Which shifters?

[cherrybomb]

The First generation Rapid fires have finally given up the ghost on my Karakoram so I'm thinking now is a good time for a change.

I've toyed with the idea of fitting some drops since the bike gets used for commuting most of the time and since the controls will now need changing this seems like a good time to give it a go.

The question is; what 7 & 3 speed shifters are available (bar mounted) that work with drops??

I know several people have this type of bar fitted to their MTBs, so what are folks using?

Cheers in advance folks.

 

[FluffyChicken]

Gripshift will work, thumbies will work or else you're in to the Road section.

(assuming you're staying around the same age as STI/Rapidfire (late 80's/1990 ?)

 

[dbmtb]

Depends how well you want the indexing to work.

3X7 is going to be tricky.

MTB front mechs aren't "officially" compatible with road STi. You can get some combinations to work but I think it's more down to luck than anything else. Probably best with bar-end non-indexed shifter to be honest.

Rear mech.... Only 7sp shifter made was Sora and RSX. Both are down-spec compared to rest of your bike and both are obsolete.7400 Dura-ace used same spacing but only works with 740X series rear mechs. Other alternative is "accepting" slight difference in spacing and using 8-speed STI. (ie RX100, 540X series 105, 640 series Ultegra, 43 series Tiagra and current Sora) This'll work work OK 95% of the time.

Bear in mind you'll need to find a way to adjust brake and front mech cable tension too.

Personally I wouldn't bother to be honest.

 

[cherrybomb]

Cheers guys.

I hadn't thought of the cable tension thing, but I guess friction thumbies and separate MTB brake levers inboard would be the easiest option.

I'll have a play and see what I come up with.

 

[dbmtb]

Cheers guys.

I hadn't thought of the cable tension thing, but I guess friction thumbies and separate MTB brake levers inboard would be the easiest option.

I'll have a play and see what I come up with.

Won't work.

MTB brake lever clamps USUALLY won't go round the bend on drop bars. There are some brake levers available with with wide hinge but good luck finding some - you'll need it.

Inboard "cross" extension levers (Avid, Specialized do them amongst others) will do the trick and are made for cantis - part of the whole idea with drops is that you can ride on the top of the hoods. To do this you'd need standard road brake levers aswell.

 

[cherrybomb]

Yeah.

I've spotted the 'cross top' levers on wiggle, which would solve the brake adjustment problem (along with a set of road levers). I'd just have to sort out shifting.

The problem I have now, is that I have solved the shifting problem I had with my rapidfires...(don't ask! :roll: ). So now I'm not sure if I can be arsed.

(I will have a go, but there's no rush now so I'll mull it over for a while before I go and buy stuff that won't work).

 

[Agency_Scum]

These...

These.

Same spacing so they'll work on sevens.

 

[jango]

The question is; what 7 & 3 speed shifters are available (bar mounted) that work with drops??

I've got some RSX shifter/levers for drop bars going spare.........abandoned project :roll: