virtualelvis

Is it possible to shift from brake levers with this bike..?
The shifter levers click when I shift.. well the rear does.. the front doesnt..
Can anyone point me in the right direction for the parts I need if it is possible?
thanks very much... I'm tired of nearly crashing to shift my bike..
Here are pics.. https://gallery.me.com/imurelvis#102318

bradtx

virtualelvis, Wouldn't be a problem to use STI integrated shifters. Bar end shifters are also a less expensive possibility.

Brad

HillRider

I can't tell from the photos how many speeds the rear cassette has but if it's 8 or fewer, Dura Ace isn't compatible with other Shimano STI shifters.

You can install STI brake/shift levers on nearly anything but the cost can be prohibitive and Dura Ace 8-speed or earlier are very hard to find. Upgrading to 9 or 10-speed gives you a lot more options and, since the STI "brifters" are always the most expensive single component, a new cassette, chain and derailleurs won't add that much to the cost. In fact a new drivtrain at the 105 level could be less expensive than just the Dura Ace upgrade.

virtualelvis

thanks... I'm seeing 8 and 9 speed shifters all over ebay..
I have 9 cogs in the rear....
that makes it a 9 speed correct?
so I could get a pair of these? https://cgi.ebay.com/Shimano-Dura-Ace...item45f751e3ab
or any dura-ace or ultegra 9 speed sti shifter? thanks for helping a noob.. Dwight in New Orleans

HillRider

Yes that makes it 9-speed and you are fortunate. As I mentioned, 8-speed Dura Ace is different but 9-speed Dura Ace is compatible with any Shimano road 9-speed STI brifters from Tiagra up to Dura Ace.

Do make sure your new brifters match the number of chainrings on your crank. All 105 9-speed brifters were both double and triple compatible but Ultegra and Dura Ace were available in two distinct versions depending on the number of chainrings.

virtualelvis

So just make sure it's not a triple.. because I only have two chainrings... correct?
and the guide that goes in my downtube where the shifters were ... is called what? thanks again.. . Dwight

HillRider

Right, buy an STI set for a double crank or use 105's which work for either.

The things that bolt onto the downtube shifter bosses in place of the shifters are called "downtube cable housing stops" and a set is included with every pair of Shimano STI brifters or Shimano barend shifters. These stops incorporate cable tension adjustment thimbles too.

If you buy used brifters and the stops aren't included, almost any bike shop will have a bunch of leftover sets from customer upgrades they will sell at low cost.

virtualelvis

thanks.. and I know there is a difference between 8 and 9 speed shifters..
is a 9 speed shifter set different from a 10speed or is it just set differently?

HillRider

They are different and not interchangable.

virtualelvis

thank you for my lesson.. Dwight

dperreno

Just to clarify, Dura Ace 8-speed DERAILLEURS are not compatible with other Shimano shifters. You have a Dura Ace 7/8 speed rear derailleur, which technically is not compatible with anything except for Dura Ace 7/8 speed shifters (whether 7/8-downtube or 8-STI). You can certainly try using 9 speed shifters with that derailleur, and it may work fine, but if not, be prepared to pick up a used 9 speed derailleur (they are not very expensive on ebay).

Al1943

From the photo it appears that the rear derailleur is 7 or 8-speed Dura-Ace (it does not look like my 9-speed D-A). If this is the case, and as correctly stated above, it will not be compatible with any other shifters. Pre-9-speed Dura-Ace has a different actuation ratio.

FastJake

To the OP, your bike is gorgeous. I'm jealous.

Are you sure you have 9 cogs in the back? If so, I'm surprised that your shifts are ok now because like others have said 8-speed Dura Ace isn't compatible with anything else. Are you using index shifting or friction?

Without seeing your bike, I would say that you need 9-speed STI shifters, a 9-speed cassette, a 9-speed chain, and a non-8-speed-Dura-Ace rear derailer to do the conversion you seek. Unless you do in fact have nine speeds now. If that's the case then I'm confused as to how it's set up. If you need all the stuff I listed, you might as well go 10 speed.

HillRider

It didn't look like 9-speed DA to me either which is why I asked but when the OP said 9-cogs I took him at his word. If the cassette is really 9 cogs and the shifters and rd are 7 or 8-speed DA, I have no idea how it can work either.

Kimmo

Maybe the cable's clamped on the other side of the bolt? DT levers can be made to shift an extra gear if you manage to get the actuation ratio close enough; you just pull it past what was first and then the limit screw stops you.

