R8020 vs RS865 shifters

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  • Hi folks,

    Any first hand advice on how these shifters compare is size and feel? I currently have the RS685s but the're pretty large, thinking of upgrading the the R8020.

    On another bike I have the R8070 di2 shifters and love the feel. I imagine the mechanical ones are larger?

  • I'm bored and in my room and these things are here.

    Here's a direct visual comparison.


    1 Attachment

    • IMG_20200520_182026.jpg
  • Pretty damn similar then!

    I’d hoped the newer ones were smaller.

  • Nope.
    Pretty much bang on.
    Here's a side shot


    1 Attachment

    • IMG_20200520_182034.jpg
  • Just saw that's not a great pic. But suffice to say. Pretty similar.

  • Thanks for the photos. I'll probably save the money and just convert the bike to di2.

  • Braking and shifting much improved with the newer levers IMO

    RS685 feel woolly, r8000 crisp and light in comparison, both braking and shifting wise.

    I’ve got RS685 and looking forward to upgrading to either 7000/8000 or most likely GRX levers.

    They are still large but a more ergonomic shape. They also do R7025 and R8025 for smaller hands?

  • Would advise that one avoids the r7020 levers as they (the right hand one particularly) have a design flaw causing an audible rattle at even the slightest bump in the road. Shimano are well aware of the problem and yet doing nothing to rectify other than warranty replacing for those who can be arsed to return them for inspection. I've made do with a slither of bartape wedged between top of lever and underside of plastic hood housing. Cba. I'd do ultegra if nothing else to avoid this

  • I realise this is some time after the post started, I fitted R8020 levers to my best bike 2 1/2 years ago, but over that time this particular bike has only covered 1350 miles, not even long enough to wear out the brake pads. Last summer I took the bike on holiday with me to Dorset, I noticed the front shifting was getting really stiff and on return I swapped out the cables which seemed to make things better, but not perfect. Last Saturday I took the bike out on a club run, after 20 miles my shifter would not change at the front derailleur, it was stuck in the small ring. On reaching home I removed the cable which allowed the shifter to move but the small rear lever did not return to the home position, no amount of GT85 spray has helped in freeing off the mechanism. A Google search showed other people having the same issues with front shifter and the only used one on eBay had also a broken LH shifter. My gravel bike has RS685 levers and have been used and abused for 6 years without issue, I’m going to be swapping out the R8020 for RS685 levers as I’ve sourced a new LH and a used RH R685 for half the price if a potentially flawed LH R8020.

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R8020 vs RS865 shifters

Posted by Avatar for motoko @motoko

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