Bicycle Mechanics - Will Shimano bar end indexing work with Mircoshift FD?

Hi All,

I am converting my KHS Urban Express to drop bars and I have a question about the FD, a Microshift part. I have 3 gears and I want to be able to use indexed shifting with bar end shifters (I was told me RD is not compatible with the other type of shifter). Can I used the following Shimano shifters and have indexed shifting on the FD? The RD is 8-speed, Shimano.

http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-SL-BS64-Ultegra-Shifter-8-Speed/dp/B000F5EFOC/ref=lh_ni_t

No indexing on Shimano bar end shifters I'm afraid. But that means they will work with pretty much anything.

Edit: No indexing on the front shifter I should have said.

No indexing on Shimano bar end shifters I'm afraid. But that means they will work with pretty much anything.

Edit: No indexing on the front shifter I should have said.
That's correct. No maker's bar end shifters offer front shifting indexing. They are all friction.

That's correct. No maker's bar end shifters offer front shifting indexing. They are all friction.

Sram claims their front bar end 'R2C' shifters are indexed with two trim positions.

Sram claims their front bar end 'R2C' shifters are indexed with two trim positions.
OK, you got me. I assume these thing are intended for Time Trial and Tri bikes and installed on aero bar extensions, not typical drop bar ends for touring or general riding.

OK, you got me. I assume these thing are intended for Time Trial and Tri bikes and installed on aero bar extensions, not typical drop bar ends for touring or general riding.

Yeah, I'm fairly sure that's the intended market. In some circles, ALL bar-end shifters are considered to be TT components... >=0

A long while ago, when I was building my first bike from the frame up, my boss at the bike shop told me the reason my 8speed shimano bar-end shifters weren't working well with my triple crank was b/c "those are Tri shifters". The actual reason was that I needed a low-clamp FD.

AFAIK, all Microshift stuff is fully compatible with the equivalent Shimano stuff.

Yeah, I'm fairly sure that's the intended market. In some circles, ALL bar-end shifters are considered to be TT components... >=0

A long while ago, when I was building my first bike from the frame up, my boss at the bike shop told me the reason my 8speed shimano bar-end shifters weren't working well with my triple crank was b/c "those are Tri shifters". The actual reason was that I needed a low-clamp FD.
Yeah, but in touring circles (Adventure Cycling members for example) bar-ends are the go-to shifters for loaded touring bikes and these folfk wouldn't ride a TT/Tri bike if you gave it to them.

I'm perfectly happy that neither of my Bar end shifters are indexed.

Yeah, but in touring circles (Adventure Cycling members for example) bar-ends are the go-to shifters for loaded touring bikes and these folfk wouldn't ride a TT/Tri bike if you gave it to them.

Absolutely. I run them b/c I don't like brifters, but the first set i got was that bike mentioned above, which i had intended to tour with. (Never really did, but it was a heckuva commuter.) I'm just saying, in different cycling subcultures, ppl look at these things differently...

Thanks for the replies, I will be getting the Shimano I mentioned from my LBS and will hopefully do the installation at the end of the week. I will be sure to post some pictures!