hairnet

My only real experience with downtube shifters has come while riding my current bike with Shimano 600 arabesque levers. My first bike had Cyclone MII but that was before I knew anything about bicycles and that bike no longer exists. Other than that I know nothing and have never even ridden with index dt shifters, although I have worked on many bikes with them.

Since we all love photos, why don't we post a close up our shifters and a picture of the bike.

auchencrow

Huret shifters on my '73 Record

Drillium Dude 

Okay, twist my arm

1980 Alpina's drillium Portacatena levers:



1983 Colnago Mexico's panto levers:



1973 Colnago Super's drillium levers:



DD

ColonelJLloyd 

Friction DT shifters are nice. I wish the Simplex Retrofriction was equipped with a D-ring bolt. One of these days I'll install one.



Indexing DT shifters are quicker and easier to shift when I'm drained, especially on the tall frames I ride.

SillyRabbit

I see great potential in this thread! I've always like the modolo shifters but unfortunately I do no have any pics. Hopeful a few will pop up soon...

Here's my contribution: A pair of simple Shimano 600 shifters

rjhammett

Here are the downtube shifters on my Centurion Ironman (Sante), Miele Condor (Suntour) and Viscount Aerospace (Shimano).

hairnet

Is that a Huret band by the person that modifies and sells them on Ebay? I am thinking of buying one just in case I ever find some 8 speed shifters

I hope it will live long and prosper.

I have a pair of Suntour Blue Line levers, missing all the parts though.

jbchybridrider 

I like my Sprint's coz I'm a sucker for Suntour but the Shimano 600 are more comfortable to pull on.




Then there's old Superbe

thirdgenbird

Someday I want to try simplex retrofrictions with gen1 c-record but for now my Ofmega mistral kit will have to do:

Pars 

These, though on mine (clamp on, not braze on) I've never needed or wished for the D-ring as they stay perfectly adjusted. Best DT shifters I've ever used, making the Campy NR pair sit forlorn in my parts bin.

cyclotoine

I have the same shifters, but they are labelled Modolo and CF for carbon fiber... I would like to see the rest of that bike because I see an uber weigh weenie build and I am intrigued.

hairnet

I bet that bike is hot.

thirdgenbird

Thanks for the comments. The frame is a little heavy and the wheels are made of lead but everything else is fairly light so it balances out. The bike was build for fun, not for weight.

thirdgenbird

A vintage carbon frame and traditional tubular wheels would drop 3+ lbs. don't think I haven't thought about it

hairnet

It just looks fast.

WNG

Suntour 6 speed Accushift:


IMG_2791 by WNG555, on Flickr


Suntour Symmetric, I have 3 sets of these clever FD trimming shifters...



Specialized Expedition-8 by WNG555, on Flickr

Someone asked for Modolo Kronos?


IMG_3492 by WNG555, on Flickr

cyclotoine

hmm they actually say carbon fiber... I have the same ones, obviously haven't looked at them in a while. I've never used them either... they live in a box.

thirdgenbird

Downtubes, downtubes.

Build thread for the Yokota is here:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ttle-different
Look near the end for the ride report

hairnet

thanks

mapleleafs-13 

here's my favorite downtube shifters:



Once you go there you don't go back.... MUH WA HA HA HA HA.....

c'mon everybody, cross over to the DARKSIDE......

unworthy1

I love the Simplex Retrofrictions (who doesn't?) but also like finding something cheaper that also satisfies...these Shimano SLA400 Light Action (not indexed) have a very fine-tooth ratchet mech in them, and they are not as clunky as this photo (from Velobase) would make you think. Not easy to find but usually cheap when you can. I swear there's a SunTour DT lever with a very compact ratchet mech that looks like one of their stylish Superbes, but I can't find it in Velobase...must be very rare or I imagined it.

hairnet

I must be going about this backwards.

SillyRabbit

I can take them off your hands if you'd like!

noglider 

I like the Simplex Retrofrictions, too.

The Shimano Light Action seems to be the same sort of thing.

I bought a set of the Simplexes on ebay on impulse and haven't even installed them on anything. I don't know what I want to do with them. I don't have downtube shifters on any bike any more.

Why is it harder to use downtube shifters on a tall frame? Aren't your arms correspondingly long? I don't think I have to drop my shoulder to reach that location; do you?

rootboy 

My faves;