I've ridden with both and to tell you the truth I do not have a preference. They both work perfectly well, both of them you don't have to move your hand much to shift; If you like one type of shifter, and it is your bike you are having built up, just tell you LBS guy what you want. For some reason, LBS guys are always trying to get me to do something different than I ask for. I've never been able to understand that?

Even tho I like both grip shift and rapid fire, my bike shop owner does not like grip shift - I think he has more maintenance issues with it and that is why he does not like it. I just have not had this happen to me personally.

spoke