I just did the bar end shifters from shimano (8 spd) but it was a drop bar conversion from straight bars on an 06 Giant. I ordered from Jenson, they were awesome and the shifters were incredibly easy to install (in my opinion) but I was a bike technician for a while.

Anyways, I like the ability from friction to SIS mode, if it gets all screwed on on the fly or since I am not using an SIS RD right now I use the friction mode. Very simple.
Good luck.

-X