images. ...
  • Helmet. A bike helmet is the most important piece of mountain biking safety gear. ...
  • Eye Protection. ...
  • Hydration Pack. ...
  • Mountain Bike Shoes. ...
  • Clipless Pedals. ...
  • Mountain Bike Gloves. ...
  • Padded Bike Shorts.

Which gear is best for cycling?

High Gear = Hard = Good for Descending: The “highest” gear on your bike is the largest chain ring in the front and the smallest cog on your cassette (rear gears). In this position, the pedaling will be the hardest and you'll be able to accelerate while traveling downhill.

What happens if front derailleur too high?

Derailleur Alignment & Positioning

Most front derailleurs can be adjusted for height and rotation. If the cage is set too high over the largest ring, it may not perform well. Too high a cage can cause a slow shift, and can allow the chain to shift over the largest ring.

Where should front derailleur sit?

The front derailleur should run parallel to the chainrings. If it doesn't, slacken the bolt fastening it to the frame and rotate it into the right position. When directly above the largest chainring, the outside edge of the derailleur should sit 2-3mm above the teeth of the chainring.

What does H and L mean on a bike?

You need to adjust the high (H) and low (L) limit screws on the derailleur. Viewed from behind the bike, the H screw limits how far the derailleur can move to the right, while the L screw limits how far the derailleur can move to the left.