due ruote 

Weird question maybe. I'm thinking about switching my fixed gear over to a 1 x 6 drivetrain, perhaps just temporarily to see how I like it. I don't have much in the way of single shifters in my parts bin, and wondered if the Deore would work. It does have a detent at the 'cable relaxed' ie. small ring position, but the rest of the range feels pretty much like a regular friction shifter. Has anyone done this, and did it work? I'd be pairing it with a Suntour Vx RD.

fietsbob

Cant see why not .. the Stroke limit screw stops the motion of the actual RD ..

Ive been using friction shifters for decades.

Jeff Wills

Yes it will work. It'll be weird operating the rear derailleur with your left hand, but you'll probably get used to it in 30 minutes or so. If you have the corresponding right thumbshifter, take a close look. There should be a little lever that switches it from indexing to friction. As Bob said- friction works for everything.

due ruote 

Most of my experience is with friction as well, and I thought it would probably work; just thought I would ask the experts first. Yes, the right shifter switches between friction/sis. I'm actually using that in index mode on a different 1 x 6 bike, or I'd employ it here.

I'm using this left shifter with moustache bars. The curves are a little odd, so maybe it will actually work to mount it on the right side - I'll have to play around with it.

Thanks for the replies.

Jeff Wills

One thing to think about (and you probably already know this): mustache bars come in two diameters: "MTB standard" 22.2mm and "road standard" 23.8mm. The Deore shifter has a steel band clamp, which will work with the larger diameter bar with a longer screw and a little careful bending.