Bicycle Mechanics - Changing over to a flat bar style for my 12 yo son

I'm picking up a 46cm Dave Scott Expert Centurion (yeah the ugly salmon color, its on the list to change) and I want to change bars over to a straight flat bar style handlebar. I had one of these about 6 months ago and he just wasnt' too thrilled with the color or the downtube shifters (I sold it). Once he gets used to the bike I can switch back.

Anyone have a suggestion or two for thumb shifters and brakes for the flat handlebars?

Its a 12 speed Shimano 105 deraileur system and the 105 short reach brakes.

Thanks in advance.

I'm picking up a 46cm Dave Scott Expert Centurion (yeah the ugly salmon color, its on the list to change) and I want to change bars over to a straight flat bar style handlebar. I had one of these about 6 months ago and he just wasnt' too thrilled with the color or the downtube shifters (I sold it). Once he gets used to the bike I can switch back.

Anyone have a suggestion or two for thumb shifters and brakes for the flat handlebars?

Its a 12 speed Shimano 105 deraileur system and the 105 short reach brakes.

Thanks in advance.
I did a similar thing about 3 months ago with no problems. My shifter is for 9 speed though, so maybe the mechanics on the forum could advise if you will have a compatability problem with a six speed cluster. I am only using 7 of the 9 coggs on my rear cluster and just adjusted the rear deraileur to suit the lesser amount.
Steve.
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Just get some cheap friction thubm shifters and levers compatible with non V brakes, or levers that allow adjustment for v or canti. Old pre v mtb levers will work too.

Pre-V brake levers will work with the current 105 caliper brakes.

You'll need a shim for the bars unless you use a mountain stem. You'll need downtube cable stops, brake housing and cables, brake levers, shifters and grips.

Here's some cheap but nice brake levers:
http://tinyurl.com/dfotw
I have them on my Gitane with Dura Ace brakes. I like them a lot.

You'll need a shim for the bars unless you use a mountain stem. You'll need downtube cable stops, brake housing and cables, brake levers, shifters and grips.

Here's some cheap but nice brake levers:
http://tinyurl.com/dfotw
I have them on my Gitane with Dura Ace brakes. I like them a lot.Maybe not.Many of the old Japaneese drop bars were 25.4mm, same as current flat bar.

I was thinking that one of the brake manufacturers (budget Tektro?) had a smaller size brake handle for my sons smaller hands. I also have some Shimano XC thumb shifters left over from a $5.00 Fisher MTB garage sale special. They only click, don't index.

Is there an adapater that will cover up the braze-on DT shifter boss, or will the DT cable stop bolt onto the current braze-on?

Thanks for the replys so far!

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I'm picking up a 46cm Dave Scott Expert Centurion (yeah the ugly salmon color, its on the list to change) and I want to change bars over to a straight flat bar style handlebar. I had one of these about 6 months ago and he just wasnt' too thrilled with the color or the downtube shifters (I sold it). Once he gets used to the bike I can switch back.

Anyone have a suggestion or two for thumb shifters and brakes for the flat handlebars?

Its a 12 speed Shimano 105 deraileur system and the 105 short reach brakes.

Thanks in advance.

It's not that hard. Ebay is full of old MTB 6 & 7 speed thumbie type shifters. If the bike is older, 12 sp sure sound like it. I am almost certain that it is a 25.4mm bar stem like Sydney said earlier. You should have no problem with the shifters or brakes.

Tim