...Wait a sec, the OP's wrong - I can count the cogs from the pic, and there's eight of em.

bradtx

I originally counted nine, now I'm not so sure. If an eight speed, only the DA STI shifter (Can be hard to find.), friction bar ends (An indexed DA 8S made?) will work with that RD to switch from DT shifters. It would be easier and possibly less expensive to get a different group's STI and RD. The DT shifters and RD can then be sold.

Brad

PS I have Ultegra SIS bar ends so there maybe a 8S SIS bar end.

virtualelvis

Now I just saw a post for someone looking for THumb Shifters..
Could that be a better way to go.? I don't like the idea of bar end shifters..
does anyone put thumbshifters on their bars? on a road bike.. not a mountain bike.. ?

bradtx

Al1943, It's virtualelvis' bike, I think I counted a shadow in his picture when I first looked at it.

virtualelvis, AFIK there's two problems. Clamp size and FD and still RD incompatibility if you've actually an 8S DA rather than a 9S rear.

Brad

Al1943

OOps! Sorry Brad, my mistake. I'm going to delete my screwed up posting.

FastJake

It's possible to put thumb shifters on road bars, but your main problem is that 8-speed Dura Ace (which you have) is NOT index-compatible with any other system. You cannot use 8-speed brifters, thumb shifters, or bar-end shifters UNLESS THEY ARE Dura Ace. As far as I know, Dura Ace thumb shifters don't exist. 8-speed Dura Ace brifters do, although these are old and probably hard to find.

If you find bar-end or thumb shifters that have a "friction" option, you can use them with any system.

You might be better off to upgrade to 9 or 10 speeds. This will probably be more expensive because in addition to the brifters, you need to buy a different rear derailer, a matching cassette, and a new chain.

virtualelvis

<a href="https://s896.photobucket.com/albums/ac169/imurelvis/?action=view&amp;current=sprockets.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://i896.photobucket.com/albums/ac169/imurelvis/sprockets.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
https://s896.photobucket.com/albums/a...=sprockets.jpg
Looks like a 9 speed..
there are 9 cogs.. is there a model number on this derailleur somewhere i"M not seeing it?

virtualelvis

I just saw your last post.. Ok... thanks for all the help.. I'll look for a
whole groupset.. will probably pay off in the end.. thanks

FastJake

Waitaminute... Now I'm confused. My last couple posts were based on the assumption that you only had 8 cogs. Now that you do in fact have 9 everything changes.

Is your current downtube shifter a 9-speed? Meaning, does it have a click for each of your 9 gears? Does it shift well? If all answers are yes, then your rear derailer is actually compatible with the rest of the "normal" Shimano road line. Even though everyone that's posted (including me) is fairly certain you have an older 8-speed Dura Ace derailer.

If all of the above is true, then you would only have to buy a set of 9-speed brifters to make the change.

virtualelvis

I'm actually learning about this bike too.. I've had it a little over a month.. I think you're right.. it's a nine speed cassette with a 8 speed shifter.. I had it tuned up .. and it shifts better but not great.. I'm going to put it on my trainer later and actually watch the chain move.. and see if I can hit all the cogs..

Al1943

Rest assured that we are trying to help, not confuse. And now we know that you do have a 9-speed cassette, that's good.
I just took a closer look at my 1998 9-speed Dura-Ace rear derailleur and it does not look like yours. On the back side of the piece that says "Dura-Ace" there is the model number 7700. If yours has a model number in this location it would help.
Any Shimano 9-speed rear shifter will work with your cassette. But to work very well you need a Shimano 9-speed (or maybe 10-speed) rear derailleur. Pre-9-speed Dura-Ace shifters and rear derailleur are not compatible with other Shimano groups.
There is a technique known as "hubbub" to make the 8-speed Dura-Ace rear derailleur compatible with 9-speed. This is done by routing the shift cable to the "other" side of the cable pinch bolt. This may be what you already have.

I'm posting a link to a site that has some charts and a lot of good information about how index shifting works and what is or isn't compatible. Basically the distance that the rear derailleur travels (pitch) with each shift is dependent on to variables, cable pull and actuation ratio. https://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=3946

Most 9-speed Shimano compatible hubs will also accept 10-speed Shimano cassettes. One alternative you have is to buy 10-speed Shimano shifters, cassette, and chain (and probably 10-speed rear derailleur). Since you want new shifters, and shifters are the most expensive component, this may be a good time to go 10-speed. It all depends on how much money you want to spend.