jacksbike

Did Shimano every manufacture a 6 or 7 speed indexed bar end shifter ? I have some older road bikes that I would like to convert to a 6 or 7 speed indexed set up. I have older SunTour bar cons, but would like to install the Shimano indexed bar ends, if they ever made them. An acquaintance recently stated that you could purchase an 8 or 9 speed Shimano bar con and convert it to 6 or 7 . True ? I await some thoughts, thanks.

divineAndbright

I think when the 600 tri-color grouppo came out in the late 80s there were indexed 7 speed bar ends available, I know I saw some on ebay before, but they do seem to be a bit rarer then say the friction fingertip variant.

Edit: ok, this is what velobase has to say:
Shimano SIS compatible bar-end shifters. Normally setup for 7speed SIS, but had an additional insert that would allow them to be indexed for 6 speed SIS. Note: the SL-BS50-8 is a different shifter which was designed to be used with 8sp Dura-Ace ONLY.
https://velobase.com/ViewSingleCompon...=104&AbsPos=19

jacksbike

Well thanks. Looks like I have my work cut out for me if I am to find a set of these .

rugerben

How about a slightly easier way to do it? Shimano made bagillions of 7spd indexed DT shifters. Buy a set. Also buy bar send shifter pods from Riv and hook up the DT shifters to them.
It'll be pretty much the same exact thing but with a lot less hunting around, and probably cost a ton less.

jacksbike

That sounds like a great idea. I know that I have a set of braze on Shimano 600 indexed shift levers. Will these easily work with the Riv pods ? If so, problem solved, Thanks.

rugerben

I believe so, but you may want to call up Riv just to be sure. I'm much less of an expert than the guys over there. Glad to thelp!

jacksbike

Thanks rugerben !

unworthy1

going to hi-jack this just a tad: I have an "orphan" Shimano SL-BS64 shifter, the LH only, and it's friction (they didn't index the chainring shifters, I guess) and looks like the pics on Velobase but has a gray (not black) plastic bezel and is marked "light action". It's in good condition (a little road-rash)...
I'd love to either get a match for it (the RH barcon) or trade it to someone who has the RH and needs a LH (2nd choice, since I'd rather keep it).
PM me...

smorris 

Yep, my Shimano SIS barcons have the gray plug and have "light action" on the black washer on the friction left shifter. Right shifter is switchable index or friction. This is on a 7-speed RB-T from the early '90s if that helps with identifying yours.

cs1

Rivendell is almost perpetually out of stock on these. Try Velo Orange: https://www.velo-orange.com/diacosibash.html
They are the exact part and almost always in stock. Good luck.