Bicycle Mechanics - Dia-Compe VS Shimano bar end shifters

http://s.wiggle.co.uk/images/dia-compe-bar-end-med.jpg

I prefer bar end shifters, and i prefer friction shifting.

Application is road triple 105 (50-39-24) with 105 triple front derailleur and XTR rear derailleur with 11-34 cassette (both 9 and 10 speed).

These Dia-Compes are available from Wiggle for $50/set.

From what I read they are very high quality, made in Japan, at least on a par with Shimano.

Would experienced bicycle mechanics know of any reason why I should not get them in preference to Shimano 77 or 78 series bar end shifters? Thanks.

For strictly friction shifting there is probably no reason not to get the Dia-Compes. The Shimano's will give you the option of indexing (7700=9-speed, 7800=10-speed) if you ever decide to try it and will also work in friction mode so they are potentially more versitile.

Yeah, that's a good point. I always have the tendency to think that how I feel about something today is how I'll always feel about it--contrary to what the evidence suggests.

Who knows, as I get older I might lose my coordination and ability to friction/shift and wish I had the loud slow indexing:D

As an aside, does anybody know if the SRAM bar-end shifters have a friction mode on the right/rear shifter?

The grey plastic washer on the Dia Compes tends to crack. Rivendell says that if that bothers you, don't buy them. It bothers me, so I won't.

The grey plastic washer on the Dia Compes tends to crack. Rivendell says that if that bothers you, don't buy them. It bothers me, so I won't.

I actually have yet to see a pair where the washer hasn't cracked. Of course, even afterwards, they still shift beautifully. It is a little ridiculous though, that rivendell won't sub in something that isn't going to fail.

That's good to know--a part prone to failure. I don't get the connection with Rivendell, though. The Dia-compes I'm looking at are made in Japan and sold by Wiggle, in UK.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Dia-Compe_Bar_End_Gear_Shifter_Set/5360043252/

see if you can find sun tour power ratchet bar end shifters . ebay, swap meets,
or back bins in an older bike shop ..
that is what I've been using for over 20 years and they are still fine..
I've still got a horde of them...

the dia compes were a suntour product , the sprint, a down tube shifter,
Grant/Riv sells them as 'silvers' , may have been a big enough buyer
to get them made again.
expect the diacompe are the same thing sold under their name
may be the same parts.
ask Wiggle if theirs are all metal first, ..
the bar mounts are just like Shimano's ..
which have a square interface to mount down tube levers .

You could get just the pods and use most any friction downtube shifter



FWIW, Lots of Japanese companies outsource too, to Taiwan and the Chinese mainland.

That's good to know--a part prone to failure. I don't get the connection with Rivendell, though. The Dia-compes I'm looking at are made in Japan and sold by Wiggle, in UK.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Dia-Compe_Bar_End_Gear_Shifter_Set/5360043252/

The Silver shifters are made by Dia Compe.

Simplex Retrofrictions are the best friction bar end shifters ever made, but they're extremely rare. I've only been able to find three of them.

http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/46172/2974389360068014369S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2974389360068014369CdjqmQ)

I've got a single Shimano Bar end with a balance spring in it,

good for the front, didn't care for how it worked on the rear.

ratchets hold against return spring + the chain wanting to be back on the center of the chainline,

Balance spring is OK if it matches the return spring in force. front it worked adequately ,
but the suntour ones were still preferred.

Good luck finding those Simplex ones..

Thanks, Guys--Very educational.

I'm currently using one set of Shim 79's (no friction option for the rear) with a 10-speed cassette

and

One set of 78's (in friction mode) with a 9-speed cassette.

The Shims in friction mode do me fine--I just saw the Dia-Compes at a lower price and I'm hacked off at Shimano for not having the friction option on the 79s (and presumably all series in the future).

I guess the only thing to do is buy 1 set of the DiaCompes just to try them (and stock up on the 77s and 78s when they're on sale).

Thanks for your help.