Folding Bikes - Swift Mods question

I'm currently riding a mostly stock Swift. I'm looking to change things up a very little bit by switching up my flat bars for bullhorns, but I'm a bit confused about shifter and brake options. (I don't have a lot of experience working on bikes, but I'm learning as I go). The stock setup is an 8 speed with a grip shifter and v brakes.

I don't mind the gripshift, but it doesn't seem like an option to keep it. What is the best, lowest profile setup I can hope for?

Thanks for your help.

Which Swift?

I'm looking into buying a Xootr one too in the next week.
I'd imagine that pretty much anything that works on a non-folder will work on the Swift.

The Xootr swift uses a SRAM 4, but Jur uses a Deore derailleur.
I've also heard of some using travel agents with drops.

Anyways, I'll be following this thread with interest.

I haven't used bullhorns, but AFAIK most bullhorns are a different diameter, they are thicker, so flat bar componentry wouldn't fit. Also don't mix SRAM and Shimano stuff, they are not compatible unless specifically mentioned. Also watch the brake lever travel, V-brakes need large travel levers. Levers that are used with bullhorns are often small travel, suitable for road brakes or cantilevers. Sorry I can't be of more help.

You might fit some nice bar ends instead, that gives additional hand positions without the cost and effort of bullhorns.

Hi,

I'm about to do the same thing to my new Xootr Swift.

I'm no expert, but I have converted some other V-brake equipped bikes similarly.

As stated earlier, you can't mix a SRAM derailleur with a Shimano shifter. The amount of cable pull is different.

Here is my plan as it stands, hope it helps you out:

In addition to the bullhorn bars, I'll be fitting an old road stem with a little less rise than the stem that came with Xootr. My understanding is that even though MTB and road bars have different diameter, you can fit a 26mm bar (road) in a 25.4mm (MTB) stem as long at the stem has a removable face-plate. (You might want to check this if you want to use the standard Xootr stem with bullhorns, as it has a 25.4mm clamp.

I'm planning on using Tektro RL 520 brake levers which will fit road style bars and also work with v-brakes without needing a travel agent. I've used similar levers in the past, and have been happy enough with the result. You might be able to get the levers that came with the swift to fit on bullhorns with some prying and spreading of the lever clamp. It might cause the clamp to fail altogether, or you could have trouble with the alignment of the clamp screws.

I'll also likely need to replace all the cabling for the brakes and gears, either due to needing more length or to a change in cable type. MTB brake cables are different from road style & I'm not sure what type the RL 520's take, but I would bet they don't match the type on the stock bike.

So, all in if you want bullhorns on your Swift, you are going to need to swap out at least the shifter and rear derailleur. You can probably brake levers, and cables to the mix too. Maybe a stem. Bar tape too. It all adds up in a hurry.

For me, it's worth it. My wrists start to hurt when I keep them in the position required by flat bars. Bar ends would work, but I like to keep my controls at my primary hand position.

Now all I need to do is decide what color bar tape to go with...

P.S. This is my first post to BF. I was planning on introducing myself once I got the Swift together just how I think I'll like it, but thought I could offer a little help first. The Swift seems like a good, versatile bike. I've only ridden mine maybe 20 miles, and I really like the way it rides. It seems a little heavy in the tire / wheel department, so I'll be swapping at least the tires to a set of Kojaks. I'm looking forward to getting it to be a little more, um, swift. Funny though, how much more I smile when riding this funny looking bike than I do on my other bikes.

Here is what I did . I swapped out the rear derailleur for a Shimano Deore Long cage . I Used 105 barcons and Shimano road levers and Problem Solvers Travel Agents on the brakes and I replaced all the cables . Everything works perfect and the bike rides great.
I am actually going to put it on eBay soon because I also picked up a Bike Friday Pocket Rocket which is the folder I have been using lately and the swift has bee sitting in the corner.

Ben and Matt, thanks! (Jur too-- hell, thanks all) these are helpful posts. My reasons for doing this are the same as yours Ben-- not so much the hand pain, but I don't like having to shift positions off my cane creek ergo barends (which are otherwise terrific) to get full braking power. Those Tektro levers sound like just the ticket; hope I can find them locally!

Ben, can I ask what you are using for a shifter? Barcons aren't my favorite, but maybe there's no alternative.

"I also picked up a Bike Friday Pocket Rocket which is the folder I have been using lately and the swift has bee sitting in the corner."


What do you like better about the Friday as compared with the Swift?

Practically nobody around here knows anything about folders, but I just found out the mechanic at the Performance bike shop owns a Friday and rides it extensively. I forgot which model he has.

What do you like better about the Friday as compared with the Swift?


I like the ride of Steel better then Aluminum. I like having a double up front and the many options to change seat posts. 451 wheels are a little faster then 406’s. It also folds smaller and fits better in the corner of my office (my main reason for the folder is getting miles in on my lunch break) Don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with the Swift it is super stiff and rides great but I feel I have a better fit on the Friday (stock model) and for me it is a more comfortable ride. One thing I do not like about the Friday is the way it folds the chain pretty much pops off when you unfold if you are not very careful.

http://www.bikefriday.com/faq?question=1710

You could try bike friday h bars, or sti bars. They split, and can take twist shifters, so you could keep yours. I haven't used them, but they seem similar to bullhorns.

Ben and Matt, thanks! (Jur too-- hell, thanks all) these are helpful posts. My reasons for doing this are the same as yours Ben-- not so much the hand pain, but I don't like having to shift positions off my cane creek ergo barends (which are otherwise terrific) to get full braking power. Those Tektro levers sound like just the ticket; hope I can find them locally!

Ben, can I ask what you are using for a shifter? Barcons aren't my favorite, but maybe there's no alternative.

Where are you located? Last I checked, plenty of places have 'em in the US. SJS cycles stock them in the UK.

I'm using dura-ace barcons. Sorry. STI Brifters won't work with vbrakes without travel agents. So, as far as I know barcons are the only option I am aware of.

You could try a used or NOS Suntour Command shifter on the right side. I just checked and someone named Vishee (no connection at all!) has as couple of sets for sale pretty cheep (as I write there are no bids and the price is $9.95) on Ebay here (http://tinyurl.com/5je8oz).
This is what Sheldon Brown had to say about them in his review of Suntour components:
"One last unusual piece of engineering was the Suntour Command Shifter. They were something like STI or Ergo and mounted just inside the brake levers on the handlebars. The front shifter had the ratchet system, the rear could do either indexed or friction modes. They worked well, save for the fact that you couldn't shift from the smaller to the larger chainring from the drops (which is when you would want to do so). If you were clever, though, you could solve this by using the Suntour Spirt derailleur..."
Of course, problems shifting the front derailleur wouldn't matter on a Swift.
Jonathan

and where are you located and what do think you might be asking...



I am actually going to put it on eBay soon because I also picked up a Bike Friday Pocket Rocket which is the folder I have been using lately and the swift has bee sitting in the corner.

I'm using dura-ace barcons. Sorry. STI Brifters won't work with vbrakes without travel agents. So, as far as I know barcons are the only option I am aware of.

Mini V's will work with STI or Campy Ergo, just make sure and get the 85mm length, not 80mm or 90mm

also they are closer to the rim than regualr v's

Tektro makes em

http://www.tektro.com/02products/10rb.php
TEKTRO