Classic & Vintage - Nexus-8 plus bar-end shifter--it worked!!

I wanted to report on a successful (so far) experiment of shifting a Nexus-8 rear hub with a Shimano indexed bar-end shifter. The bike is my patina-ed 1971 Raleigh International, previously set up with upright bars and the standard grip shifter. I wasn't crazy about that setup, largely because the right-side grip/shifter/brake area wasn't very comfortable, and I was looking to set the bike up with drop bars. I also didn't want to use the HubBub bar-end adapter (http://www.hubbub.com/store/proddetail.asp?prod=HUROHL), as it would stick out pretty darn far.

I had read about using a Problem Solvers Travel Agent (http://www.bikeplus.co.uk/cgi-bin/quikstore.pl?product=BC008&and=1) to ensure proper cable pull with the Nexus hub and an indexed shifter, so I thought I'd give it a try. So far, so good.

Set-up took a little trial and error but was overall pretty easy. I used a standard gear cable and rigid STI housing. Initially, I mounted the travel agent on the downtube, but it was sticking out too far, so I went for the right chain stay instead. I also initially had the device secured by just zip ties, but it wasn't staying put, so I used a hose clamp on one side. Another adjustment tip is that I had to have a shorter distance than Shimano calls for between the end of the housing and the clamp-on nut that fits in the hub itself. Also key was having a travel agent with barrel adjuster. I could play with cable tension to ensure that the gearing was adjusted correctly.

Today's test was my 7-mile round trip commute to work with lots of stopping and shifting plus a side trip to the grocery store. No gear slippage at all. Success!

Some pics:

http://web.mit.edu/nlerner/Public/Bikes/Intl8New.jpg
I'm using SR Randonneur bars, an SR stem that has short reach but long length (the SR version of the Nitto Technomic), and Tektro aero levers.

http://web.mit.edu/nlerner/Public/Bikes/NexusHack2.jpg
The drivetrain.

http://web.mit.edu/nlerner/Public/Bikes/NexusHack1.jpg
Close up of the travel agent; I set it up as instructed on the package.

http://web.mit.edu/nlerner/Public/Bikes/NexusHack3.jpg
The cockpit.

Neal

Sweet! I wonder if a Sturmey Archer fulcrum clip would work/look better than the hose clamp on the travel agent........I am lovin' that set up though.

Kelly D

Cool experiment Neal.

I love those bars. I'm putting a set of them on an otherwise brand-new bicycle. :)

Sweet! I wonder if a Sturmey Archer fulcrum clip would work/look better than the hose clamp on the travel agent........I am lovin' that set up though.

Kelly D

Yeah, that hose clamp is a bit unsightly; I tried flipping it around, which looks a bit better. I don't think a fulcrum clip would be quite the right size.

Neal

Cool experiment Neal.

I love those bars. I'm putting a set of them on an otherwise brand-new bicycle. :)

Those bars were a NOS find at an LBS that was shutting down a few months ago. The combo with a short-reach stem really works for me, which is saying a lot as a chronic neck problem makes me need my bars up high and not too far away!

Neal

Cool! 48x19 gearing it looks like. That's what I use on mine. It's almost exactly the same as a compact 50/34 going into a 12x28 cassette. I've done several long rides over rolling hills and that hub is really good for it. I bet you ride that bike a lot.

Glad you could make it work! I don't like grip shifters myself. This opens up a more attractive combination.

What type of bars are those? I have a similar pair on the Schwinn Voyageur II - they flare out quite a bit, and widen towards the ends as with Neal's:

http://www.jaysmarine.com/raleighbars.jpg

-Kurt

You must have missed the text under the first photo: SR Randonneur bars.

Neal

Mine are actually spelled RANDONNR. That shape gives a lot of good hand positions.

A sekine I picked up last fall came with em, the SR RANDONNR. I tried em out on a bike for the fun of it fairly recently, they're kinda neat but when you're riding the hoods your hands are too close together I find, just doesnt feel right, especially if you're climbing out of the saddle on the hoods.

Jtek is also suppose to make a Shiftmate for the Nexus and bar end shifters.
I emailed them back in Feburuary.


I am machining a new Shiftmate type adaptor for SRAM shifters/barends to adaptor to Nexss hubs right now. Should be out in around 2-3 weeks.

After that project I'm going to start on the bar ends for Nexus. It may get put off a little to run some more inventory but there is a concept for them that will be tested soon and it's the next project on the list.

Regards,

Jay Guthrie
Jtek Engineering

Mine are actually spelled RANDONNR. That shape gives a lot of good hand positions.

I have a used set marked that way, but with these "randonneur" is actually spelled right.

Neal

Neal,

Can you please list the specific model number of the shift lever? SL-BS64 or ??

Tom

A sekine I picked up last fall came with em, the SR RANDONNR. I tried em out on a bike for the fun of it fairly recently, they're kinda neat but when you're riding the hoods your hands are too close together I find, just doesnt feel right, especially if you're climbing out of the saddle on the hoods.

Feel free to send any on to me for proper disposal. :D

Nice work, Neal! Soon I'll be doing the same to my current vintage Schwinn MTB project. Except mine will use a DuraAce 8 speed downtube lever on a Paul Thumbie. I'm just waiting on my Nexus 8 Premium to arrive. I am told its on backorder.

Neal,

Can you please list the specific model number of the shift lever? SL-BS64 or ??

Tom

Tom, I'm afraid I don't see any model numbers on that lever (or on the left-side mate). Here's a photo at least:

http://web.mit.edu/nlerner/Public/Bikes/ShimanoIndexLever.jpg

Neal

Mine are actually spelled RANDONNR. That shape gives a lot of good hand positions.

I snapped a couple of photos of the two SR bars I have to show the different logos. The dimensions of these bars seems identical, but perhaps they represent older and newer models or SR figuring out how to spell or something.

Here are the bars on my Raleigh Int'l. Marking on the left as you look from the front of the bike is the SR logo and on the right it says "World Randonneur."
http://web.mit.edu/nlerner/Public/Bikes/RandoBars1.jpg

Here are bars as USAZ described. On the left is marked "Sakae Randnner Japan" and on the right "SR Road Champion."
http://web.mit.edu/nlerner/Public/Bikes/RandoBars2.jpg

Neal

I wanted to report on a successful (so far) experiment of shifting a Nexus-8 rear hub with a Shimano indexed bar-end shifter. ... Neal

Thanks for the report, Neal. Great concept, and great-looking bike. I really like the red tape and mudguards -- all you need now are a red water bottle cage and toeclips with red straps.