rootboy 

Not one other vote for Nuovo Record. I'm feeling like the red headed step child here....

3speedslow

Right now, I would have to vote for the Suntour Symetric shifters. But the barcons(Suntour) is really fantastic as well.

ThermionicScott 

You got it -- they sound like something I'd need to have on all my bikes if I tried them.

Shp4man

I vote for these:

Pars 

Well, I kinda voted for them. Though they are in the parts box (and have been for the past 10+ years) in favor of some French thingies

I would put them back on the Raleigh over the power shifters though.

jonsan

I find both the Simplex Retrofriction and Campagnolo Doppler function almost identically. My fingers prefer the tactile feel of the curves of the Simplex (the later cutout version) to the hard edges of the Campagnolo so Simplex gets the vote for my favorite. The ratcheting Suntour is not bad but I prefer the "analog" feel of the Simplex (and Campagnolo) where I can move the lever anywhere in it's travel but the ratcheting shifters have distinct "stops".

The Simplex shifters have a smaller diameter barrel and as such pull less cable in their travel so they are best suited for 5 and 6 speed freewheels. I have gotten away with a 7 speed using a Simplex/Nuovo Record rear derailleur but when I tried using both a Suntour Cyclone and a later Campy Chorus slant parallelogram derailleur I had to pull the lever parallel to the downtube (a full 180 degree swing) when shifting to the lowest gear.

BluesDaddy

I love these:

Shimano "Deer Head"

unworthy1

I'm another fan of the Simplex Retrofriction (I won't even mention Huret, here...opps, too late!) as well as a user of SunTour barcons (several pairs) but in the interest of stirring another hornet's nest of controversy (we love that stuff, here) I recently read a long entry on the CR list from a member who swears the the Shimano barcon (that uses a coil spring, not a ratchet) has the same Simplex-like retrofriction feel when properly set-up...and he further stated than 99% of users never get them set up properly so never know what they can do.
I have to confess I always regarded them as a "nice try" alternative to the SunTours and sent any that crossed my path packing. Maybe I should give them a second or third look.

lostarchitect 

I don't have as much experience with lots of shifters as many of you do, but one I do have a good amount of experience with are the Suntour Barcons that everyone loves--and I agree that they are great shifters. However, several months ago I switched to the Riv Silver bar end shifters, and I have to say that I like them better. The main thing is that the longer levers give more, well, leverage. I find them a little easier to use.

rhm

Best looking (but perfectly okay, functionally):

but I prefer the ones without the cable stop.

Best for shifting a derailleur (but I've never liked the look):

vitaly66

Braze-on mounted campy levers, 1982 Trek 730:



Smooth, sure, no slipping. (I think they look good, too!)

Yo Spiff

I've got three bikes with Suntour Barcons on them. I can shift almost as fast with them as with brifters, and they are a lot less finicky about adjustments. They work great and can be found reasonably priced on Ebay.

Glennfordx4

I like the Suntour Power Shifters also, but agree they aren't the best looking. The Suntour BL & Cyclone shifters I have work very well & look good to boot. I haven't tried my Symmetric shifters yet so I can't say if I like them or not. I like the Shimano Deer Head MTB shifters on my Specialized MTB's & just found another set in a junk box that are in nice shape. My Suntour bar ends were nice but I gave them to my uncle and have since picked up a set of Accushift 7spd bar cons that can be switched to friction if need be that I like the feel of.

Glenn

warrennnnnnnnnn

Well, wouldn't you know it... a fellow Univega/Shimano 600 Arabesque brother!



Album here - https://imgur.com/a/JTuvq#0

I've since swapped out the saddle, handlebars, bar tape, brake cabling, tires, and gotten new brake hoods.

https://distilleryimage6.ak.instagram.com/0c3af918da9811e285ac22000a1faf5e_7.jpg

Italuminium

I love to hate my campagnolo shifters. Temperamental, but look great.

CountryBiking

^^Nothing wrong with aesthetics!! That's (one reason) why we ride C&V bikes!

eschlwc

i vote for them too in the two categories of best fd trimming and most fun to overhaul. i vote them worst in the two more important categories of easy access to tighten (need a freakin' allen wrench to do so!) and simplicity of design (they're a bit unattractive sitting atop the down tube like that).

Grand Bois

Exactly!

fender1

Sprint is a downtube, micro-ratcheting shifter on its own, as is the Riv Silver (same shifter).
https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.as...=104&AbsPos=30

Vonruden

1st Gen Campy C Record. let me know if you have a pair.

peazweag

any of them it's FRICTION,does'nt matter IMO

A.Winthrop

I've got the Shimano 600EX group, including that group's
friction shifters, on two '84 Centurion Comp TAs and I have
no other shifters, friction or indexed, downtube or barends,
that I like better. I cleaned, lubed and adjusted them when
I bought the bikes used 6 and 7 years ago and I haven't touched
them since and both bikes get a lot of miles on them yearly.
And I have to say the 600EX group's "starfish" designed
headset is the prettiest I've ever seen and it alone would
keep me with the group even if the shifter/deraillure combination
was not so perfect.
.
The Campy NR shifters/derailleurs on my '85 Cinelli Equipe
Centurion are nice and smooth but, IMO, not nearly so pretty
as their 600EX counterparts.
.
The Suntour Cyclone barend shifters on my '82 Fuji America
took me weeks to get working properly or at least getting
the hang of them so they worked properly. I still hate shifting
back up to the big ring as I can't get the bloody chain up
their half the time. The front RD has so little metal
around the hinge pivot of the seat tube bracket that I knew
one day it would break and about a month later it did. I replaced
it with an old Shimano "Light Action" RD and it works much
better than the OEM Suntour Cyclone ever did, though the
bloody shifter loosens up regularly and usually when I'm half
way through a long, weekend ride. The Fuji America is a
beauty but I may just sell it because one of my Centurion
Comp TAs is now lower-geared for climbing and shifts so nicely
even on the hills that I may just ride it year 'round,
replacing the Fuji America as my winter months long ride bike.
.
I do agree with BianchiGirl that the Campy Victory shifters
and derailleurs are pretty and I assume smooth as well. I've
got them on two NOS '84 Casatis I bought for my twin daughters
but unforunately for me, my twins are a foot shorter than I
am so ride bikes far too small for me.
.

Lenton58 

I've not used so many friction shifters: Campy Record, various Shimano, various SunTour. But my fave has been the SunTour Powershift. I built a bike (Dawes) for a friend and fitted the shifters that came with the frame. I got to test ride the bike for a while, and I just loved these shifters. Wish I had a set.

Zinger

Just bought some C Record Shifters like these for a mid '90s Campy Chorus slant parallelogram RD to go on a new Bianchi Dolomiti with 130mm rear spacing I'm planning this winter. The seller listed them as retrofriction. Haven't gotten them yet and I haven't tried any yet. Both sides are small barrel. I kind of figured I'd like the small barrel on an 8 speed Shimano cassette as I wanted a wide sweep between gears.

Questions:

Are these Doppler shifters ?

Am I going to have the same 180 degree issue that the latest Simplex shifters have ?

rgver

Suntour Power shifters are my go to, cheap to buy and work great. Not a fan of the barcon though, I've tried them on several bikes and we just don't get along well.